FAQ

This completely comes down to personal taste and how you and your partner wish to arrange your special day, but here are the key moments to think about having a song for:

CEREMONY

-Ceremony Entrance Song

-Signing of the Registry 

-Congratulations/ Walk back up the aisle

RECEPTION

-Reception Entrance Song

-Champagne Pour

-Cutting of the Cake

-First Dance (and in some cases Second Dance)

-Father / Daughter Dance

-Mother / Son Dance

-Tossing of the Bouquet

-Farewell Song (last song of the night)

There is no right or wrong order to have these songs performed

Note: Signing of the registry happens a-lot quicker than people realise.  One song is usually more than adequate however, please feel welcome to advise a second song just in case. Please ensure you provide approximate timing that you wish for these songs to be either performed live or played as the original track

McGee has a number of ADD-ON’s available including:

-WIRELESS MIC [note: your artist corded mic is complimentary]

-BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

-DANCE FLOOR LIGHTING

-EXTRA LIVE MUSIC ELEMENTS

See our full-range of ADD-ONs and pricing guide here

ADD-ON’s will be invoiced at the same time as issuing your final run sheet [approximately 7 days prior to the wedding] including any additional time

ADD-ON’s like planning services, string quartet, additional DJ or live elements, need to be organised with McGee in advance

ADD-ON’s are subject to availability

Reception structure for solo

If booking SOLO or DUO with second instrument, you can have the following Reception options

OPTION ONE- x1 live Cocktail set, x1 live Dinner set, x1 live Dance set, DJ Dance Set till close of night

OPTION TWO- x1 live Cocktail set, x1 live Dinner set, First Dance + Parents Dance may be performed live, DJ Dance Set till close of night

DUO OR BAND - If you would like full live dance sets for your Reception, you must book a minimum of DUO with two lead artists or BAND [trio - 6-piece+]

We offer flexibility in how your reception is structured

What’s a “Set”?
A set is usually around 60 minutes. Within that, artists typically perform for 45–50 minutes, then take a short break (10–15 minutes). Some variations can include:

• 50 mins performance / 20 min break

• 60 mins performance / 30 min break

Typical Wedding Structures

8-Hour Wedding (7 sets)

1. Ceremony – Set One

2. Cocktail – Set Two

3. DJ to start reception – Set Three

4. Live dinner music – Set Four

5. First dance set + key moments – Set Five

6. Second dance set – Set Six

7. DJ finale set – Set Seven

6-Hour Wedding (6 sets)

1. Cocktail – Set One

2. DJ to start reception – Set Two

3. Live dinner music – Set Three

4. First dance set + key moments – Set Four

5. Second dance set – Set Five

6. DJ finale set – Set Six

Package Options

• Option One (most live music)

  • 1 x DJ set (entrée/entrance)

  • 1 x live dinner set

  • 2 x live dance sets (includes first dance, cake, parent dance)

  • 1 x DJ finale set

• Option Two (balanced live + DJ)

  • 1 x DJ set (entrée/entrance)

  • 1 x live dinner set

  • 1 x live dance set (includes key moments)

  • 2 x DJ sets (one finale set)

• Option Three (live earlier, DJ for dancing)

  • 1 x DJ set (entrée/entrance)

  • 1 x live dinner set

  • 1 x short live set for cake/first dance/parent dance

  • Extended DJ finale set (2.5–3 hours)

👉 Please select your preferred option on your Wedding Details Form

👉 If you book a band, you’ll automatically receive Option One for maximum live music

McGee offers a complimentary MC service by your Lead Artist.

Please note: Not all artists offer this service so please check in with your McGee Producer or it will be detailed on their artist page

For basic announcements, your Artist will ensure that we keep to the timing and structure of the day whilst providing a warm, inviting service!

So your artist can be across all your details/ announcements, we simply ask you to complete your MC Form along with your final event details form roughly 21 days weeks prior to the big day which can be found in your McGee Portal

Please be as detailed and specific as possible when detailing who is speaking:

ie. Tim - Father of the Bride

Please also ensure you include the venue house-keeping notes when completing the form

If you have any special VIP's or special mentions, please also detail them so we can add a personal touch!

Your Lead Artist may also be able to host the Shoe Game or similar

Rule of thumb: More details the better :)

Essentially, your artist and your MC are running the entire evening!  The better they communicate, the better the whole evening will flow 

We really encourage that your Artist & MC have a quick 5-minute debrief to chat about cues, key moment songs, announcements and how they will communicate/ signal between each other

We encourage this chat to occur prior to the reception has started so during the cocktail hour is ideal.  Please ensure you notify your MC to do this and factor this into the timing of the day

TWEED HEADS TO MALENY

The catchment zone for our travel fees included within the package is Maleny to Tweed region.  Heading west, the catchment zone goes as far as Laidley. There is a standard $150 travel fee per performer to the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba + Byron Bay

How do I calculate travel fees outside the FOC catchment zone?

