“Can the band or DJ provide a wide variety of music?” asks Joe Tucci of The Times Square Orchestra. “Do they have repertoire for your wedding day, in case they get an unusual request? Perhaps most important, do they have the expertise to pace the selections so they can build a comfortable flow between the service of your food courses, dancing, and ceremonial moments, such as cutting the cake.”

When hiring a band, you would hope that if the bandleader says they play Frank Sinatra, rock and roll, or disco, that they sound as close to the original as possible. “Watch out for bands that say they do their own versions,” says Joe. “You don’t want them to interpret or rearrange. They should play each song the way you and your guests know it.”

Medleys or segues can be created for special moments, though. “A beautiful song originally recorded a little fast could be slowed down by the band. For example, we love ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’ by Stevie Wonder, and we can slow it down at your request. But overall, the goal is to play recognizable music.”

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ROCK AND ROLL PLUS THE STANDARDS: One recent bride loved heavy rock and roll, like Led Zeppelin, and she asked Joe to play that style all night. “But the band’s responsibility is to help create a successful reception for all your guests,” he explains. “We told the bride we’d like to build momentum slowly, so that all the guests, young and old, would end up dancing to the rock and roll she originally requested.

“It was interesting to see older people dancing to Led Zeppelin, but they only participated because their musical tastes were addressed early in the reception, and not ignored.”

In the middle of the affair, the maitre d’ told Joe that they had an accident in the kitchen and the main course would be delayed. “But the band played on, so no one knew of the delay and no one cared. They were on the dance floor! The professionalism of the maitre d’ and the band had solved the problem. That’s why you should pick experienced vendors,” says Joe, “since it’s all live.”

For the cocktail hour, the music should soften the hello’s of relatives who haven’t seen or heard from each other in a while. “It’s low volume music that also gives the bride and groom an opportunity to welcome a lot of their guests. Then they’ll have a little more time to enjoy their reception and dance.”

Have some fun with the music at your reception, but your ceremony is a very special moment. “If it’s not in a house of worship, and is instead at your reception site, we have to create the proper mood for the setting with classical, religious, or romance oriented music. That gets everybody in the right frame of mind.

“If your ceremony music choices are too unusual, you could lose the feeling you’re trying to create with your flowers, your lighting, and even your gown. The music should complement that feeling, not detract from it. Then, for the reception, our approach is very dance-oriented.”

NEW SERVICES: “Lighting creates beautiful moods and settings, and can add to the evening’s excitement,” says Joe. “So in addition to great sound, it’s important that your band also provide great lighting.”

This is now part of all their performances. “We always include an intelligent lighting package, based on very low wattage led’s. Because it’s a computer-controlled system, one lighting fixture can create many moods. The lights can swirl, turn different colors, or highlight different areas of your room. Our lights can even be synced with the music, which can be very dramatic later on in the evening.”

BACKGROUND: When Joe was growing up, as each song traveled on and off the Billboard chart, he would practice his piano until he could play along. “I learned the ‘Oldies’ music, studied the ‘Big Band’ era, discovered Frank Sinatra, and rehearsed some classical pieces.”

Putting together his first band at the age of 11, he learned how to present music responsibly in a live setting. “Moving on as a teen from bars and clubs, I focused more on family gatherings and private parties, and for the next 10 years gained bandleader experience with wedding receptions.”

After a decade of wedding gigs, he decided to write and produce his own song. “Not exactly overnight, I ended up on several TV shows singing my # 1 hit, ‘Keep on Dancin.’ ” He also created ‘Gary’s Gang,’ a group to tour the world.

“Years later, settling down suburban family style and continuing with my music career, I re-formed my group and focused again on private receptions. Each band member, with successes of his or her own, was hand-picked and has been with me over 10 years.”

PHILOSOPHY: As The Times Square Orchestra, they’re nine musicians who sing, play a total of 14 instruments, “and represent the most authentic variety of music performed by one band,” says Joe.

“For me, what’s most exciting is knowing I’ve given people an unforgettable evening of entertainment with a live orchestra, a rare and special experience. The joy of seeing how we touched the 92 year-old grandpa, the 12 year-old niece, and everyone in between, makes it all exciting for me.”

The Times Square Orchestra
516.292.2500
joe@timessquaremusic.com
www.TimesSquareOrchestra.com