QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT
PRICELESS MEMORIES
I offer a flat rate for weddings and free consultations. (There are no hidden costs)
I will meet with you and go over every last detail of your reception. I will prepare a personalized agenda for your reception. I will make that agenda available to you and your vendors at the reception. This makes coordinating your reception activities flow more smoothly.
I will do my very best to make sure you get exactly what you want for your reception. You make the final decisions Your Day Your Way. Don’t worry about those last minute emergencies I have the experience to keep the event flowing.
My music philosophy is this: I play the music you want to here, not what I want to listen to! I will take and play request. If there is a song that’s requested that I feel is not appropriate I will not play it, unless authorized by you.
Most people only hire a DJ once in their life and most often it’s for their Wedding Reception. Too often I hear horror stories about how a DJ ruined a reception and in this case, once is too many! As DJ’s, we only have one chance to get it right! Some of the complaints I hear or read are:
The DJ showed up late or didn’t show at all
They didn’t play what I wanted or played music that I specifically asked them not to play
The DJ I hired wasn’t the DJ that showed up
The equipment was nothing more than a home stereo system and a few CD’s
Unfortunately I could go on and on. Professional DJ’s have a not-so-nice name
for the DJ’s that fall into this category... "Bottom Feeders".
Contrary to popular belief, DJ’s are not all cut from the same fabric! In most
instances, you really get what you pay for. If there is one area of your
reception where you shouldn’t try to cut corners, it’s your entertainment.
Notice, I didn’t say DJ, I said entertainment. The same would hold true for a
band, a harpist or a pianist if you decided to hire their particular service to
be part of your special day.
Brides and Grooms are willing to spend thousands of dollars on food, drink and
the banquet hall but try to cut corners on entertainment. This could be a recipe
for disaster. No one will remember if the London Broil was overly cooked, or how
nice the hall was decorated, but most will remember if they had a great time
because of great entertainment. I’ll concentrate more on DJ’s since that’s where
my expertise is.
Here are some of the things that separate “Professional” DJ’s from the “Bottom Feeders”:
· Professional DJ’s use professional equipment, not a home stereo.
· Professional DJ’s will meet with you and help you plan your reception.
· Professional DJ’s WILL NOT subcontract out your event unless they tell you at the time of contract signing.
· Professional DJ’s will be set up on time and ready by the time your first guest arrives.
· Professional DJ’s abide by your wishes and not just play what “they” like to hear.
· Professional DJ’s will not drink alcoholic beverages on the job.
· Professional DJ’s will not try to be the life of the party. The Bride and Groom should never share the limelight.
· Professional DJ’s will not invite potential clients to watch them perform at your event. A DJ cannot give your event 100% attention if they’re trying to sell to others.
· Professional DJ’s will use contracts, to protect both them and you.
This is
not an all-inclusive list but just some of the major discriminators that should
help you secure the services of a Professional DJ. I’m not saying that the
higher the price a DJ charges, the more professional they are.
You have to ask yourself though, if the average price for a DJ in your market is
$1,000 and a DJ will undercut or quote you $300 for the job, why is he willing
to charge so much less. We’re not all created equal! Use the list to help you
identify the professional DJ service and save yourself the heartache of a bad
DJ.
Great Tips for Selecting a Disc Jockey
Wedding professionals agree that good entertainment is the key to having a successful wedding. The best way to hire a great DJ is to pick one that you have seen and heard before or one that is recommended by friends. However, this is not always possible.
1. Once you have a list of DJ’s talk to them. Pay attention to their professionalism on the phone and ask for literature and referrals.
2. Your wedding will most likely require music to satisfy all ages and musical tastes so ask about variety and the policy on requests.
3. Find out about equipment. A DJ should have professional sound equipment - not "home consumer" gear. If lighting is important to you, ask about these special effects.
4. A good DJ will take the time to explain how they will handle the details of the introductions, first dance, toast, blessing, cake cutting, bouquet & garter and special requested dances. They will be able to communicate well with you and should be willing to listen to your ideas and meet any special needs.
5. Your DJ should be familiar with most of the music you want and should know how to organize the reception within your guidelines. Try to determine if your DJ has the ability and willingness to "read" and motivate the crowd.
6. Most reputable DJ's will be willing to provide you materials, song lists and informational planning sheets.
7. Some will be willing to meet with you. Take advantage of those opportunities as it will give you a chance to share your ideas, get suggestions and meet the DJ in person.
8.
