News
Cello, Guitar, and Queen Make a Perfect Beach Club Wedding
After launching the concept in 2020, our Cello and Guitar duo has become one of our most popular ensembles for Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour. This especially sweet wedding ceremony took place at the Owenego Beach Club in Brandford, CT in Summer of 2022.
Owenego is definitely a venue to consider if you’re looking for a coastal New England setting within a few hours drive of NYC. It has a sort of mid-century nostalgia about it that we found charming, and of course the views are incredible!
Our good friend and wedding planner Marian Versalko at Marian Frances Weddings connected us with the couple and we worked together throughout the planning process. The Ceremony took place on an expansive lawn perched high above Long Island sound. We provided a wireless mic for the officiant and set up under the shelter of a nearby tree.
Cello and Guitar is such a versatile combination. We are definitely not the only ones offering it, but what sets us apart is the rhythmic drive and energy that we bring to the music. The default for Cello and Nylon String Guitar maybe lovely and serene romantic melodies, but we also embrace the more percussive sides of our instruments and love to play pop songs from all-eras as special requests for Wedding Ceremony.
During the consultation with the couple, they shared that they really loved the music of Queen. We started bouncing song ideas around and quickly arrived at a wedding Ceremony made up entirely of Queen songs.
- Prelude: “Somebody to Love”
- Processional: “We Are the Champions”
- Recessional: “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
We loved the how thematic these Ceremony selections where! And, of course with the music being instrumental the theme was subtle enough never to feel cheesy or overshadowing the ceremony itself. After the recessional our duo moved to a gazebo for Cocktail Hour. We continued with classic rock and romantic favorites, like Elton John’s “Your Song.”
One insider tip for couples planning live music for Ceremony and Cocktail hour is that we didn’t actually book the Cocktail Hour until about a month before the wedding. The couple was sure that they wanted us for Ceremony, but Cocktails wasn’t decided yet. We gave a quote for adding cocktails and said it would be that price as long as they decided by a certain date. Whether or not we also played Cocktails wasn’t going to impact our big picture planning or even scheduling for that day, because the venue was already somewhat of a destination. This makes it easier for a couple to make the most important decisions first and avoid getting overwhelmed in the wedding planning process.
All Photos Credited To: @afteritallco (Jennifer Simonton)
Planning: @laurennemchik / @marianfrancesevents
One Day More: Gino’s Pizza & Ice Skates
Surprise Song with Custom Lyrics Performed at Rehearsal Dinner
Late in 2021, one of our longtime clients on Long Island reached out to share that he was planning an epic musical surprise for his son’s wedding: a totally re-written version of “One Day More” from Les Misérables. He wanted it to be performed live in tribute to the Bride and Groom with many family members singing, and as a total surprise to everyone else! He said it might take a while to get the family on-board. After a while he found out that he was really the only family member comfortable jumping up and belting out an iconic Broadway anthem in a Long Island Steakhouse. So, we shifted course and arrived at the idea of having professional singers deliver the surprise performance.
The performance at Opus Steakhouse was a HUGE success. We disguised the pro-singers as servers and planted them in various sections of the private dining room. One of our tech’s also set-up a speaker system and played background music throughout the first half of the event. He simply told unsuspecting guests that he was a DJ that the Father of the Groom had hired. This ‘hiding in plain sight’ worked really well as other family members began to ask to use the wireless mic for toasts and their own speeches.
Unknown to the Father of the Groom, one of the sons approached our tech/DJ and asked us to play the “Saturday Night Live” Theme song in the background while they introduced the family in the tone of the SNL announcer! This was almost like a rehearsal of the Wedding Introductions to take place at the reception the next day. This totally improvised bit turned out to be very funny, and also set a tone for the bigger surprise ahead.
We’ve written quite a bit about surprise performances but what I want to focus on here is the custom song writing. Our client has a longstanding relationship with musician, Larry Siegel. Larry typically performs at their home on the night before Thanksgiving, which they call “Friendsgiving.”
Larry is a master of many things, but one of his unique talents is re-writing iconic songs as a ‘parody’ or ‘tribute’ to a specific person or organization. This particular client is a big fan of this sort of surprise! They previously commissioned us to have Larry write and record a version of “Desperado” to one of their close friends whose name lined up well with the syllables.
