Illustration by Susy Pilgrim Waters
Ugh. I never thought I’d reach a point in the wedding planning process that I would dread or dislike, but I am there now. Tim and I are starting to look for a ceremony musician and a deejay for the reception and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
We love music and we really love to dance. We want a fun wedding that reflects our musical taste, which is wide and varied, and we want the music to help set the mood for both the ceremony and the reception.
We’re less concerned with the ceremony musician. We would like someone to play acoustic guitar and sing for the ceremony, and I feel that there are good resources available to help us find him or her. Musicians typically have Web sites, play local venues and have digital demo tapes that they can share with you. We will probably put that on the back burner for now because it does not feel too difficult. But the deejay is another story. How the heck do you know what you’re getting if you have not heard them in action? And how do you hear them in action if they only deejay weddings and other private events?
When we were invited to a private deejay showcase Tim and I thought it could be a great opportunity to go check out multiple deejays in one venue; maybe it would be a good starting point. However, the experience just left us more frustrated. Rather than take turns at the table at 15-minute clips, each deejay introduced the next guy, with each one more ridiculous than the one before. They talked with big, booming, ring leader-like voices, yelling into the microphone. We looked at each other in horror. Then they played about four line dance songs in a row and made the brides get up and dance. I slid down in my chair. Then, that was it. They were done. We bolted for the door.
It cost nothing but an hour of our lives, and it helped us figure out what we don’t want — no theatrics, no weird voices, and definitely no line dances — but we didn’t come up with any deejays to add to the “short list”. We walked away realizing that we really need to find someone who will listen to us and work with us to determine what would make great music for our party, but we’re unsure how we can find that person. So, we’re back at square one, and I’m too overwhelmed to even begin looking right now, so I’m going to take a break for a few days.
How did you find your deejay? What made you choose one over another? What advice can you give me?
I did most of my work online. I personally hired a band instead of a DJ for the atmosphere it adds, but you can do the same with a DJ. Most DJs have websites, yes, but go to a wedding website where you can read reviews from other brides. The internet is your best friend because you can email a variety of DJs a standard email describing who/what you are looking for and determine from their responses if they will work for you. I went to one showcase which was also a disaster. I recommend going with a DJ that is not managed by one of those companies that ‘showcases’ people and go with the ‘word of mouth’ DJ that doesn’t need to advertise. Craigslist is also very helpful!
That said…if it helps at all, I am using Philadelphia String Quartet (http://philadelphiaquartet.com/?load=flash) for my ceremony and Deja Groove band (www.dejagroove.net) for my reception. I also have a couple friends who are a guitarist & singer at many weddings in the area, but aren’t listed online.
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For the ceremony, I am fortunate enough to have a son (Brian) who was blessed with a beautiful tenor’s voice. He minored in music and sings with the renowned Mendelssohn Club Choir of Philadelphia. He also performs with Saint Joseph’s University Male Acapella Group “54th and City.” Our reception will be handled by DJ Mark the Spark. He is very popular here and in South Jersey. I highly recommend both my son and Mark.
I had The Pros for my bat mitzvah and my parents/grandparents anniversary party a few years ago. They were really great for both. That said, they’re pretty naggy when they have your name but you haven’t booked a dj yet.
Ladies, it’s true, most DJ’s are less than professional and rely on gimics to get the crowd on the dance floor. By professional I mean, they do not actually have background in the arts (music/theater) or sound technologies (broadcast/sound engineering). Most only know what they have heard or seen from others in the trade or what they have created themselves. Further, they tend to use your celebration as a chance to promote their business. In the past few years the national DJ associations have been promoting education to create a more professional trade. Here are some tips to keep from choosing the wrong DJ for your event.
The DJ you hire should provide you with service. If it seems that you are serving his needs, look elsewhere. You should be able to create a custom play list. The music for your wedding should reflect your taste with a mix for both young and old. The DJ should be able to mix many styles of music with no gaps or dead air in between songs. Nothing kills a party like dead air. Make sure to listen to a demo. A DJ of experience will be insured. Most part time guys do not carry insurance. This is an easy way to tell if you have a serious professional or a part timer. Last, in your consult if the DJ takes time to ask you about your ideas for the wedding, keep him/her. Remember this is your wedding, you should not have to sell your ideas, but rather be asked what you envision and helped to that end. Hope that helps.
I would highly recommend Mike Kelleher at Synergetic Sounds and Lighting. We could not have been happier with the way the night came out. Everyone was out on the dance floor the entire night and he gave us a cd of all the songs we requested. His voice was clear and he was not gimmicky at all. He was fantastic through the whole night and I had several friends and family members ask me for his contact information afterwards.