Planning Resources

FAQ

We’re happy to set up a call and chat about Bands vs. DJs,  pros/cons of different band types,  red flags when booking entertainment,  booking strategies,  and anything else. You can also check out helpful hints in our handy Band Buying Guide .
We have public shows around New England almost every week, whether we’re playing a club show, a band showcase, or a public event.  Check out our upcoming shows CALENDAR
We’ve found this to be the perfect instrumentation to play most genres of dance music authentically and with a full sound; Male Vocals, Female Vocals, Saxophone, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, and Drums. You can always customize by adding more—just ask.
Absolutely! Our bands don’t mind learning a couple tunes for your event – as we approach the date and go over song preferences, we can figure out which songs to avoid, which to focus on, which to DJ versus playing live, and if there’s anything the band should learn specifically for you.
This totally depends on what you want and how you plan your event flow. Our bands reserve the right to take a few quick breaks. We will always put on appropriate music during any break to keep the right energy going.
We say our ideal stage size is 10 by 20 feet, but we have also rocked much larger and much smaller spaces. Let us know what you’re working with and we’ll tell you if it’s an issue. You do not need to rent a stage— that is up to your preferences. We just require a solid, hard, dry surface to perform on (no sand/dirt/gravel). It’s always fun to perform on a stage, but it’s totally up to you.
The industry standard is to require a 50% deposit with the contract signing, and the balance to be due on or before the date of your event. Let us know if it’s an issue and we can try to work it out.
Of course! Just let the band leader know that you want to extend and they’ll be able to go over logistics and pricing on the spot. (This happens often)

1 . Credit Card/E-Check (Online)* Preferred method of payment

Click the credit card logos below to be redirected to our payment portal to make a
payment. Credit card payments are subject to a 2.5 percent service charge for Visa, Mastercard
and Discover) and 3% service charge for American Express. There is no charge for
EFT/electronic checks.

2 . Mailing checks

Please include the date of your wedding and last names with the check payment to:

Pay to: Sugarbabies LLC
Sugarbabies LLC
PO Box 920771
Needham, MA 02492

3 . Bill Pay

Since payment received through bill pay will be in the form of a check, it will take approximately
one to two weeks before payment is received depending on location and bank so please send
this on time so we receive it on/before the event date. Please include the date of your wedding
and last names.

Pay to: Sugarbabies LLC
Address: Sugarbabies LLC, PO Box 920771, Needham, MA 02492

Band Buying Guide

Consider these factors when selecting a great party band: level of talent, versatility, band chemistry, professionalism, passion, and the integrity of the band leaders. If it’s important enough to celebrate, it’s important enough to hire trustworthy people who actually care about the success of your event.

BANDS 101

TYPES OF BANDS

​There are three kinds of professional party bands;

Specialty Bands – These can be ethnic groups or specific themed bands. For example;  AC/DC tribute band, Klezmer band, and more.

Traditional Wedding Bands – These groups are usually in the classic “wedding band” image. The performers are often a bit older “more seasoned”, or older musicians with young vocalists. These bands will often break up the show into multiple sets and breaks and may struggle playing a versatile repertoire authentically, but can sound great at one genre, like Funk or Rock.

Concert-Style Bands – This the most modern style of event band, usually younger highly-talented groups who deliver energetic, interactive performances focussed on the impact of the entertainment on audience experience. These bands are usually very conscious of event flow and take very few/short breaks once the real show starts.

BUDGETING REALITY

Based on our research and experience – these are standard entertainment costs in New England:

$1-4k – DJs

$4-7k – DJ/Band Combos or lower-level bands

$7-12k – Quality Full-Time Bands

$15-25k – Custom Bands

$30-500k – National Touring Acts

However, all of these prices are generalizations — you never know what price a vendor will accept for your event. If you love a vendor, always try to negotiate and make it work.

