The band's reports are accurate - it was an unbelievable party. I've lost count of the number of nice things people have said. It was the perfect day from start to finish. I was going to write a letter thanking you and Loaded for everything you did but in the meantime I hope this glowing testimonial will suffice: We hired Loaded for our wedding reception at Longstowe Hall, Cambridgeshire on 8 August 2009. Having found Gigzmanagement's website through an internet search, my now-wife and I spent literally hours trawling through the playlists and demos of the vast array of bands on their books to find the perfect group. The website was very easy to use and extremely helpful in enabling us to make our decision. We settled on Loaded since we liked their sound and the range of songs they play. Booking them up and then managing the booking couldn't have been easier thanks to the help of Dave Jordan at Gigzmanagement and our own designated web page which enabled us to list our essential tunes and provide other information about the venue etc so the band knew what to expect. In addition to the 10 songs we were asked to choose from Loaded's playlist, we asked them to learn two additional songs - Mr Brightside by The Killers and Sex on Fire by The Kings of Leon. They were very happy to do that, and to to set up early (for a modest fee) so they would not disturb the wedding breakfast. As for Loaded's performance itself, it was quite superb. The large dancefloor was full from start to finish and the range of songs they played kept all age groups interested. The energy they created was fantastic with everyone having the time of their lives. Loaded's first set was very good indeed but their second set was unbelievable with one favourite tune after another being belted out and danced to hysterically. The highpoints were the two songs we had asked them to learn, both of which were played like the original bands themselves - I am sure they will remain regular fixtures on Loaded's playlist. As I was leaving the venue at the end of the evening, I bumped into Loaded's singer who was packing up. I thanked him for the great job he and his band had done and, although it was past midnight and he had a long journey to get home, he was happy to chat for a couple of minutes and ask how my day had gone. This act of courtesy and politeness was not a one-off as I gather the owner of the venue was also impressed by the band's attitude and manners. In summary, I can't speak highly enough about Loaded and Gigzmanagement, both in terms of their organisation before the reception and then the delivery of the performance on the day. Sure, these bands don't come cheap, but I believe it was money very well spent and I know about 100 other guests at my wedding who would agree wholeheartedly. Loaded are comfortably the best wedding band I have every heard and I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to hire them for some other function in the near future. Great job! - thank you!

James and Alison Parker // Longstowe Hall, Cambridge // Aug 2009

TEN TOP TIPS FOR ORGANISING YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION MUSIC

How many wedding receptions have you been to where the setting, food and speeches have all
been fantastic…and then the band starts to play and suddenly the atmosphere dies? Within half
an hour everyone is chatting at the bar and the party is all but over.
On your special day you need a guarantee that not only will this not happen at your reception but that the band you choose will be one of the talking points of the day for years to come.
Your wedding day is without question one of the most important days of your life. Everything from
the ceremony to the food and reception has got to be perfect.
Your wedding party band is no exception… it has got to be perfect, and quite often the band you
choose can be the difference between “an amazing wedding” and just “an average one”.

Deciding between hundreds of bands, budgets, styles of music, set lists, types of bands that are
going to appeal to everyone’s tastes…….can be very confusing.
Here are ten top tips from one of the countries leading experts in live wedding entertainment to
help you make sure you get it right.

1. Get the budget right
A lot of couples start by booking the wedding dress/suits, venue, catering, flowers etc. and then allot the remaining budget to hiring a band. With wedding party bands it is definitely a case of you get what you pay for. If your budget is under £1200 then our advice would be quite simple; DO NOT bother having a band. Spend the money on a really good DJ or Quartet. A band that cost £600, cost that for a reason.........because they are not very good.

2. Ask for recommendations
Word of mouth recommendations from family and friends who have used a good agency or seen a good band at previous functions are always a good way of starting the whole process off. Send a block e-mail to all your family and friends for wedding party band recommendations. Just make sure you trust their musical taste and judgement! From your initial research try to whittle the bands down to a favourites list of 3-5 and then take some time to agree on one that you both like.

3. Listen to the band before you book
A lot of the top bands do not play public performances but a good agency should be able to provide you with a live music sample or video. On the better web sites you can download live performances and burn them onto CD to listen to on a good stereo system. They should also be able to provide you with up to date testimonials and photos.

4. Look at the bands set list and style of music
Check out the bands set list to make sure that the style of music is what you are looking for. All of the top bands should be experts at getting a crowd of mixed ages on the dance floor, but some will be rock based, some funk or disco….choose one that suits your needs. It is also a good idea to highlight songs that you really do and do not want played at the reception.

5. Use a reputable agency for your booking
If you book directly with a single band it often means that you have little come back if something goes wrong or you need to find a last minute replacement. A reputable agency will have a good web site, be fully contracted, have up to date testimonials for the band and generally put your mind at ease over all the logistics. They will have been through the process thousands of times before and know all the necessary logistical arrangements and pitfalls in arranging the music you want.

6. Get special requests in early
If you have a first song request or some favourite songs you would like played on the day make sure you let the agency know as soon as possible. All good bands will accommodate requests if given enough warning. If you intend to use the bands own sound system during the speeches make sure you request that from the agency. Quite often there is a small early set-up fee for this service.

7. Save money
If you have pushed yourselves to your budget limit for the wedding party music then most bands are happy for clients to use their PA sound system to connect ipods or lap tops for the disco music, at a small extra cost. Get someone whose taste in music you trust to compile appropriate background music for during the meal and party music to play when the band is taking a break.
If you use the bands PA system you will generally need to rent some disco lights as extras, but this should only cost around £200 for the night.

8. Ask your venue these questions early on in your planning
Do they need PAT electrical certificates from the band?
Does the band need to have public liability insurance?
Do they use noise limiters? If they do and the settings are very low it is often not worth having live music.
Do they have a microphone and sound system that you can use during the speeches?
Is there a stage for the band?
What time does the wedding party music have to finish?
These issues can cause real problems if they are discovered wanting late on in your planning.

9. Pass on important information to the agency
As soon as you can, let the agent have;
Directions to the venue,
Your days timings (band arrival times, set-up, sound check, when you want the first and second sets played, finishing deadline). Most bands charge extra for an early set-up time, so it is best to try and clear a 1½ hour period as close to 6pm as possible for the band to arrive, set up and sound check.
Any special requests.
Put the best man/usher in charge of dealing with/paying the band on the day and give the band/agent his contact details.

10. Book early
Book the band/DJ/Quartet as early as possible. The most sought after acts usually get booked up a year in advance, especially over the busiest summer months. Generally you confirm the booking by paying a 50% deposit on the band you choose. You should then receive a contract and confirmation on the deposit payment.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST......................

Enjoy your special day!