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Weddings:

It's the most important day of your life. You want everything to be perfect.
I understand. You have enough last minute things to worry about as it is.
I don't want you to have any doubts about the music. You need a pro.

For local weddings (Broward and Palm Beach Counties) I charge $350 for the first hour, and $100 for each additional hour. (My time doesn't start until the music begins.) Outside my local area I charge about $1 per mile. The ceremony and cocktail hour are usually in different places. I am able to move my equipment in a matter of only minutes. Typically I'll play the ceremony on the beach, then pick up my drums and walk over to the patio, where the amplifier for my background music and a 2nd drum stand are already set up and waiting for me. That way the music can usually start back up within five minutes. When all the times, locations, and other details are set I'll send you a contract. Then you can send me a $100 deposit. It's that simple. You'll have nothing more to worry about as far as the music is concerned. I've been playing music in South Florida since 1972. I've performed at over one thousand weddings. I am one on the busiest wedding musicians in the area and possibly the most popular steel drum wedding musician in the world. You'll be in good hands.

Most officiants don't bring their own microphone and amplifier to a beach ceremony. I can provide all that stuff for you too. I have a great Battery-Powered PA designed for announcing baseball games. Your guests will hear every word of your vows on the beach above the sound of the wind and the crashing waves. It's a wired microphone on a stand. Your officiant can hand it back and forth to you or leave it on the stand. Only a $50 set up fee.

I usually work as a one-man-steel-drum-band. My background tracks basically have drums and bass on them, so that I sound like a trio. I arranged and recorded all my background tracks myself, but I don't use tracks or amplification during wedding ceremonies. Those are all acoustic and unplugged. That's the only way I can time the cues properly. Steel drums are perfect for rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. They are not loud, but the sound travels, so everyone will hear the music. For the main reception, if you are planning on doing the Chicken Dance, YMCA, and all that stuff you're probably going to want a full band or a DJ to emcee. Of course, I will be glad to stay and play all night if your plans are for a more laid-back party. And yes, there will be dancing.

If you saw Phoebe's wedding on Friend's a few years ago maybe you remember she had a steel drum player doing the ceremony. It was a nice touch. They played 'I Can't Help Falling In Love' by Elvis, and 'Here There And Everywhere' by The Beatles as guests were arriving. Some other songs that work well before the ceremony are 'What A Wonderful World', 'Over The Rainbow', 'Hawaiian Wedding Song', and 'I'm Yours'. When the bridal party starts down the aisle 'Pachelbel's Canon' is the standard processional. When the bride enters it is time to play 'The Bridal Chorus' by Richard Wagner, otherwise known as 'Here Comes The Bride'. When the newly married couple turns to exit at the end of the ceremony I play 'The Wedding March' by Felix Mendelssohn. Everyone recognizes it.

Special Requests: sometimes a couple has a special song they want played at their wedding and they ask me to learn it for them. This is how most of my song list came to be. I never know how the song is going to come out until I learn it. Some songs just don't sound good as instrumentals. For instance, any song by The Beatles or Frank Sinatra is going to work because it has a strong melody that everyone will recognize. On the other hand, many modern pop songs tend to be monotonous and unrecognizable when converted to instrumental arrangements. That being said, I will do my best to learn your song. This usually involves 10 to 20 hours of work on my part during the week before your wedding. For well-known songs I am able to buy sheet music on the internet. For more obscure material I can usually find the mp3 file to download from iTunes. Either way, since I can't guarantee the quality of the final product ahead of time, you have to decide what the performance of the song is worth after you hear it: a $50 tip if you weren't too impressed; $100 if you thought I did a great job. Please give me as much time as possible to get started.

Find Photographers, DJ's, Bands, Florists, Wedding Planners, Locations, etc. all on my Wedding Resources page.