FAQ

• Most bands focus only on how they look and sound, but Dat Band focuses on the experience! We do this by interacting with your guests to make them a part of our performance.
• We host events like dance competitions, live band karaoke, conga lines and more to interact and make your guests a part of the action. But don’t take our word for it…

“…the lead singer joined us on the dance floor at times, making everyone feel they were a part of what the band was doing. They started the evening off with a dance-off. That set the stage for an entire evening of dancing. There wasn’t a song all night where the dance floor wasn’t packed.”

~Mark B.

Prices for a 3 hour party band generally range between about $2,500-13,000 and varies based on some key factors like:

• Where your venue is located (we do travel, although travel fees and overnight accommodations aren’t included in the $2,500-13,000)
• How long your event lasts
• The size of the band requested for your main event (3-13 pieces)
• The number of extra add-on services we provide (like second line bands / parades, a separate smaller cocktail hour band, wedding ceremony music, etc.)

Since each event is different, please contact us so we have a good understanding of what you’re looking for, and to make sure we don’t leave out anything important to you.

• Step 1: contact us to check date availability, and we’ll start a conversation to make sure we understand the event you want. We’re happy to meet by phone, virtual meeting or in person.
• Step 2: we send a brochure with options and pricing, you select from our brochure, and then we hold your date with a signed contract and a deposit
• Step 3: we consult with you regularly along the way leading up to your event to make sure you get exactly what you want

• You can see our full song list here. Our goal is to cater to a wide variety of tastes, both young and old, all while reading the crowd to keep your dance floor packed!
• We’ll happily take special requests before your event to make sure we play all the music you’d like to hear. We even take special requests during your event!

• Check out our public events calendar

We tend to book well in advance, usually anywhere from 12-18 months ahead of time, especially during our peak seasons from mid Jan through May, and mid Sept through Dec, so it’s best to place a deposit on your date as soon possible to ensure our availability.

• We can customize our party / reception band from 3-13 pieces, but a majority of our clients tend to hire a 5-10 piece band
• Lineups can feature both male & female lead vocals, rhythm section, and horn players like saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. If you’re unsure about what you want or need, let’s talk so we can advise you on the best size group for your event.

• Keep in mind that a bigger band will sound fuller, but not necessarily louder, and allow us to cover a wider variety of music.
• Although we can work with as few as 3 in some situations, the sweet spot tends to be 5-11 pieces. This allows us to cover a wider variety of music including male and female lead songs.
• Smaller venues tend to be far more conservative than necessary, and will insist that you can only hire a certain size band. For instance, there’s hardly any difference in space needed for a 4 person band vs. a 6 person band.

• We’re a one-stop-shop for special event music including:
  • Customizable party bands from 3-13 musicians
  • Second line marching brass bands, with a street parade option for second lines including the parade permit, police details, and all planning & logistics handled by Dat Band. We handle the whole second line experience, so all you need to do is show up!
  • Live music for cocktail parties or wedding ceremonies (ex. string quartet, solo classical guitar, piano, etc.)
  • Handheld mic & amplification for officiant during wedding ceremonies (this system can also play back recorded music instead of having live music)
  • An extra hour of DJ style recorded music played back through our sound system as an add-on when you book a 3 hour live music package (we don’t provide a dedicated DJ, turntables, DJ equipment, etc.)
    • PS. DJ style recorded music is always provided and included in every package during live music breaks
  • Professional emcee service

• Absolutely! We have a traditional, marching brass band that is perfect for second lines.
• We can also offer to fully plan your street parade in New Orleans. This means that we provide the marching brass band, parade permit, police details, and all of the planning & logistics. We handle every single detail, so all you do is show up ready to party! Contact us for more info.

• Yes! We do provide live cocktail hour music on a regular basis.
• The style of music for cocktail hour can be custom tailored: for example, it could be lighter easy listening music (think Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, etc.), traditional vocal & instrumental jazz, or even just a solo guitar for a more intimate feel.
• Let’s talk about what may be the best fit for your event.

The band wears formal dress attire by default and will fit in at just about any private event. When at a public performance like a festival, we’ll typically dress down and go more smart casual.

You’ll get everything you need for a live band at your event and nothing you don’t. This includes:

• Minimum 3 hour live music performance with some quick band breaks (you can easily add more time)
• DJ style recorded music, played through our sound system, during all live band breaks
• Premium sound with a dedicated sound engineer for up to 500 guests (sound reinforcement for more than 500 guests is available for an additional fee, please contact us for options)
• Stage lighting for the band (we don’t offer any venue lighting / uplighting, but we’re happy to make recommendations for you)
• All the equipment, musicians, and support staff we need to perform
• Complete load in, set up, tear down and load out of all equipment
• PS. We don’t provide a stage. A stage for the band can be a nice touch for indoor performances, but it’s definitely not required! Outdoor performances are a different ball game considering the unpredictability of the weather, so please contact us if you have more questions about outdoor performances.

Yes. We require a minimum 30% non-refundable deposit to hold your date on our calendar and turn away any other business.

We offer secure online bank transfer with a checking or savings account, and also accept major credit cards with an online processing fee. We also accept checks, money orders, or cash.

• Because we travel anywhere, and each situation is different, travel costs outside of the Greater New Orleans area are not included.
• For safety’s sake, we also require overnight accommodations to sleep the full band and 2 person production team for any events outside of a 200 mile radius from our home base of New Orleans, LA.
• It’s best to contact us for a quote including all the details.

• We’re used to working from as small a footprint as possible to maximize the dance floor.
• By default, we ask for an area of 10 feet deep by 20 feet wide for a larger band (9+), but the space available will always dictate our setup. Smaller band sizes (5-9) will require less space.
• We’re always going to prioritize the dance floor space to make sure everyone has plenty of room to cut loose!
• Most small venues tend to be far more conservative than necessary. For instance, our 7 piece band takes up barely any more space than our basic 5 piece band, so let’s talk about your venue before making any assumptions.

