The thoughts below were posted on a popular DJ forum, and I wanted to share this with you. Sadly, some DJs disagree with what I wrote below, believing that they have little impact on your wedding day. These are the DJs you don’t want to risk for your wedding. 

Whether you choose us or another entertainer, ask him/her if they know the impact they have on your wedding reception.

Ask them for examples! When I was asked for mine, I wrote the following… click the link.

This has been said MANY many times before by notable speakers/entertainer such as Mark Ferrel, Bryan Dodge, Randy Bartlett and Bill Herman. However, I want to bring this up because after some reflection into this, it always forces me to keep my shows fresh, never get tired of this, and always remember why I do what I do.

You’re NOT a DJ, MC, coordinator, lighting tech, A/V tech, etc. You’re an entertainer. This definition encompasses the aforementioned duties into one. Yes, we know it is our job to make sure all the guests are entertained and to give the bride and groom a night to remember. Heck, this sales pitch has been beaten against the wall so many times I have clients reciting it back to us!

Put some thought into it— do you REALLY know how many lives you are touching? Are you aware that NOTHING in that night will create the emotion that your talent can? Do you realize that no other vendor has the RESPONSIBILITY of turning that wedding into the most beautiful night imaginable or the biggest nightmare that a human mind can skew?

The counter-argument has always been that the love the bride and groom share and the emotions their loved ones share is more than plenty, all the DJ has to do is work with them. NO NO NO! Sure, there’s quite a bit of emotion between the bride and groom… but there’s also stress, maybe even arguments. Perhaps the family got into a fight about the color of the dresses? Perhaps some guests came in a crappy mood because someone got laid off the night before the wedding.

No, this isn’t a worst-case scenario– this is REAL LIFE. It is OUR job as entertainers to juice out all the positive emotion and use our GOD-GIVEN talents to void any negative energy. It doesn’t have to require a dynamic personality. It takes charm. It doesn’t take a 160 IQ. It takes attention to details big and SMALL. It takes skill. It takes timing.

Moreover, emotion is truly enhanced with music. Well, duh, everyone says this… but do you REALLY grasp this concept? What would your favorite movie be without music?

Still not convinced? Make yourself a sandwich and watch the next two videos. You must watch the WHOLE THING to get my point.

VIDEO 1:

VIDEO 2:

The same footage was used for both videos. But why are they SO different? Why was the first video completely void of any REAL emotion while the second video generated anticipation, excitement, and that “warm fuzzy” feeling?

Let’s look at the first video:

The music choice was completely wrong. This may seem obvious, but you need to keep this in mind for EVERY SONG you pick. Ask yourself: WHY did you pick this song? WILL this song enhance the emotion of the night? CAN this song create a dramatic timing? The song choices in the first video didn’t fit the event at all. You could see everyone getting ready, you can see anticipation in their faces… YET the music made it seem like “Benny Hill Attends a Rave.” Sure, some things fit well, but not enough to get over that ICK feeling.

You might not be able to explain it… but you can SENSE the music is wrong. Remember, if your gut says DON’T PICK THIS SONG, don’t even argue it.

*Dance floor is completely different since I doubt LOW or AYER would create ANY emotion except BOOTY MUSIC TIME!

Timing is KEY! The first video has NO timing at all, whereas the second video has the song choices timed in carefully! Each clip is timed to the beat of the music. While this isn’t possible in real life… you should get the point.

Attention to details. The first video has NO fades.. just a sudden stop for the music. I hope every DJ here at least fades (if not beatmix)… but some DJs (uncles with an iPod, lol) don’t. The reason I bring this up is not to talk about fading, but how such a small detail as moving a fader two inches will impact the emotion of the night.

Now with this in mind… how do YOU create emotion? How do YOU envoke the mood? No one ever cries because the DJ just made a nasty comment during a garter removal but then smiles because the cake matched the wedding colors. The cake, food, decorations, and everything else are important…. but they are TOOLS for the entertainer to use to create that emotion.

Now think about your introductions and announcements. Are they the same every time? If so, it’s not always bad… as long as you can put a twist on the outcome to create that emotion. Many of my clients watch my videos and want something done just like it was performed in the video. This can put me in a routine… which is why I try to pay attention to the SMALL DETAILS to really enhance the night.

When the first dance begins, or the father and daughter dance is in place, do people cry with emotion? Are cameras out and flashing? Is everyone’s focus on the B&G or the bride and her father? Whether or not you utilize the love story, custom introductions, improvisational techniques, lighting, video, custom soundtracks, etc…. you CREATE this emotion. You fabricated this call and response with the audience!

You are the entertainer. You are changing peoples lives on this day. You are creating memories that will last BEYOND a lifetime (since photos and video are forever). You are the reason people will know when to laugh, cry, clap their hands, and dance.

When these emotions don’t flourish how you want envisioned it in your mind, do you think: “I could’ve done this better?”

So. Do YOU get what you do?

(Think about this before your next gig and tell me how nervous you get, lol… with this post, I’m not saying I’m perfect…. these are just reflections I have based on what I learn)

Tags: Disc Jockey, DJ, DJ in Florida, Florida wedding dj, Lakeland, MC, Monogram, Name in Lights, Orlando, reception entertainer, table lights, Tampa, Uplighting, Winter Haven