Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Wilcox Crane
Hi Alyssa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Plush officially began in 2016. Four of our band members (Alyssa, Rick, Mike & Pinky) were all in another band together from 2012-2016. We branched out and started Plush Party Band with a focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences at upscale events. It has been a steady climb ever since.
We started as a 5-piece band with our new drummer (Johnny), quickly adding a 6th member (BJ) on keys. The next year we added a full horn section (Willie, Willis, & Gary), making us a 9-piece band. Finally in 2020 we added a 3rd lead vocalist (Rob) to become a minimum 10-piece band. We are a Certified Original Lineup band, so we always perform with the same people. We have also expanded all of the options that we offer each year, in order to provide a one-stop shop for entertainment/production needs.
To keep up our momentum of growth, we have band meetings regularly, where we talk about ways that we can improve not only our internal experience but our guest experience as well. These meetings provide opportunities for everyone in our band to present ideas and contribute opinions. This allows us to provide even better performances for our clients from one year to the next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey of navigating challenges and growth in an always changing luxury event industry has been far from easy. An uphill climb is never all together a smooth one. We had to learn how to fairly distribute the workload amongst our members. Overcoming the occasional sales dips has required a good bit of trial and error to resolve. Establishing ourselves as a sought-after vendor in the wedding industry took an intentional effort focused on relationship building and asking veterans in the field for input.
Through our experiences, we learned that elevating our internal standards has been crucial in order to thrive in the luxury market. Addressing differing band member opinions has been an ongoing process due to our diplomatic nature. Knowing that the entire wedding industry is currently experiencing a significant shift due to factors like inflation, the election year, and the impact of Covid on couples, we host numerous band meetings to ensure our continuous growth and to problem solve as a team. The path to success is a continuous journey of adaptation and improvement.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Plush Party Band is a female operated upscale variety cover band. We most commonly perform for weddings, corporate events, and fundraising galas. We provide a classy aesthetic with a vibrant and engaging performance. Because we can cover so many styles of music, we can perform for an elegant dinner, and then immediately elevate the dance party to follow.
Our clients choose us for a few different reasons:
1.) They want a diverse variety of music and a band that has the confidence to read the crowd and keep the dance floor full.
2.) They and/or their loved ones are musicians and want a strong live music focus.
3.) We offer to learn new songs for every wedding, which goes a long way when customizing First Dance songs and Parent Dance songs.
4.) They prefer the fact that we perform with the same people every time so they don’t have to wonder what the end product will be.
5.) They like our crowd engagement and high dance floor energy.
6.) They like having all their music needs met under 1 contract (ceremony, cocktail hour, VIP reception, after party, etc.).
7.) They want a band who looks classy & elegant but can still bring the party!
8.) We are a locally owned/female operated small business, and our clients want the unlimited communication and personal connection that our lead singer, Alyssa provides when she walks clients through the contract process and the music selection process.
9.) We are an inclusive band that offers a unique musical experience for all demographics to enjoy.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
We are a close-knit band family united by our genuine passion for music! We have the best job in the world, and we’re reminded of that every time we step foot on a stage. Because lavish should still be fun!
Pricing:
- Our pricing starts at around $10,500.
- Our average client contract is $15,350.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.plushpartyband.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/plushpartyband
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/plushpartyband
- Other: https://vimeo.com/plushpartyband
Image Credits
Pic #1- Caroline’s Collective (main image)
#2- Kelsey Horner
#3- Kelsey Horner
#4- Kelsey Horner
#5- Honey Gem Creative
#6- Honey Gem Creative
#7- Ruét Photo
#8- Honey Gem Creative
#9- Kelsey Horner