HERE ARE SOME HANDY TIPS

DON'T LET PRICE SCARE YOU

Bands can be expensive, but don’t run away when you get a quote. Many bands appreciate performing for people who appreciate them. If you find a band (or any vendor) you absolutely love, never assume you can’t afford them. And even if they quote you a price that’s out of your budget, it’s always worth it to disclose your budget and see if there’s a way they can accommodate. You never know how much a band might want to book a specific date, venue, or event type: let them know what would work for you and you might be pleasantly surprised.

BEWARE OF FAKE PROMOS

When considering bands, watch out for groups with fancy videos that are a bit too clean. Some bands will hire a video studio to produce a flashy video, and though they usually sound great and even look like MTV music videos, they’re usually very fake, lip-synched, and don’t authentically represent a live performance. These bands often don’t have very exciting live shows, so they try to cover it up with production value in their promos. Look for bands with candid live performance videos that will show a real representation of their skills and performance styles, or better yet check out the band at a public show.

CHEMISTRY IS KEY

Chemistry definitely comes with rehearsing and time performing together, but it really comes from interactions off-stage. You want band members who are friends and fit in the same social circle. Those who relate to each other’s lives, care about each other, can laugh and hang outside the band, and it’s best if they make other music together outside of the wedding band.

WATCH OUT FOR UNRELATED FLUFF

Having an awesome band is a very specialized service. Watch out for band companies who try to convince you to buy by including non-related services like uplighting, photobooths, videography, and more. These groups usually can’t succeed based on the merit of their performances, so they have to sugarcoat the deal with unrelated services to win people’s business. That’s a huge red flag. Your band should be focussed on being an awesome band!

DON'T BE TRICKED BY THE PITCH

Don’t let a band sell you on their gear, lighting show, or the additional DJ or sound tech. The cost of a sound or lighting system doesn’t guarantee that it’s appropriate for your venue, that the band can use it well, or that the band’s show is actually fun on it’s own.

LOOK FOR VERSATILTY

Most of our clients share with us that they don’t want a stereotypical “wedding band,” but rather a fun dynamic party band who are also experts at performing for weddings. You want a band that plays together 100+ shows per year: weddings, nightclubs, corporate functions, festivals, etc. These groups have the versatility to play to any audience and can masterfully read a crowd and customize the show on the fly to make the most of any celebration.

DON'T LOVE THE PLAYER, LOVE THE GAME

Most people book bands one or two years before their event. A lot can happen in that time; huge opportunities, awful tragedies, life changes, etc. There is always a chance that some members of any band will be different in the future. Regardless of what a band leader or agent says to manipulate you into signing a contract, there is no way they can actually guarantee you specific performers in the future. Hire a band based on the vibe and consistency of their show, not individual performers, because even if the roster changes before the next year they are bound by the expectations of all their clients to provide the same quality and vibe regardless of who is performing. Ask bands about their recruitment process, training system, and subbing protocol in case of an emergency.

SOBER IS BETTER

It may sound fun to drink with your wedding band, but it’s generally a bad idea. It’s bad news if the band members have to be inebriated to want to have fun at your wedding. You need a band who loves to perform and wants to rock your wedding based on their passion and professional integrity. Ask the band leader or agent about the policies in the performer contracts, to make sure you’re comfortable with their professional expectations.

ROSTER BANDS ARE A GAMBLE

A roster band isn’t really a band—it’s a list of musicians who “know” the same songs and get told to show up at the same event on the same day. This is a huge gamble because these groups rarely have any chemistry and often have to “fake” their way through songs. By contrast, a contract band will keep the same band members rehearsing and performing together for an extended period of time (usually 1-2 years) and this is a great thing.

SET LISTS ARE BAD

It’s important that your band spends time with you before your event going over your song preferences, which songs should be live versus by DJ, and your vision of the celebration. However, don’t hire a band that writes set lists. A great band is versatile and prepared to read the crowd’s vibe, and can call songs for the show on the spot—while still honoring your musical preferences. It’s impossible for anyone to predict the exact order of the exact songs that will work perfectly at your celebration, calling a show live is the only way to get close to a perfect show.

