Q Branch Archive for posts tagged ‘bristol wedding bands’
DJ V Wedding Band
Should you hire a live band or should you book a DJ for your event?
Well it’s all down to personal taste.
But, as with everything in life, there are good and bad DJ’s and there are good and bad bands out there! Of course there are also BRILLIANT bands out there and Doctor Chocolate are one of them!
How do you choose what is right for your event?
BUDGET
Although hiring a live band can cost more – it is definitely worth the investment! A solo performer (usually playing/singing along to backing tracks) can cost anything from £300 plus – we’ve worked with some who charge £850! A live band can be anywhere between £500 – £4000. The cost of the band will depend on the size, how many band members they have, if they have their own equipment or need to hire it in, and how experienced they are. A band just starting out will be cheaper as they haven’t built a reputation and may not be reliable – their experience may be performing in pubs. Doctor Chocolate are not expensive by any means – we work really hard to keep our costs to the absolute minimum so we can pass the savings back to you – but we are not cheap either so you won’t be able to book the band for £500! There are 10 members of the band in Doctor Chocolate (9 musicians and 1 sound engineer). Remember – you may think it’s expensive to hire a professional – but wait until you hire an amateur! This may be the only time you have a spectacular event in your lifetime – make sure you book the right entertainment.
A Great DJ can cost between £500-£1200 for the evening – again depending on the quality of equipment they bring, lighting and how good they are! Other DJs can cost between £150-£300. Please go and see them in advance to make sure they suit your event – and remember you get what you pay for!
Contact Doctor Chocolate to find out how much we will cost you for your event. We will ask you some questions so that we can give you a full and inclusive quote: What date do you want? What time do you want the band to arrive and finish? Where are your having your event? Do you want an early set up or a late finish? From this we can give you a fully inclusive quote. We promise you will be pleasantly surprised as we are excellent value for a 9 piece band and sound engineer – making 10 people in total. Each and every member of the band are enthusiastic and experienced. Our only aim is to provide the best entertainment for your event. In addition we are fully self contained – with our own pa, lighting, pat tested equipment and public liability insurance as standard!
SONG CHOICE
If you want your guests to be able to request songs to be played all night long – then go for a DJ. They will have (hopefully) thousands of songs available on their laptop that they can play for you.
If however you want a live band that can appeal to every generation that attends your wedding, you want the WOW factor, want a band that has a set list that is tried and tested and updated regularly so only the best music from the 1960’s to present day chart numbers are played by a skilled and experienced live band – then go for a live band every time. You can’t beat it for atmosphere and interaction. Doctor Chocolate are the perfect party band for any occasion.
A band can perform any number of songs but be wary of bands that only have a playlist of about 30 numbers on their entire set list. They may not be able to adapt to different crowds and musical tastes. But also be very wary of bands who have list after list after list of songs on their website – can they really play them all? More importantly, can they really play them all well or will it sound like a rehearsal band on the night as they try to cram in as many songs as you’ve requested into the set?
Doctor Chocolate have an extensive list of songs in our set that work well for weddings, corporate events, charity fundraisers etc. Our sets are changed and rehearsed regularly to keep them fresh and new and to ensure that the songs are always played as close to the original – but with a Choccie twist! However, band members choose the numbers in the set. From experience we know what songs work well and what songs don’t work so well for mixed audiences and celebrations. Depending on the event and the type of crowd attending – we will change our sets accordingly. Be assured the sets will be rocking and the dance floor jammed!
ATMOSPHERE
There are some good DJs and we’ve come across some awful DJs. Your DJ should be able to get the crowd going and be interactive and clear when they speak – not mumble into the microphone or be really cheesey! They need to build the atmosphere for your event. Playing record after record is easy but you need them to be able to talk to your guests and encourage them if needed. In addition, make sure their equipment is good enough for the size of your venue.
Doctor Chocolate are excellent at interacting with any crowd and different generations. We know how important the atmosphere can be and our dance-floors are always jammed with guests from the moment we start until the moment we end! Doctor Chocolate bring along our PA system and lighting. Our sound is clear and full – our PA system is top of the range. If you have a larger venue – mention it at the time of booking as we can extend our PA system and hire in some more to ensure the equipment is exactly right for the venue.
