Young bands rock weddings

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Inflation might be a cause of worry for the aam aadmi but the Indian wedding is getting bigger and fatter. Adding to the ever-growing list of innovative ideas to make weddings memorable is the new trend wherein music bands are playing at various wedding functions.

Weddings not just give the bands an opportunity to make quick money but also provide them a platform to reach out to different people.
Musician Tony Fernandes, who has been a part of the Delhi music circuit, formed Jjhoom in 2006. The six-member band, which plays a variety of genres from rock, jazz, and pop to classic rock and Bollywood on request, has been performing at wedding functions. Tony informs that they charge a minimum of `1.25 lakhs for a private ceremony and it goes up depending on the demand and size of the crowd.
“Music is our only source of income. Music is no longer a pleasure activity for us like it used to be. Now we have to earn and weddings get you instant money. However, we are very selective when we pick these functions,” says Tony.
Akhil Sachdeva, lead singer of Sufi rock band Nasha, says that people now want variety. The surge in demand for live performers at wedding bashes is a proof in itself about the growing trend. “We have already performed at 13 weddings in November and we are booked for the entire season. Not everybody goes to music concerts and clubs. So private gigs expose us to a variety of audience from different age groups and folds of society,” says Akhil.
Two years old in the business and Rishi Dutta of Rishi Inc. is already charging `2 lakhs plus for wedding functions. He reveals that the band gets eight to 10 such requests during the season. “Weddings are lucrative and help in two ways. While promoting our music, we arrange for funds to experiment with our own music, we also make new fans who follow us on social media and get us more offers,” says Rishi. Although Rishi’s family was against the idea, they eventually realised that the band needs fuel to keep the fire burning.
Rajesh Prasanna of Shwass seconds that there is no shame in playing at weddings. He adds, “A performer’s sole responsibility is to entertain people. So it doesn’t matter if he plays at a wedding or a festival. Also, if I have to support a cause and play for free, I would be happy to do that if I know that I have another source of income.”
Bollywood film Rock On was instrumental in making people comfortable with the idea of music bands at private functions, say members of Eka band and add, “Now bands have got a reputation and are given more opportunities. Apart from being financially rewarding, weddings are super fun. It’s good to be performing for an audience that is already in a celebratory mood.”