Oracle Band

Band

Medium (4-6 musicians)

50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Acoustic, Big Band, Classic Rock, Country, Dance, Funk, Motown, Oldies, Pop, R&B, Rock, Strings, Swing

Yes

We perform in formal attire unless otherwise requested

We maintain an extensive public performing schedule. See our website or FaceBook page for details. Our website hosts over 100 sound clips of songs, all recorded directly off the mixing board in a live performance. These are NOT studio efforts, but EXACTLY what came out of our speakers live in performance. What you hear is what you get!

Absolutely!

1 hour minimum, 2 hours preferred. Much depends on the complexity of the load-in. Some downtown hotels are very difficult to get into and out of unobtrusively.

24' w x 8' d - But we're adaptable. A stage is NOT required.

Public performances only.

We bring our own lights to illuminate the band, and we offer a full compliment of special lighting as well on request. There is no additional charge for this.

We can act as MC, or we're perfectly happy to yield that job to someone else. There is very little chatter between songs, we let the music do the talking. We feel strongly that the focus of the evening should be on the bride and groom, not the band.

Reading a crowd is an art form unto itself. So much depends on the circumstances. Oracle Band understands that the band is NOT the center of the universe at a wedding, and many family members may be getting together for the first time in years. Sometimes a switch to some slower songs so people can talk and dance at the same time will do the trick. Sometimes it's as simple as turning the lights down over the dance floor, (many people feel self conscious about dancing when everyone can see them...a dark dance floor can lend a sense of anonymity & a feeling of security. Other times it's a matter of picking up the tempo, changing musical periods, more oldies, more current material, more rock...depends on the crowd. What we WON'T do is start talking to the crowd, turn the reception into a band showcase, or break out some inflatable guitars, unless of course the client ASKS us to!

Our breaks work with your itinerary. We typically play for about an hour during cocktails, take a longer break over dinner, come back as everyone is finishing to start the dancing off, and perhaps take one other break to cut the cake, toss a bouquet, things like that. While we always appreciate a meal, it is not required.

We have a live DJ that takes over between sets at no additional charge. You actually get a band AND a DJ for the same price. You can plan your break music out in advance, or we can simply play music that everyone is obviously enjoying and dancing to. Of course we take requests as well, unless the request happens to be on your "do-not-play-this-song-under-any-circumstances" list

$500 / hour, prorated on half hour basis. You do not have to decide whether you want us to play over until the last possible minute. You can wait to see if everyone is still going strong before making the call. We only book one wedding a day, so we don't have anywhere else to go...we'll be happy to stay if you want us to.

There is no charge for travel in the Washington DC, Central Maryland, or Northern Virginia area. Extended travel fees quoted on a case by case basis, depending on how much gas happens to cost at the time!!!

$600 holds the date. Balance is due on or before the day of the reception.

Q ► How do I contact you via E-mail?
A ► Our general e-mail address is Info@OracleBand.net
Q ► How much do you charge?

A ► Why do so many companies shy away from this question? The answer is straightforward. We charge $2400 for a four hour reception. We don’t charge more for Saturdays or prime wedding season. We don’t believe you should have to feel like you’re buying a used car when you hire a band. Rather, it should be like going into a store and looking for what you want. The prices are marked and you don’t have to haggle with the cashier when you check out.
Q ► What about "hidden" fees? Are there any "extra" charges? A ► Here are all the scenarios where you might end up paying more than $2400 ♦ Overtime - No surprise here. As mentioned above, $500 / hour prorated in 1/2 hour increments
♦ Travel - Also mentioned above. The Washington Baltimore area is over 100 miles across, and we very seldom have to charge extra...travel comes with the job and we accept that. However, for exceptionally long drives we do have to charge something extra considering the price of gasoline these days. We do carpool of course, but it still takes two vehicles. Depending on the distance, appropriate overnight hotel accommodations may also be necessary.
♦ Extremely early setup - We accept the fact that sometimes the reception and the ceremony are in the same location, and that the band might have to be set up more than two hours before we begin to play. While we usually are able to work with our clients and avoid any additional fees, in some instances we have to charge extra for an early set up if we’re not scheduled to play a note for 4-5 hours after setting up.
Q ► My brother / daughter / best friend / mother is an accomplished musician. Do you allow others to sit in on a few songs? A ► If it is with your blessing we actually enjoy having competent musicians join us on stage. It adds to the sense of family, and makes the celebration all the more personalized. Performing spontaneously with other accomplished musicians is as much of an enjoyment for the band as it is for the audience. Also, we’re more than happy to accommodate budding musicians, particularly young students, who would like to be a part of the family celebration. We do fnd that things flow more smoothly when we know about events like this in advance.

