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East Coast Band Road Trips to the Mellon Auditorium

Outside of New York, there is no city quite like D.C.–Beautiful people, historic sights, great culture, the Mellon Auditorium…

So when the opportunity presented itself to play the gorgeous Mellon Auditorium for the Washington Performing Arts 50th Anniversary Gala, we knew it was a no-brainer: D.C. OR BUST!

Even better, the event was held to honor the incredible Reggie VL and to raise funds for the Washington Performing Arts—needed now more than ever, what with potential cuts being discussed to our nation’s vital arts funding.

International Soprano Alyson Cambridge

 

It was a great show with many DC and Hollywood elites in attendance, including the honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the venerable Cicely Tyson (both NY natives by the way!), and D.C. native and international Soprano, Alyson Cambridge, and The Children of the Gospel Choir.

It was a great time and the band was happy to be back in DC again.

 

Quick!  Pop Quiz!

When Justice Ginsburg was sworn into office by President Bill Clinton, guess which band was chosen to perform for her celebration back in 1993?

Answer:  EAST COAST BAND!
Yes, we have been around for over 30 years and we’re still going strong.  Check out some more pics from the event below.

East Coast Band at the Mellon Auditorium

 

For booking or inquiries, click the link.

East Coast Music & Entertainment has a stellar reputation for providing top tier entertainment at fair prices in New York City, Long Island, the Tri-State Area and all along the East Coast.  We feel blessed to be in a business where smiling faces (and tired feet) are the company goal!

East Coast Music & Entertainment also provides ensembles to accommodate ceremonies, cocktail hours, and just about any entertainment situation imaginable- including DJ and band/DJ combos. Our ever expanding New York network makes us an outstanding resource for anyone planning a family or corporate event.  If we cannot handle a request in house, we will gladly refer someone who can.

For upcoming public shows, check out our schedule page.

Tips For Hiring A Band For Your Wedding

East Coast Band, a Live Entertainment Band, servicing Long Island and New York City is happy to provide you with quick tips on hiring a wedding band.

 

When you are looking to hire a band for your wedding you may realize that this is the first time you’ve ever hired a band in your life. East Coast is a live band that is versatile and will keep the dance floor packed all night and it will truly be an event to remember. Ask the band as many questions as you need to, we encourage you to ask questions and speak your mind! This is your event and we’re sure that you have a good picture in your mind of how you would like things to go. With your ideas and our talent and experience, you can be sure that yours will be an event to remember!

IMG_4159

 


Tips for Hiring a Wedding Band

 

  • It’s important to check out their experience, wedding events call for professional live entertainment. Although your friends brothers cousin is great on the drums, when it comes to your special day, you want a wedding band that is seasoned and well rounded.
  • Always check to make sure the band has a song list, also verify they can learn new songs if necessary.
  • Make sure the band is familiar with playing the important traditional wedding songs. These songs include the father daughter dance and of course the bride and grooms first dance. When hiring a live wedding band, its important to give adequate time for them to learn specific songs.

 

When you are looking for the right band for your event, remember that when comparison shopping, the price we quote you is the price you will pay. Unless we specify otherwise, all production costs, insurance, crew and standard lighting cots are included. East Coast Band always dressed formally unless we are instructed to dress in another way. When the band takes breaks, is usually a concern, we are sure that with proper communication between us and our client we make sure the party retains momentum and there are no situations where the guests are idly waiting for something to happen.

