Playlists For A Wedding Are They Necessary ?

Just a little story to example that sometimes its good to take time out to consider compiling a playlist or if you are a guest making an on line request.

As a quick explanation all clients that book me get access to a music database whereby the bride and groom are able to compile a playlist of songs to be played at their Wedding and they also get information to pass onto their evening guests whereby each guest can choose one or two songs that can be played at the evening Wedding reception.

At a recent Wedding a guest asked me for music from the film Frozen a film I have never seen and therefore have no knowledge of the music I then asked the guest what the track was called and they went on to explain the scene it was from.

I had to accept defeat on that one to which the guest  said "I had the link to choose a song online but never got round to it".

The next request was from another guest who asked for Luther Vandross - 'Dance With My Father'
this was on the brides  Do Not Playlist the reason for this was a very personal one.

Can you imagine if I had played this song!

Food for thought.

The Best Wedding DJ !

Who Is The Best Wedding DJ ?

Recently I met with a couple to discuss their wedding day which was in a new quirky venue. 

 They told me of the type of wedding they were looking for, the type of atmosphere they wanted to create if possible, music they definitely did want and music they definitely didn’t want. After listening to what they wanted I explained how I might be able to help, and the way I work and some of the services I offer. We went through the timeline they’d prepared and I was able to offer them a few suggestions on the timings and a few other things. At the end of the meeting I gave them a quote for how much it would cost and left it with them to discuss.

The following day they called me back to say they  wanted to book and thanked me for my time. We then chatted a little further, and the bride-to-be mentioned that they’d previously spoken with another DJ who had told them that he was “The Best Wedding DJ!” and therefore charged more !  he wasn’t interested in meeting with them or finding out more about their day and what they wanted etc. as he knew how to “fill the floor”, which was one of the reasons they decided not to book him.Later on I was thinking about the statement the DJ had made, that he was “The Best Wedding DJ”! It seems such an absurd statement to make for so many reasons.

If you’re a good DJ then you’ll have a busy diary and not so much time to view other DJs performing. If you do get invited to a Wedding 9 times out of 10 you are asked to DJ the night ! so therefore how would any DJ truly know if they were better than every other DJ?

Even if you did view a DJ working, if the age group at that particular wedding was quite young, you’d have no idea how good/bad the DJ might be with a much older crowd for example, which then means you’d need to view a DJ quite a few times to truly have a good measure of their ability.

If you asked 100 people to list 10 things that defined a good wedding DJ you’d probably get all sorts of different replies because it’s so subjective and there can be no agreed defining rules. No DJ can be an expert in every music genre, and the music is different at every wedding depending on the average age range, music tastes, cultural makeup of the crowd, amount of time available for the dancing section (some weddings it might only be 1 1/2 hours if things are running late, at others it might be 5 hours).

Some DJs will state they won so and so competition, which I find to be quite hollow, although I guess most clients wouldn’t know that. How on earth would a judging panel be able to visit each DJ that had entered, at their events, numerous times? And if it was a competition where DJs just perform in front of a judging panel and not an actual wedding crowd, that would just be farcical, how can a wedding DJ be truly judged on a performance of less than a few hours to an empty room/non-wedding crowd with completely different dynamics?!

Some people prefer a DJ that has a great personality and makes humorous comments on the microphone, others hate that, so should the DJ talk a lot, not much, not at all?
Some like a DJ that is an expert mixer and can give the wedding a real club vibe, others have no interest in whether the DJ can do that or not.
Many people can’t stand cheesy music and prefer not to hear too much at a wedding, yet there are just as many people with the opposite view and who love to hear cheesy music at weddings.

Is four slow songs for couples in one night, far too much, far too little, just right? Who’s right?
Similarly what is the right number of Motown songs, or R&B, or current chart hits, or rock & roll etc., who’s right, who’s wrong?
Should the DJ play every guest request?
Some DJs have a huge number of lights while others will have a much more minimalistic elegant setup.

And I haven’t even touched upon the volume levels, the sound quality, the customer service offered before the event, and whether the client felt they had peace of mind about the DJ they’d chosen in the lead up to the wedding and many other things.

To me it’s completely farcical to claim to be “The best DJ” 

I’d suggest that the best way to try to get an idea of whether a DJ is right for your wedding is to either meet with them or have a decent conversation with them on the phone , ask them questions, see if they understand the type of day that you would like, see whether you like their personality.

Anyone Dancing @ Middleton Lodge,Newton Hall Or Anywhere In Between

The majority of couples when planning their entertainment for their wedding imagine in their head that if the dance floor is full then all their guests are having a great time and the night is a success.

However, at almost every wedding there is an uncle that will never go near a dance floor in his life, someone else with maybe a disability that doesn’t enable them to dance, the drinkers that feel it’s their duty to make sure the bar staff are never bored and so on. Essentially, at many weddings you could have as many as 30% of the guests that have no intention of dancing, yet you’ll likely still want these people to enjoy the night just as much as those that like to boogie down?

Also bear in mind that often, the type of guests mentioned above, do not respond well to being pressured into a wedding dance, or made to feel guilty if they aren’t dancing, so when a DJ tells you that he guarantees everyone will be dancing, and that he can get everyone on the dance floor, is that what you really want and more importantly is that achievable.