What are our steps to writing a great custom song:
- Choose the song
The song should be very famous or even iconic. The meaning of the original song should also be considered. The struggling characters of “One Day More” create a comical foil against the light and joyful details of our couple’s journey to their wedding day. In another case, the American Songbook standard, “Thanks for the Memories” was re-written as a retirement song.
- Share details with the lyricist
This process isn’t for someone who’s shy! Funny, personal, and even slightly embarrassing details make for the best custom song. Oftentimes we will request additional details or more
biographical factoids to focus the direction of the song. - Get a demo
It is so easy for our musicians to do a simple demo recording on their phone. This type of project can be very subjective, and how something appears written on a lyric sheet is certainly not the same as hearing it sung. These demos can be revised a few times as we get closer to the finished song
- Deliver the performance
There are so many ways to deliver a custom song performance. It could be an intricate live surprise, like the flash-mob style singers for “One Day More” or even a pre-recorded video.
Do you have an idea for re-writing a custom song? Click Here to Get Started
How To Plan Live Music for NYC Proposal
If you follow Music Dept, you already know that we LOVE surprise performances! Late in March 2021 we got a call from a gentleman planning a very special proposal and wanting to incorporate live music. It’s always great to help clients brainstorm and explore different options, but this guy knew exactly what he wanted-an incredible singer/guitarist to perform “Can’t Help Falling in Love” moments before he proposes to his girlfriend! He also referenced the version from Crazy Rich Asians.
ALL PHOTOS From Jenna Cavanaugh, Wedding and Elopement Photographer
I immediately thought of Sandra Small. Her strong and beautiful voice and rock solid guitar chops would be the perfect for this brief and impactful moment of music. Sandra even recorded a rough-demo of herself singing the song so that our client could get a feel for her sound.
With any surprise performance, planning, flexibility, and teamwork are essential. We made small adjustments to timing and delayed by a day(due to weather.) The venue RH Rooftop allowed Sandra to stash her guitar out of site and blend into the crowd until the perfect moment. Jenna, the photographer, was also a tremendous help and we are so grateful to be able to share her incredible photos of the day. Definitely be sure to check her work out if you’re planning a wedding, proposal, or elopement.
How to Plan a Proposal with a Live Musician in New York City
- Pick the Location
NYC has so many incredible and romantic public spaces, but it’s important to remember that there are things in a public space that are beyond your control. It maybe noisy, crowded, or in rare occasions live music maybe prohibited. We know this landscape well and always educate our clients on the pros and cons of any location. Although the majority of our proposal performances do take place in iconic public spaces(Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, etc) we’ve had some great ones in private spaces like restaurants, venues, and landmarks that must be reserved.
- Pick the Song & Performer
These steps could seem interchangeable, but some songs and performers or bands would work better in some locations than others. This sort of song selection is always a special request and our musicians love to learn and perform new songs for proposals. Because live music for a wedding proposal is such a powerful and laser focused moment we typically have the performer record a short demo of the specific song-this way the client knows exactly what it will sound like.
- Coordinate the Logistics
It can be tricky to coordinate a surprise performance, so we always suggest having a call with one of our coordinators to go into detail. Sometimes the person proposing wants to be walking along together and then come upon a performer and other times they will wait with the performer and the significant other will come upon them. It can also be stressful if the person proposing is the musician’s only contact. So, if you’re going to have anyone else around, like a close friend or hired photographer, its a great idea to make this person the musician’s contact.
Personalized Wedding Entertainment
In-Depth Conversation with Event Pros: Adam Lomeo and Artem Lomaz
Artem Lomaz(Ninety Three Entertainment) and Adam Lomeo (Music Dept) share tips, stories, and behind the scenes perspective about personalized entertainment for weddings. The conversation covers every element of a wedding; Rehearsal Dinner, Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, Reception, and After-Party. Adam Lomeo is a pro-guitarist and the founder of live music for events agency Music Dept. musicdept.com Artem Lomaz is a wedding emcee and host with Ninety Three Entertainment. https://www.93entertainmentnj.com/
Check out the Full Video!
Safe Live-Music Solution During COVID
Innovative Live Music Format During a Pandemic
The town of Cranford, NJ is famous for its big Oktoberfest celebration in the center of town, but when the Jaycees, who organize the event, called Music Dept for this year’s event it was clear that with the need for social distancing a new approach was needed. The proceeds from the event benefit the town paramedics, so it was essential to come up with a solution.
