Ok, so Disco 007 is our company, but saying that, we'll try and be as objective as possible about entertainment on the Costa Blanca and what you should look for in terms of planing and budgeting for your wedding day.
Those with larger budgets may be able to afford both a DJ and a live act or not put on a live band hire a singer with backing tracks plus a DJ for roughly the same money as a four piece band would cost. Just like in the UK or Ireland, you have roughly the same choices in your musical entertainment
Wedding Disco
Wedding Disco and Karaoke
Singer/s with backing tracks
Singer/s with backing tracks PLUS Disco
Live band (usually with backing tracks too)
Name act plus band or disco
Wedding Disco
Probably the most popular choice for weddings all over the world. The expected norm. Most DJs can play and cater for the variety of tastes and age groups that attend a wedding, from the chart hits of today, to 60's and 70's, disco, motown, rock'n'roll and even big band swing music if requested. Long gone are the days of carrying hundreds of CDs to a Wedding. Even longer gone are the days when we would carry cases of records to Weddings, and sometimes, even cassettes (although never an 8-Track!).
DJ's usually can also provide sound support for singers, dancers (flamenco shows are very popular in Spain as an entertainment for your guests), can get the crowd going and in today's age of the MP3, probably arrive with 40,000 plus music tracks on one tiny hard drive, powered by just a Laptop Computer!
Discos are the easier option of all. If they have a decent music database and things are not going well, you can start requesting songs that shall get the party back on track, no matter how bad your DJ may be at choosing music! All the best equipment in the world sill still not make a good DJ.
From our perspective, we've found that in requesting a pre-weeding playlist of music that the bride and groom wish to hear, plus a selection of what their guests would like to dance to, that this is by far the best format for getting the party started and keeping it going, as somebody is hearing the music that they have requested. Thus your evening is much less likely to be a hit and miss affair and if we know before hand your favourite tracks and artists, then we ensure we bring those music choices with us. Many other DJ's also use this policy.
A DJ can also provide musical atmosphere for the reception, plus a microphone for the speeches, if the venue does not provide one.
Disco plus Karaoke
Karaoke scares me. I have perfect pitch. I can spend half the night with the hair on my back standing on end. Personally, unless the Bride and Groom are really into Karaoke, I'd choose NOT to have this option at my wedding. If 'Dad' wants to sing 'My Way' or there is a dedication or a professional singer, then fine, not a problem. But once drink has been taken, it's almost impossible to dance and enjoy yourself to a succession of singers, many of whom can not hold a key or hit the notes they are expected to hit.
Unlike a disco, when one song mixes into another, the very fact that you have a break of often two minutes between singers, really upsets the flow of the evening. If you have to have Karaoke, let your guests know that for one hour there shall be an opportunity to sing. After that, the system is going to put away and the Disco shall take over, NOT returning to Karaoke again.
I've been to at least half-a-dozen weddings that have been ruined by drunk guests wanting to keep on singing. It's good fun for a while, and then it gets very old. Just IMHO.
Singers with backing tracks
This is a popular choice on the Costa Blanca.
They will probably do three 45-minute sets and keep your guests entertained.
the problem is that they have to have a break between sets, and without anyone spinning records, or hitting the play button, there is zero entertainment during sets.
Singers and Disco
The best of both worlds and a combination that works very well.
Live Bands
A great option.
More often than not, the band sometimes will also have someone who will act as DJ until the end of the night, after the band has finished performing.
Live bands can consist of anything from a duo through tribute bands, jazz, cabaret, swing bands or one of the hundreds of Elvis impersonators that live on the Costas!
Otherwise, if you can afford it, the Live band and Disco is a great option.
Name Acts
Locally, there are a number of name acts that live in or around the Costa Blanca, from 60's legend Ricky Valance, to former musicians and singers with such bands as Sweet, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Drifters, Pete Oliver and many others.
This adds a touch of class to your wedding but remember that they shall only be doing their 90-minute act and so after they have finished you shall need to have a Disco or another band play the night out for you.
Just a few thoughts on musical entertainment for your big night.
Closing Time
Many venues shall tell you at what time the disco will have to end.
Hotels have guests that are trying to sleep.
Salones de Boda are usually out of the way and you may have to buss your guests in and out, so when the bus arrives to take everyone home, the music comes to an end.
Unlike the Spanish, who generally start their weddings much later in the day, pace things out, eat dinner at 1000-1030 and don't start dancing until midnight or later, with much larger wedding groups too, your wedding shall probably start mid afternoon or earlier and you'll be hungry at 7.30-8.00 pm.
Don't fight it. The Spanish will dance for four or five hours and the party will end at 3-4.00 am.
The couple will also leave earlier and go to their room for the night before their guests.
Four hours is usually enough dancing for most groups. Your guests may get their second wind with 30-minutes to go, but management in Spanish venues will pull the plug and turn on the lights if you overstay your welcome; so you've been warned.