How to Get Wedding Gigs and Enjoy the Experience

Many musicians play wedding gigs. Some enjoy them. Some do not. A popular YouTube video demonstrates the type of wedding gig musicians complain about.

For years, I frequently played wedding gigs, and I enjoyed most of them; I also had my share of unusual experiences. I remember one outdoor ceremony at dusk on a summer evening. Chairs were set up on a manicured lawn, and the happy couple was to be positioned in front of a field of tall grass. I sat in a chair near the tall grass and began to play classical guitar. Things started well.

I played prelude music, followed by the processional for family members and the wedding party. Then came the big moment. Time to play while the bride walked down the aisle. I began playing Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, and the radiant bride began the slow walk toward her chosen groom.

After a few seconds of Jesu, I realized that an insect had emerged from the tall grass and had begun slowly crawling into my ear. Must…not…ruin…wedding. I kept playing Jesu and willed my face to remain placid and serene. I am not sure how my face actually looked, but thankfully all eyes were on the bride at that moment.

The insect crawled all the way into my ear and continued to make its presence known throughout two minutes of Jesu, which felt like two hours. Finally, the bride was at the front and I brought Jesu to a close. The ceremony began. I stealthily but immediately pulled the insect out of my ear and knocked it to the ground. The rest of the ceremony went off without incident, but that wedding was burned in my memory.

While this insect adventure was quite intense, most of my wedding gigs have been positive experiences. What are the advantages of playing for weddings?

1. Wonderful Occasion – A wedding is one of the most important days of a couple’s life. It is a celebration of love. It is a privilege for a musician to be part of it.

2. Income – These gigs can pay well. Once you develop a broad repertoire of commonly requested wedding pieces, you can play weddings on a regular basis, thus making efficient use of your practice time.

3. Summertime – Some sources of income for musicians are reduced over the summer; this is especially true of private teaching. The increased number of weddings in the summer can help a free-lance musician keep paying the bills.

So you have decided to take the plunge and play for weddings. How do you get more gigs?

1. Build Relationships with Wedding Planners and Venue Managers – These individuals like to have musicians on call. It is part of the service they provide. If you demonstrate that you play well, are reliable, and are easy to work with, your opportunities will increase.

2. Play at Bridal Expos – These events allow you to showcase your abilities in front of prospective clients. When brides see how elegant and romantic live music can be, they often want to make it part of their special day.

3. Create a Website with Photos, Audio, and Video – If you want to get a lot of wedding gigs, it is useful to set up a website with photos as well as audio and video samples of the music you play.

4. Provide a Wedding Music Guide and Contract – One of the most helpful strategies is to have a wedding music guide you can provide to prospective clients. This guide should explain the different times when music can be incorporated in a ceremony. Many clients will not understand how music is used in a wedding, and you can educate them in this regard. The guide should also explain the services you offer, your expectations of the client, and your pricing. Once a couple commits to using your services, you should send them a contract that confirms what they can expect of you and what you expect of them. At the end of this post, you can get my wedding music guide and contract to adapt for your own use.

So you have scheduled some wedding gigs. How do you enjoy the experience?

1. Bring All Needed Equipment – Make sure you bring instruments, tuners, amps, spare mic batteries, and any other equipment needed to make the gig go smoothly.

2. Arrive Early – Be at the venue at least an hour before you are scheduled to start playing. This will allow you to set up without last-minute panic.

3. Be Flexible – There are almost always aspects of the gig that do not go as planned. Be ready to solve problems as they arise.

While wedding gigs can be challenging, they can also be rewarding if approached with the right attitude. The above tips will help you get more wedding gigs and enjoy them. By the way, don’t forget to pack bug repellent…

 

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you.

5 Day Classical Guitar Technique: Join the students in my course, 5 Day Classical Guitar Technique, which takes your classical guitar playing to the next level. Come inside and get my 25 years of classical guitar teaching experience, detailed technique tips, and a clearly defined technique workout for you.