| Most big decisions at most big parties ultimately | | | | lights and sound gear, plus extra bells and whistles) |
| come down to money. From how many guests to | | | | can now cost as much as a good 4-piece variety |
| invite, to where to have your event, and from the | | | | band. How can this be? |
| decor to the menu itself - few of us are so flush | | | | Again - simple economics. Any town's top deejays |
| that we can totally escape the cost factor. Sooner | | | | are entertainers, not just song spinners. Like the |
| or later, we must make hard choices that can take a | | | | harpists mentioned above, the cream of the crop are |
| lot of the fun out of the party - at least for a while. | | | | a rare - and therefore expensive - breed. Their |
| This is especially true when it comes to your | | | | weekend evenings tend to book a full year in |
| entertainment. Last night, I set up my portable piano | | | | advance. But all major U.S. cities have tons of |
| in the 5th floor lobby of a high-rise office building. The | | | | musicians - especially, older musicians aged 40 and up. |
| occasion was a gathering of the board of directors | | | | Because of their age (and age alone), these veteran |
| of our local annual film festival. To be honest, I was | | | | musicians - no matter how accomplished they are - |
| their second choice - and a distant second at that. | | | | are going to be in less demand for weddings and |
| What they had really wanted was very classy harp | | | | other parties where younger folks will be in |
| music. But 1st-class harpists who can play 2 straight | | | | attendance. Most of their Saturdays will not book a |
| hours of movie themes are a rare commodity in my | | | | year in advance. Some weeks, they won't book at all. |
| town, and thus are able to command a steep price. | | | | It makes them do two things, both of which benefit |
| Pianists - on the other hand, and on a Tuesday night | | | | you the buyer: 1.) They will work harder than |
| - are plentiful. It's simply a matter of supply and | | | | younger bands would (or even could). And 2.) they |
| demand. | | | | will work with you on pricing in a way that the town's |
| Besides, let's face it: a portable keyboard ain't a | | | | top DJ or hot young band won't even consider. |
| Steinway concert grand. I understand perfectly well | | | | This is an opportunity for you to have the financial |
| that my instrument was something less than my | | | | realities in your favor. Those seasoned bands may |
| hosts had originally had in mind. But, on this occasion, | | | | strike you at first the same way my portable |
| the financial realities worked in my favor. And, once I | | | | keyboard did to my employers last night. But, when |
| started interacting with the audience, my bosses | | | | you consider everything they offer you - dollar for |
| seemed happy things had worked out the way they | | | | dollar, and in terms of a solidly professional |
| did. | | | | performance - you may make the same decision that |
| On a related note - once upon a time, good bands | | | | my employers did. Like them, you could soon be |
| were expensive and deejays were (relatively) cheap. | | | | very glad that you chose to get the most for your |
| Today, neither of those statements are necessarily | | | | money (even if it's not the newest and shiniest. |
| true. On Saturday nights, a top deejay (with all the | | | | |