Live Band or DJ?

Jan. 25, 2015

Locals say...it depends

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That’s advice Christopher Ames could give wedding bands if they see their business being usurped by disc jockey services. It’s advice he’s taken to heart.

Ames is one of the owners of Razor Entertainment, which provides musicians for weddings and corporate events, including classical, jazz and variety groups. He’s also the drummer for Soul Street, one of the bands on the organization’s roster.

Ames lived in Charlevoix for more than 20 years before moving to Savannah, Georgia. His business partner Steve Rodriguez is a saxophonist and Soul Street’s musical director. These days, Rodriguez is based in Saginaw, but both men frequently return to northern Michigan for gigs. Sometimes those gigs feature Rodriguez, not as a live musician, but as a DJ.

"For the past five or six years we’ve been into the DJ market," said Ames.

And why not? With their large amount of sound and lighting equipment, plus their familiarity with music, it seemed a natural outgrowth of their business.

DJ services became popular in large part because they could provide a greater variety of music than bands. The ability to shift from country to big band to current hits to oldies presents something with which most bands can’t compete.

"At a wedding reception, you’re trying to accommodate a broad spectrum of guests and their tastes, not to mention the bride and groom’s, which is most important," said Erin Anderson, co-owner of Mr. Music DJ & Event Service in Traverse City, one of the region’s longest-running DJ services. "Guests are different ages, from different locations and have different tastes. With a DJ, everyone can get a little something they like. It’s a nice way to be inclusive of a wide variety of guests."

Anderson said it’s also easier for DJs to fulfill requests. If the happy couple or their guests want to hear the songs the way they were originally popularized, a DJ can play the exact songs they know and love.

Anderson makes it clear that her company is simply an alternative to live music. "It’s different than a band – not better," she said. "There are wonderful bands out there. It’s apples and oranges."

Traverse City band Mac Daddy makes its bread and butter in wedding receptions. Nathan Gilmore, the band’s keyboard player, said the group originally played other outlets, but receptions soon became the band’s primary focus.

"In December we do holiday parties and we do some corporate events, but all summer long we do wedding receptions," he said.

Mac Daddy covers music from a diverse slate of artists, including Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Journey, Faith Hill, the Eagles, Maroon Five, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.

"From the 50s to today," said Gilmore.

"You have to play everything: pop, R&B, Motown, funk, rock, today’s hits."

Gilmore said the choice of a band or a DJ comes down to personal preference. He suggests hiring a DJ "if you’re looking for the music you hear in your car. It depends on what you expect out of the night. With six people and a full light show, you’ll get more energy [from a band] than just playing the music."

Ames says one of the primary reasons for hiring a disc jockey over a band is cost.

"Number one is price," he said. "Bands are more expensive. You’ve got seven or eight people versus one guy with a laptop."

The cost difference can be significant. Mr. Music charges $165 an hour. Mac Daddy’s standard fee is $3,500.

Chandra Wheeler of Orchestrated Grace Event Planning in Traverse City says her company uses both DJs and bands.

"For the most part, we specialize in higher-end outdoor weddings. [Cost] tends not to be an issue," she said.

Wheeler estimates that 75 percent of her clients decide to go with live bands.

"It’s a different feeling," she said. Johanna Alexander, a wedding planner at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, concurs.

"We get what the couple is looking for," she said.

She feels the presence of live musicians typically generates more excitement and entertainment value.

She also suggests that those who opt for a DJ are often looking for more modern music. That jibes with what Ames believes is the second most common reason couples choose a disc jockey.

"Brides keep staying young," he said with a laugh. "The more current music doesn’t replicate well. You don’t do Kanye West with seven people and horns. It’s a matter of musical taste."

If they like Motown, classic 50s through 80s music, then Soul Street or one of Ames’ other bands can handle it. On the other hand, "if they want current Top 40, Steve will DJ."

Kris Rundblad of MerryMakers event planners in Charlevoix points out that many of the live bands also use recorded music during their breaks.

"A lot of bands can play an iPod, so the [bride and groom] can have a song list," she said.

Advancements in technology over the past 25 years have played a key role in the industry. Where DJs once were actual disc jockeys spinning records, today it’s all digitized, typically on laptops and/or iPods.

This has been a boon to an industry where large crowds on bouncy floors could send a tone arm skipping across records, ruining both the experience of the song and the record itself. In addition, the widespread availability of Wi-Fi and iTunes means DJs can often immediately access, download and play songs requested by the crowd.

Rundblad believes the preference for a band or a DJ tends to go in cycles.

"Some years it’s more DJs, some it’s bands. Right now it’s a healthy mix. I personally love live music," she said. "You have the musicians, the vibe, it’s easy to energize the crowd. If people want the exact covers, don’t want an imitation or adaptation, they go with a DJ."