Classic New York Style Wedding Timeline

New York has always stood apart from the rest of the country in the way we intermingle food service, music and “festivities” to create the illusion of non-stop dancing (and fun) from beginning to end. This time-tested model has recently come under attack.  Until the past few years, maitre d’s could be expected to control the “day of”  flow  with a firm hand and communicate instructions to all the vendors (band, photo, video) in a timely manner. Increasingly we are being approached by clients regarding the “flow” of an event when their questions to their caterers are being deflected with “we will do whatever you want”  or “ask the band.” A band that is on stage singing and performing is in no position to monitor the timing of food coming out of the kitchen or keep tabs on a photographer who has the couple or key family members outdoors for extra pictures. Back in the day maitre d’s were compensated extremely well for exactly these duties and we’re not quite sure why so many are MIA. In conversation, a few complain that they have been so barraged by clients with “great ideas they found on the internet” or photographers so anxious to get all their work done in the first 45 minutes of the event that they just “shut down” and become laissez faire. The pattern has been striking and undeniable. We therefore feel the need to share our long experience and perspective.  Below is a tried and true timeline and formula that guarantees that guests remain involved from start to finish..

 

M M C E

GOALS

  • Non-stop action, high energy party/ wedding where guests go away thinking “wow, what a great time, I feel like I never stopped dancing.”
  • Avoid circumstances that restrict guests to their seats for long periods
  • Multiple dance sets not to exceed 90 minutes. Most wedding guests can dance but for so long without a break, therefore it never makes sense to front load all food, toasts and formalities to the first 45 minutes leaving 3:15 of uninterrupted time on the back end. We’ve heard this formula suggested by photographers and planners. It all sounds great until one stops to consider that no matter how good the band is, people will seek a breather and if there are options outdoors or outside the main ballroom (especially if there is a bar!), parties can lose momentum. Such timelines run the risk of guests leaving early or drifting off into cliques. If you are OK with such a scenario, we still think it prudent to have a sure fire plan to draw them back in.  Leaving parent dances or even a “thanks’ for coming” speech by the bride and groom until well AFTER entree can be a useful tool and safety net.

 SAMPLE TIMELINE (Old School…the one that was never broken but someone felt the need to fix):

6:00-7:00              Cocktails

7:00-7:15              Wedding Guests enter ballroom/bridal party lined up

7:15-7:25              Wedding Intros and first dance

7:15-7:35              Hora and/or short dance set to set that all important upbeat mood and allow guests to get blood flowing

7:35-7:40              Blessing/Motzi

7:40-7:55              Entree orders taken; Best Man, MoH toasts

7:55-8:30              Dance set. Band plays through salad. Entree food may begin at 8:25 so those not yet served can still dance

8:30-8:50              Entree (vendors served early and resume their duties; dead last is a “party” killer).

8:50-9:20              Dance set

9:20-9:30              Cake cutting

9:30-9:40              Parent dances (bouquet/garter if applicable). Dessert and coffee served.

9:45-11:00            Dancing resumes to end

Tips For Planning Your Wedding

band-2

One of the most important factors that will lead to a successful party or wedding is hiring the right band. A great, experienced wedding band will make your party; inexperience always has the potential to break it. Clients often over value youthful image, failing to realize that the success of a dance party has more to do with the “reading the dance floor”, a sensible timeline (that maintains party momentum) and the interactions with the caterer and other vendors. Hipster bands made exclusively of “twenty somethings” may appeal and sound great doing a prepared set at a concert venue with “house” sound but does that translate to the real world of weddings were acoustics are imperfect and decisions must often be made on the fly. Remember that the band also must interact with your photographer and other vendors so that all remain on the same page. Doing that while trying to sing and play at the same time comes with practice!

East Coast has long been renowned as New York’s most versatile band. No matter the venue or event, we can rock the house with out youthful energy and create fun party experience that your guests will remember for years. Choosing the entertainment for your event really is on of the most important decisions that you will have to make during the planning phases of your wedding.

The decision to hire a band for your big day often leads to the daunting realization that you have never hired a band in your life and you may not know exactly what to do. When you work with East Coast you can be ensured a thoroughly stress free experience. We are there from the very first moment to personally assist you with every phase of your entertainment planning. When planning a wedding, you have enough things to worry about, now music doesn’t have to be one of them! Get your successful party started today and book East Coast for your wedding!

