The Buzzcatz
Los Angeles
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(map) Phone: 310-780-5262
Reviews for The Buzzcatz
If you love crooners music and big-band style music then you have found the right band! The lead singer does a really amazing job keeping the party going. They are well rehearsed, professional, and fun!!! Everyone was seriously dancing all night- something I didn't expect. These guys know how to throw a party and still be appropriate for a black tie wedding setting which I think is hard to do. They are worth every penny!
GUEST
Fabulous! Best comments: Why in the world do we think we have to go to Atlanta to get a good band? Never danced so much at a wedding. Great soloists. Who knew Elvis was invited. Fabulous cocktail hour music. Great trumpet player for entrance of the Bride (Trumpet Voluntary). Played Bride and Grooms play list to perfection. Music for all ages. Flexible up to the last minute. I could go on and on..... These musicians deserve a solid TEN out of the above 5.0 scale.
Many, many thanks!!!
GUEST
Perfect song selection for the crowd. Personable. Learned our first dance song (You and Me by Dave Matthews... great song) and played it perfectly. Communicated well with us and the weding planner. And most important.... Kept the Mother-of-the-bride calm and informed at all times!!!!
GUEST
Not only were they QUICK to respond to my husband's and my emails, they were helpful and friendly through the whole process. They were a little out of our price range, but they were WORTH every penny and I would have them again in a second. They learned to play our first dance LIVE and they brought a second singer FREE of charge because "it wouldn't sound good without a woman vocalist" they said. They rocked the night away, and all the guests were on the dance floor the ENTIRE night. Seriously, we have no pictures with our guests in their chairs! They were professional, timely, and just PERFECT. People still comment on how amazing our wedding was- and they ALWAYS mention how great the band was! Thank you so much Ricky and The BuzzCatz for making our wedding so perfect!!! Sincerely, Tyler and Lauren Rockey
GUEST
If you are looking for a fantastic band for your event, this is the band for you.....they were fantastic, got loads of complements, played everything we asked and were extremely professional. They ran our wedding reception like clockwork.
GUEST
What can I say, my father is also in the music industry and I know that there are 3 things that make a wedding. The food, the booze and the music! Ricky & Carmen lead singers did an amazing job and are so easy to work with! Everyone is still talking about the roaring good time we had on a Sunday afternoon and the band was the icing on the cake!! You will not go wrong by hiring the buzzcatz! Thanks again!
GUEST
Having live music at our wedding reception was our number one priority. Our wedding planner Brittany from Tickled Pink Brides suggested Ricky and the Buzz Catz for our November wedding at The Gaylord Palms. We listen to their demo and booked them. I loved their sound and thought they'd be great. Little did I know they would be exceptional. The Buzz Catz made our reception. They had a perfect read on the crowd and kept the dance floor packed all night. I remember several times when I stopped dancing, wanting to go mingle with guests, only to realize EVERYONE was on the dance floor (even my husband's 95 year old grandma). Ricky was pure class -- nothing about the music choices, the commentary or flow of the night felt cheesy. Throughout the planning process I only chatted with Ricky via email and he was always promt, thorough and everything about the execution at our event was spot on. Their song list is deep and is perfect for setting a fun, party atmosphere that is still refined and elegant. I've already been plotting a five year anniversary party just to have an excuse to dance to their magnificent sound again! Cannot recommend them enough.
GUEST
This band will make your reception a true party! Their play list is classy and fun. Our guests were dancing all night long! My dad even offered to pay them more money to play longer because everyone was having such an amazing time!
GUEST
This was the best part of my entire wedding! I over 400 guests at my wedding and no one was EVER sitting. They kept it going all night long! It has been over a year now and I STILL have people coming up to me asking about my band! Since my wedding three friends have booked the BuzzCatz. I have heard several bands, but they have it going on it! I would not choose any other band! They truly are amazing! Not only is their music fantastic, but their display is so classy! Love them!
