Outdoor Retailer Experticity Party

Twice a year Salt Lake City Utah hosts the Outdoor Retailer Market. Retailers come from far and wide to expand their businesses. Thursday August 4th we had the privilege of being a part of it. 

Experticity hosted a special event for those in town for ODR. It was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 

The Red Carpet event was nothing short of extraordinary. We were placed on a white LED Stage where we started the night with Jazz/Lounge versions of Standards to welcome in the Audience. 

Then when the night progressed, we brought up the beat for some dancing. It was a perfect evening!

Experticity knows how to throw a party! 

The photo booth at the Experticity event.

The white LED stage at the event was on point.

Conn was in rare form, feeding off the energy of the crowd. It was a packed house and an unforgettable party.

The night closed with a huge dance party. Experticity does it right.

Thank you to Outdoor Retailer and Experticity for having us be a part of an amazing evening!

Why Live Music Matters

In the age of ubiquitous on-demand music, why would you ever need live musicians to perform for a concert, party, or event? Can't you just set up a couple of speakers, plug in an iPod, and play your favorite playlists from Spotify or Apple Music? The truth is, yes there is more music than ever available at our fingertips, but there is something to be said for the fact that live event ticket sales have gone up in recent years. Why is that? Because when the recorded form of music is everywhere, the live form becomes more scarce, more valuable, and more impactful. 

It is probably one of the most gratifying parts of being a musician, the part when someone comes up to you after a successful performance and thanks you for an unforgettable night. Music has the power to affect our emotions more deeply than probably any other art form, it triggers memories, it can instantly lift your spirit, it fills your heart and makes you feel alive. Even in the smallest babies you can see how music instinctively causes them to dance and celebrate. That is why music has been a part of human celebration for thousands and thousands of years, it is simply part of our DNA. 

With this in mind, you should consider your choice of live musicians the single most important decision you make when you're considering throwing a party or an event. A great planner or coordinator will make recommendations based on the kind of atmosphere that needs to be created, the ability of the group to deliver, and the professionalism with which they approach their work. A poorly chosen band can ruin the night and turn what would have been an unforgettably beautiful experience into something unforgettably devastating. 

So next time you're considering doing a concert, event, or party right, don't short change yourself and go with sub-standard live music. Get quality and watch the music transform your event into an unforgettable, soul-stirring, memory-making kind of experience, the kind that will pay dividends for decades to come.

Gold Standard performs for the White Party 2016 photo by AngelaHowardPhoto.com

Gold Standard featured in the Knot's Best 50 weddings across all 50 States

Gold Standard was happy to be featured in the Knot at this gorgeous Fuse destination wedding for their annual "Best 50 Weddings Across all 50 States."  Photos by Kendra Elise Photography.

The wedding was an example of Gold Standard at its best, integrating live music throughout ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. 

Rob miked the officiant and groom with lightweight lavalier clip-on wireless microphones during the ceremony, to ensure that all guests could enjoy the ceremony and vows crystal clear over the state-of-the-art EV sound system.  Conn sang "Better Together" and other favorites as requested during the ceremony, then Bart and Rob joined in to perform jazz and popular classics to entertain guests as the couple and family took pictures.  

Conn and Rob Perform Jack Johnson's "Better Together" during the wedding ceremony.  

Gold Standard then moved inside the tent to invite guests to be seated for dinner with fun remixes and jazz remakes of current and past hits.  

The wedding dinner ambiance was set with remixes of current and past hits performed by Gold Standard. 

Toasts and thank you's were given by the Bridal party and family, using the high-quality wireless hand held microphone which is available at any Gold Standard event.  A wireless mic allows guests to stand and give toasts anywhere in the room, rather than being restricted by a wired microphone near the band.  The wedding party sang the couple's Alma Mater theme song, and a few tears were shed as family and friends joined in to congratulate the newlyweds.

The couple's first dance was performed live by wedding jazz band Gold Standard.  

  After Gold Standard performed the couple's first and parent dances, it was time to party with DJ lights, electronic beats, and fun popular music.  After the guests had their fill of live music it was time to take it up a notch with EDM and old-school hip hop hits DJed by Rob, keeping the party going late into the night.  