Auditioning a
DJ at a stranger's wedding in not usually practical. Remember, a good wedding is
an individually customized event lasting 4 hours or more. To properly observe a
DJ's show you need to stay for the entire time.
The DJ may be providing activities and music as requested by the bride and groom
and this may not be of the style or type that you require. Also, a good DJ is
busy during a reception and usually cannot take time out to explain what is
going on and why. Some DJ's also consider it tacky to invite strangers to a
wedding just to solicit new business. You wouldn't want that at your wedding.
The
perfect DJ will be affordable, experienced and have good references. He or she
will know music, communicate in a friendly and helpful manner, and should be
interested in what you and your guests want.
A professional DJ will be well attired, will mix music types well and blend
motivational dances & special activities with your requests. Your DJ should do
it all with style, microphone presence and proper volume. The best weddings are
classy yet fun, well organized and well run. Above all, you want your wedding
reception to be memorable, fun, worry-free and a good time for your family and
guests.
Keeping Kids Happy at the Reception
Most likely, you'll have kids attending the reception. With a few special touches, you could make them the happiest age group around. Below are a few ideas to cater to the younger crowd.
Under-5
Hopefully, most children in this age group will be home with a babysitter.
However, if you suspect they'll be there, here are a few things to consider:
· Check if your reception hall has booster seats, high chairs and diaper-changing stations. If they don't, contact the parents to make sure they bring all necessary supplies.
· Seat the family with other families who are also bringing young children. If the little tyke starts crying, they tend to be more understanding then say, a group of single 20-somethings. No other young kids? Seat them with the most patient people you know.
Ages 5 - 10
If you have enough kids in this age group to fill a table, consider seating them
together. Be sure to hire a babysitter for the table to ensure they don't join
you during the father/daughter dance or throw spaghetti at Aunt Metilda.
Below are a few more ideas for this age group:
· If you choose to have a kid's table, cover it with a paper tablecloth so they can draw on it. For a centerpiece, provide a bucket of crayons, several cartons of play-dough or travel games.
· Check to see if your reception or catering company offers kid's meals at a reduced cost.
· Before the traditional bouquet toss and garter throw for adults, have a candy toss for kids. This way, the kid's can participate but you won't be caught in the awkward situation of having a garter-toting, 6-year-old boy traveling up the leg of a 30-year-old.
· Maybe the chicken dance makes you cringe, but kids love it!
· For favors, send them home with candy or a small toy. Just make sure it isn't anything they'll choke on.
Ages 11-16
Adolescents. This is the age where a kid will walk 15 feet behind their parents
for fear of being associated with the "most embarrassing human beings alive." Do
them a favor and seat this age group together. While you probably don't need an
adult at their table, place them at a table next to adults who won't let them
misbehave. Besides this word of warning, treat this group as you would any adult
(minus the alcohol, of course).
The Dreaded “Do Not Play” List
There is nothing a DJ fears more then when the Bride and Groom produce a list of all the songs they don’t want played during their reception – the dreaded “Do Not Play” list. Generally, this list consists of longtime party favorites like “YMCA”, “The Chicken Dance”, and “Hokey Pokey”, just to name a few.
After reviewing the list with the bride and groom, We share that many of the songs on their list would surely fill the dance floor and keep the party rockin’. The usual response is “it’s my reception and I don’t want to hear that song”. There is no argument that a reception should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom but there should also be some flexibility allotted to the DJ to appeal to all of your guest’s varied tastes.
Most DJ’s find it incredibly frustrating when a bride and groom invite families, with many children in attendance, yet they won’t allow the DJ to play any “Boy Group” music, or entertain with the “Chicken Dance” or “YMCA”. The end result is that the children get bored, and have no way to burn off excess energy. Guess what happens then? Ever attend a reception and had to spend time dodging children on the dance floor, endangering themselves or others?
Before you and your fiancé sit down to work on your “Do Not Play” list, ask yourself a couple of questions:
· How many children and teens will be in attendance? Understand their music tastes.
· Even if I don’t like a particular song or group, if a guest wants to hear it, can I tolerate it so they can have a good time?
· Can I trust the DJ I hired to use all the music at his disposal to ensure everyone has fun?
A good DJ understands when the couple doesn’t want to hear Hard Rock or Rap because they have a very limited audience and appeal, especially to grandma and grandpa who are in attendance. However, it’s a good idea to move from the “it’s my reception” thought process to “let’s celebrate our special day with our guests”. It’s a sure fire recipe for success and a day of FUN!