GUEST
THE BEST BAND EVER! There is absolutely nothing that they could have done to make us more satisfied. EVERYONE was on the dance floor the entire night! The music was PERFECT!
GUEST
Ricky and the Buzzcatz is the BEST band in Orlando! When I got engaged everyone that I talked to raved about the Buzzcatz and told us “you have to book them!” So, I did research and absolutely feel in love with them, and we are so glad that we spent the money to have them at our wedding. We had a large wedding with a variety of ages and EVERYONE was on the dance floor, dancing the night away. If you are considering the Buzzcatz but think they are expensive, find a way in your budget to cut back somewhere else and book the Buzzcatz. They are sooooooo WORTH it!!!! Not to mention that Ricky is so easy to work with and knows exactly how to work the crowd. If I ever have a large party where I need a band I will use the Buzzcatz again!
GUEST
The Buzzcatz totally made my reception!!! I have been married 6 months and of all of the things at my wedding reception that I spent so much time, energy and money on, the only thing anyone remembers is how amazing the band was. Ricky and his crew were so entertaining and so very talented. They stayed in touch with me, were completely professional, played music I requested, learned songs that we wanted, and accomodated every request. Ricky did the most amazing Louie Armstrong I have ever heard, and is a true entertainer. Best of all - they kept my dance floor packed and kept the bride and groom very happy.
GUEST
These guys made our large wedding reception a real blast! We had a huge variety of ages and types of guests and everyone danced all night to this great band. They were an easy choice once I heard their great sound and created the memorable evening we dreamed of!
GUEST
This band was so great. They played at a friend's wedding and everyone danced the night away! They were so great at our wedding that my father would have paid them to keep playing even after me and my husband left the party! (which was at the end of the night anyway) I HIGHLY recommend them!
Love working with these guys! They are absolutely fantastic!
Have you heard of the Buzzcatz? If not your missing out BIG time! They are by far the best band in Orlando! They are fantastic and extremely professional! They will rock your night away and you will be completely be blown away by how talented their whole band is! The soloist Ricky and Carmen are beyond amazing! They are extremely a pleasure to work with. The whole Castaldo Studio team definitely recommend them!
About The Buzzcatz
The Buzzcatz are a nine piece band with versatile male and female vocalists and a smokin' horn section that can ignite a party anywhere with a danceable mix of American Songbook Standards, Jazz, Motown, & Rock N Roll. We are proud to be found at the top of the vendor lists of the most prestigious resorts and private clubs in the U.S.A. The Buzzcatz were named "Best Reception Band" in THE KNOT magazine's BEST OF edition, and also named "Editors Choice" by BRIDES magazine's Southern California edition. The "Nine Lives" tour has included stops at some of the swankiest venues in the country, including the Governor Of Florida's wedding and a command performance for The President Of The United States.
Our presentation is a nostalgic, formal appearance of a supper club orchestra from the glamourous and romantic 50's & 60's. Musically, we deliver the biggest dance hits from the past 50 years, just the way you remember hearing them. We come fully self contained with sound and lighting, and we provide deejay music on the band's breaks to insure that the dance floor stays packed all night long with a great mix of classic and modern music. Our lead vocalist also acts as emcee in a style that is a hit with young and old alike. We are fully insured and we've never cancelled a gig.
