DRS Music: Chicago Wedding band winners of National Award for Chicago Wedding Band performances.

Music is the most important decision you’ll make for your wedding.

As you begin searching, you will find a number of bands ranging in both quality and price. There are bands that specialize in certain types of music, such as Jazz/Swing, Top 40, Latin, Klezmer Music and so on. Unless a majority of your guests are specifically expecting to hear a full night of that music, you’ll want a versatile band that keeps ALL your guests dancing.

We encourage you to compare DRM to any music company in the nation.
As you review other band websites, please print this page as a guide.

1. Quality. Look at the overall quality of the site itself. Websites can be updated easily. What first impression does their site make to you?
2. Photos. Look for recent photos of their orchestra performing at actual weddings. See if you can find photos of guests dancing, as opposed to just individual pictures of their band members standing in front of a curtain. From speaking with brides for many years, we’ve found what’s most important to them is seeing the results of what the band can do for their wedding. If you want a packed dance floor, make sure you see that and not just how stylish their trombone player looks.
3. Videos. Ideally, the videos should be from a recent live wedding. This is far superior to something shot in a studio, which can be easily manipulated and edited over and over. At your wedding they get one chance. It’s important to show the crowd’s reaction to what the band is playing. It doesn’t matter if the band sounds incredible if no one is dancing. Do they provide a variety of videos or even narrated videos?
4. Reviews. Try to see as many reviews as possible. If they show the specific date they were written, that’s even better. Showing the specific dates tells you that the band is doing consistently highly quality work over a period of time and not just one fantastic wedding six years ago. Are the reviews detailed and enthusiastic or just a thank you written at an unknown date?
5. List of Songs. How versatile is the band? Can they play a wide variety of music to keep all your guests dancing? Make sure the website shows an extensive list of their repertoire. It’s also important to know if a band will be able to learn new songs for you, and whether they charge for this service.
6. Credibility. See what awards or honors the music company has achieved, as well as a list of prestigious clients. How long has the company been in business? Have they had to change personnel often or even change their name? Do you see their name on a variety of websites throughout the internet? Type their name into Google and see what comes up. See where they rank for keywords like, “Chicago Wedding Band” “Chicago Wedding Music” etc…
7. The Bandleader. See if you can find out some information on their site about the actual bandleader. Remember, this is the person you are going to be dealing with for the next year or so. You need to get a sense of his or her personality after speaking with them on the phone and by meeting with them. It’s very important that you connect with them. Remember you are trusting your wedding to them. You want someone that has your best interest at heart and not a guy with a giant ego that you should be so honored to have at your wedding.
8. Resources. What other special resources do they have to help you from the time you sign the contract until the day of your wedding? Do they have helpful articles? Do they have resource centers to help you select the music? Do they have a Facebook Fan Page? Will they provide you with a template of your schedule to keep you organized?
9. Personal Touches. How will they make your wedding stand out from all their other weddings? Ask them to show you examples of how they have done that, as well as hearing stories of situations where they went above and beyond for their clients.
10. Pricing. Before you decide on your music budget, try to get the actual pricing information from a variety of bands. Then, you can set your budget based on the level of quality you want and can afford. It’s similar to buying a car. There are bands whose biggest feature is how cheap they are; but can they get and keep your guests dancing? If your guests don’t dance, did you really save money? We believe you get exactly what you pay for. Think of your band, as well as all of your vendors, as an investment instead of a cost. A quality band will be the best investment you can make for your wedding.

11. Customer Service. How fast did they get back to after you filled out the inquiry form or left a message? Do they have any office staff? Will you be able to speak with the bandleader or have to deal with assistants and consultants? How fast have they responded to your emails? Did they remember the details from your last conversation? Do they seem to care about you as a person or just an account number? How often do they meet with their clients?

In summary, do your research, ask lots of questions and be open minded about your budget. Keep these important factors in mind when selecting your band!

To get a great band for your wedding or event
Call 773.244.1239 or fill out the inquiry form.