What a band needs at the venue

The checklist for organisers lists every question for you to tick off. This list goes one step further: for each point, why it matters. Then you know what to ask the venue, and why the band asks about it.

1A fixed end time

The band plans its sets backwards from the moment the music stops. If the band only hears the end time on the night, it has to shuffle sets and breaks on the spot. Ask for the end time and put it in the agreement.

2Power on its own circuit

A standard circuit in a Dutch building is usually fused at 16 amps. At 230 volts, that is at most 230 × 16 = 3,680 watts. If the band shares a circuit with the coffee machine, the fridge or the buffet, the fuse can trip in the middle of a song. Ask the venue how many free circuits there are near the stage, and ask the band how many they need.

3A level, dry space with a roof

Four or five musicians and a drum kit need a level floor that doesn't wobble. Outdoors, there has to be a roof overhead: electric instruments and rain don't mix. Arrange a marquee or canopy well in advance.

4A short loading route

A band travels with amplifiers, a drum kit and cases full of cables. Every staircase or narrow corridor costs time and back muscles. Ask where the band can load and unload, and whether there is a lift if the room is on the first floor.

5Time to set up before the guests arrive

A soundcheck in a full room is a messy start to your party. Agree that the band sets up and checks the sound before the guests come in. At a wedding, that can happen during the ceremony or dinner in another room, for example.

6Agreements on sound

Some venues have a sound limiter. If the music gets too loud, the limiter turns the sound down or briefly cuts the power on stage. Ask for the limit and pass it on to the band: you can't turn an acoustic drum kit down with a knob, so the band needs to know where they stand.

For comparison: for events in the Netherlands, an agreement between government and industry sets a maximum of 103 dB(A), averaged over fifteen minutes. The Health Council of the Netherlands advises 100 dB(A). GGD GHOR, the umbrella body of the Dutch regional health services, gives 92 dB(A) as its health target (factsheet by the Groningen Safety Region, November 2025).

7Clarity on PA and lighting

Does the band bring a sound system, or does the venue have one? Who runs it? Without an agreement, there will be two systems on the night, or none. De Peppers bring their own mixing desk; we agree PA and lighting per show. See technical details.

8A place for gear and coats

Cases, covers and coats need to go somewhere guests won't run into them. A back room or a corner behind the stage is enough.

9Food, drinks and water on stage

Add up setup, soundcheck, three sets and breakdown, and the band is at your venue for a whole afternoon and evening. Agree whether and when the band eats, so nobody goes on stage at nine on an empty stomach. Put water on the stage.

10One contact person with a phone number

If the band arrives and the door is locked, the band calls someone. That has to be someone who answers and can make decisions, not the person whose birthday it is and not the couple. The full planning for a wedding day is in booking a wedding band.

And the music licence?

For a public performance, the organiser or the venue arranges the licence with Buma, the Dutch music rights organisation, or SABAM in Belgium. For a private party with family or friends, that is usually not needed. More on what a cover band costs.

De Peppers editorial team

Written by the editors at De Peppers, the Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band from Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. Every fact is sourced at the bottom of the piece. Spotted a mistake? Email info@mia-automation.com and we will check it.

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