We have played at around 700 weddings in the past decade or so, along with many other private events, fundraisers, conventions, and festivals. Most of our gigs come from repeat customers or people who have seen us perform at another event. If you'd like to have references or testimonials, please ask any wedding vendor or upscale venue in the Central Florida or Southern Cal area about us, and then visit our website to read testimonials from our clients. We are also happy to refer you to some of our past clients. Our reputation for bringing a first class, professional act to the stage proceeds us. Please read our reviews here. You can rest assured that you are about to book one of the best and most experienced party bands in the country, and that your party is in good hands.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook! For a classy occasion that ROCKS…THE BUZZCATZ
The Buzzcatz have performed for wedding receptions at the following venues, among many others:
The Montage - Laguna Beach, The Ritz Carlton Laguna Beach, The St. Regis Resort in Laguna Niquel, The Hotel Laguna, The Biltmore - Los Angeles, Warner Bros Backlot - Los Angeles, Hotel Del Coronado - San Diego, Saddlerock Ranch - Malibu, Hyatt - Newport Beach, Balboa Bay Club, Torrey Pines Country Club - San Diego, The Jonathan Club - Malibu, CA, The Nixon Library - Santa Barbara, CA, The Ritz Carlton Grand Lakes, Orlando, The Shingle Creek Rosen Resort, The Waldorf Astoria, The Bonnet Creek Hilton, The Citrus Club - downtown Orlando, Heathrow Country Club, Country Club Of Orlando, Winter Park Women's Club, Interlachen Country Club, Ritz Sarasota Beach Club, Ritz Carlton Sarasota, The Reniessance Vinoy Resort - St Pete, The Don Cesar - St. Pete, The Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort - Lake Buena Vista, Courtyard @ Lake Lucerne, JW Marriott Grand Lakes - Orlando, Daytona Beach Hilton, The Orange County History Center - Downtown Orlando, The Rosalind Club - Downtown Orlando, The University Club - Downtown Orlando, The Winter Park Racquet Club, Lake Nona Country Club, The Lost Tree Club, West Palm Beach, The Royal Palm Country Club - Jupiter, Highland Manor - Apopka
FAQ for The Buzzcatz
Q: Will you act as Emcee for all of the announcements and introductions?
A: Yes. The bandleader will act as the Emcee for the entire evening and co-ordinate with your photographer, videographer, caterer and wedding coordinator before he announces any of the evening’s festivities.
Q: I see that you are based in both Florida and Southern California. How does this work? Are we getting the same group?
Our bi-coastal bandleader Ricky Sylvia spends the months of June-September in So Cal. The Southern Cal Buzzcatz are fronted by Ricky, play the same set list as the FLA Buzzcatz, and have the same presentation. The group is made up of seasoned pros from the L.A. area who have been playing with Ricky as The Buzzcatz since 2001.
Q: Can you provide musicians for our cocktail hour?
A: Yes, as long as your cocktail hour is on the same property as the reception. A pianist, classical guitarist, bass guitar, and sax (any combo of these) are available for the cocktail hour. Additional fees apply. Please see our pricing sheet for details.
Q: How much stage area do you need for your 9 piece band?
A: A 24 ft. wide X 12 ft. deep stage is optimum and looks the best. We can squeeze smaller if need be. We’ve worked on 8 ft. deep stages, and it’s tight, but we could make it work. All of the band’s power and staging requirements will be in the contract rider.
Q: We don’t have the room or the budget for your 9 piece group. Can you work as a smaller band?
A: The Buzzcatz horn-driven sound, style, and visual presentation are all based on our nine piece band. The six piece version of our group does not include horns. The horn parts represented in our demos are played on keyboard with the 6 piece band.
Q: Do you provide music for your breaks?
A: Yes. We provide pre-mixed deejay music for our breaks. All selections are timed appropriately with your reception (dinner music for early, dance/party songs later). If you have some requests for the break music, please provide the bandleader with a list ahead of time, and they will be mixed into the break music. On the spot requests from the crowd are not a problem either, as we have a huge library of popular songs for the break music.
Q: Can we see you play “live”?
A:The Buzzcatz play for mainly private events at exclusive clubs and resorts, and out of respect for the privacy of our clients, we can not invite you to these events. Our website has samples of our sound and video of us playing “live” to give you a look and listen. We do play a rare public show on occasion, and we can notify you if we have one coming up.
Q: Do you have a list of references that we can contact if we can’t see you play “live”?
