Dance Band

Fourth element have been playing together for several years; we are passionate about music and love what we do. Over the years we have built up a wealth of experience playing at various parties so feel free to give us a call and we are sure to have some advice to make your party go more smoothly and get everyone dancing!

"...and from me, an enormous thank you - I always knew my friends liked to dance but never have I seen them on the floor from start to finish.  Fab music for the exact age group.  Thank you"

Please email us at: info@wedding-band-hampshire.com and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

We are based in Southampton and play almost anywhere in the UK but prefer to stay within Hampshire and Wiltshire. Here are some things to consider before selecting your party band:

Finding a Great Dance Band for Your Event

Be it your birthday party or wedding, finding the right dance band to play can make or break the day. A lot of people use DJ’s because they are less expensive and have a wider range of music but they lack the vibrant and magical atmosphere that can be created with the presence of a good live band; that's what gets people on their feet! A good dance band will charge anything between £500 to £2000+, but you definitely get what you pay for. Here are some of the considerations in choosing a party band:

The Time Of Year 

You can expect to pay more for a dance band in August than in February.  A band that has built up a reputation (especially with agents) as being a good dance band will usually be in a position to dictate which bookings they want to take, certainly at the busiest times of the year.  

"Dear Colin & the band, A HUGE thank you for your superb performance on Saturday night. You got everyone dancing from the very first song and the floor was crammed until the last second of the last song.  Please do use this as a 'Certificate of Guaranteed Satisfaction’ to reassure anyone who has any doubts." Stuart Jones

The number of people in the band. 

What you pay will be split between the members of the band, therefore don't be surprised to find that a nine piece soul band wants more than a four piece!   Additionally there is the matter of space; the venue for your function may dictate the size of the band you can have, in fact in some cases you may find that due to the size of your function room you will only have room for a disco.  

How Long Will The Band Play For?

Live dance bands will usually play three 45 minute sets or two 1 hour plus sets. Bands prefer to play two longer sets; the reason?  45 minutes of music usually equates to about 10 songs which means that just when you have everyone in the dance mood and actually dancing, it's time to stop for a break so a one hour plus session will keep all the dancing queens happy.

What Type Of Band Should I Be Looking For?

Simple this one – just because YOU love Soul, it doesn’t mean you have to have a Soul Tribute Band! Your party guests may not be as appreciative as you. You may like soul music but will your party guests be happy with an entire evening of it? Rather than a tribute band, hire a great covers dance band like ours and we will play all the soul hits as well as many other types of music.

The other option that some people go for is to have a particular type of Tribute Band (Abba, Commitments, Madonna...). We won't prattle on about these too much other than to say it is usually best to go through a reputable agent so you know that the "Robbie Williams" you are getting is not just a weekend karaoke pub singer with a shaved head, a James Bond suit and a collection of well dodgy backing tapes!  Most Tribute Bands will usually do one 45 - 60 minute set which covers that particular artists greatest hits (which is great if everyone likes that artist and not so great if they don't) so with most tribute acts you will probably also need a DJ.

The most popular type of bands for a party are those that do ‘covers’. Covers are simply when the band plays a well-known song; this is extremely popular with wedding guests as they can relate to the music being played and feel more like dancing. The best bands will be able to play some of the all-time classic pieces, but speak to them first and tell them what you are looking for. They should have lots of experience and will be able to give you some advice.

Whatever you do, plan and book early. But most of all – enjoy your event!

How to plan the ultimate Event:

How do you make sure that your event is a success? It's all very well inviting 100 people to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, but you need to make sure they enjoy themselves and dance! With the help of our party tips, hopefully your party will be the talking point amongst your friends for months to come…….

Planning is obviously a very important part of any event, and the earlier you start to think about the details of your event, the less stressed you will be the night before it takes place! Try to cover everything when planning, so nothing is left to chance. Think about a convenient date, and the best time of day for your event. If you start thinking early you can establish a time which suits your best friends, and get them on board with the organisation.

Be selective with your guest list, think of the people you want at your event, to ensure the event is a hit. Send out invitations early, though if you are allowing people to bring a friend not too early – you don't want more people than you can fit in the venue.

Speak to the band well in advance of your party. We have lots of experience so speak to us and we will be able to advise you which tracks really get people dancing.

In the week before your event make sure the venue is aware of the details. Don't be afraid to ask them for advice, they have probably organised events hundreds of times before.

Try to think up something a bit unique so as to distinguish your event from others. If you choose the old classic of fancy dress for example try to go for something a bit different which provides plenty of scope for creativity and will lead to much hilarity on the night.

Finally take some time to relax and get ready, if you have covered all the areas above you should be all set for an event to remember!