 

We play music that will make each affair unique and memorable, and include great songs that are not your typical wedding band fare. We love to entertain. A quick look at our song list, we show we play a wide variety of genres. We pride ourselves in not being easily categorized and playing stylistically and with musical integrity. Too many NY weddings bands think it hip to throw everything into their “groove” hopper: in our book, classic or alternative rock is not supposed to sound like James Brown nor vice a versa. Likewise with all the other genres. You can look at our song list to highlight songs that you want to hear or point at songs that you do not want to hear on your big day. We can also learn a number of songs to help personalize your big event. With proper notice (at least 30 days) we will learn the materials and perform it for you.

 

Wedding Planning Tips:

  • Figure out the amount of guests
  • Ask vendors for other vendor recommendations
  • schedule and set specific times to appropriately plan your wedding
  • Have a friend or family member commit to assisting you
  • Most importantly stay organized and breathe

Tips For Planning The Entertainment For Your Wedding

At East Coast we understand that planning a wedding is very time consuming and can be very expensive. Our goal is to help keeps costs down as well as reducing stress that you may experience while planning your wedding. When you hire us you can be sure that the entertainment planning will be a stress-free experience.

We encourage you to ask questions and to speak your mind in the planning phase. This will help your wedding live up to your expectations, as we know that you have a good picture in your mind on how you would like things to go on the big day.

Need to Book the Perfect Party Band?

East Coast and LI Medium edit
Great Vibes @ the Long Island Medium’s 25th Anniversary Party

 

The party season is upon us and for us here at East Coast Band, this is one of our favorite times of the year.  Now is the time of the year when (hopefully) your social card is full with everything from office holiday parties to corporate end-of-year fundraisers to annual Christmas galas and don’t forget about those “ring in the New Year” celebrations—tis the season to relax, look forward, and party!

 

But what makes a great party?

 

Music. Music. Music.

 

We can’t stress it enough.  A get together can have all of the great hors d’oeuvres, good conversation, and fine spirits, but nothing sets it off like great music.

 

There is nothing like great hi-energy music to take a party from dullsville to party town.  Although we love them, our specialty isn’t just weddings, we play gigs—club dates, smoky bars, outdoor concerts, you name it.  As versatile as we are, East Coast Band is the perfect dance band to play your corporate party, birthday, anniversary, fundraiser, or holiday event.  With a repertoire that includes Motown, Contemporary, Modern, Pop, Rock, R&B, Country, Reggae, Jazz/Swing Standards, 50s, 60s, 70s Disco/Funk, 80s, 90s, Indie, Hip Hop, and on and on and on, if you like, we can perform it.  Chances are we already have performed it!  Our well-known musicians and singers including American Idol finalist Big Mike Lynche, Broadway’s Henry Haid (Movin’ Out), Kool & the Gang’s Gordon Dukes, Fred Wadlington (Cameo) will perform, arrange, and/or do mash ups of your favorite songs to fit any and all unique situations.

 

Take a look at just a small selection of music that we have listed on our website.

 

East Coast Nautical Mile
On the Nautical Mile

 

Whether it’s a hi energy band that you want for your dance party or you need some cool background music to accompany a fundraiser or end-of-year award ceremony East Coast Band is the premier New York and Long Island corporate event band for you.

 

We play plenty of free public shows around NYC and Long Island several days a week.  Come check us out.

 

Pop's Band on Stage tight
Jammin’ @ Pop’s Shack & Grill

EC pops 2

Wedding Band or DJ? Oh, the Dilemma

Lynda mouthSo I read an interesting article on the wedding website, The Knot about Bands vs DJs and thought I’d share.  (Personally, we like to go with an unpretentious, hi-energy band with a high repertoire and great sound, but… we’re a bit biased.)

 

 

The full article is below, but click the title to view it on The Knot’s website.  P.S. while there check out our great wedding band reviews on the East Coast Music & Entertainment page.  Then click here for our schedule.  We just might be the hardest working band in America because truly we’re out somewhere playing in NYC,  Long Island, and all parts between at least seven days a week.  Swing by and say hello.