Lucky for us, the Jaycees had already put a great plan together. They sold party-packages to individual families throughout the town. The package included German food, Oktoberfest decor, and a 45-minute set of live music! Each house party was limited to a small number of guests and all social-distancing guidelines were observed.
Check out our Video Story of Oktoberfest 2020!
2-bands split among 8 locations for a Safe and Fun Oktoberfest, Ein Prosit!
We provided two 4-piece Oom-pah German bands to rove from house to house entertaining. Our bandleaders kept a tight schedule and nimble set-up in order to make sure everyone got their entertainment. Playing 8 locations from 4-10pm certainly made for a busy day, but the musicians had so much fun.
We used our two favorite German Oktoberfest Bands, Bebe & the Polkahaus & the Die Schwarzwälder Bub’n (The Black Forest Boys.) Instruments included; Accordion, Tuba, Vocals, Guitar, and Percussion. And, all of the musicians wore traditional Drindl or Lederhosen.
Are you thinking of planning an event, but dealing with the restrictions of the pandemic? Let’s talk and brainstorm some ideas for incorporating entertainment in a fun and safe way.
Resident Event Ideas
Live Music at Home
When it comes to resident event ideas, why not consider live music? Music Dept has solos, duos, and trios who will entertain your residents in the comfort of their own community room. Anytime you can bring people together in an apartment building is a win-win. There is nothing like being in the room with live music. For 2020 we also have socially distant and virtual options.
Thematic music is a top choice for resident events. We have mariachi for Cinco De Mayo and Irish Duos for St. Patrick’s Day. Patriotic Music for Fourth of July or Indian music for Diwali.
A Steel Drum Band will make any outdoor event an effortless success or how about a roving a’capella group singing custom lyrics about the building?
Resident events are ideal for young families, so music for kid’s or a magic show is another great choice.
We’ve found that many of the thematic music that once took place exclusively in country clubs are moving to luxury apartment buildings.
Performers for your Resident Event Ideas
AfricanAfrican
Erica ManciniErica Mancini
IndiaIndia
Irish and CelticIrish and Celtic
MariachiMariachi
Sami EldebsSami Eldebs
Sandra SmallSandra Small
Steel Drums (Calypso, Island, Reggae)Steel Drums (Calypso, Island, Reggae)
The #Accidentals (Barbershop Quartet)The #Accidentals (Barbershop Quartet)
The Great Ragidy SupremeThe Great Ragidy Supreme
Here’s a video of our Irish Duo playing a resident event in Brooklyn, NY.
FAQ: Live Music for Resident Event
A solo performer starts $300 for a 1-2 hour event
For a 2-hour event we will play straight through. Everyone’s attention span is limited, especially with kids in tow, so we keep it engaging the whole time.
Yes! Our musicians who play for resident events are extremely professional. They work in high-stress wedding and corporate events, but they also know how to entertain kids and families.
A solo or duo can usually work within a 7×5 space.
Yes! We can perform out on a patio or serenade guests on their balconies. Live music in a lobby is also a timeless and elegant touch. For virtual options our solo performers excel on Instagram Live, YouTube Live, Zoom, and more. We feel that conversation and customization are the key to a successful virtual performance. Residents can ask questions in a salon style format, make song requests, musical mad-libs, or custom songs about the building and neighborhood.
We are fully insured and our policy meets the rigorous standards of NYC luxury buildings.
Stay Home, Take Music Lessons.
We will make a free match to a top NYC musician for online lessons
We have a database of over 3,000 performers, and just like you, they are stuck at home trying to keep our city safe.
Right now Music Dept will match you with a top NYC musician for online lessons. I will send an email intro and exit stage left. Music Dept will not take a dollar from you or the musician.
These are full-time musicians with extremely diverse skill-sets, but for the time being online lessons are their sole source of income.
How it Works:
- Tell us what you want to study(bass, horn, voice, etc)
- Your Experience Level
- Your Budget(From Barter to $$$)
- Once we receive your request we will match via email
Guitar Lessons, Keyboard Lessons, Lessons for your Band or Orchestra kid who is stuck at home, Music Theory Lessons, Dance Lessons, Learn to DJ on your laptop, Learn Music Production, Songwriting, Voice, and even foreign language courtesy of our international performers!