Rest assured, we’re experts at tuning our sound system to a space. Part of our setup process before you and your guests arrive includes a sound check, which is mission critical to make sure the band is right in the sweet spot for volume.

We also regularly work with venues that have strict volume limits because of factors like residential noise limits. The band won’t be too loud – you’ll be able to carry a conversation with no problem.

• Electricity – access to 2 separate and dedicated circuits rated for a 20 amp minimum load on each circuit.
  • PS. Don’t worry if this sounds like Greek to you, a vast majority of venues will have no problem providing this, and we’ll also reach out to your venue as part of our planning process to ensure we have what we need.
• For outdoor events:
  • A tent with sidewalls and a stage, although there is an option in our contract for us to perform without these. Please contact us for more info.
  • Ways to mitigate the effects of heat and cold, like cool air evaporators or heaters for the performance area where the band is set up
• Water + soft drinks and a hot meal for any events where we’ll be present for 5 or more hours (including setup and teardown)

Helpful tips:

• The band will provide all the equipment we need to perform indoors including professional sound and stage lighting, but not a stage. A stage may be a great touch for indoor events but isn’t required for the band to perform.
• Outdoor events need to consider the unpredictability of the weather, so if you’re planning an outdoor event, please contact us to discuss the specifics.
• Overnight accommodations are required for the band + tech crew for events further than a 2 hour drive one way from Downtown New Orleans.

• Our minimum performance time is 3 hours for a party / reception band. It’s also super easy to add additional hours for a small fee.
• PRO TIP: On average you’ll hear between 30-40 songs at a typical 3-4 hour event
• For smaller functions we can feature a soloist or small ensemble for less than 3 hours. It’s best to contact us to talk specifics since each event is different.

Dat Band includes DJ style recorded music through our sound system during any live music breaks at no additional charge. Please note that we don’t offer a dedicated DJ, or DJ equipment like turntables.

You’re welcome to provide us with your own playlist or defer to ours which has been curated after thousands of events. There will never be a break in the party!

• When we’re providing all the sound and lighting equipment needed to perform, we typically ask for a 3 hour window to load equipment in, set up, and perform a sound check with enough time not to interrupt your event.
  • Sound checks are noisy and hectic – these will create a distraction for nearby events, so it’s super important to understand that set up and sound check must be completed before guests arrive.
  • Sometimes this mean the band needs to complete our set up and sound check, and then wait idly by during a nearby cocktail party or wedding ceremony. Please contact us to make sure we have a good understanding of the timeline for your event, and we can factor in all the details on your quote.

Absolutely! Although you want to lean on the band’s experience to make the right calls at the right times, we want to know your top MUST PLAYS and your DO NOT PLAYS. You can find our song list here.

• Yes – we can learn 3 songs for you at a small fee! The fee depends on the amount of work involved in the song’s arrangement, but with typical requests think hundreds, not thousands. Please contact us to find out more.
• We ask for 2 months notice minimum to incorporate these requests into our regular rehearsals.

Yes. This works best to ensure a perfect flow from start to finish. Our professionally trained Emcees will keep your guests engaged so there’s never any question about what’s next. Dat Band includes this service at no extra charge!

In our experience, most guests want to enjoy a quick bite and get to dancing the night away as soon as possible, so having your caterer prepare the meal for as soon as guests arrive will help to make for the most fun you can possibly get.

Yes!

• We can provide that string section you’ve always dreamed of playing you down the aisle, or maybe you’re into something more intimate – like a solo classical acoustic guitar?
• Because of our network of artists & specialists, we’re flexible. Get in touch with us to talk about what your perfect ceremony music sounds like.

Absolutely! We offer second lines as an add-on when you hire a party band.

• We have a marching brass band that is perfect for second lines.
• We can also fully plan your street parade in New Orleans. This means that we provide the brass band, parade permitting, police detail, and planning & logistics, so you just show up ready to party!
• Contact us for more info

Yes!

• We do provide cocktail style music on a regular basis. We typically build in at least 30-45 mins of cocktail style music with just about every performance, to give guests a chance to mingle, and ease your guests into fun dance music later.
• We can also provide a smaller ensemble, like a quartet or soloist for a cocktail reception that takes place in a separate location from where the party band will perform.
• The style of music can be custom tailored. For example, this could be lighter easy listening music (think The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, etc.), traditional instrumental jazz, strictly classical, or even a solo guitar for a more intimate feel.
• Let’s talk about which options may be the best fit for your event.

• The band can play first dance songs live, and we’re happy to learn songs we don’t already know for a small fee. Contact us for a quote if your song isn’t already on our list.
• We’re just as happy to play the original artist’s recording through our sound system for no additional charge.
• PRO TIP: After having performed countless weddings over the years, first dances are usually best received when kept brief, around three minutes most or less.

• Although it’s traditional to deliver toasts at the rehearsal dinner, doing toasts during the reception is an option. Just keep in mind that this means less time dancing!
• Please don’t drop the mic!!! Our equipment is expensive ($1,000 and up) and if someone from your party drops our gear we’ll have no choice but to charge you for replacements.
• PRO TIP: We recommend that each toast take no more than about 3 minutes each, with no more than 2-3 toasts. Quality over quantity goes a long way here!

• If you want as carefree a wedding as possible, you should definitely hire a great wedding planner. An experienced and reputable planner will help you to create a comprehensive timeline and take care of everything down to the smallest detail.
• Let us know if you’re struggling to find someone and we’ll happily make some recommendations.