How Much Should My Wedding Band Cost?

on March 27, 2021April 3, 2025 By bigrayandthekoolkats

Four Questions to Consider When Thinking about Your Wedding Band Cost

Will anybody remember what they had for dinner at my wedding?
Will anybody remember if the flowers were really exceptional or just nice?
Will anybody remember the custom linens I ordered from New York?
Will anybody remember if they sat on the chairs included with venue rental or I brought in custom chiavari?

You get the picture…there is always a place to spend a little more, make things a little more elegant, add those little touches that maybe only you will really notice. Now ask yourself this:

Will anybody (everybody!) remember a great party spearheaded by that band that knows exactly how to move the party along through the different phases of the evening, play with energy but not earsplitting volume, handle those special moments gracefully; first dance, father daughter, mother son, bridesmaid toasts, etc. and most importantly:

KEEP THE DANCE FLOOR FULL THROUGHOUT THE EVENING!

All your guests will remember that type of experience long after they remember if they had filet mignon or chicken.

I have played literally thousands of events of all kinds. Here’s what the most successful ones have in common and my Top 3 places to be sure you’ve utilized you budget wisely (and no the wedding band cost isn’t #1).

You need a top shelf, experienced planner to captain the ship that day. Not the caterer, not the venue’s person, certainly not a relative or friend, and definitely not the Mother of the Bride. Somebody to crack the whip when necessary, so you only have to worry if your champagne glass is full (and the right planner will be sure it is).
You need a first class photographer who understands your style. Remember, when the day is over, there is nothing left but the fabulous pictures and your memories.
Your band. The band with a leader who spends plenty of time with you in the planning process, the band that plays your first dance to perfection, the band that understands your musical tastes, but also your friends’ your parents friends’, and even grandparents. This is a celebration for all your guests. Read reviews of your band, especially recent ones. Ask the leader if the musicians for your special day are for the most part the same every gig or if he utilizes “pick up” musicians frequently, and most of all try and get a feel if the band really likes playing wedding receptions or do it just because that’s where the money is.

Of course Big Ray and the Kool Kats wants to be your wedding band. Of course we understand weddings are expensive. Of course we know hiring a wedding band or booking a band period only happens a couple of times a lifetime for most folks. Even if you don’t book us, read through this and feel free to utilize it, if you need tips, check our other post, How to Hire a Wedding Band or DJ. Or even give me a call and ask me anything you like about wedding band costs even if we’re not the right style or price for you. Really.

Mary Wilson, The Supremes and Big Ray and the Kool Kats

on March 24, 2021May 23, 2023 By bigrayandthekoolkats

BIG RAY AND THE KOOL KATS HAS HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH MARY WILSON ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.

Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of The Supremes passed away February 8, 2021.

In her biography straight from Wikipedia they say, “She gained worldwide recognition as a founding member of The Supremes, the most successful Motown act of the 1960s and the best-charting female group in U.S. chart history,[2] as well as one of the best-selling girl groups of all-time. The trio reached number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 with 12 of their singles, ten of which feature Wilson on backing vocals.

Wilson remained with the group following the departures of the other two original members Florence Ballard (in 1967) and Diana Ross (in 1970). Though the trio disbanded following Wilson’s own departure in 1977. Wilson later became a New York Times best-selling author in 1986 with the release of her first autobiography, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme. Her autobiography set records for sales in its genre, and later for the autobiography Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together.

Continuing a successful career as a concert performer in Las Vegas, Wilson also worked in activism, fighting to pass Truth in Music Advertising bills and donating to various charities. Wilson was inducted along with Ross and Ballard (as members of the Supremes) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.”

Besides the obvious talent, beauty and history of her many years with one of America’s greatest musical treasures, The Supremes, Ms. Wilson is unusually generous to her musicians.

I recall her actually stopping the show at The University of Virginia, calling for a piece of paper with my 12 person horn section’s names on it, and explaining to the crowd that we were local musicians and how she wanted the audience to know and appreciate each of us.

