Night Time is The Right Time – A Tune for Tuesday

High Society learned this song a few weeks ago for Beth and Scott Murin’s wedding at Gallery 1028 in Chicago.  We had so much fun with this song that we are considering adding it to the regular repertoire.  This is the 1958 version recorded by Ray Charles, but this song dates back to 1937 when the original recording was made by Roosevelt Sykes.

I am embarrassed to admit that the first time I heard this song was on the Bill Cosby Show when the Huxtable family lip synced it.  I liked it immediately, bought my first Ray Charles cassette tape, and spent many happy hours listening.  Enjoy!

 

Holiday Weekend Weddings

Last week I was chatting with some friends and told them that High Society was performing at 2 weddings this Thanksgiving weekend.  My friends were surprised that anyone would get married on such a busy weekend.  I explained that I could think of several reasons to get married at this time of year.

First, since it tends to be a long weekend off work for many folks (not the retailers though!), some friends and family that might not have been able to make the time, can now squeeze it into their schedule.  Additionally, many family members may already be in town for the holiday.  I think, too, that its probably the last weekend before the full Christmas season pressure hits (Company parties, school events, concerts etc.)

I think any weekend that has an extra holiday attached to it makes a great occasion to have a wedding.  Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Fourth of July when it falls on a Monday or Friday, all create a nice opportunity to make it easier for out of town guest to attend your wedding.

The big question for me is… Will there be turkey served at any of our weddings this weekend? Pumpkin Pie for wedding cake anyone? Hmmmmm.

A Wedding Surprise

When we play most weddings, High Society is THE entertainment for the evening.  We love having that honor.  Sometimes, however,we have a special treat and we get to work with other entertainers we would not normally get to meet. Last weekend at Nichole and Larry Fohrman’s wedding at the Metropolis Ballroom, we had great fun working with the Bottle Dancers.  If you’ve never seen this group, they do a very fun recreation of one of the great wedding moments from the Fiddler on the Roof.  To make it even better their show was a total surprise to Larry and Nichole.  Here’s a video of their show from another wedding …..

A Tune for Tuesday – Peg by Steely Dan

We get asked to learn a lot of songs for the great weddings we play.  Often it’s a special song for the bride and groom, but sometimes it’s a family favorite with special meaning to the guests in attendance.  I will admit that we don’t love all of the songs we gladly perform, but last weekend we were asked to play a great song by a great band.  The song was “Peg” by Steely Dan.

It was a great event all around.  The folks at Just Say Yes Events had done a great job.  The University Club in downtown Chicago never looked better. Congratulations Caylen and Joe!  We had a great time at your party.  Here is Steely Dan playing “Peg”

We Love Your Wedding Pictures and Video Too!

On 8/13/2011 our band played a very fun wedding reception at the Allerton Hotel in downtown Chicago.

We often get to see some video or pictures after our events but the bride Katy Petersen Weade was nice enough to pass along this great video that shows everything we love about weddings including some dancing toward the end.  I thought the videographer Jon Romashko did a great job.  Thanks for sharing Katy!

http://vimeo.com/30475617

How to make sure that your wedding reception flows smoothly – All Night Long

Ok, let’s admit it.  We have all been to wedding receptions that seem to drag along, stall out in spots, or really just seem a little dull at times.

How can you keep your wedding from falling victim to the same result? It’s really simple.

Make sure you have something interesting happening every 10 to 15 minutes.

I know you might be thinking that seems like a lot of work, but it can easily be done for you, if you hire the right band and emcee.  Some people call it East Coast Style, others call it Dancing between Courses, but it really is a fun way to keep your night moving along.

This is how it works….

One of the most common spots that the night starts to stall out is while you are waiting for the next course of dinner to be served.  Think about how long it takes to serve 150+ people.

You want to have something to do in the middle.

Ask the band and emcee to play dance music and invite your guests to dance during the downtime, it will give everyone something to do. Dancers will dance, spectators will watch, and the whole night will be filled with activity and a festive mood.

Then, when dinner is over, the crowd is all warmed up to hit the dance floor hard for a fun filled party.

Ask about an East Coast Style reception, and see how much fun it can be.

How to choose a band for your Wedding – Part 1

The #1 way to choose a band for your wedding is to see them perform live.

Video is ok, but not the best.  Ask the band to let you come to a real event. On most websites, you don’t see the ACTUAL BAND PERFORMING LIVE.  You just see a crowded dance floor. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT’S THE BAND YOU ARE THINKING OF HIRING?

Many band leaders will say you can’t see them live; and they will have a lot of excuses why you can’t see them perform at a wedding.  Almost always we have received permission from brides and grooms to allow us to have ONE couple stop by briefly to see the band.

Many bands show video of crowded dance floors, and you will even find similar video’s on our website. DON’T BE FOOLED, TO CORRECTLY CHOOSE A BAND , DRESS APPROPRIATELY AND GO SEE THE BAND PERFORM LIVE AT A WEDDING!