That said, we do get a little nervous when, late in the evening, a somewhat tipsy cousin comes up to ask for a microphone requesting to sing a song. These are the moments that strike fear into the hearts of musicians, as you don’t know whether this person can hold a tune or not, and often turns out to be more of an embarrassment to the bride and groom and the family than anything else.

Of course that doesn’t mean that family members can’t join the band on stage to shake a tambourine or something. This is why we bring plenty of these instruments along with us...to get everyone to participate.



Tips and Advice from Oracle Band Room Layout & Seating
► Position the band / DJ as cloase to the dance floor as possible. Some venues seem to prefer to put the dance floor in the middle of the room and the band or DJ along the wall where the electricity is. While this might sound like a fine idea, in reality it usually means that there are people sitting between the band and the dance floor. It make conversation almost impossible at those tables, or it makes the sound on the dance floor sound flat and non-conducive to dancing. You also lose some of the feeling of connection between the band and the dancers.

► Avoid seating grandma and grandpa right in front of the band’s speakers. It doesn’t matter that the volume might still be low enough for normal conversation. The very presence of the speakers is usually enough for them to ASSUME it will be too loud even before a note is played. Spare them the psychological fear and seat them well away from the stage.

► In a rectangular room, it is usually best to set the band up in the middle of the long wall in the room facing the head table opposite the band, with the dance floor in the middle. Let’s face it, the head table is usually deserted once dinner ends, having the band face the dance floor but not necessarily the tables, (the folks are sitting to the left and right of the stage), allows the sound to be easily focused on the dance floor, yet allowing for easy conversation on either side. See the diagram below:



Auditioning Bands
► It is ALWAYS better to audition a band live and in person rather than from a videotape. The reasons for this are pretty obvious. A videotape provides a band with the opportunity to make an absolutely perfect recording in a studio using equipment they could never bring to your wedding, and using overdub techniques that make them sound much larger than they actually are. In other words...they cheat. We’ve seen these videos. Take for example the large lighting trusses that add so much in terms of energy to the videotape. Most of these bands don’t own anywhere near all those lights, and even if they rented them, (charging you extra of course), there isn’t enough electrical power at most venues to permit all that lighting. (There is one large chain of wedding "factories" that actually charges the client if the band requires more than one circuit)!

Unfortunately, most of the major "wedding bands" in the area seldom do public performances so you can come out to hear them perform live. Most of these bands consider themselves above playing in restaurants or nightclubs. You are forced to either trust their studio produced videotapes, or you have to come out to crash someone else’s wedding or party. There are some bands and agencies out there that actually think this is an appropriate way to check out a band! We don’t. We maintain an active public performing schedule so you and your friends can come out and dance, party, and check out the band at the same time.

► Make sure that the band members you see are the ones you are going to have at your wedding reception. Many bands have a revolving door where the lead singer may be the same but the rest of the band is a pickup group. In some cases even the lead singer rotates from band to band. This lack of cohesion results in sloppy performances since these people often don’t rehearse together. You know you’re in trouble when the guitar player calls to the keyboard player "what key do you do this in"?

► When you go out to check out a band, (assuming you can find one that still does public performances), it’s sometimes a good idea to NOT let them know you are there at first. You can see what they are like without the knowledge that they are auditioning for someone. After an hour or so go ahead and introduce yourself and see if their demeanor or enthusiasm changes at all. Some bands will "turn up the show" when they know they are auditioning for someone.

