Booking a DJ for your event

Professional DJ?
Part-Time DJ?
Ipod?
Cousin Vinny as my DJ?

Let's face it, you have many choices for hiring musical entertainment for your wedding.

Many of you may have heard my story of the "part-Time DJ"...And if you did, it is worth hearing again. (This is a true story)

I have booked a bride who was at her best friend's wedding. This wedding was in the Spring of 2008.

Here is what the Bride booked for her DJ: Someone who "Does this part time" , We will call him DJ Jammin' Johnny. (Not his real name)

DJ Jammin' Johnny charged this bride $700 to DJ her wedding.

He provided her with a two page planner sheet. He told her to "Fill out the information" and he would call her a week before her wedding.

The sheet contained basic information (names, times, and SOME music selections), but nothing more.

She filled out the form, and found to her amazement that there was no address to send it to! (Where does Jammin' Johnny LIVE?) After THREE phone calls, he finally returned her call and told her to mail it to his home address....She did.

ONE week before her wedding, he calls her to go over the info. She asked if he would be able to play all of her 30 or so song requests and he said "Yes". (Boy was she in for a surprise)

He showed up on her wedding day a FEW minutes late. He said there was traffic....(This is completely unprofessional)

He THEN:

1. Mis-pronounced a few names in the bridal party (He was unprepared...)
2. Did not play the few songs she had requested, as a matter of fact he only played 3 of them.
3. Was rude to more than a few guests who wanted to request some songs.
4. Started drinking alcohol (Completely unprofessional)
5. During the "father/Daughter dance" - He DISAPPEARED OUTSIDE to smoke a cigarette.

At this point, the bride was furious.....................

Oh, and by the way, he was wearing a white piano tie and red converse tennis shoes.......

This is the part-Time DJ that charges $500-$700 for your wedding.

The bride was in tears by the end of the night.

Ask yourself this: Did she REALLY SAVE MONEY? Or did she get what she payed for?

When it comes to your special day, hire a SPECIAL Entertainer..... You will be happy you did...Not in tears on the day of your special wedding.

Remember, you should hire the DJ that you feel CONFIDENT in, not the one you found at the lowest price...Best of Luck!

Play something FUN!

"Slide to the LEFT, Slide to the RIGHT, everybody clap your hands...." (Clap, clap, clap)

Ok...So you heard this song more than once...Imagine how many times WE have heard this song (Cha Cha slide)....Seriously imagine...I think I lost count after 900..........

So you want us to play something that you can dance to? Well let's start from the top...1,2,3,4

1. Keep your guests in mind when you choose music selections. It's very easy to pick out music you and your Fiancé' like, but what about grandma? What about Aunt Gertrude? What about cousin vinny who likes Disco? What about any kids who MIGHT like the "Chicken Dance"? I have been told that if I play certain songs, well I will get food thrown at me....By the Bride! Here is my advice: PLEASE keep ALL of your guests in mind when you pick out music...Yes you should do some oldies if the crowd will have some 40+ year olds, YES you should do the Chicken dance if there might be some kids (Even Grandma LOVES this one!)....Are you sick of hearing these songs? Probably, but remember: We are the professionals; we know what songs will work. In the end, however, it IS your event: IF YOU DO NOT WANT A SONG PLAYED, WE WILL NOT PLAY IT.

2. Choose a variety of music that will appeal to all ages. Remember, you want your GUESTS to have fun and remember how they DANCED all night long! "Wow, we had SO much fun at Amy and Bob's wedding......." We still get people from years ago telling us that they had a blast at a wedding We DJ'd YEARS ago........That, Miss happy Bride is PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Don't Piss your parents off. I did a wedding not too long ago where the Mother of the bride INSISTED that the "Electric Slide" was to be played...The Bride had put this on her "Do not play " list, and after Mom came up to the DJ (Hands on hips..."what..No Electric Slide"?) I directed her to her Daughter...in which a Battle erupted...and guess who won the battle?............MOM.

4. Let your DJ do what he or she does best: Play great music and entertain ALL of your guests for a fun-filled evening of Dancing. Give us the freedom and flexibility to play requests, go with the FLOW, and read the audience. This will relax all of your guests and encourage more people to Dance to a variety of music, rather than JUST ONE type of music. Again, this is what we do FULL-TIME!

So there you have it.....Something I feel is very important to both you and your DJ....The Music. Please feel free to also have a list of "Only play if requested" songs (Electric Slide, YMCA, etc.)...This will help your DJ in going with the flow....Again, to tell us that you will throw food at us if we play YMCA is OK.....I don't like to have food thrown at me so I won't play that song on your wedding day!

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