 

Can’t make a live show? Check out our video page for our montage and other live show performances.

 

Happy reading!

East Coast Band

 

 

Wedding Reception Music Basics: Bands vs DJs

Can’t decide who should play your wedding tunes? Here’s everything you need to know to find the right music maker for your day.

 

No doubt about it: Music can make or break a wedding celebration. It’s the heart and soul of a reception and can send your guests home with happy feet — or pained grimaces! The fact that you want to hire a talented band or fleet-fingered DJ is a given. Finding one is a matter of polling friends, surfing online, shopping around with fine-tuned ears, and making a move quickly — top talent can get booked up to a year in advance. What type of entertainment suits your personal taste, budget, space allowances, guest demographics, and killer dance moves best? Keep an open mind, and consider these issues to start your search.

 

Vibe

The type of music you choose can set the tone of your wedding and solidify a theme. And remember, it’s the thing people most often remember. Think about what musical genre best reflects your personalities and inspires the ambience you want to create: Groovy funk or subdued string quartet? Swanky swing or kick-off-your-shoes-and-sweat zydeco? The way the music is delivered — by live band or DJ — also affects the ambience. The type of music you choose may dictate the choice too — big band sounds are generally best live, for example.

 

Variety

Are you a little bit country, while he’s a little bit rock and roll? Regardless of whether you choose a band or DJ, be sure they play slow and fast songs, and old and new tunes to encourage different sets of guests to hit the dance floor.

 

Budget

In the price war, DJs generally cost less, and prices vary depending on equipment requests and whether it’s a weekday or a weekend. A 12-piece band, for example, will generally be more expensive than a DJ, since there are more people to pay. (There are always exceptions; celebrity DJs can be just as expensive as live bands.) Band prices vary by the number of musicians, the amount of time you want them to play for, day of the week, and what time of year it is.

 

Space

Don’t get your heart set on an 8-piece salsa band before you check whether the reception site has any restrictions on the number of musicians and pieces of equipment you may bring in, and whether there are any electrical power supply or noise limitations. For example, a registered landmark reception site may not allow you to use large speakers. Ask these questions before you start scouting bands.

 

Band? or…

There’s nothing like a live wedding band to get a crowd stoked and create a sense of sophistication. Music groups can synergize with the tone of your wedding and almost any niche theme, offering everything from accordion to klezmer ditties. A good bandleader will play the master of ceremonies at your reception if you want him to interact with folks on the dance floor, pay attention to the “feel” of the room, and select music accordingly.

 

  • Pros: Live music is, well, live. You and your guests will experience the pleasure of a performance. Anything can happen to raise the excitement level, from an infectious horn-section interlude to a moving solo.

 

 

  • Cons: Bands can be more expensive than DJs. Also, no matter how great the band, they can’t have the repertoire of a standard DJ, who can keep a huge variety of music on hand.

 

 

…DJ?

Don’t fear the DJ: The days of disco fever and flashing lights are gone. Today’s disc jockeys are artists in their own right, offering balanced and eclectic mixes of musical styles for all ages. Plus, the songs played will sound exactly as you remember them, encouraging sing-alongs and improvisation. And, depending on the amount of equipment a DJ brings, she’ll take up less dance floor real estate and can be relocated with relative ease.

 

  • Pros: If there are a dozen songs you’re dying to hear at your wedding, it likely won’t be a problem for your DJ to find each track. Also, DJs are generally less expensive than bands. A DJ with a charismatic stage presence and excellent emcee skills can really set the mood and keep the party going.

 

 

  • Cons: On the opposite end of the spectrum, a DJ with a less-than stellar personality can be a party-killer. Also, improvisation is tough if, say, your dad is dragging behind tempo on the father-daughter dance or your nieces and nephews decide to crash the chicken dance.