A Brief History of Gold Standard

It all started back in about 1963 when Douglas Curran (Conn Curran's father) and Serge Benson (Rob Bennion's great uncle) sang together in a group in college called the "Intervals". (Doug Curran on the Left Serge Benson next to him on the right)

The Intervals (1963)

Much further down the road, Rob joined a group with Bart Olson, called "The Shriners of Ska". 

The Shriners of Ska

A little while later Rob joined a group with two of Conn's older brothers, Quinn and Shane Curran, known as "The Groove at Mikes Deli". Conn was just a little tike at the time, attending lots of their shows.

The Groove at Mike's Deli

Then in 2006, Rob joined another Curran band. Another one of Conn's brothers, Sean Curran, started a hip hop band called "Wreck Room".

Wreck Room

During this time Bart Olson was performing and touring around the country signed to Capitol Records with a band called Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand. 

Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand (2005) Colin Botts, Bart Olson, Ryan Shupe, Roger Archibald, Craig Miner

Then in 2011 Rob, Conn, and Bart became the group "Gold Standard", blending elements of Jazz, Electronic, Dance, and Soul music. In the past 5 years they've performed across the globe from Japan to New York, as passionate as ever about sharing the gift of music.

Performing at the White Party in SLC

Gold Standard in San Francisco

Play to the Room

We have played hundreds and hundreds of shows. Over the years, we've come to understand that music and live events take a lifetime to master, but with enough experience, you learn to flow and adapt in all kinds of situations. Live bands know better than anyone, there is an energy in the room and it starts before you even set foot on stage. We always arrive well before an event starts, and immediately the mood is being set. There are always unique aspects to the venue: architecture, furniture, lighting, location, ambiance. These attributes give the room a spirit and a soul. A good event planner knows how to enhance the venue and make it shine. We have played some gorgeous locations, and we have seen how a top planner can make it look incredible. Here are some of our favorite recent locations. 

Wedding at the Dumke Home.

This party called for an intimate jazz trio set in the gorgeous big tent, followed by dancing on a large patio surrounded by forest and a rushing stream. 

Utah State Capitol

You'd think that the formal nature of this state capitol would lead to a more formal vibe at the party, but this was one of the bigger dance parties we've played this year. It was fun adapting to the party and turning this event into a true celebration.

The Aria- Las Vegas

In all of our experiences performing at the Aria in Las Vegas, we have learned that this resort and event center is always top notch. Behind us were elaborate sculptures made of a huge array of colored roses and backed by these giant gold glittering panels. We were really feeling it in this venue. It always helps to be surrounded by such an incredible sense of design and taste.

Hiring a Band vs. DJ for your wedding

Music is an essential part of a wedding, and the decision to hire a band or a DJ can be difficult.  Here are a few things to consider:

What is the feel or vibe you are going for?  Music is often what people remember most from a wedding.   

Whether you hire a band or a DJ for your event, a variety of music is needed to appeal to the age range which attends a wedding, keeping your grandparents and the bridal party entertained.    

Budget can be an important factor in the decision making process.  If you hire a string quartet for the ceremony, a jazz band for the cocktails and dinner portion, and a DJ for the dancing, things can get more expensive.   Swing bands can consist of 25 people or more, while DJs often come alone to do the event.  

How much room do you have to set up in at each point of the wedding, and how many different locations will music be needed?  Weddings can have up to 5 different locations for ceremony, cocktails, dinner, reception, and dancing.   Is the band or DJ able to provide music in each of these locations?  Will they need to move from one to another, or do they have enough equipment to set up multiple sound systems or speakers?

Will the band be able to keep the music going while they are on breaks?  No band will play music continuously for the 3-8 hours needed for a wedding.  What is the plan for when they take a break?

Do you want to hear music exactly as you know it, or do you want to hear a musician's interpretation of the hits?  Some bands play songs much like a karaoke track, nearly exactly like the original, some bands remake them to be their own.  Will you have a band perform your first dance, or are you thinking of having it played by a DJ?

It’s good to see the band or DJ perform live.  Also, long before the event a good band or DJ will ask you questions about your musical preferences, family songs and special song requests to make sure your event goes smoothly.  

Because Gold Standard integrates a DJ into the band, our clients can have the best of both worlds: DJ or live music for ceremony, live band for cocktails and reception, and DJ for dancing.