Wedding reception music is our speciality, and providing music for wedding receptions is what Payback excel at. Payback are a fantastic, funky, showpiece UK-based function band for corporate events, weddings, university and college balls, hotels, holiday centres, theatres, RAF/Army Bases, night clubs, outdoor festivals, corporate event entertainment, celebrations, awards ceremonies, ceremony, corporate event management, product launches, company conferences, charity awards, team building events, themed evenings, trade shows, live music for corporate hospitality, and anywhere you need a function band to make a memorable impact. Payback are an experienced, professional function band playing funk, disco and soul music with a vast experience of providing music for weddings and corporate functions. Trust us when we say we are the best; we've played in too many dodgy bands at weddings to know how much better than the competition we are! Payback are based in and around Croydon, Surrey (South London), and play anywhere in London, Croydon, Bromley, Sutton, Kingston, Chelsea, Fulham, South East England, East Anglia, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Essex, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, the Home Counties, Berkshire, Hampshire, Middlesex, East London, South London, West London, North London, East Midlands and the West Midlands. Playing disco (Carwash ... ), 80s (I found lovin'...), 70s Funk (Funkification...), and jazz.

Payback can provide high-class, intimate jazz for the quieter parts of your function, as well as providing disco, soul and funk music when everyone wants to party. Payback will supply a slick, professional set (or sets) of jazz tailored in anyway that you require - we are sensitive to the needs of organisers like yourselves. We can provide up to 4 hours of music.The Payback group is made up of jazz musicians and jazz lovers. We can provide smooth and latin jazz ("Laidback"), swing Sinatra and Ratpack-style jazz ("Ratback") or even trad jazz ("Tradback") if that's what you want! We have a set list that can be easily adapted to suit the many demanding tastes of the people you plan to entertain. Our high quality sound system can cope with any size venue you require, and we guarantee we will never overpower the atmosphere with loud intrusive music (unless that is what you want!). Book a jazz band If you would like to have some jazz with the main Payback booking, or if you'd like to have it on its own, send an email to Jon Harris and let him know your requirements.If you haven't fixed a date or venue, it would help us to know roughly when and where the event will be. Please note that if you require Payback to play a jazz set in addition to our normal funk/disco set then you must let us know at the time of booking as this will affect our quotation.

I have seen a lot of articles and books on choosing music for the wedding service itself, but very little on the music for the post-wedding celebration: this article is to redress the balance. The following sections summarise the main options you have, and then I've provided a few "case studies": descriptions of weddings where I have been part of the musical entertainment.
Hiring Payback!
Payback fit somewhere between a function band and a DJ. We provide over 2 hours of party music segued and joined in the style of a DJ, but with the entertainment value of a 9 piece band. I won't go into more detail here of why you should hire us above anyone else - that's for the rest of this website!
Hiring a DJ
For the majority of weddings, a DJ is often seen as the best option because they are probably the cheapest option. However, cheap doesn't always mean value for money! As with all things, you get what you pay for. Some venues will provide a DJ as part of the hire package, leaving you very little choice; otherwise you will have to find the right DJ for your reception. Go with recommendations from friends, or make note of the number of a DJ at any other wedding receptions you may go to (if you like what you see). If you have a broad cross section of ages, a DJ can be a good option - switching from Aqua to Abba to Elvis in as many records. Some DJs keep a good stock of recent chart hits, while others tend to concentrate on a broad spread of tracks from the 50s through to today. If you have a predominantly 20-something crowd, make sure you get a DJ with a suitable selection of recent hits - you don't want to end up dancing at the end of the evening to "The Birdy Song" as the DJ thinks "it always goes down well with the punters". Oh no. I've seen it happen! Check with whoever you book well before the reception, to ensure that any special requests can be dealt with. If you want to make sure, bring a copy of the "first dance" on CD or vinyl, just to make sure: I have played at a wedding where the DJ could not find the CD that contained the first dance! Very embarrassing for him I'm sure; galling for us as we did most of the evening and he must have got paid a fortune for what must have been less than an hours work! But I'll come back to that one later... Hire a DJ through the number-9 agency
(click here for examples)
Hiring a jazz band
The jazz quartet I play in specialise in the bigger budget weddings, where we generally play during the first part of the wedding reception, while everyone arrives from the wedding venue and gets their glass(es) of champagne; the "champagne breakfast" I believe it is called. This works really well for creating a classy atmosphere, and is not at all intrusive, and for a surprisingly low amount of money, compared to other costs at weddings, you can get really fantastic jazz players who feed off the atmosphere and really give something back. Jazz bands can also play quietly in the corner during meals as background music; as can a so-called cocktail pianist if your budget won't extend to a whole band. Some venues such as hotels, have pianos in their function rooms, otherwise most pianists are able to bring their own electronic pianos if required. If you get the right jazz band, they can play dance music that appeals to all ages and covers the function of a DJ. I have played weddings where everyone from the smallest tots to all the grannies and grandads have been on their feet in the latter part of the reception (the best bit!) dancing to the jazz. For this, you'll need a band who play up-tempo swing and/or Latin numbers. Most jazz bands can be hired for a similar fee to a decent DJ, so if you don't want loud music but you want to dance, why not try a jazz band? Hire a jazz band or cocktail pianist through the number-9 agency
