Entertainment is always a critical component of a successful event, but does what you want match what you need or your budget?

For wedding ceremonies, I always ask the bride "what do you envision playing as you walk down the aisle?" The reason I ask this question is sometimes a client hires an entertainer without even checking to see if they are able to play the song(s) they want.

It may sound funny, but it is true... I once had a wedding that requested that I hire a Hawaiian guitarist for the ceremony and then a week before the wedding she sent me church hymns. We ended up canceling the Hawaiian guitarist and bringing in a classical guitarist from the Big Island that had to learn the hymns in a very short period of time. Recently the client had hired their own keyboard player that only knew one of four ceremony songs they wanted, so they unfortunately had to change their songs.

For ceremony, these are the most common selections:

• Conch shell (usually in addition to Hawaiian entertainer)
• Hawaiian guitarist or ukulele player (may add musicians to make duo or trio)
• Classical guitarist
• Slack key guitarist
• Harpist
• Harpist and Flutist
• String Trio or String Quartet
• DJ  (keep in mind, this does require a second system)

For your reception, many clients have a several genres of music they want played which most bands can't cover the entire spectrum. I normally recommend a DJ that can cover all of your special song requests as well as any live entertainment breaks.

Please note that live entertainers typically require a 15 minute break per hour. Depending on who you hire, some strictly abide by this policy, and others may be a little more flexible with working their breaks around your program.

Instead of an Ipod or laptop, please get at minimum a basic DJ service. Not only do you need quality speakers to project the music and someone to play each special song, keep in mind that a DJ still can take requests for music that may not be on your play list and may adjust music based on what guest are enjoying at that particular time music moods can very easily change.

Do you also need a master of ceremonies for your event? Keep in mind that this is an additional fee, it is not part of the DJs service like it often is in the mainland. If you have just have a few basic announcements, then a basic DJ service may be okay, but if you're considering special touches such as voiceovers, song remixes,  or just want new, fun and creative ideas, then you'll want to invest in an entertainment professional that continues to educate themselves by attending conferences and can best serve your needs.

There are of course, many other types of entertainment you may incorporate into your reception, including, but not limited to:

• Lion Dance
• Taiko Drums
• Belly Dancers
• Live Bands (Reggae, Hawaiian, Jazz, etc.)
• Polynesian Revue
• Magicians

You'll want to make sure that you carefully map out your timeline to make best use of their time and ensure that you've made arrangements for dressing rooms, sound, power, lighting, etc.

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