GOOD SIGNS & BAD SIGNS

GOOD SIGNS

  • Candid videos from real LIVE shows

  • Bands who anticipate turn-over and know what to do to stay consistently awesome

  • Young energetic performers

  • Party band who performs 100+ different shows each year – i.e. Weddings, Clubs, Colleges, Corporate Events, etc.

  • Contracted band members – committed, rehearsed, and follow company rules.

  • A versatile band who can read the crowd and call a show on the spot to build a celebration

BAD SIGNS

  • Over-produced, fake, studio made promo videos – lip-synching, yuck!

  • Band leaders/agents who “guarantee” individual performers

  • Mixed ages in same band – half older/half younger members

  • “Wedding Bands”

  • Roster Bands – they call random people from a list of musicians who “know” the right songs.

  • Bands who write set lists before the show – they often use the same sets for months at a time, and can’t customize a show to fit an audience.

SONGS WE PLAY

ABC
Jackson 5

AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH
Diana Ross

AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG
Temptations

ALL NIGHT LONG
Lionel Richie

BABY LOVE
Supremes

BEST OF MY LOVE
The Emotions

BRICK HOUSE
Commodores

BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP
The Foundations

CHAIN OF FOOLS
Aretha Franklin

CUPID
Sam Cooke

DANCING IN THE STREET
Martha & The Vandellas

DO YOU LOVE ME
The Contours

HEY BABY
Bruce Channel

HEAT WAVE
Martha & The Vandellas

HIGHER AND HIGHER
Jackie Wilson

HOW SWEET IT IS (TO BE LOVED BY YOU)

James Taylor/Marvin Gaye

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Gladys Knight

ISN’T SHE LOVELY
Stevie Wonder

I WANT YOU BACK
Jackson 5

I WISH
Stevie Wonder

LET’S GET IT ON
Marvin Gaye

LET’S TWIST AGAIN
Chubby Checker

LOVE TRAIN
O’Jays

LOVE MAN
Otis Redding

MIDNIGHT HOUR
Wilson Pickett

MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA
Gladys Knight & the Pips

MUSTANG SALLY
Wilson Pickett

MY GIRL
Temptations

PLEASE MR. POSTMAN
Marvelettes

RESPECT
Aretha Franklin

SHAMA LAMA DING DONG
Otis Day & the Knights

SHOUT
Isley Brothers

SHOP AROUND
Miracles

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Stevie Wonder

SON OF A PREACHER MAN
Dusty Springfield

SOUL MAN
Sam And Dave

SWEET THING
Chaka Khan

SWEET POTATO PIE
James Taylor

STILL THE ONE
Orleans

SUPERSTITION
Stevie Wonder

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO
Temptations

THIS WILL BE
Natalie Cole

UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING’S ALRIGHT)
Stevie Wonder

WONDERFUL WORLD
Sam Cook

YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE
Stevie Wonder

1999
Prince

BAD GIRLS
Donna Summer

BEAT IT
Michael Jackson

BILLIE JEAN
Michael Jackson

BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE
Michael Jackson

BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE
Taste of Honey

CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE
Barry White

CAR WASH
Rose Royce

CELEBRATION
Kool & the Gang

DANCING QUEEN
ABBA
DECEMBER 63
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

