Thursday, November 25, 2010

The Itchy & Scratchy Show: The Perfect Wedding Entertainment Band

The Itchy & Scratchy Show
The Perfect Wedding Entertainment Band; Written by Itchy’s Girl

Wedding Reception Entertainment done right
Serving Toronto, GTA, Southern Ontario, East, West & North….Itchy & Scratchy will pretty much go anywhere in Ontario.  Just email us your request.

What exactly IS a wedding band?
Some people perceive a live wedding band as a group of ego musicians in powder blue tuxedos with ruffled shirts and huge bow ties performing "Feelings" as the wedding reception entertainment.  Others recall the movie "The Wedding Singer" that starred Adam Sandler, as his backup singer went through multiple iterations of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" by Culture Club.
It is these perceptions that I am going to try and dispel right now.  The Itchy & Scratchy Show (band) will always look professional in their new matching Black Shirts and White ties.  Elegance & Class all the way for your wedding event.  Don't worry they won't be wearing jeans either.

The Itchy & Scratchy Show Band - Wedding Professionals
The Itchy & Scratchy Show is a group of professional musicians, (Greg-Scratchy, Wayne-Itchy & Giovanni-Show) esp. wedding "professionals", that knows how to put FUN at the top of the list.  For your wedding reception entertainment you want to make sure everyone is comfortable with the band...feels free to walk up and make a request, grab a tambourine and play along.  The band totally wants you to feel comfortable with them.  You can even request to play or sing along with the band, giving your guests the personal touch!!
The band has been a wedding band long enough (more than 30 yrs. as a matter of fact) to understand that it is the bride and the groom that are the primary focus of attention at the wedding reception, NOT the band.  They are there to encourage folks to dance, party, and have a great time, without getting in the way of the reason everyone is there...to celebrate a marriage vows.  Trust me I know, not only did I marry Itchy, but I asked the band to play at our wedding reception.  I also hired a DJ to give the band a well deserved break…..but guess what………….. Everyone loved them so much they played most of the night.  Many guests were amazed as they had never seen Itchy & Scratchy play and the complements were ongoing.  In addition many family and friends with musical talents got and played along side the band.   Truly the best night ever!!  So don’t worry girls, (and guys) this band is A-1 and will complement your entire reception event. 100% guaranteed.

Talent Agencies, Entertainment Agencies, Music Brokers
The Itchy & Scratchy Show is not a talent agency.  They are an independent band, which means that you're always dealing directly with the musicians.  When you have a request you don't have to call your entertainment agency and ask someone there, and then hope they will forward the message on to the band. 
On the band website (http://www.itchyscratchyshow.com/ or www.itchyscratchyshow.ca) you can download the wedding function form, which will help you plan and organize your musical entertainment.  You can pick whatever songs you wish for the Bridal Party Dances and specify your musical likes and dislikes.  The band is here to cater to your musical tastes.  It’s your day and all about you!! 
Our very talented lead guitar player Greg, is also an accomplished DJ and in-between live sets, he will keep your guests on the dance floor partying with all your dance favourites. They provide this exceptional additional service by the way, FREE OF CHARGE.  WOW, what a deal, the best of both worlds…….Live Band and DJ. 

The Itchy & Scratchy Show Band Repertoire - The Song list
The bands repertoire is expansive and varied, just as your guests' tastes probably are.  From swing to classic rock, oldies to Top 40, from country to Motown, everyone has different likes and dislikes.  The trick is to blend these various styles into a mix that will have everyone dancing to the music they are familiar with.  The mix of fast songs and slow songs, of old and new, of styles...all of these contribute to the feeling that the party is in full swing.  Do too many slow songs and the mood gets tired...do too many fast songs and your GUESTS get tired!
The band encourages clients to pick their favourite songs from the song list, as well as trust there knowledge and experience to mix the live sets up.  With hundreds songs to choose from there is no reason why the band or any other should need to play the same two dozen "wedding songs" at every reception.  They always look for some variety, reflective of the tastes of the bride, the groom, and their families and friends. A decent wedding band is one that will get people up dancing without having to beg.  They let the music drive the people to the dance floor.  How many DJs have you heard go "Oh come on everyone, come onto the dance floor".  When you have to beg like that, you're not playing the right music for the crowd.   The Itchy & Scratchy Show is a very interactive entertainment experience.  They even take the instruments right into the crowd to please your guests at there tables. Greg can play the guitar with just about anything lol….seriously though with beer bottles, glasses and even his teeth.   A truly unique and salient feature of the Itchy & Scratchy Show Performance.  Crowd interaction is a guaranteed party success!!

Wedding Party Introductions Done Right
Then there are introductions.  How many times have you heard a DJ or MC make a hash of a person's name as he or she introduced the wedding party?  A good wedding band will know to prepare to do introductions IN ADVANCE. 
The band will go over the names with the bride or the groom in advance, and will actually practice any that are difficult. 
The Itchy & Scratchy Show can do your introductions or your MC may use the bands microphone.  You may also use the wireless Mic too if you need one. 

Personalized Service to Match YOUR Personality
The Itchy & Scratchy Show is not a "cookie cutter" kind of band, where each wedding reception they do is just like the last.  They work closely with clients to personalize things as much as possible, so that the personalities of the bride and groom are reflected in the proceedings. 
For example. If the bride doesn't want to do the whole bouquet toss thing and put her single friends on the spot, they'll suggest alternatives to make the moment more meaningful and reflective of the bride's personality.













What Makes The Itchy & Scratchy Show Different?

