25 Questions with Ricky Sylvia
The Buzzcatz WEDDING FAQ

Q: Can we see you play “live”?  
A: We play public shows every now and then, so check our UPCOMING SHOWS page for updates. Most of our gigs are private events. Our public shows are typically ticketed events. We'd love for you to see us in action at a wedding reception, but we've never felt good about bringing uninvited guests to our client's weddings. If you can spend a few minutes exploring our website, you can get a very clear picture of who we are, what we sound like, and what our band is all about. If you'd like some references, you can ask any wedding pro in town about us!

Q: How much space do you need for the standard 9 piece band?   
A: 24 x 12 is our standard space for the 9 piece group, 18x12 for the small groups. For the larger band (11 + pieces), we go up to 24 x 16. For some venues a stage is not necessary. All of our electrical & staging needs will be included in our contract.

Q: Will you act as Emcee for all of the announcements and introductions?   
A: Yes. Our Deejay will act as the Emcee for the entire evening and co-ordinate with your photographer, videographer, caterer and wedding coordinator.

Q: Do you have a wireless mic for toasts?
A: Yes! 

Q: What is the process for confirming The Buzzcatz for our date?   
A: It's very simple. You send us a confirmation email with all of your details (date, time, venue,  number of pieces you want in the band, your mailing address & phone number) and we will email you back our CONTRACT. It's a very simple two-page document and there's not a lot of legal mumbo jumbo. You sign and email (or mail) the contract back to us along with a 50% deposit. We will send you a signed copy for your file. The balance payment is due 7 days prior to the wedding.   

Q: Do have music playing on your breaks? 
A: Yes, we bring a LIVE Deejay to keep the party going. For our smaller band packages, we offer a pre-mixed playlist of your requests, played on Ipod. Our Deejay also hosts formalities during the band breaks (parent's dances, cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss, etc). 

Q: Can you provide a microphone and musicians for our ceremony?   
A: We can provide sound with a technician and Deejay for your ceremony, but not the musicians. Additional fees apply. This service is subject to availability and depending upon your venue  (we don't do beach ceremonies or nightmare load-ins). You can find great ceremony musicians on our LINKS page. 

Q: What do you need in a way of a stage, power, etc?
A: You provide the stage (24 x 12), the power (power drop), and any tenting needed. Your wedding planner will help you with all of those rental needs. None of our requirements are extraordinary for the hotels or country clubs. The hotels and will typically charge for a power drop, but unfortunately there is no way around it for us or any other band. It's required for proper power or we'll blow a fuse in the middle of your first dance. We'll speak to the house electrician so that everything goes smoothly on the day of.

Q: What type of music do The Buzzcatz play?
A: The Buzzcatz play timeless classics from lots of different genres - it's a cool repertoire of  Jazz, Blues, Swing, Soul, Motown, Classic Rock, 70's & 80's dance hits, and party tunes. We start out with Sinatra, Swing, and Jazz during dinnerand then shift into Motown, Disco, Classic Rock, and Party Anthems for the dancers. The band does not play current "Top 40" music -   Our Deejay covers the more current tunes and any other requests you may have that are not found on our band's song list. 

Q: Can you work as a smaller group than 9 pieces?
A. We do offer smaller lineups, fronted by Dana (our second male lead). Ricky can also work with a smaller  lineup on a weeknight, but weekends he's reserved for the larger groups.

Q: How far in advance do we need to book?
A: Our bookings are first come, first serve. We book some weddings as long as 12 months in advance, but we may be open next weekend. Our prime dates are Saturday nights, October-May. We have more availability and flexibility for Friday or Sunday weddings. 

Q: How far will The Buzzcatz travel?
A: We stay within a three-hour drive of Orlando. Most of our gigs are in the Central Florida area. Fly-in dates can be challenging logistically with our large group, so we no longer do many of those. 

Q: If we should need to extend the party, can we? 
A: Yes. If you need longer than the standard 4-hour reception, (5 hours with cocktail), our Deejay can stay an additional hour. (Additional fees apply). 

Q:  Can you learn our First Dance song and songs for our Parents Dances ? 
A: Let me know which song you have in mind - some songs we've played in the past and we can easily snap together; others not so much. Rehearsal time is not included in our fee, nor is our arranger's fee for a horn chart (if you happen to pick a Swing or Jazz tune that requires a chart that we don't already have in our book). Some songs are just not in our wheelhouse musically or vocally, and I will know when to defer to our Deejay.  Our Deejay will handle any of your requests that are not found on the band's song list. 

Q: Can you do an edit for our first dance or parents dances?
A: Yes. A four-minute-long song can feel like an eternity when you are the only couple on the dance floor and all eyes are upon you. Unless you've choreographed your dance, we will do an edit or fade it at an appropriate spot in the song, usually at around the 2:20 mark or so.

Q: Can you meet with us to discuss our wedding?
A: I am always available via email or phone to help you with any questions, and usually very quick to respond, (quicker by text or email - email is always best for details!) but unable to attend in-person meetings or site visits. Your wedding planner will do that. All I will need is your completed online Bridal Form, and your final timeline/agenda with a layout diagram from your wedding planner on the week prior to the wedding. The rest can be done via email or phone calls. 

