20 Questions to Ask Any Wedding Band Before You Book Them

Why this list matters

A wedding band booking has a long tail. You sign the contract today, and the consequences arrive 9 to 18 months later. By then, the conversation you should have had is over.

These twenty questions take about thirty minutes of conversation. They will save you hundreds of euros, several arguments, and the single worst feeling at a wedding: realizing that the band you booked is not the band that showed up.

Questions about the lineup

### 1. Which musicians will perform at our wedding?

The single most important question. Some agencies operate as marketplaces and substitute musicians without telling the couple. Always ask for the names in writing.

At Lupa, every booking confirms the named lineup in the contract, with one named understudy per role. Acts like **Benga Band**, **Drumpet Disco**, and **Dupa Trio** are booked as fixed lineups, not interchangeable rosters.

### 2. What is your policy if a musician falls ill?

A reputable agency will have a clear written contingency: a named understudy per role, a fallback band of similar style, or a guaranteed full refund if the lineup cannot be matched.

Vague answers like "we always find someone" are a red flag. So is "this never happens." It does happen. Plan for it.

### 3. Have all the musicians played together before?

A band of session musicians who have never played together as a group will sound polished individually and sloppy collectively. Ask how long the current lineup has been together.

Fixed bands like Benga Band and Drumpet Disco rehearse weekly and perform 40 to 60 weddings a year together. That is what creates the in-room chemistry.

Questions about the performance

### 4. How long do you play, and how is the time divided?

The industry standard is three sets of 45 minutes with two breaks of 15 to 20 minutes, totaling about three hours of live music over a four-hour evening. Some bands play longer for an additional fee.

If a band says they play "all night," ask exactly how many minutes of live music. The answer is usually the same three sets.

### 5. What plays during the breaks?

Either the band's own playlist or your DJ. Confirm which.

A premium booking includes a curated break playlist that bridges the energy between sets. Without this, the dance floor empties during every break.

### 6. Can you learn our first dance song?

Almost every professional band can learn one or two custom songs per wedding. The standard expectation is the first dance song plus one other.

Anything more than two custom songs usually carries a learning fee. If your song is particularly complex (operatic vocal, prominent string arrangement, unusual time signature), ask whether the band can do it justice before you commit. A good band will sometimes recommend an alternative arrangement.

### 7. How do you take requests from guests during the wedding?

Most professional bands accept requests if the song is in their setlist. Songs outside the setlist usually cannot be learned on the spot.

Ask the band to send you their setlist in advance, and identify any "must-include" and "do-not-play" tracks during the planning phase.

### 8. How do you handle the energy of a wedding crowd?

This is the question that reveals professional skill. A great answer involves reading the room: when to push tempo, when to pull back, when to wait for the floor to fill before launching into the high-energy block.

A weak answer focuses only on the setlist. The setlist matters less than the band's ability to adapt it in real time.

Questions about logistics

### 9. How much space do you need for the lineup?

Approximately:

If the venue cannot provide this, the band must know in advance. Cramming a six-piece band into 6 square meters is a setup for failure.

### 10. How much power do you need?

A typical wedding band needs 4,000 to 6,000 watts of clean power, which usually means two or three separate circuits within ten meters of the stage. Larger bands or those with extensive lighting need more.

This is a venue conversation as much as a band conversation. Brief the venue before signing.

### 11. What time do you arrive, and how long is setup?

Standard arrival is two to three hours before the first set. Setup includes sound check, which is when problems are surfaced and fixed.

Ask whether the band can arrive earlier (and stay quiet) if the venue requires an early load-in window. Some venues have a single available load-in slot, and the band must match that.

### 12. Do you bring your own sound system and lighting?

Most professional bands include a full sound system suited to the lineup size and venue, plus basic lighting. Premium lighting (LED uplighters, lasers, Sparkulars) is usually a separate line item.

Confirm exactly what is included. "Sound and lighting included" sometimes means a minimal kit suitable for a 50-guest room, not a 200-guest reception.