DON’T STOP TILL YOU GET ENOUGH
Michael Jackson

EVERLASTING LOVE
Carl Carlton

GET DOWN ON IT
Kool & the Gang

GET DOWN TONIGHT
Kool and the Gang

GOT TO BE REAL
Cheryl Lynn

I FEEL GOOD
James Brown

I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER
Prince

I WILL SURVIVE
Gloria Gaynor

I’M COMING OUT
Diana Ross

JUNGLE BOOGIE
Kool & The Gang

JUNGLE LOVE
Morris Day

KISS
Prince

LADIES NIGHT
Kool and the Gang

LADY MARMALADE
Patti Labelle

LET’S GROOVE TONIGHT
Earth, Wind, & Fire

LIKE A PRAYER
Madonna

MY PREROGATIVE
Bobby Brown

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC
Wild Cherry

PYT
Michael Jackson

ROCK WITH YOU
Michael Jackson

ROLLER COASTER
Ohio Players

SEPTEMBER
Earth, Wind & Fire

SEX MACHINE
James Brown

SHAKE YOUR BODY DOWN
Michael Jackson

SHE’S A BAD MAMMA JAMMA
Carl Carlton

SHINING STAR
Earth, Wind & Fire

STAYIN’ ALIVE
Bee Gees

THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL
Michael Jackson

WE ARE FAMILY
Sister Sledge

COULD YOU BE LOVED
Bob Marley

EVERYTHING
Michael Buble

FLY ME TO THE MOON
Frank Sinatra

HIT THE ROAD JACK
Ray Charles

I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
Frank Sinatra

I NEED TO KNOW
Marc Anthony

JAMMIN’
Bob Marley

JUMP, JIVE, AND WAIL
Brian Setzer Orchestra

MASSACHUSETTS
Maxine Sullivan

ONE LOVE
Bob Marley

OYE COMO VA
Santana

SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME
Michael Buble

SE PA POU DAT
Alan Cave

SMOOTH
Santana

THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT
Frank Sinatra

THREE LITTLE BIRDS
Bob Marley

TURN YOUR LIGHTS DOWN LOW
Lauryn Hill & Bob Marley

24K MAGIC
Bruno Mars

AIRPLANES
B.O.B.

AIN’T NO OTHER MAN
Christina Aguilera

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS
Meghan Trainor

ALL I DO IS WIN
DJ Khaled

AMERICAN BOY
Estelle ft. Kanye West

ANGEL
Shaggy

APPLAUSE
Lady Gaga

BABY
Justin Bieber

BABY GOT BACK
Sir-Mix-a-Lot

BANG BANG
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Sean Kingston

BEDROCK
Young Money

BILLIONAIRE
Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars

BLAME IT
Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain

BLURRED LINES
Robin Thicke

BOTTOMS UP
Trey Songz

BREAK FREE
Ariana Grande

BYE BYE BYE
N*SYNC

CAKE BY THE OCEAN
DNCE

CALIFORNIA GURLS
Katy Perry

CALIFORNIA LOVE
2Pac

CALL ME MAYBE
Carly Rae Jepsen

CAN’T FEEL MY FACE
The Weeknd

CAN’T STOP THE FEELING
Justin Timberlake

CHEERLEADER
OMI

CLOSER
The Chainsmokers

CRAZY
Gnarles Barkley

CRAZY IN LOVE
Beyonce & Jay-Z

CUPID SHUFFLE
Cupid

DANZA KUDURO
Don Omar

DARK HORSE
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J

DESPACITO
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber

DIE YOUNG
KeSha

DOMINO
Jessie J

DON’T STOP THE MUSIC
Rihanna

DON’T YOU WORRY CHILD
Swedish House Maffia

DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT
Snoop Dogg

DJ GOT US FALLING IN LOVE
Usher

DYNAMITE
Taio Cruz

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND (NEW YORK)
JayZ ft. Alicia Keys

