The Musician's Guide to Brides: How to Make Money Playing Weddings [Paperback]

Anne Roos (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 1, 2008

Professional harpist Anne Roos draws upon her years of experience working with wedding planners and brides to guide the reader every step of the way to becoming a successful wedding musician. Readers will also get insider advice from internationally recognized wedding planning professionals, comprehensive worksheets, and checklists that provide all they need to know to plan their business and performances, and even sheet music arrangements of traditional wedding music. This is a must-have book for musicians and bands who want to keep their calendar full with high-paying wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From one musician to another, the most comprehensive 'how to' for wedding musicians. Anne Roos is witty and real. A must have for success in this business."

--Deborah Magone, blues and rock guitarist

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423438744
• ISBN-13: 978-1423438748
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 8.4 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anne Roos, author of "The Bride's Guide to Musicians" and "The Musician's Guide to Brides", has been playing the Celtic harp at weddings for more than 25 years. She has recorded six albums and regularly appears on radio and TV. Roos is active in many wedding organizations, including the Association of Bridal Consultants, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Lake Tahoe Wedding and Honeymoon Association. As a professional musician and arranger, she served on the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy. Anne Roos lives at Lake Tahoe, CA. Visit her at www.celticharpmusic.com.

Anne is available for speaking engagements and book signings. She enjoys leading workshops and seminars with the same lighthearted humor found within the pages of her books. Anne Roos is available to perform for weddings, corporate events, parties, and concerts, with her extensive repertoire and performing experience. Find more information at www.celticharpmusic.com, www.facebook.com/celticharpmusic, and on twitter: @anneroos.

Sample and purchase Anne Roos' recordings and books here at amazon.com!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has "something" for every musician... July 11, 2012

By Charlie T.

Format:Paperback

I have been performing professionally in the Music Business for more than thirty-five years, and thought I knew it all. Wrong!

This very well written book, begins with the basics of how to get Wedding gigs, and takes you all the way into contracts and getting paid. All unfamiliar terms are clearly explained at the bottom of each page.

It is a joy to read, and has something to offer even the most "seasoned" musician. Highly Recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely valuable reference January 30, 2012

By Andee Anko Craig

Format:Paperback

I found 'The Musician's Guide to Brides' to be an extremely good reference. It is very thorough and almost every imaginable situation is covered. I especially liked the checklists and the examples of contracts. Every thing about it helps the musician to be organized and prepared for every possible eventuality. It's also an entertaining read with lots of anecdotes of the extreme and crazy situations that musician's sometimes find themselves in. I don't do many weddings, but hope to do more, so this book will be very handy once I start getting more wedding gigs. There's also good information in general which applies to more than just weddings.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for wedding professionals! July 1, 2009

By Tonie O

Format:Paperback

Anne Roos' book provides excellent tips for both beginning and veteran music professionals. Her book captures the essence of professionalism and how that applies to career wedding musicians. Many of the common sense pointers are particularly useful for performers new to the field, such as maintaining collegiality with wedding coordinators, booking agents, and other musicians. This book also includes a wealth of information about how to get started, how to set fees, and how to promote your business. "Musician's Guide to Brides" also stays current by addressing appropriate uses of technology for communication and promotion, and includes a caution about using social networking sites such as MySpace. As Web 2.0 tools and other technologies change and evolve, it would be good to have an online companion resource to the book, to stay abreast of these "eTrends." Veteran musicians can also benefit from the updated insights this guide provides!

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute "must-have" for any musician interested in playing for weddings October 7, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

Written by Anne Roos, who has played the Celtic harp at weddings for more than twenty-five years, The Musician's Guide to Brides: How to Make Money Playing Weddings lives up to its title with solid, practical advice on everything from creating a wedding-friendly musical repertoire to writing a performance agreement, advertising one's services, exhibiting at bridal fairs, closing a sale with the bride, working with the mother of the bride/the wedding coordinator/booking agents, avoiding common problems and pitfalls, dealing with difficult people (or "bridezillas!") and much more. Of especial value is the chapter that details how to ensure one is promptly and properly paid! Emphasizing professionalism above all - particularly the importance of a having a contract that spells out one's obligations, being honest about what one can or can't do, and maintaining one's cool even when the environment at a wedding may get rambunctious - The Musician's Guide to Brides is an absolute "must-have" for any musician interested in playing for weddings.

5.0 out of 5 stars Successfully capture the wedding market September 29, 2008

By Michelle Dunn VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This is a great, detailed, "How to" book that can help any musician break into and be successful playing at weddings. The key point here is that you are not the star, the bride is the star, bow down to the bride and you will be all set. Everything from dealing with the wedding party, creating your demo, preperation, avoiding common problems that you may have never thought of and communication. Even if you are a seasoned veteran this book will give you new ideas and help you expand your business. If you are new to this industry this is a great book that can help you from beginning to end.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great tips for wedding gigs September 2, 2008

By Art Gilbert

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently bought the book "The Musician's Guide to Brides." and found it full of tips that will make playing wedding gigs more enjoyable. I haven't played at a wedding yet but plan to in the future and this book will help me have the knowledge and confidence to do a good job.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for All Wedding Musicians July 5, 2008

By W. Perschnick

Format:Paperback

I have a copy of Anne Roos' new book "The Musician's Guide to Brides."
It is a 321 page, user friendly, easy to read guide filled with tips
covering most everything you need to know when playing for a wedding.
It discusses advertising, communicating with the bride (or client),
essentials to include in your contract, preparing for the wedding day,
necessary equipment and mindset for performing, how to deal with
unexpected things that may come up and follow up after the wedding.
There are checklists and forms to help you make sure that you're
organized and that you've covered every little detail that you may not
otherwise think of so the day will go smoothly. Anne shares her own and
other's experiences to help you be well prepared for anything.

This book is for anyone providing music for a wedding or similar event. It's a must for a novice and there are so many tips that even an experienced person could pick up something new.
I highly recommend it!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous resource June 24, 2008

By Herodotus

Format:Paperback

This book is a fabulous resource for would be wedding musicians. What to play is pretty easy, but how to play is another story. Anne Roos has put together a nifty handbook on the how of wedding performances that should be in every musician's bookshelf.