Why Are Wedding Musicians So Expensive?

Music creates an atmosphere for the entire event and can make the day magical or ruin the vibe. Experienced wedding musicians certainly aren’t the service you should save on.

Such a high price is justified. You must cover the basic costs plus overhead. This includes the instruments and other musical equipment, travel expenses, rehearsals, and communication.

Furthermore, weddings typically are held on weekends ad last longer than expected, which results in higher fees.

Wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and musicians have only one shot at performing perfectly. The band’s experience and quality of the show matter.

If you float high on the dreams of a memorable wedding reception, be prepared to pay accordingly.

Finally, weddings often involve special requests, both planned and last-minute.

Be it the bride’s favorite song for the couple’s dance or a surprise song from guests, wedding musicians strive to accommodate the needs and wants of everyone. Unfortunately, such flexibility also comes at an additional fee.

Musician Experience

You likely aren’t going to hire a band playing in the cheapest bar in your area for your wedding.

That’s not to say the quality of a band’s music is determined only by the places they play, their rate, or their experience. Sometimes, beginning musicians are pretty good. But that’s not the point here.

Your wedding is a special day, and you spend an immense amount of time and effort on preparation.

Perhaps, you’ve been searching for the best wedding venue and the most exquisite dress for weeks. So why should your criteria for choosing a wedding band be different?

Hiring musicians with years or decades of experience will guarantee no issues arise during the performance. By issues, I don’t only mean low-quality music.

Professional musicians must also know how to create a memorable show, as opposed to beginners who may be shy and seem awkward.

The band’s spirit will inevitably pass on to guests, and it is up to you to decide what spirit it will be.

Evaluating the band’s professionalism is even more important than your wedding photographer’s. That’s because pictures can be edited or re-shot, while the band delivers live performance.

Of course, experienced musicians charge accordingly. Firstly, years of music education must be compensated. Secondly, established musicians typically own high-end instruments. Thirdly, that’s how basic economics work – the higher is the demand, the higher is the price.

And a skilled musician will always find a client to replace one who doesn’t want to pay.

High Quality Instruments

It’s no secret that musical instruments aren’t cheap. And a person outside of the music industry may not even imagine how high instrument prices really are.

An entry-level guitar can be purchased for under $400. But professional musicians may spend over $2500 on it. Even if the two instruments look nearly identical, the sound is drastically different.

The average cost of professional drums is hard to even estimate as the prices range is extremely broad. High-end drum sets start at $1,500 and can cost as much as $10,000.

Apart from instruments themselves, a band also needs amplifiers, cords, speakers, and plenty of other equipment depending on the type of music.

For example, a professional guitar with a cheap cord won’t sound as intended. Such small add-ons often end up costing like an entire instrument set.

Musicians don’t change their instruments with every performance, but it is still hard to compensate for such a high cost.

It takes multiple performances to cover the expenses and start gaining profit. Plus, when hiring a band, you’re paying for numerous instrument sets at once.

Let’s do some quick math. Assume you hire a band of four people with each instrument along with equipment costing $4,000.

That’s $16,000 solely for the instruments, and then there is travel, rehearsals, and other expenses. Considering this, $4,000 per night doesn’t seem all that much.

Number of Musicians

Data shows the average cost of a wedding music band is $4,500, whereas a wedding DJ costs about $1,000. Such a huge difference can be attributed to multiple factors, the most important being the number of musicians.

Even if you’re hiring the best wedding DJ in your area, it’s a single professional. Just like a band, they have to cover the costs of music equipment, travel, and get some profit. But when you hire a band, these expenses multiply.

Sure, a band playing live music has a more elegant, sophisticated vibe than a DJ switching digital tunes. But if you can’t afford to pay multiple musicians, you can go for a compromise. Hire a live duo or a soloist instead.

Weekend & Night Work

I doubt you’d agree to work on weekends or late nights for the same pay as on a weekday. Yet, wedding musicians must work on such a schedule or regular basis.

Understandably, couples who set their wedding on weekends want their guests to have a great time without worrying about upcoming work. But the prime time comes at an extra fee.

Higher weekend and night rates are based on the demand and supply rules.

But, of course, not all musicians are ready to work on such a schedule, so those willing can set higher prices. And if another client is willing to pay more, the band will most certainly choose them.

Overtime

Weddings rarely follow a pre-defined schedule. Numerous circumstances may extend the duration of the reception.

The band truly wants to perform for you and make the wedding a day to remember, but musicians have lives outside of work like anyone. They may even be hired for a different event after your wedding.

The problem is, many couples underestimate the time required for musicians to set everything up, perform, and pack the equipment back.

This results either in overtime that costs extra or in the band not being able to finish the program. The band may also be physically unable to perform for five hours straight.

When hiring a band, schedule it for the maximum time you expect. The band must also outline the overtime options in the contract. A wedding coordinator is of great help in ensuring everything goes as planned and musicians are kept in the loop.

Long Event

A wedding is a lengthy event even if everything goes as planned, but sometimes, it can extend up until morning.

Playing music is labor, both physical and emotional. And like any professional, musicians must get paid for every hour of their work.

The average duration of a wedding band’s performance is two hours of music within four hours period counting breaks.

But that’s just an estimation, as typically, the band prolongs the performance at least slightly to meet special requests and schedule amendments.

Typically, a wedding musician’s hourly rate ranges anywhere from $150 to $500 per musician. So, every hour and cost you hundreds of dollars, which multiplied, come up to thousands.

Travel Fees

Wedding venues aren’t always located conveniently and close to the city. That’s alright, as the location isn’t the main factor in choosing a venue. But the need for travel raises the price of every service for your wedding, including the music.

Professional wedding bands can’t fit all members into a single small car. They must transport all the instruments and other equipment securely, which usually requires a van.

Van hire may cost under $100 a day if you drive it yourself, but you’ll have plenty of other things to do on this day. Hiring a van driver may end up in a hefty price tag.

The band members must be paid for the travel duration, too. Most of us wouldn’t agree to get the same wage for four hours and eight hours.

Even if the performance duration remains unchanged, this time is lost from the musicians’ lives and could otherwise be used for another performance.

Preparations

When estimating wedding musician pay, some couples neglect the time a band spends rehearsing.

Yet, even if the requested songs are within their regular repertoire, they must be constantly rehearsed. And if a couple requests something special, the necessary preparation time increases drastically.

While the client can’t see rehearsals, they take much more time than the performance itself and are highly important. Preparation ensures that the live show will go smoothly.

The band may also have to create a custom set to accommodate your wedding needs.

During your wedding, you don’t want to think “why is this depressing song playing?” so communication is crucial. Customer service, even if it happens via phone, costs money.

Preparation also refers to equipment set up before the performance. Numerous cords must be plugged in, the instruments must be tuned, and the sound checked.

This can take up over half an hour. Then, the equipment must also be disassembled and loaded out.

If you don’t calculate enough time to set up the stage, the band will either spend less time playing or charge you extra.

Finally, planning small yet essential points such as access to electrical outlets and loading in logistics isn’t simple. Numerous unexpected circumstances may arise, causing the band to set up longer.

Special Requests

Last-minute requests aren’t uncommon at weddings. In fact, they’re a wedding specialty.

For example, custom song requests or the bride’s sister wanting to sing with the band takes extra time and adds stress. Urgent venue or time changes are also counted as special accommodations.

Some bands include such variations in their final fee, and others outline the options in the contract. Discussing how flexible the contract is in advance is crucial to stay within your budget.