David and Goliath – Independent bands vs. large wedding band companies

Someone recently told me she was looking for a wedding band for her daughter in California. A friend of her daughter’s had recommended one of the big wedding band companies in her area. She said she had heard a lot of mixed reviews regarding some of the bigger agencies and asked me for some pros and cons about the big companies versus the singly owned independent bands.

The first thing I told her was no matter who she chooses, she should make sure to advocate for good service. With the bigger companies, sometimes clients can get lost in the shuffle, especially in a busy month like October (her wedding month). There is a nice way to be that squeaky wheel; it’s always good to be proactive. Also, some bands will also occasionally cut corners by playing pre-recorded tracks along with the musicians. To me, that almost begets the question, “Why not just hire a DJ?” After all, the fee for a large live band is substantially more. If you are paying for live music, it should be live. Sadly, some bands, big and small, actually use tracks as a selling point.

As the owner of Soul Patch Philly, I can speak from experience about the ‘big guys’ and the ‘boutiques’. Our band worked for years under a couple of different reputable agencies. What we discovered over time was that no matter how diligent and hard-working the owners of these companies were, we would ultimately represent ourselves and our clients better than the agency could. It was the personal touch that only an independently run band can offer from start to finish. I am with you at every step of the process from the moment you sign the contract to the last note of the last song on stage. It is true that the larger companies may have more financial resources to throw into advertising and brand-building, and those facets of any business help create a comfort level for the customer – in our business, the brides and grooms. That comfort level is important. But unlike the large companies, I don’t book 500 dates a year. There are just not that many weekends. So my reputation is made on a much more intimate level. My band really has no room for error. We share ownership of our product in a way that larger groups just can’t.

Hopefully, my friend’s daughter will be steered toward the best choice for her. As for Soul Patch Philly, we always try to make our clients – our brides and grooms, and all the other friends we make – feel like they could not have made a better choice. We want them walking away thinking, “THAT was the best wedding band I EVER heard, definitely the best Philadelphia wedding band!!” and “THIS was a GREAT day!!” As a small, independent entertainment company, we get the pleasure of experiencing every bit of that.

If you are in the planning stages of a significant event/celebration, and music is important to us, we would be very happy to speak with you. Reach us at 856-296-1695.