### 13. What does your soundcheck involve, and when?

A proper soundcheck takes 30 to 60 minutes and happens before guests arrive. Skipping the soundcheck is the single most common reason for technical issues during the first set.

If the venue cannot accommodate a proper soundcheck, the band should know in advance and adjust the technical plan accordingly.

Questions about money

### 14. What is included in the price?

The quote should clearly separate:

If any of these is missing or "to be confirmed," ask now, not later.

### 15. What is the deposit, and what is the cancellation policy?

In the Netherlands and Belgium, the standard is 30 to 50 percent deposit on signing, with the balance due 30 days before the wedding.

Cancellation policies vary. The most common structure:

Date changes are usually handled separately and often allowed within 12 months for a small administrative fee.

### 16. What does an extra hour cost?

Standard overtime in the Netherlands is 100 to 250 euros per hour for a band, and 60 to 100 euros per hour for a DJ. Some bands have a hard cap on total hours due to musician working time rules.

Decide before the wedding whether you might want overtime, and have the rate in the contract. Asking on the night is the most expensive way to extend.

### 17. Do you charge separately for travel, and how is it calculated?

Most bands include travel within 50 kilometers of their home base. Beyond that, the rate is typically 0.30 to 0.50 euros per kilometer for the full crew, plus accommodation if the venue is more than two hours away.

For destination weddings (Tuscany, Ibiza, Lake Como, Provence, Bali) travel is always separate and quoted as part of the package.

Questions about reliability and reviews

### 18. Can you share full-length live video, not just a promo reel?

Demo reels are the highlight package. Full-length live video reveals what the band sounds like at minute 90 of a real wedding.

Every act on the Lupa roster has full live video on the profile page. We require this because demo reels do not survive the test of a real reception.

### 19. Can you share recent reviews and references?

Ask for three references from weddings in the past twelve months. Call at least one.

Online reviews are useful but selective. A direct conversation with a recent couple is the most honest signal you can get.

### 20. What happens if the wedding is canceled or postponed?

Beyond the standard cancellation policy, ask about postponement: if you move the date, what is the band's policy on holding your deposit and applying it to a new date?

Most agencies allow one postponement to a date within 12 months for a small administrative fee. A second postponement is usually treated as a cancellation. Confirm in writing.

A short list of acts that pass these questions

The Lupa roster is built specifically to pass every question on this list with clear written answers:

Every Lupa booking confirms the named lineup, includes a written contingency plan, separates the quote into line items, and provides full live video on request.

Frequently asked questions

### What is the single most important question to ask?

"Which musicians will perform at our wedding, and can you confirm them by name in the contract?" This protects you from the most common surprise.

### Should I ask all twenty questions on the first call?

No. The first call is for fit and chemistry. Ask 8 to 10 of these. Save the technical and financial details for the formal quote stage.

### How long should the first call with an agency take?

30 to 45 minutes. Anything shorter means the agency is not asking enough about your wedding. Anything longer usually means they are selling.

### What if the band cannot answer some of these questions?

Move on. A professional wedding band has clear written answers to all of these by their second year in business.

### Are these questions different for a DJ?

The lineup questions become "who is the actual DJ on the night" and the equipment questions are simpler. Everything else is the same.

### What if the band's answers contradict the contract?

Always go by the contract. If the verbal answer is more generous than the contract, ask the agency to update the contract before signing.

### How long should the contract be?

Three to six pages. A one-page contract is a red flag. A twenty-page contract is usually padding.

### What if I want to negotiate the price?

Wedding band pricing in the Netherlands and Belgium is generally fixed. The room for negotiation is usually in the duration, the add-ons, and the inclusions, not the headline fee.

### Should I ask for a guarantee that the band will not be replaced?

Yes. The exact language: "The named musicians in this contract will perform at this wedding, with the only exception being illness or emergency, in which case [understudy] will perform." Put this in writing.

### What is the most overlooked question on this list?

"What does an extra hour cost?" This is the line item that produces the largest day-of surprise.

Next step

Bring this list to your first agency call. If the agency answers all twenty questions clearly, in writing, they are worth booking.

Request a consultation or browse the full Lupa roster.