85c per additional KM marked from the closest town to the venue destination.  

Example: Noosa Heads

Maleny to Noosa Heads - 80km - $68 each way 

McGee will happily provide you an accurate quote

If you book an artist/s and the travel driving time [one way] from the venue to the artists home base is greater than 2 hours 15 minutes, accommodation is required in either a hotel/ motel at the clients expense.  McGee will happily make arrangements and add the travel costs to your final bill.  When making travel arrangements, McGee requests a 50% deposit

If you’re planning on having a fire pit or similar at your event, your artist performance location must not be near the fire - the further away, the better. This location may need to be flexible, should the wind be blowing in a certain direction. The reason for this is the smoke causes your artist/s voices to dry out making it very difficult for them to perform. Even more seriously, it can cause permanent vocal cord damage or impact their ability to perform for weeks. Please liaise with your McGee Producer should you wish to have a fire pit at your event

This is not something to worry about!  This happens!  Our Artists are fully equipped and experienced to continue with the structure of your day should it be running late (or whatever reason!)

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES

If your Artist is performing outside within direct sunlight during the hours of 10am till 4pm for longer than 30 minutes, adequate shade/shelter must be provided.

This could be done by the way of a temporary shade structure such as a cabana, marquee or even great tree coverage.

Please note this is an OH&S requirement

Should no shade be provided and the conditions are very hot, the Artist is within their rights to decline from performing until some shade is provided

WET WEATHER

McGee always will do a long range weather forecast at the time of your PERFORMANCE RUN SHEET being issued.  On the day, our Artists will check the weather forecast and will communicate with the venue/and appropriate contact person should a WET WEATHER CONTINGENCY PLAN needs to be executed

In the event of rain/shower during an outside performance, for safety reasons (electrical) and to protect the Artists equipment, we have a Rain Policy.

McGee Rain Policy for Outdoor Performances

1. Performance Interruption Due to Rain

In the event of rain or showers during an outdoor performance, the Artist/s will cease performing immediately to ensure safety and protect their equipment from electrical hazards. Performances will resume once the rain has stopped and it is safe to do so.

2. Assessment and Equipment Safety

If the rain or showers are substantial and the equipment becomes wet, the performance may need to be terminated entirely. The artist will assess the condition of the equipment, ensuring it is properly dried and safe before reconnecting it to the power source.

3. Wet Performance Space

If the performance space becomes wet during rain or showers, the artist will not reconnect to the power source due to the high risk of electrocution. The safety of all involved is the priority.

4. Cancellation Due to Rain

In the event that substantial rain or showers cause the performance to cease, no compensation or refunds will be provided.

5. Wet Weather Contingency Plan

It is essential to have a Wet Weather Contingency Plan in place. This plan should include a fully dry alternative location and ensure that all cables are elevated and protected from getting wet.

Most venues offer a WET WEATHER CONTINGENCY PLAN or a shade option  

If you have any questions or concerns about your performance space, please kindly contact your McGee producer

Including the appropriate shade/shelter as detailed above, the Artists will require the following:

-For a call time longer than 5 hours or more, an Artist meal must be supplied.  Most venues will offer this either complimentary or at a discounted rate. The reason for this is your artist is going to be tied up with your event for 8 hours or more (including bump in/ bump out time).  On most occasions, wedding venues are slightly remote and there is little opportunity for them to get a meal.  This is greatly appreciated by the artist :)

-Our Artists must have water available at all times - please ensure your venue is across this

-For any Artists booked on one of our packages, it is a requirement to offer refreshments/ snacks throughout the day

-Most venues offer BANDS/ ARTISTS a complimentary Green Room for their breaks/ meals.  This is ideal so they can have a space to rest/ refresh themselves in between sets.  This can even be a table in the corner or out the back of the establishment

-By looking after your Artist/s, it means they can dedicate all their time and energy to your day ensuring you have amazing atmosphere

-McGee permits responsible consumption of alcohol in conjunction with state laws and no more than 2 standard drinks

Sets vs Breaks ratio works as follows:

45 minute set / 15 minute break

50 minute set / 20 minute break

60 minute set / 30 minute break 

They will require a 30 minute dinner break when booking one of the Packages.  This dinner break is flexible and can work around the arrangement of the evening or with your venue.  In most cases, this works during speeches 

An Artist cannot exceed actual LIVE performance time longer than 4.5 hours [270 mins] over the course of the day. [This does not include DJ time]

DJ music will be played during artist breaks/ in-between sets.  This can be specified to your tastes and to suit the timing of the night [see section above on How do I choose my songs for the DJ sets/ artist breaks?]