DIY music
Do you want to choose your own records to play but don't want hire a DJ or have to change all the CDs yourself? Use an mp3 player. Rip all the CDs yourself or be naughty and download them from the web, then transfer them to a suitable mp3 player such as an Apple iPod. Then you can either hire a PA system to play them through, or use the PA in the reception venue if there is one. Buy an Apple iPod mp3 player from amazon.co.uk
Hiring a string quartet or other classical ensemble
Classical ensembles, such as string quartets perform much the same function as jazz bands, except they will rarely be the thing to get your 16 year old cousin dancing at the end of the evening! But if you want quality, sedate background music, a classical ensemble is hard to beat. Try something different - like a recorder quartet! I knew some music students who had a very successful niche playing renaissance music on recorders at weddings and functions; very memorable and creating a perfect background for wining and dining. Most people wouldn't know where to start looking for a classical ensemble - my tip is to ask at the local music colleges (such as the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Royal Northern in Manchester) or in the music department of your local university. When I was at university, the music department notice board regularly had requests for ensembles to play at functions - just send a card in and ask the department secretary to post it on the board. Student ensembles are likely to be considerably cheaper than those booked through an agency, without in any way compromising the quality. Hire a classical ensemble through the number-9 agency Hiring a "function band"
When I say "function band", despite having bought the domain function-band.com (you're here aren't you?!! excellent.. jobs a good'un!), I mean those bands which the closing credits of the BBC's "Smith and Jones" bring to mind... shiny sequined jackets and cheesy songs... "Goodnight Blackpool!" ...... Joking apart, a good function band performs the function of a good DJ, but engages the audience in a way a man behind a turntable and flashing lights can't do. Some bands specialise in certain styles (like Payback specialise as a funk and disco party band), whereas others play many different styles all in one set. What you need to look for is a band who will play a consistent style, gradually changing the mood throughout the night, starting more mellow and bringing up the tempo with some dancey numbers towards the end. I've seen some horrificly cheesy function bands in my time, but I've also seen some genuinely entertaining bands (for all the right reasons!). Don't rely purely on the demo tape or CD which the band supply - this is bound to be a highly polished studio representation (unless it is a live recording which is very unusual). See if you can check out the band live before you book them. Payback always like to get potential clients to come and see us, as we know after hearing (and being impressed by!) our CD, seeing us perform live will clinch the booking.

Picture the scene...the sun setting over the marquee, as the dinner finishes and your guests are getting frisky, it's time to dance!
Payback take the stage and tempt the tapping feet onto the dance floor. Over the course of 2 sets, we'll make your guests boogie, and make your night memorable for all the right reasons. A 9-piece band to rival the great funk bands of the 1970s, Payback are a youthful, energetic, professional and enthusiastic group of friends who thrive on the energy of the audience. Not for us the journey men of "function band hell".... We do it because we love it. We play the tunes we'd want to hear ourselves on a night on the town. Sports Club Wedding
With my jazz quartet I played at a post reception drinking session at a well known sports club in West London. Our remit was to play for about 2 hours, with the option of a further hour (for a further fee). We had been asked specifically to play some Frank Sinatra numbers, with vocals; tricky as we had parted company with our lead vocalist a few months previously! Fortunately, the idea was for a sort of karaoke singalong-a-sinatra. As most the audience were pretty pie-eyed already, more or less as soon as we started playing (at about 7pm) there were people dancing. Unfortunately, this also included a very enthusisatic older relative swinging a much younger relative about a lot - our sax player had her music knocked over several times! What made this wedding unique was bride's brother and friends providing a very good (if a little boozy) barbershop rendition of some tunes. This was obviously planned (and rehearsed) in advance but suffered from a lack of amplification over the rabble - if you plan to do any speaking or performing, ensure you have adequate amplification. Most bands will have amplification and will be willing to allow it to be used for speechs etc. There was a good crowd of people (100+) right to the end of night, and we played a number of up-tempo latin and swing numbers which kept everyone happy. Even the elderly couple who requested a tango (which we weren't able to provide) soon found their dancing feet and were dancing with the rest! It was extremely satisfying to see 7 year olds dancing with 75 year olds to our music ... and not a flashing coloured light in sight! Wedding by the Thames
