After your special event, your guests will most likely focus on whether the music and food were good or not, so you need to ensure that your entertainment fits your needs and impresses your guests!

Live Band or DJ

Whether you choose a live band or DJ ultimately comes down to your personal preference. We suggest you think about the most memorable events you’ve been to and think about which form of party music you enjoyed the most.

First consider your guests and whether they’ll enjoy the same music as you. Generally, reggae, jazz, big band and universal groove songs are performed best by live bands, if you’re on the same page as your guests. If you want a large variety of music genres to please everyone, DJs usually deliver that better.

No matter what, both a live band or DJ, should command the crowd and get your audience involved. Sometimes a live band knows how to interact with guests more easily, but a great DJ personality can also seal the deal.

Interview more than one entertainer so you have the ability to shop around and compare apples to apples. You also want to make sure to watch your contenders perform a few times to make sure they play smoothly and interact properly with guests.

Budget

Because you’re just paying for one person, a DJ generally costs less than hiring a live band. With a live band, you’re paying for each band member and his/her individual talents.

Venue

Check with your chosen venue before hiring party entertainment as you might have restrictions in the way of number of musicians and amount of equipment allowed.  Also keep in mind the room’s acoustics and access to outlets.

Make sure to book your party entertainment as far ahead of time as possible once you’ve decided on your entertainment!

If you’re ready to hire a live band, contact Brian Sax Allen for reggae bands, jazz bands, groove bands or any other live entertainment: Brian@briansaxallen.com; 772-336-7517.

One of the most important factors when starting to plan your wedding is deciding on the wedding entertainment. Do you want a live band or a DJ? Consider the following for a smooth, special day filled with a reliable entertainment experience for you and all your guests.

1. Develop a contract that covers all the details of your event, and make sure you have signed and dated copies of the at the event, just in case.
2. Provide detailed directions and contact information to ensure that your wedding entertainment and performers will arrive on time and don’t encounter any complications.
3. Discuss venue specifics in advance, and make sure you and the entertainers you choose know where to set up a dance floor and stage and where all the outlets are around the room. And make sure you discuss all of these logistics with both the venue and entertainers, so last minute questions and concerns do not arise.
4. In case of bad weather, discuss a plan B with your venue and entertainer in a worst case scenario, so expensive equipment isn’t at risk.
5. Prepare some a list of some of your favorite songs and the type of music you want played on your special day. Then your musician and performers can rehearse and create a wedding song list.
6. Go over each detail of the wedding day schedule, so your entertainer knows where he/she fits in and when it’s appropriate to act as an emcee or announcer.
7. What should the entertainer wear? Make sure to tell him/her whether he should coordinate with your party’s theme, wear a black tie outfit or can where whatever he/she wants.
8. What food will you provide for your entertainer, and will you allow performers to have alcohol?
9. Discuss and agree upon overtime rates well in advance, just in case you want to continue the party. And this is also a great time to discuss final payment and method of payment.
10. Make sure you have all of the performer’s relevant contact information and he/she has yours. Give your cell phone number, the event address, the venue’s phone number, a contact name and website address well in advance to cover all your bases.

For more information about wedding entertainment or to book a live band (playing jazz, groove or reggae) for your wedding, contact Brian Allen: Brian@briansaxallen.com; 772-336-7517.

Sources: http://weddings.gigmasters.com/entertainment-checklist/

Reggae music is a passion of mine and a passion of many others. It was created in Jamaica in the early ’60s, and it was developed from ska, mento and R&B music.

According to Piero Scaruffi: “It also made explicit the relationship with the underworld of the ‘Rastafarians’ (adepts of a millenary African faith, revived Marcus Garvey who advocated a mass emigration back to Africa), both in the lyrics and in the appropriation of the African nyah-bingi drumming style (a style that mimicks the heartbeat with its pattern of “thump-thump, pause, thump-thump”). Compared with rock music, reggae music basically inverted the role of bass and guitar: the former was the lead, the latter beat the typical hiccupping pattern.”

Bob Marley popularized reggae music with his band The Wailers and with his outspoken religious and political beliefs. The Wailers os perhaps the most recognized Jamaican band.

The Golden Age of Reggae fell during the heyday of roots reggae, which is a spiritual type of music praising God and involving themes of poverty, government resistance and racial oppression.

Reggae really hit mainstream music when Neil Diamond recorded Red Red Wine, and it was featured in the film The Harder They Come.

My reggae band, Island Therapy, offers you and your guests happy island music with beats from reggae, calypso and soca music. Contact Brian Sax Allen to book your next Treasure Coast island experience: 772-336-7517.

References: Wikipedia.org; Piero Scaruffi

Ever wondered where the term “jazz” and its music style came from? You may be living under a rock, but jazz music has greatly influenced our American culture.

Jazz is known as “America’s classical music,” celebrated as one of North America’s oldest musical genres.

Jazz originated from African American culture in the early 20^th century. It has been part of African American traditions for more than 100 years.

“Jazz” used to be slang for Chicago music in the early 1900s, and early jazz men referred to sex as jazz. Musician and songwriter Clarence Williams said he was the first to use “jazz” in a song.

The sounds of jazz are strong rhythmic under-structures, blue notes, solos, call- and-response patterns and melody improvisations. This was an inventive, inspirational, genius style, and it still is in many ways.

Jazz music is most recognizable by its instruments: saxophone, vibraphone, trumpet, piano, guitar, double bass, bass guitar, trombone, drums and of course vocals.

Ragtime, Blues, Big Band and Bebop are all subgenres formed from jazz, and there are many more than that. Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday are just a few of the well-known jazz artists and inventors. They have inspired modern musicians and instilled a special musical love in cities like New Orleans, Chicago and New York City — the most renowned jazz cities.

Brian Sax Allen and his bandmates are greatly inspired by jazz. Brian Allen is a great saxophone player who developed multiple bands for all of the genres he plays. His exceptional jazz band is called Phantom Jazz, and they play all types of jazz from straight-ahead and swing to standards and smooth.

Jazz is perfect for every occasion, from background music to dancing music, quiet dinners and cocktails hours, to parties, festivals and club events.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz

http://www.historyjazz.com/

Brian Allen is really impressive with his multiple bands and comprehensive instrument knowledge. He works all over South Florida and performs jazz, reggae and groove for any occasion.

September was a beautiful month for weddings.  An extravagant event was held at the Checca Lodge, in the Florida Keys, on Islamorada with the ceremony held under the walk of crossed palm trees with the soft sounds of the flute and pan. The beautiful bride and her entourage from New Orleans had a fabulous event where everyone enjoyed themselves. La Siesta Resort, in the Florida Keys, also on Islamorada, was the site of another beautiful wedding where the weather and view were spectactular. Everyone had a time they will remember forever. The limbo contest was a hit. Nobody left the reception feeling any pain. We wish both couples all the best.

Looking forward to playing again at Cafe Creme in Port ST Lucie. Will be playing from 6 – 8 PM on Thursdays beginning in November. Come on down to hear your favorite standards and easy listening jazz. The food is authentic German so watch out if you are on a diet and there is a great selection of beer. See you soon.

Had a great time playing  this weekend. Shuckers on Saturday was a hoot with the crowd helping us out with some tamborine work. We then played at Mulligan’s in Stuart alongside Dancin in the Streets. A great crowd that was dressed to the nines and looking fine.  George and Steve were in rare form and tearing it up. Played Sunday at Mulligan’s again with a slower placed crowd. We wowed them with some of our prettiest stuff. Looking forward to next weekend. Come on out to hear us.