Doctor Chocolate interact with your guests. It’s not us on stage and your guests on the dance floor. We have one common aim! We want your event to be THE BEST night! So we interact with your guests, we talk to them and involve them in what we are doing. That way, everyone has an amazing evening.
EXPERIENCED & RELIABLE
If you go for a DJ choose one who has experience! Try to avoid any that don’t bring along a PA system but require you to hire one in, and avoid any that don’t have their own lighting systems – you’ll have to hire these in addition. Get referrals if you can from previous clients.
The same applies to hiring a live band. Choose a band that is experienced in the type of event you are organising. Having the wrong type of band perform at your event can be disastrous. You may love to have a Michael Buble tribute or James Bond Tribute Band. This is great and can add atmosphere to your event but make sure that they also offer a party set as well as your guests will want some variety and want to party later in the evening! We can certainly recommend The Name Is Band – Bond Tribute Band – perfect for James Bond Themed parties and events – performing an hour set of Bond themes and a fantastic party set later in the evening.
Doctor Chocolate have over 25 years experience at performing for all types of events. In all that time we have NEVER let a client down – ever! Our reputation is excellent and over 80% of our work comes through recommendation or people who have seen/heard us before.
To be honest – NOTHING can compare to a live band that is experienced, fun, interactive, sound great, look great and appeal to every generation attending your event! LIVE MUSIC RULES!
Woodlands Castle
Doctor Chocolate played at Woodlands Castle in March for a wedding.
This venue is fantastic and rather beautiful for weddings. The evening celebrations took place in the marquee and the staff here were so polite and helpful!
Woodlands Castle is a privately owned wedding venue in Taunton, situated in 12 acres of private grounds surrounded by woodland making the house a secluded haven; yet just minutes from Taunton town centre and sit on junction 25 of the M5, providing a central meeting point between Exeter and Bristol. Woodlands Castle is an eco-friendly green venue, with a stringent recycling policy, energy saving lightbulbs, we try to be as paperless as possible in our booking procedures and we source everything we use from local providers cutting down on carbon emissions.
The venue also has a noise limiter installed as they back onto residential housing. For a 9-piece band this could have proved to be a difficult evening but Doctor Chocolate has invested in a fantastic PA system that is clear and doesn’t have to be ear-piercingly loud! We also have a fantastic sound engineer who was able to twist and twiddle knobs on the mixing desk all night to keep us within the limits that were set!
Reliable Wedding Band
Doctor Chocolate have been on the professional circuit of function, wedding, covers, party bands in the Bristol and South West area for over 20 years. We are experienced, interactive, reliable, fun, sound great, look great and, more importantly, in all that time not once have we let a venue or a client down.
Sadly, this isn’t the case with all bands. In 2014 we’ve received over 8 last minute telephone calls from couples who are desperately looking for a band for their wedding as the band they booked emailed or telephoned them to say they couldn’t make it! This is dreadful and, after all the hard work that goes into organising your day and evening – the absolute last thing you want to hear.
Your evening entertainment for your wedding can be just as important as the daytime celebrations and ceremony. It is the part of the day when you need to ensure your guests are fed, watered and looked after and have a great evening!
Sadly, Doctor Chocolate haven’t always been able to help out as we have a packed diary of bookings ourselves. For a 9-piece band this is fantastic and we are one of the most hard-working bands on the circuit. But this doesn’t help you when you’ve been let down by a band that isn’t professional and won’t think twice about the implications of letting you down at the last minute!
Please always check out a band before you book them – not all bands are as experienced and reliable as Doctor Chocolate. Nearly every band now have a series of videos and recordings on their website for you to view before booking – please remember that the vast majority of videos have been recorded in a studio with the band having been tweaked to within an inch of their lives by a talented studio sound engineer! Go and see them live! Ask for recommendations and references from other clients! Ask to talk to previous clients if you need to!
Doctor Chocolate have uploaded 22 videos to our main website – each and every one of these videos has been recorded whilst we have been performing live in front of an audience! Not in a studio! they sound great – they look great – and this is what you can expect for your event!
We won’t let you down on our performance and will guarantee you a fabulous night of music and dancing that all your guests will enjoy and talk about for years after! Don’t take our word for it – check out the testimonials on our main website page.
