There's only one Christmas present that party bands in London are longing for and that is more bookings than last year.
Christmas is normally a huge business in London with many party bands making as much money in one month as they do throughout the whole wedding season. Last year however was a stark contrast to the normal flamboyancy with many Christmas parties feeling more like wakes.
This of course was because we were in the middle of a recession and the future looked extremely uncertain, with the booking of party bands seeming almost immoral when so many staff had been laid off.
Christmas 2009 seems to be looking like much more fun. It's true that there are many more people out of work this year but hopefully those in work are feeling a bit more relaxed about the future and, come Christmas will feel like partying.
There should also a bit more money to be thrown at rewarding staff in the form of the Christmas party and this, in turn should mean that the party bands in London should be getting ready for a more fruitful season.
Christmas entertainment is a great way to show staff that you value them and make them feel special and ultimately motivated. Having a good party band performing after your meal is a brilliant way to get your staff dancing together and loosing their inhibitions. It's also a chance for the normally stone-faced boss to shake their stuff, down a few shots and give everyone a laugh!
Things to remember when booking a Christmas party band
1) Book early
Booking early will not only get you the best bands but it will also enable you to haggle and get a substantial reduction.
2) Get something for everyone
It might seem appealing to book a Queen tribute act because you and a few people in your department love Queen but is everyone at your company going to enjoy this? Try and pick a band who can play everything from 60's classics to today's chart favourites.
3) Experience is everything
You might have someone at work whose 18 year old son is in a band and they play a few covers, this could be tempting especially as budgets for the Christmas party are stretched. Don't make this mistake! What you save in money will be made up for in stress.
Christmas party bands who have been around for a few years have survived the recession for a reason and that's because they know what their doing. When you turn up at your Christmas party wouldn't it be lovely to relax in the knowledge that you're working with professionals?
4) Check with your venue.
Can the party band you've chosen actually play at the venue you've booked?
This seems a silly question but it's a problem that occurs again and again. Check that your venue has a live music licence and that the band have public liability insurance and are PAT tested.
5) Treat the musicians as guests
If you want to get the best out of your Christmas party band treat them as guests, feed them well and let them have a drink or two (but no more!). They'll play a hundred times better if they like you!
About the Author
Simon Baum runs a successful, entertainment agency providing entertainment for both wedding and corporate clients.
If you need any help with your wedding entertainment or corporate entertainment he'd be happy to advise you.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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