A: Yes. The Buzzcatz are preferred vendors most of the upscale wedding venues in Central Florida and in So. Cal, where we perform in the summer months. We are happy to give you a list of references from either region. There are also countless testimonials on our wedding page, sent to us from real clients from weddings and events over the past several years.
Q: Can you hold my wedding date for me?
A: We can only hold a date with a signed contract and a deposit. Weekend nights book as long as a year or more in advance in some cases, so if you want the ‘Catz at your wedding, book it soon!
Q: Do you have a wireless mic so that we can do our toasts from the head table?
A: Yes.
Q: Are the songs on your song list the only songs you can play?
A: No. Send us your special requests and if we don’t know them we will include them on the break music. We don’t believe in “padding” our list with songs that we never play, so what you see is pretty much what we can play on any given night. We also play Horas and Muskinka for Jewish weddings.
Q: Our first dance is a song that is not on your list...will you learn it for us?
A: Yes.
Q: We have a really FUN group of guests coming, and my concern is that The Buzzcatz don’t play enough “hip”, “current”, fun dance music for the younger guests at our wedding.
A: Don’t let our “formal” appearance fool you....this band is all about FUN! We didn’t become one of the most popular wedding bands in America by being a drag at parties! We play everything from old stuff to new stuff - you’re going to hear it all. We pack the dance floor after dinner and keep them there all night. We also provide deejay music on our break to cover any more of the modern dance tunes as well as any requests you may have that are not found on our songlist, so that all genres and eras of music are represented. Please also keep in mind while viewing our song list that some songs work better live with a dance floor full of people than they look on paper. We know when to pull out which tunes, and which ones to avoid - That’s why you hired us!
Q: Will you meet with us to discuss the agenda?
A: Yes. Once we have a contract and deposit for the date, the bandleader will be happy to discuss your plans with you. He will also be available to you by email or phone at any time.
Q: Can one of our guests sit in with the band?
A:Yes! As long as this is authorized by the Bride & Groom.
Q: How many breaks do you take and how long are they?
A: Our breaks are timed to coordinate with other events of the evening (toasts, blessing, cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc), all of which are emcee’d by our bandleader, who never really takes a break. A perfectly planned playlist of pre-recorded music fills the gaps, and at no point and to the length of your dinner, and each wedding is different in terms of timing and atmosphere.
Q: Can you play continuously without taking breaks?
A: No, we don't do continuous, but we do play deejay music on our short breaks to keep the party going.
Q: Do you carry insurance?
A: Yes, we are fully insured with a liability policy from I.O.A. and will be happy to have our insurance office fax our certificate to your venue. Most of the resorts and country clubs in the Central Florida area already have our certificate on file.
Q: What form of payment do you accept and when is the balance due? Do you take credit cards?
A: Sorry, but we don’t take credit cards. We do accept personal checks payable to Ricky Sylvia or cash. The balance is mailed to Ricky and due the day before the wedding.
Q: My friend said she paid less for The Buzzcatz to play at her wedding - Why?
A: Our prices can vary depending upon the night of the week, hours of the event, size of the band, and travel distance. .
Q: If we should have to re-schedule our wedding, can we apply the deposit to our new date?
A: There have been a few instances when we have had cancellations due to an approaching hurricane, in which case we applied the deposit to a future date; but otherwise, no, we can not apply your deposit to another date once we have booked the date. All of our members have your date on the calendar once we confirm with a contract, and have been turning down work for that particular night since it was booked. In other words, we can’t tie up two dates for the price of one.
Q: What is the process for getting a contract and confirming The Buzzcatz for our date?
A: Send us a confirmation email with all of your details (date, time, venue, number of pieces you want in the band, your mailing address & phone number). We will email you back a contract/rider for your event. Sign and send the contract to the mailing address listed at the bottom along with your 50% deposit, and we are all set. You will receive a signed copy for your records in the mail.
Thank you for choosing The Buzzcatz. We look forward to performing for you!
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