Do Live Bands Bring Their Own Speakers?
Our handy guide to sound system and lighting when booking a band
If you've considered hiring a live band for your function, you may be wondering whether the band will come equipped with their own speakers or if you'll need to hire s sound system yourself. Well, we are here to help!
So, 'do live bands bring their own speakers?'
There is no short answer to this question as it can depend on a number of things. Generally speaking, most live bands will carry their own sound system with them when performing, but not always. The type of venue they're performing in affects this more than anything because the bands sound system may not be sufficient for larger capacities such as festivals or theatres. If you're booking a live band for your wedding entertainment or a private function, then you likely won't need to worry about hiring an additional sound system as most reputable bands will be able to cover a capacity of 200-300 people pretty comfortably.
If you've booked a live band before, your contract may say 'Artiste to be self-contained' in the special clauses/additional info section. More often than not this means the live band you have booked will come with their own sound system and back line (mics, guitar amps, drumkit etc...) but not necessarily lighting.
Lighting
It isn't unlikely for a live band to carry their own lighting, especially wedding entertainment and party bands, as it is their job to put on a show and create an exciting environment for their audience. However, lighting is slightly less common for a band to carry than a sound system, this is because bands can be very particular about what PA they use as it affects how they sound.
Some acts come more equipped than others. From experience, we can say with confidence that you likely won't need to worry about supplying any lighting yourself when booking a live band for a private party or wedding reception. If you're booking a live band for a larger event on the other hand, we would suggest hiring both lighting as well as a PA system...
The best thing to do is ask!
Every act is different, if you're not sure whether you need to hire a sound system or any lighting for your live band then simply ask us when you're booking! We're always more than happy to help our customers and we'll discuss all of these details during the booking process as well as assisting you with any other questions you may have!