Being punctual, professional and, most of all, organized will. Breaking into the wedding circuit often requires a head for advertising, which is why many bands work through booking agencies, like Jacksonville-based Burris Entertainment, which books Cimon's band. Booking agents generally charge 15 percent of gross earnings. Other bands, like FAZE, remain independent, choosing to handle all of their business affairs in-house. Karen Jackson and Mark Dennison of The FAZE Band perform at the wedding reception for Cynthia Diane Massey and Stephen Anthony Labrato Saturday evening at Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club.
Weddings are put together months in advance, so bands often get calls for far-off dates.
FAZE, for example, is already putting together its 1999 schedule. And bands have to be flexible. Both Cimon's and Dennison's bands have between 300 and 500 songs in their repertoire. Knowing when to play which one, or what types of songs suit a particular crowd, is an acquired skill. The size of the band also can vary, from a solo to a duo to a big band.