For how long do they play?

[auntieannie]

Last weekend, I attended a wedding and the live musicians were a ceilidh band. They were very good and I knew them from other events.
But as for most live performances here in the UK,
They played for just over an hour on their first set, and then had 30 minutes' break before a second set of just over one hour again.

I remember a few years ago when a friend married in Switzerland, the sole musician hired for the evening played/ sung throughout the meal then had about 10 minutes' break for his own meal, then started again and he was still playing when we left around 2AM (the last of the wedding guests left around 4-5AM) he did take very brief breaks from time to time, but not exceeding 5 minutes.

What is the norm where you live?

[Deleted]

Well, I would say it all depends on how much you are paying for the entertainment, or if the musicians are personal friends. 2-3 hours would seem to me to be the normal maximum for live music in France, especially since most weddings also hire a DJ (or just a DJ for all of the music).

If the musicians are playing for tips from the guests, the music could last a lot longer, assuming the tips were good.

The musician in Switzerland was either very well paid or else horribly exploited. I suspect that he was well paid, because I have a friend in Switzerland who is a well appreciated church organist in Zürich, and the envelopes of cash that he receives for just an ordinary mass would allow someone to live in France without even holding an ordinary job.