What do the band do once set up?
If you want to know everything about Doctor Chocolate then visit our main website!
Doctor Chocolate arrive at a venue for 6pm and we take 90 minutes to set up and sound check. This means that the band will be ready from 7:30pm. After set up we normally put on one of our playlists on the Ipod – it can be easy listening or we can crank it up and put something on that is more for party dancing! We have a large selection of playlists so there will be something for everyone.
After set up Doctor Chocolate will often go and sit in a room near by where we can leave our suitcases and get changed in private. However, sometimes the venue has entertainment available!
Here you’ll see the naughtiest members of Doctor Chocolate in the stocks! At the same time members of the band were off playing croquet or swing ball! It’s all rock and roll!
Good job the sun was out, there were no rotten fruit to throw and we were let out on good behaviour after a short time!
Stage Set Up and Lighting
Doctor Chocolate have an excellent PA system. Many bands say that – but actually turn up with an alright PA system – not a great PA system! Doctor Chocolate invest heavily in our equipment – we have the latest QSC PA system and it sounds amazing! Our sound is clear – you can hear every instrument playing, crisp – it’s not muffled or muddy in sound and it’s compact too so doesn’t take up too much room. Visit our main website here!
We’ve turned up at events where the DJ hasn’t wanted to go on after we’ve played as their PA system (which is HUGE in size) just isn’t up to the job for the night. Recently the DJ cranked his volume up so much he blew one of the speakers! Doctor Chocolate can increase the volume as needed – but always within the levels set by the venue and we always sound great! No sub-standard equipment for the Choccies!
In addition we also provide lighting for the stage so that you can see us and it adds ambiance! You’d be surprised how many bands don’t have any lighting at all and turn up at a venue where they also don’t have any ambiant lighting! The result? No atmosphere as the main lights have to remain on all night – have you tried “Dad Dancing” with the lights full on? Not a great look or atmosphere!
Other bands will charge you an extra fee for providing lighting for the stage and dance-floor! All these little extras can soon add up and take your budget over what you wanted to spend.
Doctor Chocolate – wedding, covers, party and function band quote you for your event and we include the PA system, stage lighting, 9 musicians, 1 sound engineer and include two hours of live music performed by an awesome band with songs that are guaranteed to get your toes tapping and your guests on the dance floor!
All our equipment is pat tested yearly and we have public liability insurance so your venue can be assured that they are protected too! Find out more on our main website, facebook page or contact us for more information on how we can give your event the WOW factor.
Come and see Doctor Chocolate
Looking for a wedding, covers, party, function band for your event? Doctor Chocolate have many years experience at playing for all events all over the UK.
We are often asked if it’s possible to come and see/hear us perform live. And – the answer is: Yes of course you can!
This may be the only time you have to book a live band for your event and you want to be sure you book wisely! If you haven’t been recommended a band then you MUST go and see/hear them! So we try and book in open/public events throughout the year and there’s a few in 2014 that you are more than welcome to come along to.
21st June – Burtle Village Hall for their Midsummer Ball – Tickets £10 and include a ploughmans
25th July – The Thunderbolt Public House, Bath Road, Bristol – tickets £5 on the door
31st October – Royal Hotel, WSM, Halloween Ball
1st November – Charity Fundraiser for Weston Hospicecare – £35 to include 3 course meal.
All our other fabulous events are private events such as weddings and corporate so it won’t be possible to come along to any of those and heckle the band. However you can be assured that if you book us for your private event we won’t bring anyone along to your event either!
If you can’t make any of these dates then check our website – we’ve 22 videos on there that are 100% Fully LIVE! They were recorded at a charity event in 2013 – this is how we look/sound for each event. These videos were not recorded in a studio – they were fully live.
So, get in contact and find out more about how you can book Doctor Chocolate! We’d love to hear from you!
All quotes are fully inclusive, with no hidden charges or extras to pay!
All our other events throughout the year are private: weddings, corporate, charity events and it’s not possible to invite you along to these events. However, you can be assured that, when you book Doctor Chocolate for your event – we won’t be inviting anyone along to listen on that night either. We only bring along band members!
