DRS Music: Chicago Wedding band winners of National Award for Chicago Wedding Band performances.

In 1994 I returned from touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. I started playing with various wedding bands in the Chicago area. After a number of years performing as bassist for these bands, I found one truth was consistent in every group; they treated every client exactly the same. I could almost always predict what song was going to be played next. Even if people weren't dancing to a particular song they would keep playing it only because the song was on the set list and it worked for the client last week. I felt clients deserved to be treated better than just being another date on their calendar.

That's why in 2000 I decided to start David Rothstein Music, Inc.

I auditioned the best possible and most professional musicians in Chicago. I wanted not only great players, but incredibly reliable and professional people. Once I had the band, it was time to build my team.

I wanted to create a company that would allow my clients to get an event specifically designed for them. My first step was to hire our full time arranger, Jeff Sanders. He is able to create arrangements of songs that aren't currently in our repertoire. The other bands were charging clients for each arrangement. We provide it for free. Many of our favorite songs have come from client requests.

The other bands I played with were using the same musicians for both the Ceremony and Reception. I felt this was only a benefit for the music company, not the client. I wanted my clients to have talented classical musicians to perform for ceremony and Jazz/Rock musicians to perform for the Reception. This way the client would get the best of both types of music.

Adding Violinist Alex Koffman as my Business partner and Ceremony Consultant was a huge benefit to both the musicians and the brides. He works directly with the bride and grooms to help select the perfect music for every section of their wedding.

The next step was to build a great sound system. I hired Jason Van Hoose to select all our equipment and hire the sound crew to assist in setting it up and tearing it down. Jason keeps track of the sound and layout of each venue where we perform. As a result, we bring the perfect size sound system for each room. Since he also owns a recording studio, the quality of the sound is his highest priority not just the amount of volume. Most bands equate high volume with high quality. I hate attending weddings where the guests cannot talk to each other. Jason monitors the volume throughout the event to make sure it's comfortable for everyone!

Building a great team of professionals is how we have grown so quickly. With all the technology that we use in our website and company, it will always come down to taking care of people and treating them as relatives and not account numbers.

This personal care and attention to detail was and will always be our inspiration to offer our clients our very best efforts every time. As Sinatra says, The Best is Yet to Come...