Thank you! Adam, Music Dept NYC
If you don’t like forms just email me at adam@musicdeptnyc.com with subject line “Free Lessons Match”
Band for Corporate Holiday Party
Broadway Brassy and the Brass Knuckles
Broadway Brassy and the Brass Knuckles video blog post about a 2019 Corporate Holiday Party at the Edison Ballroom. The group performed Jazz, Holiday Music, Pop, Soul, and Rock.
Bloomberg Brass: Video Post
All-Female Brass Band
Music Dept created a custom all-female brass band for a campaign event in NYC. In under 24 Hours we put together an incredible group to pump the rally. The video tells the behind the scenes story of this production. The group performed Alicia Key’s “New York State of Mind.” They also accompanied some chants and played a classic fanfare riff as they left the stage.
Thanks to our partners and musicians! Especially http://bongarbiz.com/
Surprise First Dance at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Who doesn’t love a surprise first dance! Especially when it’s set to live music overlooking Brooklyn Bridge.
Amy reached out a few months prior to her May 2019 elopement in NYC. She explained that she and her fiancee lived in Chicago and they planned to elope in NYC and fly out for Europe the very same day. Since they wouldn’t be having a wedding reception, she wanted to have a very intimate and low-key surprise first dance.
The plan:
Amy and Krystal would elope at City Hall and then cross over to Brooklyn Bridge park for pictures. The micro-wedding party included a handful of close girlfriends and the photographer. While the group walked along the boardwalk our musicians would begin to play John Legend’s “All of Me” and follow up with “Your Song” by Elton John.
Are you thinking about a celebrating with a surprise musical performance?
We worked super closely on the planning and coordination with Alexis at City Love Photography. She took all the amazing photos in this post and was instrumental in bringing the day together!
Our mobile “busking” duo included Adam Lomeo on Guitar and Brittany Henderson on vocals. We set up with a battery powered PA system, which really helped as we had to contend with some wind off the water.
Alexis Buryk for City Love Photography
The surprise came off beautifully and it was an absolutely perfect moment with hugs and tears all around!
Who are you planning to wow with a surprise performance?
Circus Entertainment for Corporate Event
In the spring of 2019, one of our clients approached Music Dept about producing an evening of circus entertainment for a corporate event in the Hudson Valley. Many events will feature entertainment with a circus flair, but this was a unique corporate event because they wanted a circus theme throughout the evening
Circus Themed Cocktail Hour
We were brimming with entertainment ideas for this event. Music Dept called on some of our key partners and performers to bring the show together. We thought of Erica Mancini’s accordion and added a Tuba. The strolling duo played everything from waltzes and polka’s to “Obla Di Obla Da” and “Baby Elephant Walk.” These instruments were able to stroll because they have strong acoustic volume. That means no amplification or wires are needed.
The cocktail hour was completed by two strolling stilt-walkers. Our stilt walkers are an incredible husband and wife team! They also juggled and performed other feats while interacting with the guests. Next time we have a circus themed event we will have them bring along the unicycles!
Featured Circus Performers
Dinner called for show-stopping performers, so we partnered with the incredible Samantha Diaz at Dance Soul Entertainment. A stage was set up at the front of the ballroom. We sequenced four self-contained shows throughout the dinner hour. Each performance was accompanied by a backing track that we controlled from our mixing board.
These four performers presented 4-8 minute shows to deliver the circus theme entertainment for this corporate event.
Contortionist for Corporate Event
Snake-Charmer for Corporate Event
Belly-Dancer
Valerie pulled out all the stops. This headline worthy belly dance performance featured LED wings and the flaming candle tray. Valerie and Syreena work together quite a bit, and this camaraderie definitely helps to make for a seamless performance.
Costume for Circus Themed Corporate Event
Many corporate events prefer conservative costuming. This photo of Valerie and Syreena taken outside the greenroom gives a nice example of a more covered up costume for Belly Dance.
Sword Swallower
We also featured the truly incredible Eli Rose. For this corporate event, Eli wore a white tuxedo jacket. He approached the stage with vaudevillian charm and swallowed a variety of swords. The performance was set to some very circus sounding music from Shostakovich.
What these performers are able to do is simply amazing, but their ability to vary the style to suit the occasion makes them truly exceptional entertainers.
Partners and Links:
Eli Rose: https://www.thenoringcircus.com/#eli-section
Dance Soul Entertainment: https://www.facebook.com/DanceSoulCo/
Renee Choi: https://www.instagram.com/sfreneenyc/?hl=en