Entertainment is usually one of the last things to be organized. It seems to be the least important to some.  It's also the one place everyone tries to find a bargain. The problem with all that is the major percentage of the success of your event depends upon the entertainment (see note in left column).

Think of this: When you hire a photographer for your wedding, do you want a professional photographer with wedding experience and the equipment and knowledge to do your wedding or do you want someone that works in a factory during the week and does photography on the side to make a little extra money? Bands are the same way.

A median price for a professional wedding band can run from $2,400 to over $5,000 depending on needs and length of performance.  The Great Imponderables cost for the band typically runs 2,400-$3,800. Our DJ services for weddings are considerably less. Although you may be able to hire a band or DJ for less, consider, what are you actually getting?

The Great Imponderables not only provide you with either live music or DJ service for your wedding or corporate event, but they also have activities and special dances to keep all of your guests involved. They even provide a special wedding video on a large screen. All of this is a part of their service to you. More than just a band, they are your Wedding and Entertainment Host, Director, and Service Provider.

Many bands are comprised of individuals that have other jobs during the week and try to make a little extra money on the side. Although these individuals may be talented, rarely do they have the time to put together an event that will truly be memorable. Seldom do they know how to keep things moving, have experience in public speaking,  nor are they able to adapt. All they can do is play music the best that they can. Of course they will tell you they can do it all. Still, notice the survey results to the left. Do you really want to be one of the 80+ percentile group that wish they had spent more time finding the right band?

The Great Imponderables are a professional band with 2 studio's for rehearsals. Since nearly all of their performances are weddings and special events, they know how to read a crowd and play the appropriate music. They also keep a simple play list. Think of this: Whenever you go to a concert to hear your favorite performer, you are amazed at how well they sound. How do they accomplish that? They play the same songs at nearly every performance. Their set will typically call for about 20-25 songs. It's repetition, not change that makes them sound so great.

The music The Great Imponderables provide for their DJ service is not an endless list of anything and everything. All music is chosen as appropriate for a wedding or other special event.

Many bands that play for weddings may have a list of a few hundred to several hundred songs and ask you to choose. BEWARE! There is no band that can play that many songs and do them well at any moment. During a typical wedding reception a band may play 50-60 songs, and that is a lot for any band to try to play in a single night. There is no way to become proficient if they have a 400 song play list. True, they want to accomplish the most that they can for you, but often times, this is too much to ask.

Our list is kept small on purpose. We change from time to time, adding a song while deleting another. This allows the band to be proficient and keep your crowd motivated. Our variety of songs are such that they are a mix of different dance styles, which ultimately appeals to a larger audience. We read the crowd and keep things mixed throughout the night. Most of the songs we play are familiar to everyone in the audience, allowing people to sing along, as well as dance. This is great for those that are shy or don't know how to dance.

Here is a basic formula to help you understand cost factors;

A minimal band will have at least 4 performers. A band typically plays from 3-4 hours per event. The band has to load equipment and then travel to the venue. After arriving they must locate the person in charge of the facility. After the cordial greetings, etc., they then have to check on power, stage set up, etc. Now comes unloading the equipment and setting everything up. After all the mixers, mics, amps, lights, etc. have been connected it is now time for a sound check. All this has to be done before any guests or an audience arrives. This usually takes The Great Imponderables about 2-3 hours. Bands that can set up in 30 minutes rarely have the right equipment for a wedding reception. Nor are they prepared if you don't have clean power, which creates a hiss throughout the sound system (vary annoying).

So, for a typical 3-4 hour performance, you already have enlisted the work of 4 men for at least 9 hours work. It's not uncommon for The Great Imponderables to put in at least 12 hours for a 3-4 hour gig.

Then there's the cost of their equipment. True, you're not paying for the equipment, but as in any business, the cost and depreciation of tools must be figured in. Guitars, amps, mixers, drum sets, etc, can easily run into the thousands of dollars. It doesn't take much to realize a band that is only charging $1,400 for a 3-4 hour performance either doesn't have the proper equipment or they're just trying to make some money on the side. If they're that desperate to play, then there must be a reason for it.

Don't forget experience. True, many bands play weddings, in addition to their night club or bar acts. But would you call such a band a wedding professional? The Great Imponderables ONLY play professional events. We also MC events and fund raisers to keep things moving and people motivated.

Since entertainment plays such a major percentage in the success of your event, then why do people try to budget such a small percentage here? It's because many do not consider the role it plays.

Truth is, you can probably hire a DJ for $600. However, that is probably one person with stereo equipment, playing cd's that guests probably have at home or in their cars. He's probably not a trained speaker that knows how to interact with a crowd. Most likely, all he can do is "spin" the music. We always provide 2 DJ's for every event. This allows us to work with all vendors and throughout the event to know what's going on, what needs to happen, and make sure we're always available in watching your event and making any announcements.

Please feel free to contact us about your  wedding reception, anniversary, or other special event. We will gladly get you a special price to suit your needs. WE also accept most major Credit Cards.