Music can make or break a wedding reception. Here, Mike Herman and Erik Marshall, bandleaders and co-managers from New York’s Hank Lane Music and Productions, spill their secrets on booking musicians.

Go for quality over quantity

“If your entertainment budget is on the lower end, your best bet is to secure a four-piece group that sings and plays multiple instruments,” Herman says. “That versatility will make them sound like an eight-piece outfit.”

Don’t limit yourself to one type of music

“Years ago, people were more into themed events with music that matched, but now the theme should just be ‘fun!’” Marshall says. “The best bands are the ones that think on their feet. You’ll want a group that’s prepared for anything, rather than one that just plays R&B or modern hits off the radio, because it’s tough to predict what guests will like or how the mood might change as the night goes on. If you’ve hired a band whose members are musically flexible, they could maybe play jazz during dinner and then switch to classic rock for dancing.”

To save money, opt for any day but saturday

“Great music is great music, no matter what night it is,” Marshall says. “Booking a band for a Saturday wedding will likely increase the rate by 15 to 20 percent, because it’s the most popular night for live music. These days, we’re getting lots of requests for Fridays and Sundays, which are more affordable.”

Be wary of groups without representation

“Hiring freelance bands won’t always lead to trouble, but you have more guarantees when you use a booking agency, which will have every backup plan imaginable,” Marshall says. “Simply signing a contract with the band directly isn’t foolproof. They can put anything down on paper, but if the drummer doesn’t show on the day of, you’re out of luck, whereas an agency can just send over another musician.”

Read the contract — carefully

“It’s not uncommon for bands to charge for learning new songs or for not taking breaks,” Marshall says. “And a destination wedding will always be more expensive; besides the extra costs for flights, hotel and rentals, bands might tack on a charge for traveling the night before,.”

Use the same musicians in different combos throughout the day

“Not only does this save money — up to thousands of dollars — it means fewer vendors to coordinate with,” Herman says. “One of the guys from the reception band could play flute for the ceremony and then sax for the cocktail hour, for example. Or you could pair the sax player with the band’s pianist to perform as a jazz duo during drinks and appetizers.”

The fine print

Be prepared for the hidden charges that can sneak their way into contracts.

Catering fees

Plating: Although sit-down dinners aren’t necessarily more expensive than buffets, which are priced in bulk, caterers do charge by the plate: one guest equals one plate.

Service charge: Non-food-related costs for things like coordinating rentals and hiring servers can tack on about 20 percent to your bill.

Delivery fees

Rentals: Ask that the delivery cost be included up front; otherwise, the handling fee could reach several hundred dollars if the vendor charges for distance, labor and number of items rented.

Welcome bags: Hotels often charge for distributing them — up to $7 per bag — which isn’t always mentioned in their reservation quote.