To book a band for a company holiday party in New York, fix the date and venue first, choose a format for each part of the night and sign by early autumn if you want a full dance band in December. Our New York law firm client signed in late August for its mid-December party at Cipriani 42nd Street. Pricing is available on request.
This guide covers the formats that work for each part of a holiday party, how far ahead to book, what New York venues ask of the band and what to put in the booking.
Written by the Great Family Artists team. The examples come from corporate and nonprofit events we have played in New York and New Jersey. We do not name our corporate clients. Planning a party in Colorado? See our Colorado holiday party band guide.
Plan the night in three parts
Most holiday parties follow the same shape: arrival and drinks, dinner with a short program, then a party. Give each part its own music.
| Part of the night | What works | What to tell the band |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and drinks | Jazz trio or quartet, string trio, solo pianist | How many holiday songs you want, and the volume for conversation |
| Dinner and program | The same group, or the band playing a quiet dinner set | When speeches and awards start, and who calls each cue |
| The party | A 9 to 10 piece dance band, or a DJ with live musicians | When the dance floor opens and when the night ends |
Write your own version of this table before you call bands. It tells the band how many hours you need, when it must be quiet and when it can be loud.
Which format fits your party
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| Jazz trio, quartet or quintet with a vocalist | Arrival, dinner and themed parties |
| Por La Paz strings, with or without a pianist | Club dinners and receptions |
| OMG!, a DJ with live musicians | Lounges, rooftops and mixed crowds |
| The Family Band NYC or Great Family Reunion, 8 to 14 pieces | The company’s main party of the year |
From our New York events
- A law firm’s December party at Cipriani 42nd Street (2024): a 10-piece band on a Thursday night, signed in late August.
- A medical nonprofit’s November gala at The Highlawn in West Orange, New Jersey: a 9-piece band in 2025, booked again for 2026.
- A society dinner at The Plaza (2026): a jazz quintet with a vocalist.
Pricing
Pricing is available on request. We quote every holiday party individually, because the size of the band, the performance hours, the night of the week, production and travel all change the number. Send us your date, venue, guest count and the hours you need, and we will reply with options for your night.
When to book
- Full bands in December: our New York law firm signed about 15 weeks ahead, in late August for a mid-December party. Sign by late September for a Friday or Saturday.
- Galas around the holidays: our nonprofit gala client signed eight weeks out in its first year and one month out when it booked us again.
- Across both of our markets: our December company events in New York and Colorado were signed a median of 79 days ahead, about 11 weeks, and seven of nine fell on a Friday or Saturday.
- Weeknights: a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday party gives you more choice of band and line-up.
What New York venues ask of the band
- Load-in: Manhattan venues set load-in windows and routes. Get both from the venue early and pass them to the band.
- Insurance: most venues ask for a certificate of insurance naming the venue as additionally insured. We arrange ours for each venue that asks.
- Sound and AV: decide whether the band’s system or the venue’s AV team covers the speeches, so the microphones and cues are set before guests arrive.
8 things to put in the booking
- The run of show. Arrival, dinner, speeches, awards and the party, with times.
- Quiet and loud. When the band plays at conversation level, and when it can open up.
- Holiday songs. How many, and in which part of the night.
- Who holds the microphone. The band leader, your host or an MC from the band.
- Sound for speeches. Whether the band’s system covers the speeches or the venue’s AV team does.
- Load-in. The time window and route. Ask the venue for both early.
- Insurance. Most venues ask for a certificate of insurance naming the venue. We arrange ours for each venue that asks.
- The guest list. Who is in the room, so the set list suits the crowd, with clean versions where needed.
Book a holiday party band in New York
Great Family Artists has produced live entertainment since 2017 and holds 478 verified five-star reviews (Google 132, The Knot 182, WeddingWire 164). We provide dance bands, jazz groups, string ensembles, DJs and MCs and the hybrid act OMG! under one contract. See our corporate event band page for NYC, gala entertainment in NYC and our guide to hiring a live band for a corporate event in NYC. Pricing is available on request: check your date.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a band for a company holiday party in NYC cost?
Pricing is available on request. We quote every holiday party individually, because the size of the band, the performance hours, the night of the week, production and travel all change the number. Send us your date, venue, guest count and hours, and we will reply with options.
How far in advance should you book a holiday party band in NYC?
Book as soon as the date and venue are fixed. Our New York law firm client signed in late August for a mid-December party, about 15 weeks ahead. Across our December company events in New York and Colorado, the median contract was signed about 11 weeks ahead.
Which nights book first for holiday parties?
Fridays and Saturdays in the first three weeks of December. Seven of our nine December company events in New York and Colorado fell on a Friday or Saturday. Our New York law firm party was on a Thursday, and a weeknight gives you more choice of band.
Do NYC venues need a certificate of insurance from the band?
Most do. New York venues usually ask every vendor for a certificate of insurance naming the venue as additionally insured, often weeks before the date. Ask the band to send it straight to the venue. We arrange ours for each venue that asks.
Band or DJ for a company holiday party?
Choose a DJ, or a DJ with a live saxophonist, for a reception, a bar or lounge venue or a smaller room. Choose a band when the party is the main event of the year and you want people dancing. A band with a DJ for the breaks keeps the music going all night.
Can the band play quietly during dinner and speeches?
Yes, if you put it in the plan. Give the band leader your run of show, mark when the band plays at conversation level, when it stops for speeches and awards, and who calls each cue.
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