How to Book a Band

Contrary to what some may say, you really don't need to be a professional event planner to find and book a band for an event. Here at The Bash, we’ve helped book entertainment for over 450,000 events—the majority of whom were ordinary people looking to hire bands, entertainers or vendors for their party. 

When it comes to booking a band for an event, you've come to the right place. Booking a band has never been easier with these tips below.

Here are 5 steps to book a band for your next event.

Photo: Yachty by Nature

Determine what type

There are a few things to consider before you begin searching through the internet for the perfect band for your event. Ask yourself what type of band do you want to hire? Whether it’s a cover band or jazz band, mariachi band or country band—that choice is up to you!  

Beyond the type of music you want to hear, you also have to think about how big of a band you want. This will depend on how many guests you will be entertaining and where your event is taking place. You don't want the band to outnumber your guests and you need to make sure they have the proper space to perform.  

It may seem as overly simple but thinking in these basic terms really is a great way to get started. 

Photo: The Bailsmen

Search and find

Now that you’ve decided on the type of band you want, it’s time to find the perfect band for your event. The Bash has over 105 different varieties of bands available to book for every type of event. View individual profiles for each band complete with photos, videos, and verified reviews. 

Whether it’s a wedding or private party, or birthday parties throughout the year, we guarantee you’ll be able to find and book the perfect band for your special occasion on The Bash. View a full list of bands here. 

Compare price quotes

When you find the perfect band on The Bash, you can submit a request to receive a price quote from one band or from multiple bands.We always recommend contacting more than one performer so that you can get a realistic sense of pricing. 

We’re often asked whether or not it is acceptable to negotiate pricing with a prospective band. The answer is—yes! Most bands know that if they quote too high of a price the party planner is going to walk away.  

Chances are, if the band knows that you are contacting other groups for quotes, their bid is going to be pretty close to market price. Working bands know that these decisions often come down to pricing. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, you can normally assume that you are getting a fair quote. 

Pro Tip: If you have fallen in love with a band but they are outside of your price range—be honest with them! Usually they can find a way to make it work. Maybe they will play slightly shorter sets or won't bring every single member of the band. Communication is key.

Photo: Mike Dangeroux Orchestra

Book a Band

So you've found the band of your dreams and have come to an agreement about pricing. That's it, right? Well, if you are happy with a 'handshake agreement' maybe you can call it a day but we strongly recommend you get a firmer agreement in writing.  

If you’ve decided to book a band from The Bash, you will confirm the booking through the site. You can do this by logging into your account or contacting our Account Services team. When you book a band through The Bash, you’ll be covered by Our Guarantee. 

Our Guarantee

We ensure that our vendors are held to the highest standards of professionalism. All payments (deposit and full balance payments) made through our online payment system are reinforced by a 100% money-back guarantee. We have our Account Services team available to help by phone or email.

Contracts

Whether or not you book with us, you should certainly ask your performer for a contract. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your performer will meet the conditions of your agreement (and will do the same for them).  

Pro Tip: We highly recommend contracts (click here for more on why).

Photo: Mariachi Autlán De Houston

Stay in touch 

In the weeks or days leading up to your event you may think of a number of things you want to pass on to your band. Hopefully you have already discussed most of the bigger points (and have them written into your contract) but inevitably more things will come to you as the event gets closer.  

Make sure to communicate regarding arrival, set up, and departure times. You’ll want to discuss any needs of the band electrical and weather permitting), as well as any special requests you have for song requests. 

While you should feel comfortable contacting your bandleader with questions and last second thoughts, keep in mind that you are almost certainly not the only gig they have on the books. Try not to overwhelm them or they might stop returning your calls altogether.  

If you have booked a good, experienced band, don’t stress! They have done this many times before.

Book a Band

Whether you need to book wedding bands or party bands, you can find the perfect band for any occasion on The Bash.