FAQ's
First of all, let me say that there are many many "good" wedding bands in Chicago. Any one of these bands have great musicians and vocalists, that have different levels of versatility, and will sound great! That being said, although they may sound great, it will not make them a "great" band for your wedding. Not to say that the best band for your wedding shouldn’t sound great, because they definitely should. But, that is only one piece of the puzzle. The biggest factor that sets a great band apart, is their ability to entertain you and your guests. If the singers and musicians are not physically engaged with your party, and are simply playing good music, your guests will get bored after a bit. Trust me! However, if the band is playing great music, and everyone on stage is also engaging with the entire room, you and your guests will not be able to pull yourself from the dance floor.
Yes! Although we do not invite potential clients to attend other couples weddings, WE DO schedule public band showcases that you can preview the band live. Please check our Sway Events page for the next showcase, or call us to schedule a video viewing. Tip: If a band does not offer a way for you to view them live, I would be very hesitant to hire them.
Sway performs a wide variety of music. We specialize in Top-40 through the decades. We play everything from Current Top 40, Latin, Big-Band, Motown, Classic Rock, etc. For a sample of the songs we perform and the different genres, visit the SWAYLIST page.
We are a scalable band from 7-15 pieces, depending on the size of the event. Our core band consists of our rhythm section (Keys, Bass, Drums & Guitar, and 3-5 vocalists. From there we add 1-4 horns and 1-3 violins.
We have some great options for Ceremony music. Whether you would like a solo piano, or a string quartet, we provide you with guidance in selecting all of the music that fits you for your wedding.
Every event is different, but if you were to ask what a timeline looks like for most weddings, it would be as follows. 1 hour of ceremony music 1 hour of cocktail music 1 hour of dinner music (either East Coast or West Coast style) 3 hours of dancing after dinner
Yes! Please visit our Facebook page for a few more videos. We also have a large selection of videos in our archive, so if you don't see what you're looking for just ask, and we might have it to share with you.
YES! Even if your favorite song is not on the SWAYLIST, there is a good chance we already know it. If we don't know it, we are happy to learn it. Just ask.
Sway has played over 100 of the most popular wedding venues in Chicago and the suburbs. Here is the short list: The Drake Hotel, The Palmer House, The Knickerbocker, Hotel Interconntinental, The Langham Hotel, Chicago Hilton and Towers, Radisson Blu, The Waldorf, The Rookery, Bridgeport Arts Center, Morgan Manufacturing, Chez, Navy Pier Grand Ballroom, Salvage One, Venue One, Botanic Gardens, Cafe Brauer, Lincoln Park Zoo, Loft on Lake, House of Blues, The Ivy Room, Salvatore's, Galleria Marchetti, Park West, The Casino Club, Chicago Racquet Club, Chicago Yacht Club, The University Club of Chicago, Chicago Athletic Club, The Standard Club, Lyric Opera, Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago History Museum ...and many more.
Once you decide Sway Chicago is your entertainment of choice, we will send you a simple 1 page contract based off the initial proposal that we agreed upon. If the contract is agreeable, then typically, a downpayment of 50% is required at the time of a contract signing.
We do have limited liability insurance. If a venue needs to be named on the policy for a specific event, our insurance company will issue a COI of our policy, including who needs to be named on the certificate.