Conference taveng::bagels

Call a friend of mine, Bruce Veillette at (413) 538-9450.  He's out of the 
Southampton-Holyoke-Westfield area but may be willing to travel.  His rates are
very good as are his tastes in music.  I taught him (most) everything he knows.

You can call me for more information.

Alan
exit

    If you buy the big Brookline weekly Jewish newspaper (the Jewish
    Advocate, is that the name?), there is a whole page in it every week of
    wedding-related advertisements: bands, caterers, etc. There are
    Israeli, traditional, and Klezmer bands listed there.
    
    We investigated Klezmer bands for our wedding. In the Boston area,
    there are two big ones: Klezmer Conservatory Band, (617) 354-2884, and
    Shirim, (617) 247-1606. For a 5 or 6 piece band, they are roughly $1000,
    but they could probably make up a smaller group. We also have another
    name: Jeffrey Warshauer, (617) 776-1958, who would have a smaller
    ensemble. I've also been told that Guy VanDuser and Billy Novak, the
    folk singers, do Klezmer music.
    
    We've booked Shirim, but our wedding hasn't happened yet. Their demo
    tape was very good, but we haven't had the chance to hear them in
    person yet. I've hear the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and they're good
    too (they have records). We saw Jeff W. and someone else do a
    children's program in Brookline, which was fun.
    
    --Dan

re:    Dmitry_soon_to_be_a_happily_married_man
    
    Congratulations!
    
    How come I am not invited? - just kidding
    
    Alex

    Mazeltov, Dmitry!
    
    Mark

Whatever you do, do it quickly. I hear that bands are harder to get for the
date you want than caterers.

Dave (Who will be hosting a Bat Mitzvah in 1990)

The Barry Shapiro Orchestra played at our wedding for the 
service and reception.  Barry has played with the Klezmer 
Conservatory group and currently plays with Mandala, a 
Cambridge, MA international folk dance and music performing 
group.  You can have as few as four or five musicians with 
him.  Barry has a wide range of Israeli, Eastern European, 
Klezemer, and jazz.  He will play rock n roll.  He is located 
in Somerville, MA.  He does not advertise in the Jewish 
Advocate.  

Our folk dance friends had a great time at our reception.  If 
you want that mix of music, I strongly recommend them.  Barry 
was also willing to write out the arrangement for a song I 
gave him on tape and play it at the wedding.

Sara Epstein
DTN: 223-3805

    	Thanks for all the useful advice through this note and in the
    Mail. We signed up a 4-man band by the name "Kadema". I think they
    will do fine, and I can post the impressions afterwards if anyone
    is interested.
    	Now, I have an uncouth question, simply because I have no idea
    of the social norms on the subject. How much should we pay the rabbi?
    He declined to say, claiming that we can't afford his fee anyway. As
    a result, I am in a vacuum. What's the range anyway? $50, $250. $1000?
    He is a Reform from an affluent suburb, the wedding is a simple affair,
    but I wouldn't want to offend either way. Help! I am totally ignorant
    on the subject. My idea was to give him, say, $100, and pick out a book
    or two I think he would enjoy reading. This way, we can show we
    appreciate his help, and substitute the missing $$ with personal
    attention... Am I out in left field on this one?!
    
    DG

    You may not be paying the Rabbi anyway.  Most Rabbis have a clause
    in their contract requiring them to give back to the temple all fees 
    recieved for weddings, etc.  How about a donation to the Rabbis
    favorite charity instead.
    
    WS  
    

re .7:

    $100 sounds right to me.

re .8:

    Never heard of such a clause.  Wouldn't his favorite charity be his
    synagogue?  After all, they pay his salary.

    If the  rabbi  told  you that you can't afford his fee, find him a
    *NICE*  present. It will take some effort, but find something that
    is particularly his style, and not grossly expensive.

--David

    About the fee for the rabbi: If you are a member of the congregation,
    (his congregation), there should be no fee.  In this case, the 
    present idea or contribution idea is a nice thing to do. If you
    are not a member of his congregation, sometimes there is a flat
    fee.  But since he said you couldn't afford his fee, the present
    idea is the way to go. He sounds like a man who would love it if
    you loved the way he marries you...and tells him about it.
    
    ..Rr
    Mazeltov!

    	Well, the wedding went well, and everything worked out just great.
    We gave our rabbi a giant History of Jerusalem, in Hebrew, with lots
    of photos - my wife brought it new from Israel. We also loved the way
    he did the ceremony, handled "problems" and talked TO us all the way
    through the end. I thanked him sincerely, and he will send us tickets
    to High Holiday services at his synagogue, and wants to keep meeting.
    	The Kadema band worked out OK. They were high-qualtiy, except when
    they tried to do Lionel Richie or some such - awful, elevator-style
    renditions. They did excellent on Israeli and Yiddish music, and were
    quite responsive to our requests. Plus they played real jazz in the
    intermissions. In fact, I got the impression their true music is jazz
    and oldies, in addition to the horas and such. In the end, we were
    quite happy with their work.
    
    Dmitry Goykhman