Help! How do I decide between a live band and DJ?

So, you’re a music lover who is faced with the difficult decision of booking a live band or DJ for your upcoming event and you need help with your tough decision? Well, it just so happens I have made a list of considerations that will help make this decision a little easier for you. As a musician myself, I am a huge advocate for live music but for the purpose of this blog, I am going to be completely unbiased as I do believe there are times where a DJ is a more suitable option than a live band.

Energy, Atmosphere, Engagement & Musical Style

First I’ll start with some questions:

Is your event day or night? 

If your event is during the day, I would highly recommend booking a live band instead of a DJ. Depending on the size of the event, you could even have an acoustic duo or trio to really set the laid back daytime vibe. Having live music during a daytime event can also be a good ice-breaker for your guests as it gives them something to listen to and watch while they eat and mingle. If your event is at night, a DJ or live band are both viable options.

Is your event a big celebration or more low key?

If your event is a big celebration, a DJ or live band would be perfectly suited to get the dance floor going. However, if your event is a little more low key, you may like to consider having a small ensemble which could be anything from a string quartet to a 5-piece jazz band or an acoustic duo/trio as mentioned earlier. It really depends on your preferences but I would only recommend these options if you’re not looking to have a dance floor. 

Do you want high engagement and a variety of music?

If you want your guests dancing the day/night away here are some considerations:

Live Band: The dynamic energy of a live band is truly unmatched, especially with the interaction between band members and your guests. With a live band (well, ours anyway), no two performances are ever the same and we love to improvise and build the songs in a way that keeps the energy high throughout the entire set.  The downside to having a live band is that the repertoire list is more limited than a DJ who can play any song you request. However, I must admit, our band plays such a wide range of genres with over 300 songs on our repertoire list. So it really does depend on the band you book. I also really do believe live music creates an atmosphere that recorded music simply cannot.

DJ: As mentioned previously, a DJ has access to a vast library of songs across any genre. So you can be sure that their mix of music will keep guests highly engaged as they can very easily change between music genres and eras. They also have the flexibility to incorporate live mixing, mashups and remixes. It’s also important to consider, unless you’re booking a band who specialises in cultural music (like our Greek and Italian bands), our DJs can play any cultural music you request, normally resulting in high engagement from your guests. The downside to having a DJ is that the engagement/energy is nowhere near the same as having a live band. 

Budget

Here is where the decision may become easier. If you have a limited budget, a DJ may be a better option for you. I can only speak for our pricing as there are many bands/DJs out there who would charge less/more, but to reference our pricing, a band is typically well over double the price of a DJ. The expense of a band can absolutely be justified, especially when you have 5-9 musicians, a huge amount of sound equipment, instruments to load in, and rehearsals to consider. However, if budget is the make or break, this may result in you deciding a DJ as a more viable option.

Logistics 

Something important to consider is how much space your venue has and if there are any restrictions. DJs require minimal space and equipment set up, making them very suitable for venues with limited space and noise restrictions. Bands have much more equipment to load in, so if there are stairs or difficult load in/out conditions, this can make the set up not viable for the band. Bands also require much more space to set up their equipment and limiting sound can be difficult. This next point ties in with the budget, but another consideration may be the location of your venue. We personally charge travel fees for venues 25km+ outside of Adelaide CBD. We charge per contractor (musician, DJ, MC etc.), meaning if you were to book a band and your venue is 25km+ outside of Adelaide CBD, the travel fee would be a lot higher than the travel fee for a DJ. 

Why not have both?

If budget is not at all a problem, by all means, you can absolutely book both a live band and DJ. This would mean the live band and DJ can take turns entertaining your guests and the energy will be high at all times. Not only does this create the ultimate party vibe, you’ll be able to have the best of both worlds!

How to choose?

Choose a live band if:

• You want a live performance experience with a unique atmosphere
• You have allowed a 4-6k budget for entertainment (unless you are wanting an acoustic duo or trio in which case the price would be lower)
• Your venue has the space and load in/out capabilities for a live band
• You want a personalised performance tailored to your events theme or style 

Choose a DJ if:

• You want a hugely diverse range of music genres
• You have a limited budget of under 3k
• Your venue has limited space and major noise restrictions 
• You want to completely customise the playlist to incorporate specific songs and genres

Ultimately, the decision between a live band and DJ depends on your budget, preferences, venue constraints and the atmosphere you want to create for your event. To add a live music element, there is always the option to add a saxophonist or percussionist alongside the DJ, which can be a great alternative.  

Important note: the prices indicated above are based on our pricing and will vary greatly with different companies. 

Photography: Dan Evans Photography