Official Entertainment

You’re engaged, congratulations! Now what? If you’re like most brides you’re probably overwhelmed with all the planning that goes into creating a fairy-tale reception. Did you know that finding the perfect DJ is one of the biggest responsibilities you have? THAT’S RIGHT! “One of the biggest responsibilities”. Let me prove it to you. Ask yourself what would you love to hear as your guests are leaving? Could it be…?

“WOW that was the most fun I’ve ever had at a wedding, your reception was absolutely beautiful, every detail was perfect!” If that’s what you want to hear, then finding the best DJ is the most important job you’ll have when planning your reception. This is because the DJ has one of the biggest roles in creating your perfect day. You need to place a lot of TRUST and CONFIDENCE in this person. Why, you ask? Well consider this; you’re probably going to spend thousands of dollars on a reception site, catering, flowers and a photographer to name a few expenses. While all these components are important, what do you think most people remember about your reception? Here are the most common top 3 answers:

1. the Fun
2. the Food
3. the Location

Keeping this in mind, let me ask you this; if the location is breath-taking and the food is “to die for”, could a bad performance by your DJ sour the whole day? Conversely, if the location poses logistic problems and the food is just o.k. could a spectacular, fun-filled, jammed packed dance floor make up for those problems?

If you answered yes to both questions you now understand how important the DJ is. The reality is, you spend so much time and money to create the perfect reception it seems ashamed to ruin it by choosing the wrong DJ. So what’s a nervous bride to do? Get the best DJ now!

I know that if you’re reading this your in the process of gathering information. Booking your entertainment should be a top priority. Doesn’t it make sense that the best DJs book early? (as early as 12-18 months in advance) This means you need to find someone now. The less time you have, the more you need my help.

I’m a retired DJ of 25 years and my goal is to help you understand the DJs role by revealing a DJ secret that most people in the business don’t want you to know.

DJ Secret #1: The majority of brides’ think the DJ’s role is to make a couple of announcements and play good music. This is because that’s all they see. While these are very important to the success of your reception they only represent one-third of the DJs responsibilities. The other two-thirds of the DJs role happens behind the scenes. Helping you plan and managing the flow of the day’s events is just as important as playing the right music. Consider this; the function manager’s role is to make sure the food is hot and on time. That’s their job. When the food service is finished they’re gone. But the DJ is there from the beginning to the end. The timing of the food is only one of a number of factors the DJ needs to consider. A keen awareness of every aspect of your reception is the key to maintaining a flow that results in a packed dance floor the rest of the night. You might be asking yourself “how does a DJ prepare for all these factors?”

The best DJs begin their preparations far in advance. Over the course of several conversations with the couple, the DJ should have a good feel for what they are looking for. The final details will be carefully choreographed at the planning meeting with bride a week or so before the reception. Here is where the bride discusses her vision of the perfect reception (order of events, music, announcements, etc…) It is the DJs responsibility to work with the bride in developing a time-line for all the special moments. Together the bride and the DJ should have a clear understanding of exactly when these moments will take place. If the DJ did his job correctly the bride should leave this meeting 100% confident that the DJ will make her vision a reality.

Carrying out your vision the day of your reception takes a team effort.

The best DJs contact the bride’s wedding vendors before the reception to go over the agenda. This is where any conflict with food service or photography issues should be discussed. By doing this the DJ can avoid any obstacles that could cause the reception to get off schedule. You can bet a wedding team that understands and agrees on the bride’s vision will work more smoothly behind the scenes to make it happen.

What does this mean to you? You should be looking for a DJ who can reassure you they represent your needs behind the scenes; that they are working for you. I can tell you this; there will always be wrinkles at the reception that the vendors must work out. But a wedding team (led by the DJ) that is on the same page will handle it without you ever finding out.

Article by: Michael McCarthy

So you’re getting married soon and you and your future spouse decide it’s time to start planning for the big day.  Besides the venue, the caterer, photographer, wedding gown, rings, cake, flowers, and more, you have to get a DJ or a band for your musical entertainment. Let’s say you decide to choose a DJ over a band.  A lot of top-notch professional wedding DJs get booked anywhere from 6 months to 18 months in advance, so start looking early especially if your wedding date is in May or June.

