As a wedding musician or singer, there are several crucial elements that can contribute to your success in the industry. By focusing on these key factors, you can enhance your reputation, attract more clients, and ultimately build a thriving career in the wedding music industry.

1. Punctuality is Key

Being punctual is essential when it comes to working as a wedding musician. Arriving on time shows professionalism and respect for the event and the clients. It sets the tone for a smooth and successful performance. If you've agreed a start time for your set then arriving with plenty of time to set up and even relax before performing shows you've done this many times and helps build confidence with your client and future customers. Remember everyone that's at an event is a potential future client.

2. Competitive Pricing

Offering competitive prices for your services can help you stand out in a crowded market. Research the industry standards and adjust your rates accordingly to attract clients while still ensuring you are fairly compensated for your talent and time. You may feel you're worth a certain amount but if you're not getting any gigs to showcase this then you'll need to adjust your rates until you have a large enough clientele to justify raising the rates. 

3. Politeness Goes a Long Way

Interacting with clients and guests in a polite and courteous manner is crucial. Being friendly, approachable, and respectful can leave a lasting positive impression and increase the likelihood of referrals and repeat bookings. Sometimes guests will come up to you and talk to you during a performance. It may not be possible to talk to them at that time if you're singing or concentrating on playing, but by giving these sorts of people time and being polite you'll leave a lasting impression on them. They may be your biggest referrer without you even realising.

4. Professionalism is a Must

Maintaining a high level of professionalism during performances is key to your success. Dress appropriately, conduct yourself with confidence, and handle any unexpected situations with grace and composure. Turning up half dressed or not smart to a black tie event speaks volumes about your character. Guests won't need to have a conversation with you to know you lack professionalism. Keep your appearance sharp and showcase your professionalism throughout an event.

5. Preparation is Essential

Being well-prepared with your lyrics and music thoroughly practiced is non-negotiable. Rehearse diligently to ensure a flawless performance and minimise the risk of mistakes or mishaps during the event. No one wants to see a musician or singer fumbling through lead sheets or lyric sheets, not knowing melodies or struggling through a song. Practise, practise, practise and only perform the songs you're confident performing. 

6. Diverse Repertoire

Having a diverse repertoire of songs to perform is essential. Cater to a wide range of musical tastes and preferences to keep the audience engaged and entertained throughout the event. You never know who's in a crowd so having a wide range of songs in your repertoire is key to connecting with your client and their guests. The more styles, artists, genres and eras you can perform, the more likely you'll have just the right song for that special person.

7. Client Song Requests

Pay attention to the client's song requests and make an effort to incorporate as many of them as possible into your setlist. This personalised touch can make the event more memorable and special for the couple and their guests. If you're having to play during a first dance or ceremony and you've never performed these songs before, make sure you've prepped them well. You never know they could end up in your regular set lists if they go down well.

8. Read the Crowd

Being able to read the crowd and adjust your setlist accordingly is a valuable skill. Pay attention to the mood and energy of the guests to ensure that your music selection resonates with them and keeps the dance floor packed. Reading a crowd is everything as a wedding musician and singer. Obviously if you're playing during a ceremony or first dance and have a fixed set of songs then this won't apply. But if you're playing during the drinks reception, dinner or party, you can look at who's in front of you and adjust your set to appeal to that group.

9. Utilise Social Media

Use social media platforms to connect with a wider audience and showcase your talent. Share videos of your performances, engage with followers, and promote your services to attract new clients and opportunities. Performing at weddings is great and you'll have a ready made audience who have to listen to you. But not all of these people will be getting married. Some may be single, some already married, some older, some from other countries who are visiting for the event. So to connect with a wider audience you can harness the power of social media and record videos of yourself performing material you would feature at a wedding. By doing this you can widen your reach and potentially find brand new clients.

10. Continuous Improvement

Work on your craft daily to hone your skills and stay ahead of the competition. Take lessons, attend workshops, and seek feedback to constantly improve and evolve as a wedding musician. After every performance, have a little think or even watch back through footage of you performing. Have an analytical ear and eye and see if there's anything you could improve on. Song choice, note pitching, solo choice, the way you're interacting with guests, facial expressions, hand gestures and much more. By doing this over time you'll naturally improve week on week and be a stand out performer at weddings.

At Acoustic Backs And Tracks, we provide a large range of acoustic backing tracks perfect for weddings. Our tracks go extremely well during wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts, first dances and even to kick off the party. We have over a thousand unique and stripped back versions of some of the most popular songs to perform at weddings. Check out our catalogue today and explore your next acoustic set.