 

 

You Must Remember This…

Ideally, you will want to see a DJ or band in action before you commit so that you can gauge firsthand the way they dress, deadpan, and work the crowd. (Ask to see a taped public performance or attend a dress rehearsal, but you should never crash another couple’s reception.) If that’s not a possibility, ask for a playlist, and look for songs you know and love. If a band gives you a CD, cassette, or video, be sure that the musicians you hear or see are the same musicians who will play at your reception. Also, ask for referrals from the last few weddings the band or DJ played. Consider your first-dance song a test. If the band doesn’t know it and is unwilling to learn it, or the DJ doesn’t own it and is unwilling to get it, move on.

 

Before You Sign

Know that all professionals should be open to your likes and dislikes. Give them your personal request list, songs they must, and, perhaps more importantly, a do-not-play list. Worried that you’ll hear the “Macarena” at your once-in-a-lifetime event? Specifically prohibit the playing of a song you feel strongly about in your contract.

— Lori Seto

 

 

The New Wedding Catering Insanity

Last edition we discussed how New York style weddings are famous for the high energy way we blend food, music and, dancing.  Remember it’s all in the timing, which gives the allusion of non-stop action even though we’re actually keeping a fine balance between calorie burning dance time and judiciously placed pauses that allow all to catch their breath.

Today we address a pet peeve: the timeline trend from the caterer/wedding planner where four hours may pass before any serious dancing occurs!

 
 

Once upon a time…history-lesson
Or actually, several years ago in the wedding catering movement, caterers began to introduce the concept of 90 minute cocktail hours. This was a logical way to guarantee adequate time for guests to enjoy the ever increasing and often believable array of food presented. Our beef comes with those caterers/planners who insist that guests then be moved directly into 90 minutes of uninterrupted dinner service, punctuated only by a never ending parade of speeches. The salesperson/planner then suggests that guests are free to “party” for 2 1/2 hours straight! Yipee!!!

 

 

Banquet funnyThe unfortunate reality is that after sitting for an hour at a ceremony, then three more drinking and eating, most people (especially the older folks) cannot be expected to do much more than fall asleep.  Your guests are worn out just from sitting!

 

 

“East Coast Music & Entertainment
will create the hi-energy dance party
of your dreams!”

 

 

Doing all the food at once may allow a caterer to make a very impressive spread and send staff home earlier, but it does not make for a great, hi-energy dance party.  Insist that a common sense wedding reception plan is shared with your vendors, so that all are equipped to balance time for food, photos, music, and dancing.  Trust us.

 

With multiple weekly performances and thousands of successful weddings all over NYC, Long Island, and the tri-state area in our resume, East Coast is the top wedding band and proven experts in combining client input in a way that keeps all your guests involved in non-stop dance floor action.   Unlike other bands we do actually exist outside of lip synch karaoke tracks on a website and perform three to four nights a week.  From your wedding ceremony to cocktail hour to wedding reception – we have done it all and would love to be a part of your special day.

 
 
 

If you want your guests to remember your wedding, get this band!!!
My husband and I tried to go to every table to say hi to our guests but they weren’t there. They were all on the dance floor!!!  Thanks to the band the night went by so smoothly. They worked with the venue to facilitate what happens next.   When the night was over and the band played their last song, our guests started chanting “one more song!!”
JoJoleo
Wedding: 5/2/2014

 
 
 

For more great East Coast wedding band reviews, head over to: Wedding WireLI Weddings.com and the Knot/Wedding Channel.  Also, check our schedule and come hear us play.  We can’t wait to meet you.

22 Wedding Day Fails

Wedding Day FailsNot to brag or anything, but East Coast Band has been known for turning around potential wedding fails by keeping the party going with our high energy music and commitment to making sure your dream day is pulled off without a hitch.   Still…stuff happens.   So how does one get over a wedding day fail?