Now that you know when to start looking for a DJ you need to know where to find them. You can find DJs from a variety of sources, friends, family, the internet, print ads, from other vendors, etc.  A common mistake by most people is that they tend to believe that all DJs are pretty much the same, which couldn’t be further from the truth.  Just about every DJ has their own
unique style and level of professionalism which they bring to the table. When looking for a DJ, look for one that specializes in weddings. If they do other types of events to, that’s fine as long as they have substantial experience performing at weddings (At least 100 weddings). Also, a large variety of music is important, everybody has different tastes, and more than likely so will your guests.

Now that you know where to find a DJ, and the basics of what to look for, it’s time to start contacting DJs and start making appointments for interviewing. Keep in mind you want a professional for your wedding, not a hobbyist, this is your wedding day, and you only get one chance to do it right. As soon as you start to contact DJs you’ll know very soon which are professionals, and which are just “weekend warriors”. If no one answers the phone when you call, or they don’t return your inquiry promptly (no later than 24 hours) moves on to the next one. Why? If a DJ can’t return your phone call or e-mail promptly, that shows a lack of reliability and professionalism. If they’re too busy to return your inquiry, more than likely they may be too busy for you when you have questions, plans, or issues which will arise.  Now you have to look at your budget, what percentage of your wedding budget should go towards your musical entertainment? On average most brides spend about 5% on a DJ, but numerous articles in bridal magazines and the internet stated that most brides said that if they could do it all over again they would have spent probably 10%-15% of their wedding budget on a better DJ. So the price of a DJ shouldn’t
be your only factor in choosing a DJ.

Make sure that the DJ has references, is willing to meet with you, see the venue, has quality equipment, and probably most important, has a written contract.  I receive about 5 phone calls a year from brides who’s DJs never showed up, or cancelled at last minute, and the bride never had a contract with the DJ to begin with. Before signing a contract, discuss any overtime fees, your plans for your wedding, special songs, their back-up plans for personnel, transportation, and equipment, etc. After signing a contract with any DJ, the key to a successful wedding reception (and sometimes the ceremony) is communication. I can’t stress this enough, don’t wait until the last minute to inform your DJ of exactly what and how you want something done.

Most professional wedding DJs do much more than just play music, some are pretty much the wedding coordinators also. They make sure that everything goes smoothly and all your “wedding events” such as the cake cutting, toasts, garter and bouquet toss, special dances, etc get done in a reasonable time frame. So stay in contact with you DJ, keep him/her informed, and this way you’ll both be on the same page for your special day.

Article by: DJ Kazmere

Most of our clients have never hired a disc jockey service before. Because it is there first time hiring a DJ, they are not really sure how to find a professional DJ or what to look for.

Here are some questions to consider when hiring a DJ service:

Do You Provide A Written Agreement?
It is very important to confirm your booking in writing. Terms should be clearly defined to avoid future problems.

Are You Insured?
Be confident that the DJ you hire will show up for your affair! Insurance will give security & protection to you and your guests, as well as the DJ and his expensive gear!

Do You Have Backup Equipment and DJs?
Even professional audio equipment can fail on occasion; don’t let this put an early end to your affair. Make sure there is backup equipment and be sure there is a back-up DJ should an emergency or case of illness occurs.

Is Your Equipment of Professional Quality?
There is a difference between home audio and professional road-worthy equipment. The equipment a DJ uses should be built to go on the road each and every day!

Will You Listen To My Music Suggestions?
Many DJ’s are of the opinion that they know what music is best for their audience and won’t take requests. The DJ should listen to requests and play them whenever appropriate.

Will You Dress Appropriately at My Affair?
It is important that your entertainer look the part by dressing formal or semi-formal, according to your preference. Themed events and picnics require different attire.

Will You Play The Music At An Appropriate Level?
The biggest concern voiced by prospective clients is the volume level of the music. A professional DJ knows to keep the volume at a level appropriate for the guests, especially during cocktails and the dinner hour.

Do You Do More Than Just Play Music at the Affair?
Most affairs involve more than playing music. It is important to have a DJ who is capable of playing the music, handling all of the announcements and helps to coordinate the affair.

It is important to find a Disc Jockey service that answers “Yes” to the above questions.