WOW! That just about sums up things. This was for my daughter's wedding reception, and as each "Daddy" knows, this had to be done right!
I began researching groups through Gigmasters at the first of this year. Listening to sound tracks, researching each groups abilities as to what they said they would/could handle in ways of taking over your entertainment needs; such as announcements, Emcee/DJ needs, special music requests, song lists they had available to play, etc.
I narrowed my search down to two other bands and Images. I then sat down with the bride-to-be and went over each group. When I came to Images' sound track demo, my daughter got real quite. She said, "Daddy isn't that the kind of music you listened to when you were my age? Let me listen to them again." I watched her as she began tapping her toes, song after song. Finally, after two or three replays she said, "I don't believe this. I love their kind of music! Please, please daddy book them before someone else does." Now tell me that this was a total surprise. Therefore we booked Images in February for her June wedding.
Steve and I had numerous contacts via E-mail over the next several months. We worked on special issues, music options and more importantly was the fact that I wanted my nephew's Jazz Band to preceed Images during the social cocktail hour of the reception. With all the final itinerary details in place I dropped the schedule into Steve's lap one week before the reception.
The day of the reception came and as I entered the Pavilion the jazz group was playing on stage and Images was controlling the sound system. I was met by the event manager with this look of horror on her face. She informed me that because of uncontrolled circumstances two of the six members could not make the reception. I smiled at her and said, "This group has many years of experience doing receptions, probally only you and I will know the difference, just don't tell Megan."
I wasn't wrong either! Images stayed with my itinerary. Steve introduced the wedding party as the Jazz band celebrated the couple with their last number. Then Steve began the dinner hour with CD music as both the bands changed the stage setup for Images to take over the stage. There were the traditional ceremonies, then Steve smoothly led us into the Ist dance/father daughter/mother son dances with requested CD music.
THEN...THEN...it was time for Images to shine. I could not beleive how these young people took to Images (my music). The dance floor was flooded with young people, and the oldsters like me. Keep in mind that we were in an outdoor Pavilion, 84 degrees outside and humidity in thw low 80%. Images just kept jamming song after song for nearly an hour and a half. I was on the dance floor and I heard saxophones playing as backup. I turned around and looked up on stage and there was my nephew and two of his band members JAMMING with Images. Now that was an unscheduled treat that Images had set me up for.
I actually think that even my daughter's buddies couldn't stay up with Images in the heat. You would see the dance floor start to thin out and become empty. I really think this was a strategy move on Images' part; but they would play a couple of downbeat songs to give the kids a breather, then break loose again, only to have the dance floor fill back up.
Was I disappointed that there were only four members present? "Yes!"
Only because I was not able to meet Robey and Kathy in person that evening. This band is very seasoned and professional. Many other younger groups might of created a disaster for me that evening, or may have even had to cancel at the very last minute. The professionalizm of this group really shined through that night!
For the last several days I have been running into those that came to the reception and everyone totally raved about Images. Ahem! Especially my fellow "oldsters".
Would I recommend Images Party Band to someone. I leave you with what I told Steve as they were breaking down their set, " You know Steve, I have another daughter in the wings!"
Thanks goes to Steve, Doug, Butch and Brian for a total memorable evening.