GFS. Marketplace We bring a lot to the table! music, or give the guests a rest." Cherkasky says the band should understand what kind of music the bride and groom are looking for, be it disco, classical, jazz or Top-40. If the music doesn't fit the audience, it may not be the band's fault. It is up to the bride and groom to provide direction in advance. The bride and groom may enjoy hip-hop, but if the majority of the guests don't know Eminem from M&Ms, they might consider adding more mainstream or traditional music to the song list. In addition, most bands charge extra to play all night without taking full breaks, but those breaks can disrupt the flow of the party. In her 20 years of party planning, Cherkasky says she has seen it all. She tells clients to make certain that some- one has the cell-phone number of the bandleader. "For one wedding," says Cherkasky, "the band did not arrive at the pre-arranged time, and the bride got incredibly nervous. As it turned out, there was a huge traffic jam on the freeway and the band finally arrived 45 minutes late." Luckily, they were able to set up just in time. Scores of bands are available in metro Detroit, playing a wide variety of music in every price range. So how to weed out the mundane from the marvelous? Cherkasky recommends people pay attention to the band at every function they attend. Jennifer Sternberg Ellenbogen of Birmingham was watching a friend's wedding video and loved the music, performed by the Bill Meyer Group. A few months later, when boyfriend Aaron Ellenbogen proposed, Jennifer knew immediately which band she wanted. "Even though it was just a video, you could see that everyone was dancing and enjoying the music," she says. At her wedding in November 2000, Meyer, a pianist and bandleader, per- formed with seven other musicians. "We wanted the kind of music that everyone can dance to, like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole," Jennifer says. "We didn't want a lot of disco or pop music. I told Bill more of what I didn't want than what I did want." Because Ellenbogen wanted a lot of traditional Jewish music, she asked Meyer to include a vocalist who spe- cializes in Hebrew songs. She was in luck: Meyer's song list includes a large repertoire of Hebrew and Yiddish tunes, and he works with Cantor Barry Ulrich regularly for clients requesting more than just a few stan- dard horas (Israeli dances). Meyer strives to be flexible in adding additional musicians for differ- ent musical styles, such as local jazz talents Marcus Belgrave or George Benson, cantors such as Ulrich, and Klezmer musicians for more Jewish music or members of the salsa band Orchesta Inspiration for Latin music. There is a wide range in pricing, from $350 for one musician to more than $5,000 for 11 musicians. Ellenbogen's mother had heard local jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave at a Kadima (Southfield-based Jewish men- tal health agency) fund-raiser months prior to the wedding, and hired him to perform with Meyer's band. The result was a dream come true for Ellenbogen. Meyer also provided the music when the bridal party walked down the aisle. Stop in to your local GFS Marketplace store and let our experienced staff help you plan your next special occasion. • Computerized atelfu,-;„)&reiMenu Planning • Ready-to-Serve Hors d'oeuvres & Entrées • Party Trays Favorites • Desserts • Colorful Paper Products • Beverages • Snacks/Candies No Membership Fee • Public Welcome Brighton (810) 220-0110 8144 W. Grand River Ave. Chesterfield (810) 948-2839 51630 Gratiot Ave. Dearborn Heights (313) 792-9367 5720 N.Telegraph Rd. Farmington Hills (248) 474-1990 39047 W. Grand River Ave. Livonia (734) 425-9635 29150 6 Mile Rd. Mon.—Sat. 8-8 • Sun. 12-5 Professional Help Working with a booking agent can simplify the search for a band. Nancy Bridwell, who owns Bridwell Entertainment in West Bloomfield, explains that an agency can represent numerous groups and will work with a client one-on-one to find the right band for the right budget. Bridwell shows clients videos of bands she recommends, and will pro- vide dates and locations where bands are performing so they can be seen live as well. "Working with an agency can give a person an extra safety net," Bridwell says. "My reputation rests on the product I'm selling." She works on a contractual basis with every band, following up to ensure that everything goes according to plan. A common misconception about using a booking agent is that the client will pay more for the band. Not true, says Bridwell. "The agency's commis- sion is built into the price of the band, which is almost always the same price they offer around town." Rosellene Rosemberg, 28, of West SINGERS on page 22 Mount Clemens (810) 792-7600 35400 Groesbeck Rochester Hills (248) 656-6000 I 370 Walton Blvd. Southfield (248) 827-8584 24475 Telegraph Rd. Taylor (313) 291-0360 10065 Telegraph Rd. Troy (248) 588-1700 2822 E. Maple Rd. ,s„; • • Utica (8 I 0) 254-5656 45331 Utica Park Blvd. Warren (810) 983-5405 7835 Convention Blvd. Waterford (248) 738-7736 4295 Highland Rd. Westland (734) 721-8700 38150 Ford Road Wixom (248) 926-0353 49200 Wixom Tech Dr. www.gfsmarketplace.com CZ =CM s. , 4 -z4 THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE. With the help of Hebrew Free Loan many people can get the chance to experience the life events that matter most - from weddings and bar or bat mitzvahs to education and business. For more information or to set up a confidential interview, CALL US AT (248) 723-8184. FREE LOAN- A HEBREW .11.17.4 t_ ASSOCIATION HFLA AEI DETROIT ■ III• ■ r■IMP IPM Allint" • 6735 Telegraph Rd., Suite 140 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301