Wedding Band at Forde Abbey
Wow! What a venue. Party, covers and wedding band Doctor Chocolate had the pleasure of playing here at the weekend and it is simply stunning for weddings!
Beautiful grounds, beautiful building and lovely staff! It was an absolute pleasure to perform here!
If you have a wedding, party or celebration of any kind coming up then you need Doctor Chocolate! We are a fantastic band based in the South West of England and are available for any and all events.
We play music for all generations from all generations. With music from the sixties to present day chart hits there will be something we play that you just HAVE to get on the dance floor and boogie along with. If you are looking for a covers band, a party band, a wedding band, a corporate band, a charity fundraising band then you need Doctor Chocolate! We have many years experience of performing for all types of events and celebrations and we know how to interact with different crowds and age groups.
So whatever event you are planning – get in contact for a free, no obligation, fully inclusive and highly competitive quote today! We’d love to hear from you.
Find Doctor Chocolate on Facebook too!
Come and See Doctor Chocolate Live
Doctor Chocolate would recommend that you go and see any band you want to book for your event! The entertainment on the evening is such an important part of the night and it’s easy to get it wrong. A pub band can be excellent in a pub environment but not all of them are quite so good when booked for a wedding or special occasion. They may not have their own equipment, pa, lighting and have to borrow it all in, they may not be used to such a diverse crowd and they may turn up and perform in jeans and a t-shirt!
You can be sure that Doctor Chocolate are an experienced and reliable band and we are fully self contained with our own top of the range PA system and lighting – and we certainly know how to get a crowd going!
It’s not always possible to come and see us live – most of our events are private bookings so we wouldn’t invite you along to come and see/listen to us in the same way you can be sure we wouldn’t invite anyone along to your event either! However, we do have some open events through the year that are open to the public to come along to – just keep an eye on our Facebook page for details!
Alternatively it may be possible for you to come along to a rehearsal. We get together once a month to run through new songs and ideas/structures for songs. This is where we get to the bare bones of the songs and really thrash them out, make lots of mistakes and run and re run the numbers until they are perfect and ready to be performed in public! If we are having a normal monthly rehearsal then it may be possible for you to pop along and meet us. Just ask for details when you make your enquiry.
Better still – if you want to see what we look and sound like then we’ve uploaded 22 videos to our website. These videos were filmed at a charity event in November 2013 – they are 100% fully live – there is no studio recording here – this is exactly what the band sound and look like at an event! This live recording is a lot better than some bands studio recordings! Have a look for yourself here!
Wedding Venues
Doctor Chocolate have been performing for 25 years. We are an experienced and entertaining live band and have performed at thousands of weddings, charity event, parties, school proms, college university balls, military events and celebrations over the years.
This means that we’ve played at some amazing venues all over the UK and the South West as well as internationally! From private houses, hotels, country houses, village halls and military establishments – you name it – we’ve probably played in something similar previously.
This experience gives us a real insight in what makes a good reception venue.
Having worked with private clients, corporate agents, agencies, wedding coordinators, Events Managers and venues the length and breadth of the country we also know what the client wants and what the venues expect and we work really hard to make sure everyone is happy!
Here are a few things to consider when you are looking at venues
ACCESS
How easy is the venue to access? Doctor Chocolate have arrived at venues and been able to park right outside the room we are due to perform in. This is lovely and speeds up the set up of all the equipment but it’s not always quite so easy! Other venues are not quite so easy and we’ve had to climb 3-4 flights of stairs, navigate narrow corridors or wade through 8″ of mud to set up in a marquee. This could delay the allocated time for setting up all the equipment and may mean a later start than planned in the evening. Thankfully with 10 people in Doctor Chocolate (9 band members and 1 sound engineer) we can set up super fast but please do consider the access for entertainment when you are looking at venues and advise the band if there are any difficulties.
WEDDING RECEPTION
Another point to consider when booking a live band is the amount of time they need to set up. Doctor Chocolate have this down to a fine art but we do have an awful lot of equipment so always recommend a minimum of 90 minutes in case of any problems at the venue. Our PA is top of the range and there are 9 of us in the band plus a sound engineer, lighting and instruments, so a fair bit of space is needed. If you are having your wedding breakfast/wedding reception in the same room as the band you may want to consider a couple of options: is there enough space for the band to set up and seat all your guests? Do you want the band to set up earlier in the daytime before anyone arrives? Can the band set up after the wedding breakfast/reception allowing your guests to move out of the room and allow the venue and the band time to crack on with the entertainment? Is there another room or outdoor space for your guests to move into whilst the set up is carried out? Any problems then please just ask – we’ve lots of experience and can help you with the schedule for the day/evening.