► If you must audition a band on videotape, look to see if they are actually performing live, or if they are lip-synching, (can you spell MILLI VANILLI)? SO how do you tell? Well, the best way is to watch the drummer, and listen for the cymbal crashes. If you see him hit a cymbal but don’t hear a crash, or if you hear one but don’t see him (OK...or her) hit one, it’s probably lip synched.
Bridal Show Tips -
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Bridal Show Experience
Bridal Shows, Showcases, Wedding Fairs, there are a half-dozen different names for them. Perhaps you’ve heard a story or two about the aching feet, the big crowds, or the heavy bags full of literature. This article is written to help you get the most out of your show experience.

There are basically two kinds of bridal shows.

The first is the small, intimate show with a limited number of vendors, as well as a smaller group of attendees. The average attendance is between 75 - 200 people, and there are generally around 20-30 different vendors. These shows allow you much more time to talk with the individual vendors, asking questions and getting more in-depth answers.

The smaller crowds can also be welcome, and at the end of the show you can generally come away from the show without feeling like you’ve been through a war zone. It’s also generally easier to speak with the various vendors in more detail at the show, without a hoard of people pressing behind you for information.

The drawback with these smaller shows are that the vendor selection can be quite limited, (sometimes as few as one vendor per service), so you might have to attend three of four different shows in order to properly compare the advantages and disadvantages of one vendor over another.

The second kind of show is much larger, averaging close to 1000 or more attendees, and featuring anywhere from 200-300 different vendors. The biggest advantage to this kind of show are the wide range of vendors that are available. It is basically like going to a mall to shop for your wedding services...everything is under one roof. This allows you to comparison shop much easier. You can actually view many photographer’s portfolios, or listen to two or three different bands.

Of course you pay a price for this size and variety. The crowds are generally large and some venues can get pretty crowded. Also, it might prove more difficult to talk with a vendor for an extended period without someone else coming up and asking for information.