You hire a DJ to make the event fun. It’s a common mistake that DJs make in thinking that their job is solely to keep everyone on the dance floor. If the only thing that’s fun at a wedding is dancing, then by definition, any guest who doesn’t dance, isn’t having fun! Which clearly isn’t the case, or certainly shouldn’t be. Many people that don’t want to dance still enjoy the music and the atmosphere.

As many of the happy letters I receive from previous couples testify, the dancefloor is very often busy at the weddings I’m booked at, however, I never pressure anyone into dancing or use the microphone to make anyone feel guilty if they’re not dancing, as I understand that the night can be a huge success regardless of how many of the guests are on the dancefloor. For me, it’s about creating the right atmosphere that makes it a fun night, not what percentage of the guests are dancing.

Theres is always one exception however and that is if the bride and groom have a special song to end the night with its only polite to join them onthe dancefloor before they sweep off to start their life together and you never know you may enjoy that area known as the dancefloor.

The First Dance Ideas @ Durham Castle,Eshott Hall Or Anywhere In Between

With a dozen things on the wedding checklist, the first dance is often a last minute consideration for many couples. We all remember those Julia Roberts rom-coms with the classic, ever-romantic first dance scenes, but not every couple is sold on the idea of timeless tear-jerkers. To follow are some alternative ideas to help couples break away from the customary first dance and plan something different and unique.

Be Rebellious

It goes without saying that your wedding is all about you. Don’t be afraid to ignore the lovey-dovey classics and embrace your own musical taste. Whether you decide to raise eyebrows with some heavy metal, unleash your inner Sid Vicious and hidden tattoos, or go head to head in a rap-off to your favourite rap song, guests are sure to be entertained if the happy couple are enjoying too.

Plan A Routine

 For an element of surprise, why not dazzle your guests with a fancy dance routine? You don’t have to be a professional to master the robot or do the twist.

Create A Medley

For couples who just can’t decide on that one special song, crafting a medley or mashup of favourite songs could be the perfect solution. If deejaying is not your strong point, hiring a professional DJ who will be able to turn your selected tunes into a sleek medley is a must.

Involve your Guests

Some couples shy away from the limelight, and will dread the notion of the compulsory first dance. If you and your partner find yourselves anticipating the moment with fear, take a different approach: shrug off any awkwardness by getting your guests up and dancing too! For those that like cheese, Gangnam Style, the Cha Cha Slide, and even the conga can be crowd pleasers, and will help get your guests in high spirits for that lively wedding disco.

Other Things To Consider

When choosing your first dance song, be it a timeless classic or something alternative, here are a few things to bear in mind:

• Length of song. While you may enjoy a song with a ten minute drum solo, it could become a bit tedious for your guests. Opting for something short and sweet is usually a good idea.
• Your dress. Despite picturing yourself jiving and jumping into the jazz splits, your outfits may be too restrictive. Consider alternative party outfits following the ceremony.
• The lyrics. Pay attention to the lyrics of your chosen song, and ensure they are suitable for everyone present, especially your grandmother!

If you’re still stuck for ideas, get in touch

Designer Wedding DJ Starts The Xmas Party Season @ Wynyard Hall... Its Christmas !!

Well the Christmas party season is upon us and there is no better place to start than @ Wynyard Hall.

The occassion being the Durham Law Society Christmas ball, the date 3rd December 2013 .

The guys were having a Hollywood Themed Evening and decided to go for red moodlighting and thought that the 6ft flame lights wouild also be appropriate.

After 290 Students were fed and watered ( however i did not see any water being drunk! ).

Time to party.

Merry Xmas. 

What Music Should The DJ Have Knowledge Of ?

Here's a little story.

I got a telephone enquiry today and the bride to be who was in her early twenties asked me what was my favourite tune from the charts.

Obviously testing my musical knowledge.

Reply "Storm Queen  Look Right Through" Check it out very nice tune!

Then later today I went and got my haircut, not very Rock n Roll and what has that got to do with musical knowledge.

Patience people.

The nice young girl cutting my hair enquired if I was doing much later to which I told her that I was going to see M People.

She looked and asked "Who are they?"

I was initially amazed that she did not know who M People were but then worked out that when M People were starting out she would of been 2 years of age.

But then thought ,when I was 2 The Beatles released "Paperback Writer" and why do I know that ? because it's my job.

So the answer to this post is everything and anything... If your a DJ.

And here is M People, I hope I'm as fit as Heather in this video when I'm her age, oh just realised I am

 ( her age that is! ).  

Keep Your Guests Happy @ your Wedding Disco

The guest request system that I have in place has proved very popular with many clients.

When a client confirms a booking with me they are sent a username/password that gives them access to the client area of my website. One section in here is the Guest request system, which gives them  a link and a password that they can send to their guests to enable them to make some music requests

The guests can browse the music library, select requests, and include special notes about the requests that they make. 

The client is notified whenever a guest logs on and makes a request. After navigating to the link the guests will need to log on using the date of the event and the supplied password.

The client is notified each time they make a request but these notifications can be turned off if they wish.

The client can also remove any tracks selected by their guests that they’d would rather not hear!

Further to this on the night I always announce on the microphone that guests are welcome to ask me for any requests they would like to hear, unless the client requests that this not be announced!