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How To Choose a Wedding Singer at The Sylvan Hotel

A microphone

It's your big day, and you want every last detail—and every last moment—to be perfect. And while certain organ ballads have a moratorium on the wedding ceremony, the reception is a time to get creative. From the father-daughter dance to your first dance to popular reception jams, there's a whole world of great music waiting to light up your Sylvan Hotel wedding. But first, you have to hire the right singer. Here's how to hire the perfect wedding singer at The Sylvan Hotel.

How to Choose Wedding Entertainment

Before you delve into how to hire a wedding band or a DJ, you have to think about what kind of entertainment you want and whether a live band or a DJ is the right fit.

First, think about the crowd. Obviously, you want to choose songs you enjoy as a couple, but keep in mind who else will be at the wedding. If most of your attendees are in their early twenties, they'll have a blast tearing up the dance floor to current pop hits. On the other hand, if you have a lot of older family members in the crowd (or young kids in attendance) a live band and a wedding singer are more likely to appeal to the whole audience.

You should also think about the space in your venue. A multi-member band needs more space, while a singer with a simple backup crew won't a huge stage.

How to Choose a Wedding Singer

Once you've made the choice between a DJ versus a wedding singer and live band, you're ready to think about the specifics of how to hire a wedding singer. Here are a few key details to keep in mind.

Male Singer vs. Female Singer

While it might sound obvious, there's a big difference between a male singer and a female singer. You'll get a completely different vocal range, style, and stage persona.

There are four vocal categories for men:

  1. Bass
  2. Baritone
  3. Tenor
  4. Countertenor

There are also four vocal categories for women:

  1. Alto
  2. Contralto
  3. Mezzo-soprano
  4. Soprano

These are all labels categorizing the singer's voice type, which is affected by their vocal range, timber (their unique vocal texture), their vocal register, transition points, and weight, among others. Broadly speaking, gender affects the pitch, range, and frequency of singer's voice, but it also influences subtler factors like how the audience perceives them.

As a customer, this is important insofar as it determines the types of songs a singer is physically able to sing and what songs they can perform well. If you're dead-set on a song that was written for a soprano, a countertenor just won't be able to sing it, or at least, they can't sing it in the way you're used to hearing it.

Consider Singing Style

You also have to consider the singer's unique singing style—as it aligns with your desired music, that is.

Some musical styles require a musician trained in the style as a basic performance requirement (opera, for instance). Okay, you probably don't want opera as your first dance, but if you do, you won't hire a rock singer to sing an opera singer's role.

That said, certain musicians are better at certain styles. Let's say you're interested in a laid-back soundtrack with a lot of jazzy love songs. A rock singer could do it in theory, but they may not have the voice for it, and if they're not used to performing that style, they probably won't be as good at it. Plus, they won't know that many songs in that category.

Oh, and certain styles are suited to different venues. There are lots of great places for a rock concert, but a high-end garden party-style wedding is not one of them.

Think about the style of music you're interested in and look for a singer who likes to perform that style.

Ask for Recommendations

Once you know what you're looking for in a wedding singer, you can start shopping around. Your best bet is to ask for recommendations.

Start by asking your friends. If you were just at a friend's wedding and loved their singer, ask who they hired or the agency they used. If you have friends who were married recently, ask who they worked with and who they liked. Even if you don't hire the same singer, you may well use the same agency because your friends had a great experience working with them.

Another great resource is your wedding planner, especially because they already know the ins and outs of hiring wedding entertainment and know how to scour for the right performer.

Ask for a Demo Video

Once you have a list of potential candidates, reach out to ask for a demo video. This is when you have to turn a critical eye.

Remember, professional studio editing and Auto-Tune can cover a multitude of sins. A lot more sins than you think, actually. While a professional, polished video might look great as a marketing tactic, you want to make sure the video accurately represents the singer.

Instead of a feat of Hollywood editing, ask for demo videos drawn from real weddings, preferably two or three demos from different weddings. If you can hear Great Aunt Maude cheering and kids carrying on, you've got the right clips—this will give you a sampling of the singer's voice in the wild, so to speak. If you like what you hear on this kind of demo clip, you'll like what you hear on the wedding day.

This will also give you a chance to see the singer's performing style in real life. You'll be able to see if they have a passion for their music, if they click with the crowd, and if they really love what they do. All of that will show through in the performance of a great singer.

Ask for a Price Quote

Last but not least, ask for a price quote.

When you do this, ask the singer to explain how their pricing works. For example, will they charge extra for extra performances, or if they stay an extra hour? Keep in mind that their pricing policies may be set by their agency. Plan based on that pricing policy so that you can maximize fun without breaking your budget.

Let The Sylvan Hotel Host Your Dream Wedding

For you, The Sylvan Hotel is more than just a wedding venue. It's the site of your big day. It's the place where you get to start the next chapter of your life with the most important person in your life.

Our job is to make your dream wedding possible. Whether you're looking for standout wedding singers, a live band, or a DJ, we're here to provide music to make memories.

So if you're getting ready for a wedding, don't settle for anything less than the perfect day. Request a quote today and find out how we can deliver your dream wedding day.