EVERYBODY
Backstreet Boys

EVERYTHING TONIGHT
Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo

FANCY
Iggy Azalea

FANTASY
Mariah Carey

FEEL IT STILL
Portugal. The Man

FIREWORK
Katy Perry

FORGET YOU
Cee Lo Green

FRESH PRINCE THEME
Will Smith

GANGNAM STYLE
PSY

GET THIS PARTY STARTED
Pink

GETTIN’ JIGGY WIT IT
Will Smith

GHETTO SUPERSTAR
Pras

GOLD DIGGER
Kanye West

HAPPY
Pharrell

HAVANA
Camila Cabelo

HEY YA
Outkast

HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME
Britney Spears

HIPS DON’T LIE
Shakira

HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING HOME
Drake

HOLD YA
Gyptian

HOLLABACK GIRL
Gwen Stefani

HOLY GRAIL
Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z

HONEY I’M GOOD
Andy Grammer

HOT AND COLD
Katy Perry

HUMPTY DANCE
Digital Underground

HEY SOUL SISTER
Train

IGNITION (REMIX)
R. Kelly

I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE OCHO)
Pitbull

I GOTTA FEELING
Black Eyed Peas

I KISSED A GIRL
Katy Perry

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
Taylor Swift

I LIKE IT
Enrique Iglesias

I LIKE THE WAY YOU MOVE
Outkast

I LOVE IT
Icona Pop

I’M YOURS
Jason Mraz

IN DA CLUB
50 Cent

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE
Nelly

I WISH
Skee-Lo

JUICY
Notorious BIG

JUST A FRIEND
Biz Markie

JUST DANCE
Lady Gaga

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
Bruno Mars

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP
Andy Grammer

LATCH
Disclosure feat. Sam Smith

LET ME LOVE YOU
Ne-Yo

LET’S GET IT STARTED
Black Eyed Peas

LIKE A G6
Far East Movement

LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN
Bruno Mars

LONELY BOY
The Black Keys

LOOK AT ME KNOW
Busta Rhymes

LOW
Flo Rida

MARRY YOU
Bruno Mars

MR. BOMBASTIC
Shaggy

MO MONEY MO PROBLEMS
Notorious B.I.G.

MOVES LIKE JAGGER
Maroon 5

NO DIGGITY
Blackstreet

NOTHING ON YOU
B.O.B. ft. Bruno Mars

NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE
Heavy D and the Boyz

ONE DANCE
Drake

ONLY GIRL
Rihanna

OMG
Usher

ORDINARY PEOPLE
John Legend

PARTY ROCK ANTHEM
LMFAO

PARTY IN THE USA
Miley Cyrus

PERFECT (DUET)
Ed Sheeran & Beyonce

POISON
Bell Biv Devoe

RAISE YOUR GLASS
Pink

RAPPER’S DELIGHT
Sugar Hill Gang

REAL LOVE
Mary J. Blige

REGULATE
Warren G, Nate Dogg

RIDE WIT ME
Nelly

ROLLING IN THE DEEP
Adele

SEXY AND I KNOW IT
LMFAO

SEXY BACK
Justin Timberlake

SHAKE IT OFF
Taylor Swift

SHAPE OF YOU
Ed Sheeran

SHUT UP AND DANCE
Walk The Moon

SIDE TO SIDE
Ariana Grande

SINGLE LADIES
Beyonce

SO GOOD (THE BOSTON SONG)
‘Dis Vincent

SORRY
Justin Bieber

STARSHIPS
Nikki Minaj

TALK DIRTY
Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
Montell Jordan

THIS LOVE
Maroon 5

THRIFT SHOP
Macklemore

TIK TOK
KeSha

TIMBER
Pitbull ft. KeSha

TOO CLOSE
Next

TRAP QUEEN
Fetty Wap

TREASURE
Bruno Mars

UMBRELLA
Rihanna

U REMIND ME
Usher

UPTOWN FUNK
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

WAKE ME UP!
Avicii

WANT TO WANT ME
Jason Derulo

WAVING FLAG
K’naan

WE ARE YOUNG
fun.

