Hiring a great band in the Toronto area isn’t hard—there are hundreds to choose from. But finding performers who will work within a small budget can be a bit more challenging. Here’s who planners recommend.
Nathalie Niddam, manager of media partnership strategies at Evergreen, hired the Canadian Tenors, a four classically trained male singers, for the nonprofit organization's Wild in the City event in June. “They're very personable and they get the audience engaged because they bring something new to the table,” Niddam says. The group typically plays with piano accompaniment or a four-piece band (which the planner is responsible for booking separately); they also play piano and guitar for a portion of their set. They can perform pop-style tunes, covers of Josh Groban and Il Divo, or stick to traditional opera pieces, like they did at General Motors' 100th anniversary event earlier this year. Due to the growing popularity of the group, flat booking rates aren’t available; however, manager Jeffrey Latimer says they always try to work within event planners’ budgets.
Karen McGee, who works in the special events department at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, says the disco band Booty Smacker got rave reviews from guests after a performance at the 2004 Elsie Awards. “They were great, very professional and absolutely perfect for the “Groove-a-licious” theme,” says McGee. “Attendees loved them and we got lots of great comments.” The five-piece band includes both a male and female singer, and has played at events for Alliance Atlantis, Nike Canada, and TD Bank. Pricing starts at $3,800; sound is not included.
During a 24-hour relay event for Easter Seals Ontario in June 2006, the cover band Cece Pastor and Word of Mouth played an energetic set of pop tunes at midnight to help keep participants going. Stefani Venere, who worked in the organization's events department at the time and is now at Toronto Grace Hospital Foundation, says the band's energy was an asset to the fund-raising event. “They played a range of popular music, and they were both affordable and easy to work with,” she says. The five-piece band has also played at events for Deloitte & Touche and St. Joseph's Health Centre. The rate for an event with 250 people or less is $1,800; sound is included.
