A. It depends on the type of event.  At wedding receptions and parties where a meal is served, we generally play one set of jazz and Latin music, and two sets of classic rock. The jazz is familiar and time-honored music like Take the A Train, Lullaby of Birdland, Ain't Misbehaving, and of course the Glenn Miller classic, Tuxedo Junction. Jazz aficionados enjoy it, and everyone finds themselves tapping their feet to the music.

The classic rock is songs like I Saw Her Standing There, Labamba / Twist and Shout, Midnight Hour, Mustang Sally, and Brown Eyed Girl, with plenty of slower songs mixed in, including Unchained Melody, The Tennessee Waltz, and Yesterday. All good, familiar music that is fun to listen to and great for dancing. 

We can also field a good Dixieland band. 

Q. What will the band wear? I don't want a bunch of hippies in T-shirts and sandals spoiling my formal reception!

A. Tuxedo Junction usually wears black tuxedos for formal events. For less formal events, the band may wear jackets and ties. For picnics and poolside parties, the band may wear Hawaiian shirts and baseball caps, or Speedos and Panamas (we don't recommend this last option, however).  It's up to you.  Attire will be specified in our written contract, so that there are no misunderstandings.

Q. Do you play too loud?

A. No. We are not anywhere near as loud as a band in a rock nightclub, for example. We understand that your guests want to be entertained, but they would still like to be able to carry on a conversation. We strive to find the right level that puts some energy into the music without being uncomfortably loud. 

If you want background music, let us know ahead of time, and we will select our music and instrumentation accordingly. We do this sometimes for banquets and dinner parties. Our experience, however, is that when there is live music, people almost always want to get up and dance.

Q. Should I hire a band or a DJ?

A.Well, we're prejudiced. We think you should hire a band. We think you should hire our band.  But here are some factors to consider. 

No band, even one as versatile as ours, can cover as wide a range of musical styles as a well-equipped DJ.  In particular, bands that play music that adults like may not play music that children or adolescents like: not only hip-hop, but music by groups like the Backstreet Boys or N'Sync.  If a large number of your guests fit this category, a DJ might be a better choice.

Some people simply prefer hearing recorded music. They know every note of their favorite music and they don't want to hear live musicians interpreting their favorite songs.

On the other hand, bands are more spontaneous and more interesting. Instead of hearing a song played by the recording artist, as you've heard it played hundreds of times before, you'll hear it played by talented musicians who will put their own signature on it.

There are good bands and bad bands, and there are good and bad DJs. No matter whether you decide on a DJ or a band, make sure you get a good one. Talk to the band leader or DJ to find out how he approaches an event like yours. If your event is a wedding reception or similar party, the band leader or DJ will serve as a master of ceremonies, announcing the tossing of the bride's bouquet and the cutting of the wedding cake and so forth. He should be able to help you plan the event ahead of time so that everything goes smoothly and there are no surprises. If he can't, call someone else.  Ask for references.  See Your Wedding With Rick Jobe and Tuxedo Junction.

Cost may be a factor, but the difference between the cost of a band and a DJ may be less than you think. And remember, the memories will linger long after the money you saved has been spent on something else.

Q. What should a wedding band (or DJ) provide besides music?

A. The wedding band leader, or DJ, should work with you or your event planner to plan your reception.  Activities such as the special dance, cake cutting, toasts, and bouquet toss, should be scheduled ahead of time according to your preferences.  The band leader or DJ will keep track of the time and the activities and make sure everything runs smoothly. See our page on planning your reception.

Q. When does the band take breaks?

A. For a three-hour engagement, the band will play three sets with two fifteen-minute breaks in between.  If a fourth set is requested, the band will take a fifteen minute break before starting the fourth set.

Q. Should I request specific songs?

A. The band leader can read the audience and will have a pretty good idea of what will work.  He also knows what songs the band does best. We suggest that you limit your requests to one or two favorite songs, at most.

Sometimes clients will request that we not play certain songs.  Everybody has heard Brown Eyed Girl a thousand times.  Most people love it, but some hate it. If you hate it, let us know and we won't play it.

The song for the Spotlight Dance at your wedding reception is a special case.  If you have a favorite song that would be appropriate, we would be happy to play it for you. If it is not in our repertoire, you will be asked to supply a recording or sheet music so that we can learn it.  If you are unsure what music you would like for the Spotlight Dance, talk to Rick. We have several songs that will work very well for your special dance. See our page on planning your reception.

Q. What about the size of the band?

A. In the Big Band era, when all instruments were acoustic, a bigger band was louder and fuller sounding. Today, with modern amplifiers and PA systems, a small band can be as loud and sound as full as a large band.  The primary reason for having a larger band is to provide greater variety and flexibility in the music. For example, adding a trumpet and a sax allows the band to use brass fills and solos, which can add greatly to jazz and R&B songs and can add interest to rock and pop songs. Or, an additional vocalist can add his or her repertoire to the song list, and can introduce interesting harmonies to other songs.

The number of musicians and the instrumentation for Rick Jobe and Tuxedo Junction can be adjusted to fit the requirements of your event.

Q. My family spans three generations and can never agree on music. How can I satisfy all their tastes?

A. You've come to the right place! The musicians in Tuxedo Junction have experience in many types of music, and we are comfortable playing anything from Cole Porter and Duke Ellington to Sam Cooke to Elvis to the Beatles.

Q. Do you know Freebird?

A. Yes.

Q. Will you play it?

A. No.