In some areas/ venues, they have sound restrictions and timing that music must be shut off  

Please ensure you check with your venue as to what those restrictions are and inform McGee when sending your WEDDING DETAILS FORM.  It also pays to check what arrangement your venue allows?  Some venues only permit a trio or less 

We will take every measure to ensure we keep within those limitations during our performances.  We are happy to communicate with your venue around this

Having access to power for your artist is an absolute must, therefore we would encourage you to either hire a bluetooth speaker [via McGee and subject to availability] or a small low-hum generator.  The speaker hire from McGee is $150 + GST or if hiring a generator [from somewhere like Kennards] they generally cost around $150 per day to hire

If the generator is the best way to go, if you can arrange for this to be on site, your artist will happily set this up away from the ceremony/performance location and run leads

Why can’t they perform unplugged?

When a musician performs unplugged, they have to really project their voice which means they can risk blowing out their voice entirely [and lose the ability to sing for weeks], therefore it is a requirement that power must provided either from the venue, via a generator or bluetooth speaker

For your guests comfort, we highly recommend having your ceremony amplified as it can be difficult to hear otherwise

You are welcome to use the band PA for speeches - this is complimentary and included within your package

Please note: The microphone is a corded mic - if you wish to use a wireless microphone, the cost to hire is $150 per day for the mic/ receiver and will be added to your final invoice [subject to availability]

This is a good question and something to think about carefully as this can either make or break the atmosphere of the day. Here are a pointers to keep in mind with the planning of your Wedding and performance locations:

Ceremony

The ideal location is at the top of the ceremony space (and slightly to a side if required).  If you have the Artist centre the space, the Artist can always move to the side during the formalities

If you would like the Celebrant to use our PA, just bear in mind they will need to share the microphone space so this would require having the Artist a little more centre of the space

If you are getting married on the beach, it recommended to have a PA (including a generator) as it can be difficult to hear just with the waves/wind  

The pre-ceremony music is generally soft, romantic, atmospheric music.  Acoustic (or no vocals) is also a popular choice

Cocktail 

The idea of the cocktail hour is to mix and mingle and the Artist to provide atmosphere and ambience.  We encourage warm, inviting music.  It is not as important to have the Artist central, but close to the space

Reception

The reception is about the CELEBRATION!  Whether your FIRST DANCE is slow or upbeat, your Artist/s really need to be close and centre stage so they can engage and connect with you as a couple and your guests  

We would always recommend having the Artist/s and dance floor in the same position.  If you split up the dance floor to the artists (even with just having a DJ)  could be severely effecting the atmosphere or the Artist/s ability to connect/read the audience 

On most occasions, your venue has already worked out what is the best location to have live music/ entertainment 

Please feel welcome to speak with us regarding the best performance locations for your venues 

Number of Performance Locations

For a full day package, 3 performance locations are included such as CEREMONY, COCKTAIL + RECEPTION

For a 6 or 5 hour package, 2 performance locations are included such as COCKTAIL + RECEPTION

For a 4 hour package, 2 performance locations are included such as CEREMONY + COCKTAIL

If you need an additional performance location move outside of your package allocation, there is a $100 + GST fee applicable, which will be added to your final invoice. Please allow 20 minutes for your artist/ duo to move between locations. Once a band is set-up, they are unable to move [as it takes 90 minutes for set-up]

Please ensure you provide details as to how and where our artists are to load and park.  The closer to to the performance space the better

If there is a long distance from the loading area to the set up location, McGee will need to be made aware of this just so we ensure your artist has adequate time for bump in

McGee may request you to pay for Artist parking should there be a charge 

As part of the package, we offer complimentary bump-in based on the following timing:

Solo - 45 minutes prior to commencing 

Duo - 60 minutes prior to commencing

Trio, 4-piece or 5-piece - 90 minutes prior to commencing

If you require your artist to be onsite earlier than the timing specified above, additional fees of $50 + GST per half hour are applicable

If your artist needs to move performance locations ie. the set up from your ceremony location to a cocktail space (within the same venue) please allow 15 - 20 minutes

If there is travel required, please add the travel time in addition to 15 - 20 minutes set up time 

If your artist has played solo ceremony/ cocktail hour, then is being joined in by a band for the Reception, the artist will need 30 minutes to bump in/set up/ sound check with the rest of the group.  They may also require a 15 - 20 minute break

If you are having a band perform [Trio, 4 piece, 5 piece, 6 piece] at the Reception, they will need a minimum of 90 minutes to bump in/ sound check prior to the first set

McGee will determine all this timing for you based on your event timing/ formalities