Get to know the wedding Pro!

Each week, we shine the spotlight on Bride Club ME vendor club members, allowing our readers to get up close and personal with some of the best wedding vendors in town. Here, you can learn more about the people behind some of the businesses you need to help make your wedding day perfect!

This week we have the privilege of showcasing Gary Tierney, Managing Director of The BOXTONES FZE, who will provide us with exclusive insight into his role as Managing Director, band leader, guitarist, composer and singer. He shares with us what he loves most about his job.

Left: The Boxtones band members. Right: Gary Tierney, Managing Director – The Boxtones FZE

• How long has The Boxtones been established, what makes your band unique?

The Boxtones started early 2007, their first contract being in Bahrain. The band developed a huge following over there, performing in all the big outlets, from legendary Friday brunches at the Diplomat Radisson Blu hotel, to intimate ‘invite only’ acoustic sets at exclusive venues. The band moved to Dubai in 2011, after a really successful time in Bahrain, and performed in a few venues here in town. Dubai has been really good to us, giving us opportunities we were really proud to be part of. We have loved every minute of it.

I think our appeal lies in our versatility. And we have a female drummer, Gill – my sister.

We are a five piece band – Louise Peel – singer, percussion, myself ( Gary Tierney ) guitarist & singer ( occasional keys too) , Gill Tierney – drummer and vocals, Patrick Thibault – bass and vocals, and Will Janssen – keys, guitar, singer.

We play everything from Johnny Cash and Adele, to Guns n’ Roses and Rhianna. So pretty much anything you ask for, we probably play or have played in the past. We are really proud to boast over 400 songs in our current repertoire, and when playing weddings, we always learn the first dance for the bride and groom, regardless of choice. So its tailor made to your evening, and you get that song you both love and will remember, live.

Above: The Boxtones, live in performance

• What do you love most about your work?

Music has a way of making you remember times past. I love the fact that people come up to us and recall a memory they have based on the song we just played. I also love entertaining people, and seeing genuine joy in peoples faces as they dance the night away. We all get along so well, and have a great time at all of our performances, so you feel like you accomplish something more profound with every gig you do. When we get that applause, its very satisfying. You feel like you have made someone’s night, and that is pretty cool.

• Can you give any tips for couples who are wondering what kind of band/wedding entertainment to choose for their wedding?

I think the best thing is obviously to go with entertainment that is going to make it a real night to remember; after all you only do it once! With The Boxtones, you get the full package: a versatile performance, with requests, from every artist you could think of. If you choose The Boxtones, you can be guaranteed a top class professional performance that all your guests will talk about for years to come.

•   In your opinion, what songs are always a hit on the dance floor at weddings? 

You have to start the night off at the right pace, get the crowd to warm up to your tempo. We usually start with the first dance, the first dance is the most important song of the evening. Songs that really get people going, especially here in the Middle East, is really up to the kind of crowd you are performing to. In the past, songs such as Hotel California, Sweet Home Alabama and Zombie are always staple songs. However, we really enjoy Adele, Bruno Mars, or Mumford & Sons, and even old favourites like Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, & Lulu go down a storm.

In all honesty, you play it by ear- if the crowd like what you’re doing, then keep doing it.

http://youtu.be/Awks9IVzFAQ

• What is the most unusual song a bride and groom has requested you play at their wedding

We once got a song which was written by the groom. The song name was his wife’s name, and he’d penned a demo and sent it to us months in advance. We had to work on his demo with him, and get the song crafted perfectly to his tastes, then perform it on the night. It was a duet, and Louise and I sang it in a castle in Scotland – quite surreal but the couple were really happy with the results and it had a powerful impact on the rest of the night.

• Do you have a favourite wedding ceremony and / or reception location at in the UAE?

We are new to the wedding scene here, but I get a lot of enquiries about Magnolia at Al Qasr hotel – it seems quite a popular reception venue.

Above: A wedding at the Magnolia, Al Qasr hotel

• How can our readers (Brides and their bridal/grooms party) benefit from hiring your band for their wedding?

If you really want the night to shine, and to remember it for years to come, then book a band. Sure, a DJ can do it, but it lacks that personal touch, and I’ve seen it again and again, a band really gets people going, and they talk about it months after the reception. A live band just brings everybody together, and everyone lets their hair down and just really parties…that’s why a band is always a better choice.

• How far in advance should clients, brides & grooms book you to avoid disappointment?

We do get a lot of enquiries, and being one of the very few bands that are freelance, it does help to get your bookings in as soon as you have decided to have a band at your reception. I’ve got loads of bookings for 2014 already, and we are only in April! My suggestion is to look at your budget and give us an email, we can take it from there. We are happy to be flexible in terms of cost, and your booking can be tailor-made to your expectations. We are here to help – The Boxtones appreciate how much stress and planning goes into weddings and receptions, we have a large resource of sound equipment companies, technical experts and general know-hows on the entertainment industry, so your enquiries are always of the highest priority, and you can expect a quick and efficient response from us.

• Lastly, why did you choose to list with www.brideclubme.com?

The site www.brideclubme.com offers brides to be the opportunity to arrange so much of their special day, in one place. I think the site is invaluable in the preparation and organising of your wedding day, and can put you in touch with vendors, offering a variety of services, which saves you so much time and effort. This is the main reason we signed up, knowing that the sites reach and professionalism is the real deal winner.

Thanks Gary. For more on hiring The Boxtones for your wedding, check out their Bride Club ME Vendor listing, or head straight to their website. The band are offering our readers an exclusive 10% discount off their standard booking rates.

Keep an eye out for our recorded ‘Get to know the Wedding Pro!’ interviews coming soon on the BrideClubMETV – Youtube channel!