story time

Corporate Band
 

NOW THIS IS A STORY ALL ABOUT HOW…

… an event planner and musician met, talked, laughed and cried about how things were when it came to party entertainment. They decided to create a band that had a DJ's upsides (diversity of music style, no dead air between songs) and all the magic of a live show (infectious energy + entertainment value), but none of the cheesy clichés associated with wedding entertainment in general.

Having a live band is a must if you want your party to bring the house down. But it needs to be the right live band. We know that when you think of a 'wedding band,' all sorts of terrible and tragic images come to mind. Things like aging men in ruffled tuxedo shirts playing "YMCA," "The Macarena," and "Mustang Sally." Some people also fear a live band won't cover the same ground as a DJ, and we wanted to tackle that head-on.

It's easy for a band to play the classics, but a lot harder to recreate today's highly-produced, electronic-heavy hits. We made sure to hire the best musicians – players excited by the challenge of bringing to life songs never written to be performed by live instruments. If you want that Drake song, you can have it.

WE CREATED THE PERFECT ENTERTAINMENT OPTION FOR A BARN-BURNING DANCE PARTY

We don't want to rail at you with the same words everyone else uses, like "dynamic," "energetic," and "engaging" – though all would apply. The point is simple: Side One is made up of extremely talented and experienced musicians, our sets are crafted for the sole purpose of packing a dance floor, and we avoid the typical cover band "cheese" entirely.

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Side One began as a 6-piece band in Vancouver. Once that core group was up and running, we sourced and hired 'back-ups' for each position. So, if someone got sick or was out of town on a proposed date, we could take the gig without issue.

Turns out, those 'back-ups' (known as 'subs' in the biz) were amazing. It soon occurred to us that we could use the subs and have two bands on any given night – doubling our availability! Once we began booking out two bands a night, we needed another set of subs… and the process repeated.

VANCOUVER, CALGARY, TORONTO, OR SEATTLE? ALL OF THE ABOVE

We looked at the multiple bands we had playing on any given night and thought, "this could work in other cities, too!" We were getting a ton of inquiries about sending the band to Calgary, but not everyone could afford to fly us out. So we set to work scouting, auditioning, and training Calgary musicians to become a carbon copy of Side One Vancouver – with their own unique personality, of course.

It worked beautifully. Next up were Toronto and Seattle, two other locations we were regularly asked to play. We are now an international event company with awesome bands in four cities.

OUR ROSTER METHOD AND THE SIDE ONE STANDARD

Our musicians don't play as set bands. They all know the same material, follow the same dress codes, and live up to our exacting performance standards. At the same time, they each bring something special to the group, and our thriving ecosystem of talent helps make each performance dynamic and unique.

While we still manage the booking process out of our head office in Vancouver, we have musicians in each of the four cities. As we approach your event date, you'll be introduced to your band leader. He or she will be armed with every logistical detail and will be in touch about any outstanding items closer to the big day.

This "roster method," while a little unusual, allows us to put the best possible musicians on stage. Truly great players with other projects on the go – solo careers or tours with some of the biggest names in the industry – couldn't and wouldn't commit to being in an event band if it wasn't for the flexibility we offer. We provide a far superior experience to what would be possible with one set of musicians working 9-5 and just playing on weekends.

We have exacting standards. Every one of our musicians meets them when it comes to raw talent, stage presence, and reliability. We know that when Side One hits the stage, the band will blow people away. Every time.

Cover Band

MORE THAN JUST A PARTY BAND

Outside of the rocking itself, having an event planner as co-founder allows us to offer an unparalleled service experience. We understand that every detail matters. Event planning can be stressful, and we don't mind if you want to talk about it a LOT. We can look at the event – and our place within it – from a wider lens. We see the big picture.

We understand things without needing to be told, such as:

  • Soundcheck needs to be done before guests arrive (so we'll finish well before).

  • The event is likely to run a bit late (we buffer our call time to allow for this without penalizing the client or cutting things short).

  • You have toiled over the room's aesthetic, and the stage is part of that (we will leave it clean and organized).

  • Once in a blue moon, events may run early (so we'll be there just in case).

  • Vendor meals cost money (we don't require them if the band is starting after dinner).

  • Things change, as do budgets (we allow package adjustments later in the planning process, so you can add that cocktail duo or ceremony music).

  • First dance songs are very personal and shouldn't have to be picked from a list (so we will learn any song you like).

  • We will need to be as flexible as possible with stage space and load-in times, working with and around the other vendors and elements.

Basically, we get it. And you don't need to worry about babysitting a bunch of unruly musicians.

That's enough horn tootin' for now. Explore the rest of the site to learn more. We can't wait to rock your party.