FAQs

  • Please contact the Grand Central Station Band by filling out the contact page of our website. We will get back to you on our availability for your date.

  • Recommendations are always the best. Ask friends, venues, and other vendors in the industry like photographers and florists. Of course, if you’ve attended a wedding and loved the band, well, there’s your band! Flashy websites and ton’s of social media posts are still not equal to someone who’s been to a wedding and danced all night long.

  • We are based out of Albany, New York, however, each situation is unique, so it is best to talk to us about any special travel plans. Traveling fees will apply.

  • The size of the band should not be related to the size of the party. What is important is that the band plays the right music at the right volume for the room. Whether it is 30 or 30,000, we will keep your guests entertained.

  • Our published song list represents only a portion of our complete repertoire, so we may already know a song you want. If we don't know it, the Grand Central Station Band specializes in learning new material just for you. We're professionals and enjoy the challenge and diversity of new songs, which we pick up quickly and perform authentically. We request that you allow us at least one month to learn new material.

  • The Grand Central Station Band does not rotate or "job" musicians from event to event; we are a BAND. Working as frequently as we do allows the band members to commit exclusively to us, maintaining a consistently high music quality. While the band maintains the same core of instrumentalists and vocalists, some faces may change as we augment the core with additional musicians. Band members may also change due to illness or extenuating circumstances. In the event of a replacement, we substitute with a person of equal caliber, ensuring the overall high-quality sound for which we are known.

  • Absolutely! We proudly celebrate love in all its forms. We believe every couple deserves a beautiful, personalized experience

  • IYou are more than welcome to listen and meet with us at any PUBLIC appearances. Contact us for a list of these PUBLIC dates.

    We encourage you to evaluate the Grand Central Station Band based on our experience, our reputation, the abundance of credible information we give you, our audio demonstration recording, song samples supplied on our website and attendance at our numerous PUBLIC appearances; but not by visiting us during a private performance.

    Here's why:

    Every event is different. We adapt our songs and approach to venue acoustics, audience personality, and host requirements. What you would hear in a visit may not be what you're looking for, but it would be right on target for the demands of the event we're playing at.

    * Nearly all of our events are private parties. We feel that it is unprofessional for us to "crash" their party with our own "guests". After all, the event hosts are paying us to devote our energy and focus on their party, not Grand Central Station Band business issues. We have honed a professional attitude and product during our 30 years of experience, and we ask you to trust us to deliver everything you hope for in your musical entertainment. We are happy to supply references for you to contact to help you make your decision.

  • You can pay for the band with a personal or corporate check, credit card, cash, money order, or cashier's check. Also, Paypal and Wedding Wire pay or Venmo.

  • Our policy is a nonrefundable deposit with the signed contract within 10 days of a verbal commitment to book the Grand Central Station Band. The balance is due 2 weeks before the wedding.

  • The question of whether or not to feed the band comes up over and over again. From my experience, there is no one answer to this question. Some bands require that they be fed, and it will appear in your contract. We do not require clients to feed the band. However, most clients choose to do so, and it is always appreciated by the band. Ask the band what their policy is so that it is not an issue on the day of your wedding. "It’s important to ask your caterer or banquet manager what arrangements they offer to feed all your vendors. Some caterers and banquet managers offer a reduced fee to feed the band, making it affordable to do so, and others do not.

  • Grand Central Station has a state-of-the-art sound system. This enables us to keep overall volume levels to a reasonable level with crystal clear vocals. We recognize that your guests don't want our music hindering their conversation, and we're sensitive to balancing the venue's acoustics with your audience's energy level. If, during the event, you ever think we are either too loud or too soft, just let us know - we'll accommodate you!

  • The bandleader will discuss this with the bride and groom prior to their wedding to learn their likes and dislikes. A ‘do-not-play’ list is often more helpful than a ‘play-list.’ A great band should be able to read the crowd while also playing requests from the bride and groom. Some brides prefer that requests not be taken from guests, especially if a bride and groom requested ‘no line dances’ and a guest wants to request something silly like ‘YMCA.

  • No, we only accommodate one event per day to ensure that we can provide you with our full attention and deliver an unforgettable, exceptional experience tailored to your needs.

  • We play ethnic music. If you have something specific in mind, it’s best to contact us.

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  • Of course, the moire we know about your personal music preferences and likes, the better we can make the party atmosphere to suit your tastes.

  • Yes, we come fully equipped with all necessary sound and lighting equipment, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. Our equipment is composed of state-of-the-art professional gear, specifically designed to embrace the quality of your event and provide the best possible audio and visual experience.

  • For a typical 4-hour reception, we will play non-stop with the exception of a 30-minute dinner break (usually lines up with speeches/toasts) and one 15-minute break between dance sets 1 and 2.

  • Yes, we carry liability insurance to ensure peace of mind for you and your venue. If your venue requires proof of insurance, we can provide the necessary documentation upon request. Your event’s safety and success are our top priorities!

  • That’s what we’re all about! Just let us know in advance, and we will coordinate all the essential details to ensure it becomes a truly memorable experience for everyone involved. But beware—we might end up putting them to work as part of the fun!

  • Yes, we have several options available for you to choose. We can discuss these options in more detail and work with you to find out what suits your nee

    Yes, we do have several options available for you to choose from. We can discuss these options in detail and work together to figure out what suits your needs best.

  • Playing a wedding is a lot different than playing a bar or club. You need to be much more organized at a wedding. It is helpful if a band is familiar with the venue and staff and knows what type of sound is appropriate. Small spaces do not have the same sound requirements as large ballrooms. If a band is not familiar with the venue, the bride and groom should request that they do a site visit prior to playing the wedding. A band wants their audience to walk away feeling like “this was the best band we ever heard at a wedding!”

  • We find that the best band is a band that plays everything from the Big Band era to the songs playing on the radio today. Most wedding audiences are diverse, so the band should be as well. If it is a younger wedding, without many older relatives, they can keep it more current. However, if a bride and groom are looking for very clubby, ‘of-the-moment’ music all night, we will sometimes suggest a DJ or a band and DJ combination. Ask us about this premier package.

  • Some brides and grooms like a bandleader who interacts and gets out on to the dance floor with the guests during certain high-energy sets. This has become much more possible since most musicians and singers work wireless these days. However, this input needs to come from the bride and groom. I find that, most often, they just want the band to play to the crowd and keep it lively on the dance sets without any “cheesy” 10 minute saxophone solos taking the spotlight away from the Bride and Groom.

  • A band is certainly the most traditional. And having live vocals, and musicians that improvise adds to the excitement of a wedding celebration. A DJ is certainly a less expensive option, but is still a good one as long as the DJ is well versed in weddings. I would usually suggest a DJ and an MC. In a sense, the DJ acts as the band, and the MC acts as the bandleader, organizing the evening and making announcements. To me, an iPod is not a great option; there is no spontaneity. At least with a DJ, you have someone watching the crowd and mixing music that makes sense.