Looking to hire a band for your private function? Maybe you have a friend who is a musician and has offered to play at your event, or you’ve managed to book a local band who really get you on your feet. Many people don’t realize that there are things to consider under such circumstances, and we can tell you the most important things to remember.

•      Check with the venue as to whether they are allowed by law to have live music. There are strict music license laws, and noise restrictions to consider.

•      Do they have the space to accommodate the band you have in mind? How many are performing, how much space do they and their instruments take up?

•      Always check to see how many power points there are – will you need adapters or extension cables, and will you need WiFi?

•      The next step is to ask your artist to compile a demo tape of the music they will be playing. Almost all venues require this so they can check that the music is non-offensive. Just offering a list of the songs isn’t enough – they will need to inspect the music itself. If the venue sees any reason to deem the soundtrack unfit, they have every right to refuse, or cut the music off on the spot during the party.

•      Consider lighting. Many venues who specialise in live gigs will have a lighting rig to hire for a small price, but they can also be rented from local music shops and DJ equipment websites – this also gives you an opportunity to personalize!