ABOUT

We’re in this together

Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering for mom and dad’s 50th anniversary or preparing an epic wedding for 500, we’re here to give you an experience accompanied by music - one you’re nostalgic for the second we say goodnight and joyfully replaying with your loved ones forever.    When you partner with us, you’re not just booking a band. You’re joining a community of people on a mission to create memories you can’t wait to relive.  And the truth is - Your guests won’t remember the songs. They’ll remember those intangibles: the smiles across the room, the eye contact, the way they felt. 

We use music to turn those moments into lasting magic. 

I’m Rob - Founder of On The Beat Music Agency

As a drummer, I know the difference between feeling like a hired gun and playing from a place of generosity and love. It’s a shift I experienced while touring with Michael Bublé for eight incredible years. Because as much as we know and love him for his talent, it was his uncanny ability to connect with people that was most impactful - for me and the audience alike.  

When I started On The Beat in 2010, I saw an opportunity to build bridges between guests and performers in the private event industry. So, I called my friends - the most talented, sought-after musicians in Los Angeles and beyond. And a family of like-minded players with a shared purpose was born: 

To bring as much joy to others as we give one another when we play for fun

To amplify the emotional experience of each guest

To operate from a place of giving and thrive in each other’s company

When everyone is present for the right reasons, there is no wall between the dance floor and the stage and no divide between the audience and the artists. We’re a community sharing sacred space. Bonded in gratitude. Filled with appreciation for the experience music affords us. 

We’re in harmony.

And if you’re anything like me, you simply don’t want strangers at your wedding. You want to feel like you shared your evening with extended friends and family. And that’s us…cheering you on every step of the way. Thank you for inviting us into your life and trusting us with your memories.

In celebration of you,

Rob

PETER SMITH

Music Director

What I like most about my work at On The Beat is the opportunity to group musicians that I just know will sound great together. I can hear it in my head, and I get so excited putting combinations of talented people together. I guess it helps to be a musician myself. I’m a pianist who has served as Music Director for Molly Ringwald and others, and someone who has worked under some of the best music directors around, including Rickey Minor and Adam Blackstone. There’s a special thrill in forming combinations of trusted colleagues, almost like a chef who can’t wait to see what one spice will do to another spice when mixed together. This hands-on, detailed work is I think the main value we bring to our clients. When the chemistry of the band is lined up, the audience will feel it, and suddenly the whole room is humming with excitement and a kind of celebration. I think what I’ve learned from Rickey and Adam is to, first, hire the best people, but the second and more important aspect is to hire people you like and trust, and that feeling of camaraderie will necessarily reverberate out into the audience.

A good music director– and this applies to my role at On The Beat as well– enables the musicians to be super excited to do what they must do. And what I’ve learned from Rob Perkins is to effectively translate the “must do”-- namely, the parameters or requirements of a given situation– into something authentic and exciting for the musicians. Building this creative bridge between musicians and clients is such satisfying work. As someone who is an active musician on the scene, I must say it’s a rare thing to encounter as a side man working for others. Building the client-to-musician bridge with creativity and grace is what I think sets us apart.