We’ve worked with many dozens of national artists from Frank Sinatra to John Legend, but nobody appreciated us more than Mary Wilson.

We’ll miss performing with her.

A Wedding at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA

on March 24, 2021April 20, 2022 By bigrayandthekoolkats

HOW GREAT TO HAVE ONE OF OUR COUPLE’S WEDDINGS PICKED UP BY WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE.

Big Ray and the Kool Kats, one of Washington DC’s most popular wedding bands was delighted to celebrate with a couple who clearly loved their dog, Jolene.

A Parisian-styled wedding with the reception at the Army-Navy Country Club with its views of the city was special enough.

Big Ray always asks his couples for special selections, songs with special meaning, really anything musical Big Ray and the Kool Kats can do to make their wedding reception special.

When during a conversation they mentioned that their dog Jolene was a big part of their lives, we knew what we had to do.

Not in our everyday repertoire, but we love making musical moments. Jolene by Dolly Parton is a great song, and with an introduction so all the wedding guests understood, Big Ray and the Kool Kats launched into it. There was not a dry eye in the house, especially the bride and groom. Big Ray and the Kool Kats…we make memories.

Read the full article here!

How to Hire a Wedding Band or DJ

on January 6, 2021November 23, 2021 By bigrayandthekoolkats 3 Comments

Big Ray and the Kool Kats - Charlottesville Wedding Band

Our guide on how to hire a wedding band or DJ.

SO I ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING “HE’S JUST GOING TO PUSH BIG RAY AND THE KOOL KATS” AS A WEDDING BAND. NOPE, BUT LETS START FROM THE BEGINNING.

I believe the music and entertainment for your wedding is the #3 decision you need to make. Before food, before decor, before types of alcohol (or not), before flowers, etc.. Here’s are my top 3 decision points:

Venue and planner: Although not always the same vendor, they often are and will drive a lot of decisions down the line together
Photographer…when the entire event is over, only the photographer’s work lasts forever.
Music: Here we go. Nothing sets the tone of your event more than the music. Style, flexibility, VOLUME, I call it executing your musical vision. There are 3 very important songs you should think about, you processional, your recessional, and your first dance.

Here are 3 things to think about when it’s time to talk about the party.

Everybody is not your age. Often wedding guests span 3 generations, sometimes even 4. Be sure your bandleader/DJ understands this and is prepared to musically deal with it. Also, the point of the time in the reception should drive the songs being played; quieter earlier, more energetic later
Nothing is more musically important than what I call the “specials”, your dance with your new spouse, father/daughter and mother/son dances, really anything family related. Your band MUST commit to playing these songs flawlessly (easier for a DJ of course).
The song list itself. Give the bandleader/DJ SOME guidance here. I always ask for your 6 favorite songs and 6 you just really don’t want to hear, but let the professional you hired “read” the dance floor and make the selections that keep it full. It’s what we do.

And finally 3 more things to think about: (I like thinking in 3’s in case you haven’t noticed)

Reviews: Ask for reviews and recommendations. But don’t let the artist “cherry pick” them. Tell him you want the last 5 or so chronologically. Wedding Wire and the Knot are a great place to find reviews and they are generally pretty forthright. We have no ability to change a review there or even remove it.
Should I hire a wedding band or a DJ: If you don’t get anything else out of this post, remember this please: A really good DJ is almost always better than a mediocre band and about the same price. Nothing beats a great band with a lot of experience though.
Price: Certainly this is the hard part. I’ve played intimate weddings for 24 and events in Palm Beach, Bellagio Las Vegas, even Cabo San Lucas where folks have flown my entire band to provide what I call “entertainment insurance”…a first class party every single time. Obviously the budgets were very different, but one thing remains in common: your guests might not remember the food, almost certainly not the flowers or linens, but they’ll remember mediocre entertainment and they’ll REALLY remember how much fun they had with great entertainment.

Thanks for reading my very first blogpost, feel free to reach out with questions and of course especially if you need “entertainment insurance” for your event.

Ray