MUSIC, DJs & BANDS
Everyone wants music that can be enjoyed by all guests. Most weddings will incorporate songs from several decades, with love and celebration as the common theme. By carefully selecting the songs that will be used for the special events of your wedding and reception, such as the first dance, parent dances, and bouquest and garter toss, you can make the music for your wedding stand out as being perfectly true to you.
A professional Disc Jockey or Master of Ceremonies (emcee) is responsible for creating the right mood while keeping everything organized for your reception, and sometimes even your ceremony. Here are a few tips to ensure you will have a smooth wedding day:
• Place your DJ right next to the right-sized dance floor. Your DJ's location in relation to the dance floor is a critical factor in creating a high energy reception. Avoid placing your DJ in a corner far removed from the dance floor. Sound and lighting will be compromised, or cables and wires will need to be placed between tables to locate speakers and lights at the dance floor. And that's impractical with guests and servers moving about. Also, your DJ should have a complete view of the room in order to MC reception events effectively. If you tuck your DJ away, your reception's energy level will suffer because your DJ will have difficulty seeing and hearing what's happening. Submitted by: DJ Billy James, www.billyjamesmusic.com.
• A good DJ is someone who can emcee your night, make all the proper announcements to make sure everything runs smoothly. Let him know the amount of interaction you desire: conservative, outgoing, or anywhere in between. Sometimes a DJ can do too much – this takes the focus off the bride and groom. Its not the DJ's night its your night. Submitted by: Pete Pershall, DJ One Productions. Phoenix, AZ. 602-993-6373. www.djone.biz.
• Avoid seating guests between the DJ and the dance floor. Guests who are forced to sit directly in front of the DJ speakers will inevitably complain about how loud the music is even before the dancing begins. Your DJ needs to monitor sound levels and interact with the dancers to create and maintain a high energy reception. He can provide his best service and maintain the energy of your reception when he is located adjacent to the dance floor. Submitted by: DJ Billy James, www.billyjamesmusic.com.
• What's the entertainment value of your DJ? It shouldn't be about price, but about value. A great DJ will bring out the best in your guests and allow the fun to come through – from beginning to end! Submitted by: Rick Cañez, Luna Disk Entertainment. 602-309-5527. www.lunadiscdjs.com.
• Always make sure you meet with the DJ who will be performing at your wedding. Check references. And, if you can, visit an event they are hosting. Submitted by: Todd Middleman, All About U Entertainment. 602-570-9739. www.allaboutuentertainment.com.
• If you have a conservative or 'shy' audience, it may be a good idea to hire an entertainer that has the talent to interact with your guests. Ask what type of interaction your disc jockey can offer. Many disc jockeys simply play music, make announcements and keep things organized and that is OK, unless you are looking for a personality. There are exceptional disc jockeys that have acting, improv or musical backgrounds or simply have a knack for involving people. These disc jockeys will usually cost more since it takes preparation and talent to handle an audience tastefully.
• A live band brings instant energy to the reception. The musicians you hire should be able to perform a wide variety of music and be able to take requests. Be sure the band has a friendly emcee who can announce everything from the entrance to the cake cutting. Submitted by: The Instant Classics. www.theinstantclassics.com.
• Always finalize your timeline with your DJ 7 to 14 days before your event. You will need to over any last minute changes, discuss name pronunciations, music and your desired atmosphere. It is important that the DJ who will be hosting your event understands what you expect.
• To ensure the music at your recption is a hit with everyone, consider placing a "Song Request" card in your invitations. If you have a wedding website you can gather requests from there. Remember that your guests will be all ages and have lots of different music tastes. Submitted by: Rick Cañez, Luna Disk Entertainment. 602-309-5527. www.lunadiscdjs.com.
• Consider four speakers for extra large or multiple rooms. It may be best to have more speakers if you have an unusual room situation. A professional disc jockey will make recommendations. Always get a few different opinions since some DJs will sacrifice sound quality to save you money. It is important that you and your guests can hear the announcements and music clearly and comfortably.
• Don't overthink the music. Just choose about 20 songs. This will leave opportunity for the DJ to take requests and for him to "read" the crowd. Submitted by: Pete Pershall, DJ One Productions. Phoenix, AZ. 602-993-6373. www.djone.biz.
• Some country clubs and restaurants have been known to book more guests than they can comfortably accommodate and then drastically reduce the size of the dance floor. They may seat guests in separate rooms, or even locate the dance floor in an adjacent room. All of these situations will discourage your guests from dancing. At the other extreme, some resort ballrooms will provide a dance floor designed or 300 guests even though your guests list is under 100. An overly large dance floor results in some dancers feeling conspicuous since they can't blend in with the crowd. Both arrangements are guaranteed to diminish if not destroy the energy of your reception no matter where your DJ setup is located, because your guests will not be comfortable on the dance floor. Insist that the dance floor is centrally located and of reasonable size to accommodate the number of guests you anticipate. Ask to view recommended reception room layouts.
A 15'x15' dance floor will accomodate 50-75 guests comfortably; add 3' to both length and width for each additional 25 guests. Therefore, a reception for 150 would be comfortable with a 24'x24' dance floor. Submitted by: DJ Billy James, www.billyjamesmusic.com.
• The First Dance - don't wait forever to do it and don't do it forever. One of the special moments of the reception is the bride and groom's first dance. Having your first dance immediately following the grand entrance is a great way to start the party with a flourish. As you are introduced, all of your guests are seated and more focused on the two of you than at any other time during the reception. Entering the room and going directly to the center of the dance floor for your first dance is sure to create what we call the "wow factor." Delaying your first dance until after dinner or after you visit each table of guests will deflate the energy of your reception. Submitted by: DJ Billy James, www.billyjamesmusic.com.
• If you happen to have several generations of guests at your reception, have the DJ play a series of songs starting with a song from the era of the oldest generation down to the youngest. This is a wonderful way to bring back memories of days long ago and mingle them with today's favorites.
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