BAR
Parties work best if the bar is located in the same room as the entertainment. Although the band can still be heard, down the corridor and around the corner, down a flight of stairs etc, having everything in the same room or as near as possible makes for a better atmosphere! Don’t worry though – Doctor Chocolate are an interactive band and with most of the band members on wire-free microphones we will go and get guests and bring them back through to the dance floor if they spend too long at the bar! It’s not a problem for our band but can limit other bands who may not quite as flexible, confident or experienced as well as their being restricted to the stage space.
NOISE LIMITERS
Many venues have had a change of use to allow music and have had to install a sound limiter. Sometimes the sound limit set is really low so only suitable for acoustic performers (no speakers). We have, and we will continue to work at venues with a sound limiter installed but we would need to know the decibel level prior to confirming the event. Sometimes the noise limiter set at a venue is enough for us to be able to perform and still loud enough to create a great atmosphere for you. Our sound engineer keeps a close eye on the limit levels to make sure we don’t go over. Just check the decibel level allowed at the venue before you ring for a quote and we can advise you if it is within the limits we can work in. Sadly if we turn up on the night and a limiter is in place, if the band was not informed in advance, then we maybe unable to play. Find out more on our Frequently Asked Questions page on the website.
EVENING FOOD
If you are planning on feeding your guests in the evening then please do think about the timings and where they could fit well. Doctor Chocolate perform for two x one hour sets and we find guests are more likely to party a little later in the evening, especially when attending weddings as it gives guests time to catch up and have a natter with relatives and friends that they may not have seen for a while. A lot of venues insist on serving an evening buffet at 9:30pm – which is the ideal time for the band to get everyone going. If possible a better time to serve food is before the band start so at about 8:45pm or in the bands break at about 10:30pm. Doctor Chocolate would suggest sets starting at 9:30pm until 10:30pm and the buffet served at this time – bacon butties often go down really well at this time of the evening and keep the energy levels of your guests going – with our second set would start again at 11:00pm and finishing at midnight.
ROOM FOR THE BAND
The band need a bit of space to set up the equipment although Doctor Chocolate have squeezed into some really small spaces in the past. Ideally a 12′ x 15′ space is needed – with or without a stage – we’re not that fussy! Also, please consider where the band will go once everything has been set up – normally we require a room somewhere to get changed, leave our belongings whilst we are performing, and somewhere to sit before we go on and during the break. It doesn’t have to be fancy – a simple meeting room or a spare reception room would be great. With many marquee weddings a private room isn’t always available so we’ve had to change into stage outfits in the back of the van or mobile toilets – it’s not ideal – but we always adapt!
For more information on Doctor Chocolate please visit our website.
We’ve also got 25 videos that were recorded LIVE at a charity event in Weston. The videos are 100% live and give you the opportunity to see/hear the band before you book us if we haven’t got a public event where you can come along and heckle.
Follow us on Facebook to keep updated with our shenanigans and hear our latest news!
Contact us for a quote or more information on the band. We’d love to hear from you.
Unique Selling Points
Doctor Chocolate is a live 9-piece wedding and party band that specialises in playing for ANY event where a full-on party is needed.
We’ve performed at thousands of events all over the UK and we are a seasoned, highly professional live band guaranteed to make your event one to remember – and for all the right reasons!
The majority of the band use wireless microphones and have the freedom of movement. This means we have a unique USP (unique selling point) as we are not confined to the stage area. Our performance is lively, fun and interactive and we like to get involved with the guests at your event, including them in the evening from the moment we start performing to the very end of the evening. Guests have sent thank you notes through on our facebook page telling us that they were dancing and watching the bride dance with the band on stage only to find a trombone, trumpet or saxophone beside them.
So, if you want an experienced and lively band to perform for your event – get in contact! We’d love to hear from you!