 

Well, you put on your rose-colored glasses and then check out the Huffington Post article below on other folks’ not so fairy tale moments.   I promise you’ll laugh your troubles away.    (And kudos to these Brides and Grooms for making lemonade out of their wedding day fails!)

because ultimately,   …awww

 

 

 

 

These 22 Wedding Fails Are Pretty Much The Worst

The Huffington Post | By Kelsey Borresen

 
 
Some people say that your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. It turns out, the “Big Day” falls short of expectations for many couples.

 

We were reminded of this once again on Wednesday when Jimmy Fallon shared a wedding disaster he witnessed firsthand using the hashtag #weddingfail and got the topic trending on Twitter.

 

Wedding Jimmy Fallon

Classic.  Below, we’ve rounded up some more of these so-awful-that-they’re-actually-amazing wedding stories for your amusement.  (Click here for the rest!)

Decisions that Can Make or Break Your Wedding

New York style weddings are famous for their unique blend of great food, high energy wedding music and dancing that gives the illusion of five hours of non-stop action.  Closer inspection reveals that there is a logical pacing and delicate ebb and flow, which are the result of experienced entertainers and catering staff working together to achieve the ultimate party.

 
 

bored peoplePicture This…
You’re in hour four of your wedding reception, the dance floor is packed, the energy is high, the band is in full swing, and then your host directs the party outside for the next “choreographed event”: Sparkler Lighting on the lawn.  Was that really the best time? Did you need sparkler lighting?  Would people come back afterwards ready to get back to partying or would they see it as the lull they needed to call it a night?

 

 

In this first article in our series, Decisions that can Make or Break your Wedding, we suggest that if a New York styled high energy dance party is your goal, then putting your faith in experienced professionals while having a “less is more” strategy is our best advice!

 
 

Avoid overloading your wedding with a ton of choreographed events 

 

Today’s brides often feel pressured by well-meaning party planners, friends, or blogs to make their wedding personal and unique. They are advised to cram their weddings with 20 page lists/”must haves” to be incorporated.  However, if you want what is known nationally as the “New York Style” wedding (simply, a great party) then the tried and true game plan is less is more.

 
 

Hire PROFESSIONALS

 

Use professional expertise to help limit your overall stress. Ultimately, you’re guests will remember a great party, not necessarily what they specifically ate or even what songs were played.

 

Start with a catering venue that gives you a sense that a great party is the ultimate goal.  Make sure they include an experienced staff and maitre d’. Yes the chef is important but the maitre d’ is the captain of the ship on the day of your wedding. The good ones manage the flow and momentum of a party like a conductor in front of an orchestra. (In previous blog posts we mention some of the places on Long Island that do a great job with this.)

 

Choose East Coast Music as your wedding reception band (or wedding ceremony and cocktail hour too!) to work WITH your caterer to make your day the best it can be. Choosing us also ensures that you can take an active role in creating a wedding music “playlist” that reflects your general taste and sense of style, but will still work in a party setting.

 

Weddings, especially the fabled New York Wedding, are dance parties; and if what you are looking for is a dance band, we excel. Choosing pros ensures that you are relaxed enough to enjoy and remember your own party!

 
 

Our great reviews on Wedding Wire, LI Weddings.com and the Knot/Wedding Channel are Unanimous: East Coast Music guarantees a great dance party!

 
 

Dancefloor

“In all the weddings we’ve attended, we’ve never seen guests abandon the first dinner course to dance. The band created such a lively, classy and pleasurable atmosphere that no one could stay sitting in his or her seat!”
DSElk
Wedding: 7/2/2011

 

 

Live Performance Anyone?

 

Check out any band you are considering performing at your all important day beforehand.  If they make you want to get out of your seat and dance, then chances are it will do the same for your guests.

With multiple weekly performances and over 1000 successful weddings in our resume East Coast Music has become the top wedding band and the proven experts in combining client input in a way that it keeps all your guests involved in the non-stop dance floor action.  Unlike other bands we do actually exist outside of lip synch karaoke tracks on a website and perform three to four nights a week.  Click the link to our schedule and then come check us out!

 
 

Stay tuned for our next article on Catering Insanity…

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