Wayne (Itchy) AWESOME Voice & Bass
 With some many bands out there, one has to wonder a bit what makes one band different from another. One of the main things that set The Itchy & Scratchy Show apart from most of the other bands out there is that they really do ENJOY what they do.  They love to perform, whether it's at a wedding, private party, holiday party, restaurant, corporate event, concert, or nightclub.  “3” incredible talented guys whose Passion is music!! 
By maintaining an extensive public performance schedule you can actually come out to see and hear the band performing live, without having to crash someone else's wedding to find out if you "might" like the band to perform at your wedding.
Unfortunately times have changed, and most so called "professional wedding bands" consider themselves too good to perform in public anymore.  Now you have to rely on slick DVD productions done in a studio with equipment they have no hope of bringing with them to your reception.  How can you possibly compare bands when they don't look or sound like what's on the DVD?  Crash someone else's wedding?  The only really safe way is to come hear the band LIVE in a public setting.  Check out our gig calendar on our website.  The band is booked every weekend and all year long.  You can come to any public event and hear them play live.   The demanding schedule is evidence of the bands QUALITY, TALENT AND REPUTATION FOR BEING THE BEST BAND anywhere!!!!  Call me bias, but its soooooooooooo true!! 
Greg (Scratchy) Phenomenal Lead Guitar

Giovanni (Show) FANTASTIC  Drummer











Have FUN While Working On Wedding Plans!
What other wedding service can you go shopping for by going to a restaurant or nightclub, have a few drinks, dance, and party, and still be working on wedding stuff?  Hey...you can't do that when you're looking for a photographer, (no offense to the photographers out there)!  Heck, even if you didn't think you wanted a band, I promise you'll still have a great time when you come out to one of Itchy & Scratchy performances.
It's entirely up to you as to whether you tell them you're there to check them out or not.  Some people prefer anonymity, at least at first.  However, they would love to have you come up and say hello.  Perhaps they can play a request for you...maybe even try out your first dance song!  In any event, the keywords for a fantastic event include the following ingredients:   The Itchy & Scratchy Show, YOU and FUN!

Live Band vs. DJ - the debate continues

Speaking of deciding about having a band, we will be writing a thought provoking article soon, on the whole Band vs. DJ decision.  So many couples these days simply assume they are going to get a DJ, when they haven't really considered all of the advantages a live band has over a DJ.  Check out the article once written, and we'd love to hear your feedback.

Booking The Itchy & Scratchy Show Band for your Wedding
If you'd like to find out more about how to go about booking the band, the rates, how to select songs, or other information, there are a couple of resources on the website to help you.
The first is the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, which has the answers to most of the commonly asked questions people ask about the whole process of having a band at their reception.
The other is the Wedding Function Form.  Download it right from the site and fill it in.  It will help organize all your music for the entire night.

Well that’s all for today folks!!  All the best to all brides and grooms!!  Have a Wonderful wedding and may God bless you!
Itchy's Girl
Recommended Wedding Vendors: 
PHOTOGRAPHY:  Mike Streeter www.http://www.streeterstevens.com/
DECORATIONS:  House of Golden-Aire: www.houseofgoldenaire.com

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Itchy & Scratchy Show play for Healing Hands for Haiti Fundraiser

Team Canada Healing Hands for Haiti – Written By Angela Thompson

Team Canada Healing Hands is a non-profit organization working in many developing countries to deliver physical medicine and rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. On October 23 at the Acton Legion in Acton Ontario they held a fundraiser to raise money to help Earthquake victims in Haiti. Thousands of people have been affected and misplaced. The need for financial aid and volunteers to help rebuild the devastated country cannot come fast enough. I attended the event and the support was amazing. Door prizes, 50/50 draws and countless silent auction items all for one purpose, to raise money fast. It was a party with great Entertainment provided by The Itchy and Scratchy show a very popular band within the GTA  www.itchyscratchyshow.ca  incredible food and plenty of dancing. Although the party was hopping and everyone was having a great night it certainly didn’t escape anyone’s thoughts the reason they all came together. In some way it was a celebration, that’s what I took from it. A celebration of life, a life that brought so many kind hearts together in order to change the lives of those so far away that desperately need to be touched by Healing Hands for Haiti.
Someone asked me the other day where the money raised for such causes really goes, who can depend on it and how important is it really to donate, Let me break it down for you.
Healing Hands for Haiti is an International Foundation that was established in 1999 and it’s goal has been to provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services by deploying and creating facilities and medical teams to clinics and hospitals on a need basis. They offer training and support to Haitians in rehabilitation medicine, nursing, therapy, establishing outpatient therapy programs as well as cultivating sustainable revenue and partnerships ensuring the future of medical and rehabilitation services delivered by Haitians in Haiti. Including services and programs for just about any ailment from Spinal Cord Injury to Orphanage support programs. Since the earthquake of January 12 2010 they have also began caring for both newly and previously disabled.
Since 1999 more than 500 rehabilitation medical teams have been deployed, more than 10,000 volunteers have served in many different capacities, 20 orphanages aided with medical, therapy and educational programs and the list goes on.
When you make a donation you are contributing to a way of life and you are changing lives and making it a reality for those who volunteer their time and leave their families and lives behind to open their hearts and make it happen. Lets help these incredible people make a difference.
Eric Doubt is the Executive Director of Healing Hands International and for his team and the people of Haiti they really do appreciate and recognize the generosity of the people of North America. Contact Eric if you would like to know more about how you can make difference or get involved at www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PICTURES FROM THIS VERY WORTHY EVENT!  see more at the band website gallery.