HIGH-ENERGY LIVE MUSIC
FOR EVENTS!
WEDDINGS
It’s Your Day – Let’s Make It Epic!
Working closely with couples and planners, we deliver a custom wedding show that’s uniquely yours—never a recycled setlist. From intimate jazz ensembles to high-energy dance bands, we keep the energy high and the dance floor packed, while you and your guests enjoy the time of your lives. Our team of experts will guide you through creating your entertainment vision, ensuring that every detail is tailored to your style.
We serve the greater Boston area, Cape Cod, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and the entire Northeast, as well as destination events worldwide.
OUR most popular option!
THE Classic Wedding Package
Our Classic Wedding Package is our most popular and fully customizable. From the walk down the aisle to the final dance, we can provide music for every moment of your big day. Get in touch to explore Band options and review our Band Buying Guide for helpful tips.
Ceremony
Whether you’re envisioning timeless classics or modern hits, we’ll set the perfect tone for your special moment, tailored to your style.
Cocktail Hour
Kick off the celebration with the perfect vibe—whether it’s a soulful soloist, a smooth jazz duo, or a lively trio, we’ll set the stage for a relaxed and enjoyable cocktail hour your guests won’t forget.
RECEPTION
We’re all about epic dance parties! With a 7-piece band or a full 10+ ensemble, our high-energy performances and passion for music will have everyone on their feet. Get ready for a reception packed with unforgettable moments and nonstop fun!
CORPORATE EVENTS
GO BIG WITH
YOUR EVENT!
GO BIG WITH YOUR EVENT!
Companies hire Sugarbabies Inc. when they need to maximize the impact of an event on their audience. Whether we’re providing background music behind a cocktail reception or getting a 5,000 person convention dancing on their feet, we design epic shows to meet any event’s objectives.
CORPORATE CLIENTS
Premium Features
in Every Package
Professional Sound & Lighting
Delivering crystal-clear sound and stage lighting to showcase the band, ensuring their performance looks and sounds exceptional.
Wireless Microphones
Ensuring every word of your heartfelt speeches is heard clearly by all your guests, no matter the setting.
DJ Music Between Sets
Keeping the energy high and the dance floor alive, even when the band takes a break.
Entertainment Planning
Helping you design a tailored entertainment experience that perfectly reflects your style and vision.
Experienced Emcee
Guiding the event’s flow smoothly from one moment to the next, making sure your wedding stays on schedule and feels effortless.
Custom Song Requests
Offering a diverse, up-to-date song list, with the option to add any special requests for a truly personalized soundtrack.
BAND BUYING GUIDE
Types Of Bands
There are three kinds of professional party bands:
TRADITIONAL WEDDING BANDS
These groups are usually in the classic “wedding band” image. The performers are often a bit “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 focused 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.
SPECIALTY BANDS
These can be specific themed bands, ethnic bands, etc. For example; AC/DC tribute band, Klezmer band, and more.
Budgeting Reality
Based on our research and experience – these are standard entertainment costs in New England:
- $1-4k – DJs
- $4-8k – DJ/Band Combos or lower-level bands
- $8-15k – 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.
GOOD SIGNS & BAD SIGNS
GOOD SIGNS
- Promo 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 and rehearsed
- 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, etc.
- Band leaders/agents who “guarantee” individual performers
- Mixed ages in same band – half older/half younger members
- “Wedding Bands”
- Roster Bands – assembling bands for each event based on who’s available, no set band member lineup.
- Bands who write setlists before the show – they often use the same sets for months at a time, and don’t customize a show to fit an audience.
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 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 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
On-stage chemistry definitely comes with rehearsing and time performing together. Our band members are committed to their band for at least one year, so they have time to develop a tight show.
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. That’s a huge red flag. Your band should be focused 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 VERSATILITY
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 get you to sign 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 because of 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 contracted 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 before your event going over your song preferences with you, which songs should be live vs. by DJ, and your vision for the celebration. However, don’t hire a band that writes setlists. 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 songs that will work perfectly at your celebration, but a band that can organically respond to what’s happening on the dancefloor is your best bet.
OTHER SERVICES
Party/Reception Band • Cocktail Band • Ceremony Music • String Trio • Jazz Quartet • Big Band • DJ Services • DJ+Band Collaboration • & More!
EVENTS
Midweek Mixers • Holiday Parties • Company Anniversaries • Promotional Events • Cocktail Parties • Birthday Celebrations • Themed Events • Ballroom Galas • Multi-Day Conventions • Private Dinner Parties • Festivals • & More!
GENRES
Top 40 • Rock • Pop • Funk + Motown • Hip Hop • Latin • Dance • Classical + Jazz • Holiday • Traditional • & More!