So which type of show is right for you? Well, that’s really your call. However, we can give you some tips and suggestions for making the most out of your show experience. Are you ready? Here we go...
♦ Wear comfortable shoes. The odds are you’ll be on your feet for quite a while, and uncomfortable shoes will tire you out too quickly. You might force yourself to visit the last few booths, but it won’t be any fun.
♦ Come prepared with peel off labels with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and wedding date printed on them. You can make them yourself using Avery labels (I recommend Avery 5160...30 per page) or something similar, and any word processor. You will be writing your name and address a lot otherwise, entering the various giveaways and promotions.
♦ If you really hate receiving "junk mail", but want to get as much information as you can and participate in the drawings and giveaways, rent a PO box for a while. Then all the wedding related material will come to the PO box, and when you’re done with it after the wedding (and before your name is sold to a thousand OTHER mailing lists), you simply cancel the PO box and voila!...no more junk mail.
♦ Along the same lines, register in advance for a free e-mail address from one of the many free services like Hotmail and Yahoo, or create a new screen name in AOL. When filling out contest entry forms and inquiry sheets use this address, so that when the wedding is over you can simply cancel the account and avoid any further wedding related e-mail. Reserve your main e-mail address for vendors you actually contract with.
♦ Sign up for all the giveaways. Some vendors give discounts for their services, but more have been giving prizes such as toasting glasses and cash. Just because you already have a limo doesn’t mean you can’t use what they have chosen to give as a door prize. (This tip was suggested to us by Kim in New Hampshire...thanks Kim!!!)
♦ Be wary of giving out your phone numbers when you initially register at the bridal show. This is especially true of your work number.
If you don’t like receiving calls at home or work from wedding related vendors, you should probably avoid giving out this personal information. These numbers sometimes go onto mailing lists which are sold or otherwise circulated. (For the record, ORACLE does NOT sell or otherwise distribute any names or addresses to anyone). By providing your number you are giving permission for vendors at the show to contact you by phone, even if you are on the national Do Not Call list.
That said, we recently received an e-mail from a newlywed bride who pointed out that by providing her phone number at the Patriot Center Bridal Show she received a free makeover and a weekend vacation. If she had not provided her number she would quite probably not have been contacted for these valuable prizes.
(Thanks Laura for making this observation, and for letting us know the positive side of providing your phone number).
Providing phone numbers to individual vendors when entering their door prize giveaways is usually fairly safe, since these vendors seldom use their contact information for anything other than legitimate follow up. For this reason we DO advise putting your home phone as well as your e-mail address on the labels we recommended back in tip #2.
♦ Bring a friend or two along. (Yes, it can be your fiancé). You’re going to need some help in carrying literature around, as well as someone to offer an objective third party opinion on things.
♦ Make sure all members of your entourage have cell phones with them in case you get split up. Make sure their cell numbers are in your cell phone’s phonebook!
♦ Wear comfortable shoes.
♦ Bring swatches of material or ribbons with your wedding colors on them. This will help bakers, balloonists, and florists make appropriate suggestions as to what they can do for you.
♦ Don’t expect to walk away from the show with signed contracts in your hand. A show is a place where you make appointments to discuss your wedding in depth. While there are times when you might want to book something right at the show, (such as a limited availability and your date is still open), if at all possible you should wait for a calmer time when you can talk one on one with the vendor and make sure that he/she/they will be able to fully meet your needs.
♦ If you already have a gown, you might want to skip the fashion show and visit vendor’s booths during that period. These vendors will be eager to talk with you since most everybody will be watching the fashion show. At the larger shows the crowds at the booths are greatly diminished during the fashion shows, and it can be much easier to move around. At smaller shows the vendors will REALLY pull out the stops for you, since they probably have absolutely nothing to do. Take advantage of this!
♦ Bring some bottled water or thermos with you to the show. In some cases there are no concession stands where you can get something to drink, and at other shows the cost is rather prohibitive. Of course when we exhibit Oracle always has refreshments available at their booth...all you have to do is ask. It’s one of the hidden perks of visiting Oracle’s booth!
♦ Beware of vendors who will only offer show discounts on the day of the show only. If you don’t have the opportunity to talk with them in depth, how do you know they are right for you? Vendors really should offer you their "show price" for at least 24 or 48 hours.
♦ Wear comfortable shoes...please!
♦ When filling out forms make sure to print VERY clearly. You’d hate to miss out on a door prize or lose track of someone you like because they couldn’t read your handwriting!
♦ Avoid bringing small children to the show. While it may be tempting to bring your flower girl along to see all the neat wedding stuff, they are sure to tire quickly and detract from your mission of finding vendors and ideas for your wedding.
♦ Take as much literature as you can from everyone. You might not think you need information on a string quartet or a consultant, but who knows, things have a way of surprising you. When you get home, put the literature from services you don’t think you need in a box that you can come back to if the situation warrants.
♦ Bring your date book with you so you can schedule your appointments for follow up.
♦ Ask lots of questions. The show is filled with wedding professionals, and while you’re there you should take advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as you can. These vendors want to impress you with their knowledge of their particular specialty...take advantage of it!!!
♦ Don’t wait for the end of the show to pick up the free bridal magazines. There are usually many more attendees than there are magazines, so don’t get left out!
♦ Prepare for information overload. When you find a vendor you would like to follow up with, take a pen and write what struck you as appealing about them on their business card or literature. When you get home and are faced with brochures from 14 different photographers, your note may be the only thing you have to remember which ones you liked and why. Also, write down any good tips they might give you on THEIR literature to help you remember who was knowledgeable and helpful.
♦ Wear comfortable shoes - (Do you notice a theme going on here)???
Well, we certainly hope these tips have come in handy for you. If you have a tip that you feel would help others better enjoy their experience and maximize their benefit, please feel free to drop us an e-mail and let us know. We’ll be more than happy to share it with everyone.