Q: If one of our guests wants to sit in with the band or play a song solo, is this allowed?
A: Only if it's been cleared by the Bride & Groom. Guitarists need to bring their own guitar. We are unable to rehearse with your guest performer, but will do our best to accommodate their audio needs. 

Q: Can you play a Hora for a Jewish Wedding? 
A: YES! We have played many horas, and we do a hora medley that works great. We can stretch is as long as needed. Our Deejay can also provide any other ethnic music or traditional music requests.

Q: Can we pick all of the songs we want to hear?
A: You can pick all the songs for the Deejay to play and let us know any favorites off of the band song list as well. PLEASE DON'T send us a list that you found by Googling "Best Wedding Reception Songs". Those lists are lame and we can spot that a mile away. If you have no real preferences, you can trust to leave it to us.

Q: What type of payments do you accept?
A: We accept Credit Card (3% fee), Zelle, Venmo, or bank transfer. Sorry, no checks, Paypal, or CashApp. 

Q: What time do you arrive to set up?
A: Our sound crew typically arrives 2 hours prior to the start of your cocktail hour to load in and begin set up. It takes them about 1 hour to set up. 

Q: What if you or one of your band members is sick or unable to make the gig?
A: I have a long list of very capable subs to call upon. All of our subs have played our show countless times over the years, and you can see most of them listed at the bottom of the BAND page on our website. 

In the rare instance that I am unable to perform, either David or Dana would be my understudy (whichever is available on short notice) and the band won't miss a beat. Both have been with me for many years - David since 1981, and Dana since 2001. Even The Beatles needed to have subs! (Google Jimmy Nicol). 

Q: Do we feed the band?
A: Yes. Most venues offer vendor meals for the band. All of the band's needs will be listed in our contract rider.

Q: Do you carry insurance?
A: Yes. We carry a $2m liability policy, required by most venues. Chances are that we have played at your venue before and they already have our COI on file. If not, I'll have our insurance office email them a copy, naming the venue as policy holder.

Q: Should we need to postpone our wedding, can we apply the deposit toward a new date? 
A: Deposits are non-refundable and not transferable unless your event is cancelled due to a mandatory government lockdown or venue closure; in which case your event will be eligible for reschedule based on the terms of the excused non-performance clause in our contract rider. If your event is cancelled due to either of these circumstances beyond your control, we can offer you a makeup date based on the band's availability.

Q: Can we just peek in on one of your public shows or do we have to buy a ticket? 
A: You'll need to buy a ticket. In the words of the great bandleader Duke Ellington: "Nobody pays more to hear this band play than I do!".

 CONTACT us with any questions. We'd love to hear from you!

         A FEW TIPS FROM THE BUZZCATZ:

• Hire a PRO wedding planner
  A good planner already knows a long list of dependable pros that will fit exactly what you are looking for. Do yourself and all of your vendors a favor, and hire a PRO. You can find a list of some of Central Florida's most reputable wedding planners on our LINKS page, all of whom are long-time friends of ours and whom we've worked countless weddings with. 
    
• Talk to the venue in advance to arrange for power, staging, green room, and meals for the band.
  It's important to the flow of our setup that everything be pre-arranged and set for our crew's arrival. All of our rider requirements for power, stage, and green room will be listed in our (short) rider attached to our contract, and none of our requirements are out of the ordinary for any of the resorts or clubs. Expect a fee from hotel ballrooms for the power drop - that is common practice, and unfortunately there's no way around it for us or for any band.
   
• Book EARLY!
  The best wedding vendors in this area will book nearly every weekend, so don't delay in confirming the date with them once you've made your choice. A contract and a 50% deposit is the only way we can hold a date for you. Our prime Saturday nights way in advance in some cases, with October-June being the prime season.
   
• Have a backup plan for an outdoor wedding in FL 
  We have four seasons in Florida - Swelter, Muggy, Rainy, or Freezing. We can not take your booking if your reception is outdoors (cocktail hour outside is okay).  An outdoor wedding in FL is always a roll of the dice, any time of the year. Be sure that your venue has a "Plan B" if you are booking an outdoor ceremony, and trust your wedding planner if she makes the call to move indoors.
   
• Let The Buzzcatz do "our thing"
  After playing for over 1,000 wedding receptions dating back to 1999, we have found a formula that works best for us.  Our vibe, repertoire, and presentation are all very evident here on our website - what you see is what you'll get. We'll do the songs you hear in our audio and video samples and see on our songlist. Our Deejay covers the rest, including your requests.
   
• Help us keep everyone safe
  Our stage is a minefield of cords, speakers, and valuable gear to trip over, and even a beautiful bridesmaid with fun intentions turns into a potential safety threat. For safety's sake, please encourage your guests to stay off of the stage.
    
• Have FUN!
  If you're hiring The Buzzcatz, chances are good that you've also hired all the best vendors in town. Many of the best vendors in Florida have worked countless weddings together and see each other regularly throughout the wedding season. Trust your team of vendors to make everything come together perfectly on your big day!