I played at a reception over-looking the River Thames with my jazz quartet once - it was an extremely sedate affair with only about 40 guests. I felt that a jazz band was an appropriate choice for the small number of people present; an even better choice given that the groom was an accomplished singer and guested on vocals for a number of tunes. This is a very good way of personalising the atmosphere; if you have a talented person among the ranks of the reception who can be persuaded to join in: not karaoke, but better! Just remember it's best to liase with the band beforehand so they are prepared to perform with an interloper... Large country-house venues
Surprisingly, I would say from an entertainment and atmosphere point of view, receptions held at large venues away from centres of population are the least successful. Generally, unless there is an adjacent hotel, the location means cabs are hard to come by and a high proportion of the people attending are unable to drink because they are driving. What this means is that people will stay until the bride and groom leave, which is normally sometime before the end of the evening. As soon as they have gone, the crowd at the reception rapidly dwindles. This is very disheartening for peformers (who shouldn't really care as they're getting paid anyway) but it can be difficult to give the performance your all when you're playing to an empty hall! I have played at a cavernous hall at a public school in the heart of the English countryside where we were playing to only about 7 people at least an hour before we were booked to finish playing. Sometimes there is even a DJ booked to play after the band, which is an expensive error. So remember to only book what you need to .. a DJ or a band, not both! Note: most bands can supply recorded music for before and after their performance Irish wedding
I enjoy Irish weddings - good craic, as they say. We played one once where straight after the speeches the bride's brother sang some traditional Irish tunes with his accordian then went into the the first dance - "Moon River". This was the most romantic first dance I've seen yet. Once again, a good example of the personalisation of the music using the talents of friends and family! After the first dance, the soul band I was in at the time played for a couple of hours, with the inevitable sing-a-long to Mustang Sally (not the choice of the band - if a band put this on their demo, don't book them.... it's SOOOOO unoriginal!). It was a fine atmosphere, and directly after us the resident DJ came on to spin tunes into the wee small hours for the hard core drinkers and dancers - it was a hotel so they could do this! I think hotels make very good wedding reception venues as you can get really drunk then you only have to stagger a short distance to your room - no dodgy cabs involved. Manor House Garden
One of the poshest weddings I have played at was in the grounds of a manor house, within a complex of marquees. My jazz band played during the champagne drinking at the beginning of the reception. There was a little breeze, but we're pros: we bought the gaffer tape along to subtly stop our stuff blowing away! As any good employees at such functions should do, we blended into a corner unobtrusively and as soon as the first guests arrived we played until we were tipped the nod to announce over the microphone for the guests to take their seats for the sumptuous meal. Then we packed up - content at a job well done and we went home. Asian Weddings
I have also played at a couple of Asian wedding receptions - although the wedding ceremony might be traditionally Asian (it might even be in another country!), it doesn't mean the wedding reception needs to be completely traditional! The main consideration for us is to check with the bride and groom what the boundaries of taste and decency are: ie. not playing "Sex Machine" is a good start!
Outdoor Receptions
Playing outdoors, particularly in the summer is a wonderful experience for both band and guests. However, it doesn't take a genius to know you need a backup plan in case it rains; as it does oh so frequently in the UK. Unless there is a guaranteed rain free period (or drought!) not many bands who rely heavily on electrical equipment will set-up outdoors. However, a classical ensemble or small trad jazz band are perfect for outside: mobile and electricity free! And they can easily re-locate before and during the performance should rain suddenly appear. I played at a reception on the patio of a gorgeous little (well quite big really) cottage in Hampshire and it was a fabulous jazz gig. The bridegroom came up and guest soloed with his trombone on one song (transposing from an E flat Real book and after all that champagne too .. genius!). In fact he had organised all the music throughout the day of the wedding, including the service, to be performed by musical colleagues of his (as we are). A very personal touch, and again, it made it much more memorable.
Trad jazz
I played tuba in a trad jazz wedding gig in a large hotel "up north" a few summers ago. Once again it was for a musician's wedding: he knew what he wanted so he got us in to do the job. The non-drivers in the band were attending the wedding and staying in the hotel, and, consequently, very very drunk. Still, that probably improved the atmosphere, as the function room was huge and Victorian and not suited to live music at all - and no one had thought to amplify the hotel's piano so it got drowned out by the drums (even when we told the drummer to play quietly - an impossible task at the best of times!)
If you are booking the music directly for your function, check with the band and venue that all required facilities are available - if you are unsure, get the band to liase directly with the venue as they will both be experienced in what is required.