Gone are the days when a home party host would play music on the hi-fi system and hope his guests would dance and have a good time.

Singaporeans are now hiring bands for their parties to celebrate birthdays, weddings and anniversaries in style.

Mr Eddy Teo, 41, manager of ET Music, which supplies bands and musicians, says his company currently supplies musicians for such parties as often as once a week.

"With a band, you have some form of interaction. People will make song requests and it makes the event a lot more lively. It's like going to a pub with or without a band - it makes a lot of difference."

Mr Simon Hyett, 40, and Ms Kalliope Coplin, 37, set up Band On The Run and perform in their company's roster of bands at events and parties.

Their company typically handles 15 to 20 house parties a year, with up to 200 guests each time.

Popular requests include 1980s music, lounge and jazz music as well as contemporary music.

Mr Hyett says the demand for bands for private house parties has remained constant since they started the company in 2008. "We find the parties at which we perform are for a typically very important reason and a milestone worth sharing with friends and loved ones."

One of his customers is Ms Juraporn Wanapun, 42.

Last September, the stay-at-home mother of four and her husband decided to have a joint, 1980s themed birthday party at their house in Sunset Way.

She recalls: "It was a terrific party. The band all got dressed up in 1980s costumes and they played our favourite songs by artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson. Our guests loved it.

They asked if we could do it again."

Musicians and live entertainment providers tell SundayLife! that the performances take place mostly in landed homes.

Rates typically start from $1,200 to $1,500 for two 45-minute sets.

The fee depends on the number of musicians required, the duration of the set and whether a singer is needed. Different musicians also charge different rates.

Mr Steven Cheah, 29, who has just started an events company, and his teacher wife Yukako, 25, eschewed the usual hotel wedding for his recent nuptials.

Instead, they engaged a three-piece band from Band On The Run for an 80-guest event at his parents' house in Bukit Timah.

Mr Cheah explains: "We just wanted something small and a bit more close-knit. My brother has already moved out and we will also move out by 2015, so it's kind of the last big thing we will do in the family home.

"The band played mainly contemporary music, such as those by Bruno Mars. The guests loved it and we had a lot of comments that they were really good."

Rai Kannu, 34, of musical duo Jack & Rai who perform at house parties every few months, notes: "Home parties are definitely more fun and more 'let loose'."

His partner Jack Ho, 36, adds that the market for house parties is far less competitive than that for corporate events and weddings. The duo are usually hired via word of mouth.

Ho adds that they try to strike a balance between their artistic aspirations and commerce. He says: "We never put our wedding and party services on Facebook because our primary objective is still to write original music and release the next album.

"We don't want to water ourselves down by marketing ourselves as a wedding or party band. Gigs like these are like the bonus of the month."

Housewife Wu Hui Hui, 55, engaged the pair for a Chinese New Year party in the garden at her house in Fort Avenue, where they played their own compositions as well as festive music.

The mother of two says: "A party with a band is more fun . The atmosphere is always better."