“Live music makes all the difference,” says David Lennon, president of the New York Musicians Union. “I couldn’t think of a more important occasion where having professional union musicians — who will assure quality, professionalism, and reliability — is so important. Reliability especially is crucial to every bride on her wedding day.”
The largest musicians union in the world, Local 802 represents the professional musicians of New York City and Long Island, and while they may be hiring union musicians to play at their weddings, what bride and grooms may not realize is that some of these musicians are playing on Broadway, off-Broadway, in New York’s famous jazz clubs, and in venues like the Apollo and Radio City Music Hall.
“Certainly we’ve all been to many weddings where a guest or family member has had a specific request,” says David. “A professional band has the expertise to accommodate your wishes on the spot.”
Every bride wants her wedding day to be perfect, and when the day comes, the planning and preparation should be behind her. “You shouldn’t be trying to put out fires with the people you’ve hired,” says David. “With a union band, you know you will have the best music and won’t have to worry whether or not your band will show up. If you want your band to be dependable, reliable, and professional, anything other than union is a risk. We represent the top music professionals in New York. The most prestigious and in-demand bands in the city are professional union musicians.”
Would a union band be more expensive? “It’s not necessarily less expensive to hire a non-union band than a union band. The non-union agencies have a higher profit margin for themselves, so a bride is not necessarily going to save any money.
“A bride can call our referral service or go to our website. She will have a variety of bands to choose from. We can also let you know if the band you are considering is a union band.
“Planning your wedding in New York, the live music capital of the world, is a unique opportunity.”
Associated Musicians of Greater New York
212.245.4802
www.local802afm.org