WE FOUND LOVE
Rihanna

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Justin Bieber

WHISTLE
Flo Rida

WORK
Rihanna ft. Drake

YEAH
Usher

YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND
John Mayer

1901
Phoenix

ALL FOR YOU
Sister Hazel

ALL I WANNA DO
Sugarland

ALL SUMMER LONG
Kid Rock

ALL THE SMALL THINGS
Blink-182

AMERICAN GIRL
Tom Petty

ANTS MARCHING
Dave Matthews Band

BASKET CASE
Greenday

BORN IN THE USA
Bruce Springsteen

BORN TO RUN
Bruce Springsteen

BROWN EYED GIRL
Van Morrison

CALL ME AL
Paul Simon

CECILIA
Paul Simon

CLOSING TIME
Semisonic

COME ON EILEEN
Dexy’s Midnight Runners/Save Ferris

DANCING IN THE DARK
Bruce Springsteen

DON’T STOP BELIEVING
Journey

EX’S AND OH’S
Elle King

FAITH
George Michael

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY
Beastie Boys

FOOTLOOSE
Kenny Loggins

FREEBIRD
Lynyrd Skynyrd

FREE FALLING
Tom Petty

FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES
Garth Brooks

HARD TO HANDLE
The Black Crowes

HIGHWAY TO HELL
AC/DC

HO HEY
The Lumineers

HOME
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

HOTEL CALIFORNIA
The Eagles

I LOVE ROCK & ROLL
Joan Jett

INTO THE MYSTIC
Van Morrison

JESSIE’S GIRL
Rick Springfield

JOHNNY B. GOODE
Chuck Berry

JUST A GIRL
No Doubt

LAID
James

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY
Rascal Flatts

LIKE A PRAYER
Madonna

LITTLE SECRETS
Passion Pit

LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER
Bon Jovi

LOVE SHACK
B-52’s

ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD
Paul Simon

MONY MONY
Billy Idol

MOONDANCE
Van Morrison

MR. BRIGHTSIDE
The Killers

OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL
Bob Segar

POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME
Def Leppard

POWER OF LOVE
Huey Lewis & the News

RICH GIRL
Hall & Oates

RUN AROUND SUE
Dion

SATISFACTION
Rolling Stones

SANTERIA
Sublime

SAW HER STANDING THERE
The Beatles

SEX ON FIRE
Kings of Leon

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT
Nirvana

STEAL MY KISSES
Ben Harper

SUMMER OF 69
Bryan Adams

SWEET CAROLINE
Neil Diamond

SWEET HOME ALABAMA
Lynyrd Skynyrd

TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
Eddie Money

TWIST AND SHOUT
Beatles

TUBTHUMPING
Chumbawamba

VALERIE
Amy Winehouse

WAGON WHEEL
Old Crow Medicine Show

WALKING ON SUNSHINE
Katrina & The Waves

WALK THIS WAY
Aerosmith

WONDERWALL
Oasis

YOU ARE THE BEST THING
Ray LaMontagne

YOU MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE
Hall & Oates

YOUR LOVE
The Outfield

YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG
AC/DC

ALL MY LIFE
K-Ci & Jojo

AT LAST
Etta James

BACK AT ONE
Brian McKnight

CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

DAYS LIKE THIS
Van Morrison

GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Ray Charles

IN MY LIFE
The Beatles

I’LL BE THERE
Jackson 5

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
Billy Joel

LET’S STAY TOGETHER
Al Green

LET’S GET IT ON
Marvin Gaye

ME AND MRS. JONES
Billy Paul

SARA SMILE
Hall & Oates

STAND BY ME
Ben E. King

STAY WITH ME
Sam Smith

THROUGH THE FIRE
Chaka Khan

UNFORGETTABLE
Nat King Cole

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
Louis Armstrong

WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN
Percy Sledge

YOU ARE THE BEST THING
Ray LaMontagne

HAVA NAGILA/HORA
Israeli folk song

SIMAN TOV MAZEL TOV
Folk song originating between 1886-1890

DANNY BOY
Beloved Irish ballad

THAT’S AMORE
Dean Martin