Barbershop Quartet to Sing at Cocktail Hour

missmaryesq

Hello all,  I wanted to get some feedback on an idea I had for my cocktail hour.  I am having a Saturday evening summer wedding, and wanted to have some fun, unique entertainment for my cocktail hour.  I love barbershop quartets, so am looking into getting a barbershop quartet to sing during my cocktail hour.  I think the sound is romantic, nostagic and rich.  If I end up going through with it, I want to keep it a surprise for my guests, so I'm not telling anyone.  I've found a 4-man barbershop quartet in my area, and they sound great.

However, I'm not sure if this is a totally weird/stupid idea or a great idea.  I know it's more typical to have a string quartet or a piano player if you're going to have live music at cocktail hour.  So I was hoping to get some opinions on this.  Any thoughts?    Thanks!

danieliza1127

I think it would fun and different, but I don't think I would have them sing for the whole hour.  That type of performance is the kind that guests will feel like they need to stop and sit and watch, while the point of the cocktail hour is mingle and socialize.  So if the quartet sang for just 20 or 30 minutes toward the end of the cocktail hour, that'd probably be fun.

danieliza1127

Oh also, has the quartet you found ever done a wedding before?  If they have, ask for references and contact the bride/groom that used them to get their opinions of how it went over with their guests.

lyndausvi

I like the idea...  but not if they would be so loud you could not still mingle during the cocktail hour.

trix1223

I think it would stop people from mingling and chatting.  Unlike a pianist for background, a barbershop quartet is, IMO, not at all background music.  (This from someone who actually knows what SPEBSQSA means)

I love barbershop quartet.  But I don't think I'd have them sing for an hour.  30 minutes perhaps.  Over that and it would wear very, very thin for most of your guests, I fear.

missmaryesq

This is why these knot message boards are great!  Everyone makes some VERY good points that I was sort of thinking myself.  

I didn't want to ask any of my friends/family for their opinions because I wanted to keep the plan a secret, and wanted unbiased opinions.  Having all these replies, and everyone sort of saying the same thing-- that it could be too loud, people will feel like they have to watch it so it interrupts mingling, and it could get old real fast--  this all makes me think this is NOT a good idea for cocktail hour. 
I think I'm ready to drop the idea entirely.  Thanks, all.  :-)

megk8oz

I'm just going to put in my 2 cents on this. I, personally, love barbershop quartets, and I think they are awesome ... but I, too, would feel almost rude if I didn't actively watch them the whole time. So I would also say "only have them sing for part of it".

It is a neat idea, though. I've never even heard of anybody else doing something like this, so it's really original. I give you props for coming up with it.