The Art of Reading the Room: What Makes a Great Wedding & Events Musician?
When people think about what makes a great wedding and events musician, they might think about having a good voice, being a talented guitarist, having a great setlist or simply being able to perform well.
And, of course, all of those things matter.
But there’s another skill that I think is hugely underestimated in the wedding and events industry — the ability to read the room.
For me, it’s one of the most important skills a live musician can have.
Because ultimately, live music isn’t just about the musician. It’s about the people in the room.
Live music should connect with the people listening
You can have the best setlist in the world, but if you stick rigidly to it without paying attention to what’s happening around you, the music can sometimes miss the mark.
Every wedding and event is different.
The atmosphere changes throughout the day. The people change. The energy changes.
And sometimes, completely unexpectedly, a room will take on a life of its own.
As a live singer and guitarist, I need to be able to respond to that.
I need to be able to look up from what I'm doing and think:
What does this room need right now?
Sometimes it needs something relaxed and understated. Sometimes it needs a little more energy. Sometimes everyone is chatting and enjoying a drink, and my role is simply to provide a beautiful musical backdrop.
And sometimes I can see people starting to edge towards the dance floor — and that's my cue to turn things up a little!
I haven't always been able to do this...
Reading a room is something I've developed over nearly a decade of performing at weddings and events.
When I first started, I'll admit that I probably stuck much more closely to my setlist.
My repertoire wasn't nearly as large as it is now, so naturally I had fewer options to draw from.
But over the years, my setlist has grown enormously. I now have a huge range of songs and styles to choose from, which gives me the freedom to make those decisions in the moment.
I also encourage my couples and clients to get involved in the song choices.
I have an easy-to-use app where they can browse my repertoire and select the songs they particularly love - see my song list here. That means I can make sure the music includes plenty of songs that are personal to them, while still retaining the flexibility to respond to the atmosphere on the day.
And that's where the real magic happens
Sometimes you have to throw the plan out of the window
Having a setlist is important. Having a plan is important.
But knowing when to move away from that plan is just as important.
When I'm performing, I'm constantly watching what's happening around me.
Are people tapping their feet?
Are they smiling?
Are people singing along?
Are they starting to dance?
Or is this a moment where everyone is having a conversation and enjoying a quieter atmosphere?
The feedback can be surprisingly immediate.
If I play a particular song and suddenly see people singing, moving or dancing, I know I'm on the right track.
If the atmosphere is more relaxed, I might keep things chilled and let the music sit naturally in the background.
And if I can see people beginning to get excited and move towards the dance floor, that's when I might start increasing the tempo — or even bring out my stomp box to add a little extra percussion and energy.
Those decisions can happen very quickly.
Knowing when to turn it up — and when not to
Volume is another huge part of reading a room.
A wedding ceremony needs a completely different approach to a drinks reception.
A drinks reception might need music that creates atmosphere without overpowering conversations.
An evening party might gradually need more energy as the night progresses.
Being able to judge the right volume, tempo and style for each part of an event is something that comes with experience. And it's not simply about playing louder because people are dancing. It's about understanding the overall atmosphere and knowing what will enhance it rather than taking over.
The best live music should complement an event, not compete with it.
You can't really teach someone how to read a room
I think this is one of those skills that can only really be learned through experience.
You can learn songs.
You can learn guitar technique.
You can learn microphone technique.
You can practise your vocals.
But knowing instinctively when to change direction because you've noticed something happening in the room?
That comes from years of performing.
Every event teaches you something.
I've played weddings where I expected one atmosphere and experienced something completely different. I've played events where the music has gradually changed throughout the day as the energy has built.
And that's one of the things I love most about performing live - no two events ever sound exactly the same.
Sometimes you have to let the event become what it is
I always want my clients to feel involved in creating their music, but I also think there's something wonderful about allowing an event to develop naturally.
You can plan the songs.
You can choose your favourites.
You can create a running order.
But once the guests arrive and the day starts unfolding, you have to let the event become what it is.
And as a musician, I can respond to that.
I've been at events where the music has ended up sounding completely different from what I initially imagined — and that has been exactly what the event needed.
Perhaps the afternoon needed to be relaxed and acoustic, before gradually becoming more upbeat.
Perhaps a particular song unexpectedly gets everyone singing.
Perhaps the crowd is in the mood for something completely different from what you anticipated.
That's the beauty of live music.
It is live.
It's one of the things I think sets me apart
I genuinely believe that my ability to read a room is one of the things that sets me apart as a wedding and events musician. I'm not there simply to work my way through a predetermined setlist. I'm there to be part of your event.
To create atmosphere.
To respond to the people in the room.
To know when to step forward and when to let the music sit quietly in the background.
And ultimately, to make sure that the music feels right for your event.
For me, that's what great live music is all about.
It's a collaboration between the musician, the client, the guests and the atmosphere of the day.
And when all of those things come together, something really special can happen.
A little update from me...
I recently had a wonderful Friday evening performing at Broadway Cellars, which I always really enjoy playing at.
It was a fantastic crowd with a real buzz in the air, and I honestly felt that it was one of the best evenings I've ever had there. It was such a lovely way to finish my public performances there - de
finitely one to finish on a high!
I'm now preparing for my next event, where I'll be performing with my duo act, Bethany Jane and Bro, for what promises to be an epic 40th birthday party. We'll be bringing both of our setups together for the event, which I'm really looking forward to.
We also recently had the wonderful news that we won an award with the Global Awards for Event Entertainment Company of the Year 2026/2027. - What a thrill!
We're absolutely chuffed to have received that recognition.
And speaking of the end of the year, we're now getting ready for the Christmas events season and New Year's Eve. December is always one of the busiest months in the diary, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few weeks bring.
If you're looking for live music for a wedding, party or event, I'd love to hear from you.
Whether you're looking for a solo singer guitarist for your wedding ceremony and drinks reception, live entertainment for an evening party, or music throughout your event, get in touch and let's talk about what you're planning. The Duo is also a great option for something a little different!
The best events aren't always the ones where everything goes exactly to plan. They're the ones where the right people know how to respond to the moment.
And that's exactly what I love about live music.
