The UK has seen arts and culture suffer greatly ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the worst heights of the aftermath, 450,000 people were discharged within the industry. Venues, artists, and the like have only seen losses behind hospitality. Even in 2023, different challenges face creatives as they deal with the massive inflation and work limitations that came with a rebounding society.
With this, bands in the UK have had to diversify in order to continue making a living. Doing different types of venues and joining festivals like the Capitol Hill Block Party that put the spotlight on local acts have been even more of a must in the past few years. Additionally, a variety of platforms online have been the saving grace for many talented bands that have needed cash flow. One such avenue that has seen a lot of traction is Functional Central. The platform has enabled many independent artists to find work as party bands.
What is Function Central?
Function Central is an online platform where people can find a live act to perform for their event. They cover all manner of industries and genres, with their system offering suggestions based on location, availability, and musical niche. A lot of bands have joined the platform to build their audience and have more ways to connect with potential fans. Because the platform urges bands to include demos, sample sets, and videos on their profile, users are able to get a good idea of each performer’s vibe.
The platform has received a high trust rating from both participating bands and customers that seek to book a band using the site. Acts are able to get a high volume of bookings while those looking to book a band get a smooth process with customer support and near-direct booking rates. Although the service places emphasis on the fact that their service caters to all manner of events, it’s worth noting that Function Central’s party bands for hire in the UK are most often booked for weddings. Founders Ali Lion and Mike Ausden, both musicians themselves, have noted that most popular acts (four-piece bands in particular) are booked for weddings regularly.
The Massive Wedding Industry
You can see a lot of award-winning talent as you scroll through the various genres and niches on Function Central. And when you check out the most popular acts with tons of glowing reviews, you’ll find distinctive bands that have expertly tapped into the art of performing at weddings.
The UK has a booming wedding sector that has largely been playing catch-up ever since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Every year, there are almost 300,000 weddings across Britain. Even as the Office of National Statistics reports the lowest rates of marriage, this is still a high volume of clientele every year. Among the over 264,000 postponed weddings in 2020, a huge chunk is starting to finally tie the knot.
One of the most booked and busy bands on the platform is Agent Smith, which primarily plays soft rock and mainstream pop but is always ready to change things up as needed. They have garnered a ton of support on both the platform and their social media pages. Party Up is another oft-busy party band that lives up to its name with its soul, hip-hop, and funky pop that makes anybody want to get up and dance. The best thing about weddings is that not only is there always someone getting married but live bands or entertainment have statistically been shown as one of the biggest wedding expenses.
How to Add Your Band to Functional Central
For bands that want to have a decent platform, Function Central stands out as a pretty accessible place to start. While you can usually expect to make around £200 a gig, many bands have significantly higher asking prices on this platform and still get a ton of bookings because they get to prove that it’s all worth it.
Bands interested in being a part of or coordinating with Function Central must simply fill in the relatively short application form that can be seen on the website. The applicant just has to put their personal name, contact details, name of the act or band, type of act (solo, duo, party, specialist, tribute, etc.), main base of operations, and availability. The form also has a section just for video links that can showcase your act’s abilities. You can also expect to be asked for a photo of your act and to settle on your talent fee.
Once you’re done with all of that, you can officially be part of the growing community of bands that have been able to maintain a platform for income and expression. With huge brands like Dr. Martens celebrating “alternative music and uncompromising self-expression”, it’s the best time to find the value in elevating matrimonial memories through music.
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