Things the Wedding DJ Wishes You Knew
There’s more to DJing a wedding reception than throwing on a first dance. Behind the scenes, professional DJs must work with the couple to set expectations, understand tastes and needs, reflect their desires and make guests happy, too — not to mention reacting to the unexpected
We work more than four hours for your wedding. With planning meetings, production and creating a playlist, a professional wedding DJ will spend on average 10 to 12 hours preparing and performing for your reception.
Your musical taste may not be the same as your guests. Be open-minded to songs that will appeal to you and your guests without compromising your musical taste. A professional DJ can help you fill both needs to keep the dance floor happy
Considering a club DJ instead of a wedding DJ? Having a club DJ rock your reception can be exciting. But make sure he or she knows more than how to mix music. Today, the role of the wedding DJ has evolved into being a true master of ceremonies, someone who is comfortable making the appropriate announcements at the appropriate times. An experienced emcee can command attention, but does not need to demand attention — and knows how to react to the unexpected.
Back that thang up! A professional DJ will have backups in place in case of system failure, illness or personal emergencies. That includes backup equipment, laptops and hard drives, as well as having your playlist on multiple devices in case one goes down. That way your first dance doesn’t end up being a round of “Hokey Pokey.”
Things People Don’t Tell You About Being A DJ
While successful DJs are showered in fame and glory, there are many things people don’t tell you about being a DJ.
Most people who have been in the electronica scene have fantasized about being a DJ at least once. It must be amazing to see people dancing to the music you make, seeing how your music affects your fans, and getting paid to party, right?
Well, yes. Being a DJ is awesome at times, and it can be a great way to live out those high school fantasies you’ve had for all those years. They’re popular, they have sexy girls approaching them, and they get paid to do what they love.
But, there’s a lot that people don’t know about being a DJ. Here are some of the things that people tend to overlook when they think about their DJ fantasies.
Nightclubs don’t exactly advertise for DJs when they need a headliner. In fact, the only companies that will do that are those dinky little birthday party companies that are hired for middle school birthday parties. If you’re wondering how to get bookings, it all comes down to who you know, what your mixes sound like, and how convincing you can be.
And overly long and kinda silly list of things people do that annoys DJs
If there’s one thing DJs love more than telling people how they’re DJs, it’s how much they fucking hate people who fucking request songs while they’re practicing their art. We guarantee it. Try it. Next time you’re walking along a street and you see someone walking along the other way, we dare you to just say, “Hey what’s going on?” And 9 times out of 10 they’ll reply, “Hey mate, I’m a DJ and fuck let me tell you about this cunt who kept hassling me behind the decks last night.” No word of a lie. Any street. Any time. There’s more of them than vegans.
Weird thing is, even though people requesting songs from DJs is such a hated act, it still happens heaps. In fact, a recent study has confirmed that in the time you’ve spent reading this article so far, already 23 poor souls have had a phone thrust into their face with the name of some song in it, totally interrupting their flow and thus killing the vibe of the night.
To ease some of their pain (and also to help you not make DJs any angrier than they already are), we’ve compiled a list of things for you to keep on you at all club-going times. So next time you’re grooving away on the dancefloor dancing like nobody is secretly snapchatting you, and you feel like maybe you’ll have a chat to the DJ, pull this list out. And see if what you’re about to do is on this list. Because if you do, rest assured the 1000-yard stare that greets you upon request will burn a hole in your soul for all eternity.
Things People Say To DJs
People say some funny things to DJs when it comes to attempting to persuade you to play music that is not in the style of what you’re currently playing and/or doesn’t go with the theme of the night.
Most of these people don’t understand that you aren’t meant to be a jukebox, or an extension of what they were bumpin’ in their car on the way over.
A DJ’s job is to read the overall crowd and find a happy medium between what they want & what you have to offer. You are creating a journey that usually starts off as background music and slowly gets in their veins as the alcohol begins to kick in. You are creating a soundtrack for the night & although you are flexible, the last thing you want to do is get derailed from the vibe you’ve been building to play a request that doesn’t have anything in common with this theme.
Imagine how terrible some movies would be if the audience got to pick the playlist for the movie’s soundtrack. Imagine people bombarding the film booth with off the wall requests during the movie. I can respectfully say that Beyonce would completely ruin the flow of Donnie Darko.
So as we continue with this parallel between a DJ set and a movie soundtrack, lets discuss & translate some common things people say to DJs that attempt to derail us from the story we are telling through our track selection.
THINGS DJS SHOULD DO ABOUT COVID-19
The DJ industry is bracing for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a pandemic that will test the resolve of the entertainment industry as nightclubs close, events are cancelled, and uncertainty slows future bookings. Our challenge right now is to ensure the safety of ourselves, our family, and our friends, while still maintaining a business under adverse conditions and fearful economic times for everyone. The stock market is volatile – which brings fear to event planners, couples, and parents alike, as the market’s dip was also the first indication of a poor 2008 and 2009 booking season for many that were around. To that extent, I have created the following ten things you can do today as professional entertainers to help maintain your business, your client satisfaction, and your own peace-of-mind
STAY CALM
“This too shall pass” is a Persian adage that reminds us that the temporary challenges before us are just that…temporary. Even if the pandemic extends for multiple months, this will eventually appear as a blip on the radar of our lives. It may bring temporary financial hardship, fear, and uncertainty, but remember – we will get through this crisis just as we have done through other national emergencies and difficult situations. I have seen a sea of red posted on the calendars of multi-op DJ companies – resulting in tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income. This seems like the end of the world and the end of the business you built, but it doesn’t have to be. Take one baby step at a time. Don’t make extreme decisions or let your emotions get the best of you. Reach out to family and friends if you feel panicked or depressed. You’ve got this!
GET PREPARED
The pandemic has caused issues with getting cleaning items and food supplies. As soon as possible, ensure you have at 3-4 weeks of food on hand – rice, pasta, cereal, tuna, canned foods, nuts, frozen meats, baking items and veggies are all good options. As you get low on food, head to the store late at night (about 30-40 before they close) to reload your pantry – there will be fewer people to interact with, and workers will be busy stocking shelves for the next day. Don’t forget the cold and flu products – they can’t cure or eliminate coronavirus, but they may be able to help with symptoms, and while people aren’t sick, they are actually readily available everywhere as of today in my area of the country.
STAY CLEAN & HEALTHY
If you are lucky enough to still be working during this, be sure to use sanitizing wipes (Lysol, Clorox, etc. – that kill germs on surfaces) on your gear or on the station’s/club’s equipment, before and after each use. Make especially sure to clean microphones and any equipment touched by others during your set/shift. Keep your distance from patrons at clubs and strategically set up your equipment to prevent people from jumping up in your face. Wash those hands frequently with hot/warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds and sanitize with 60+% alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Eat plenty of protein and get lots of sleep (it will keep your body ready to fight off the virus and it will allow you to not snack or consume your food stockpiles from being awake at 3am). Don’t shake hands or touch your face, eyes, or mouth.
AVOID CUSTOMER & PUBLIC RELATIONS GAFFES
Crisis separates the men from the boys and the women from the girls. If you want to be professional, now is the time to shine. What’s the best thing to do about cancellations? Start with not posting social media comments like… “If I have to listen to one more b!@ch ask for her wedding deposit money back, I’m going to kill somebody!” Seriously, now is not the time to post anything unnecessary on your social media pages. Thanking customers for their support is a nice gesture, but worded poorly, may be a sign of weakness. Stand strong and confident (but not cocky) in the face of uncertain times. Have multiple people that you trust for their communication skills (not just other DJs) proofread any major post or email you put forward.