Soundworks The Intelligent Choice for your MC & Disc Jockey
Wedding Secrets
---That will effect your wedding
Zero Reliability
This is very important and something you don’t want to miss, since it’s something no one talks about and you will not hear about this anywhere else but here.
This may be hard to believe, but it’s 100% standard practice for DJs to squeeze two weddings into one day. Many hotels and resorts have both Luncheon Receptions and then Evening Dinner Receptions. This gives DJs the opportunity to book two wedding per day. Luncheon Receptions are more popular than ever, mainly because venues often charge less for Luncheon Receptions and with the state of the economy.
The Big Secret
Literally every DJ books two weddings per day, but won't say a word about it to anyone else but other DJs. This is a extremely serious problem, because with limited time between, DJs risk arriving late to the second one from delays like traffic, their vehicle breaking down, or numerous other possible delays. They also sometimes have to cut out early from Luncheon Reception to try to make it to the Dinner Reception on time. I've personally had many people tell me how mad they were because their DJ showed up late to their wedding. Even years later they still didn’t realize the reason their DJ was late was because he had a Luncheon Reception before their's.
Even if you’re planning a Luncheon Reception this is still a serious problem, since I’ve had many DJs tell me they intentionally play music that will drive guests away so that they leave early. I’ve also had people tell me their friend’s or family’s wedding DJ shut down early and left their Luncheon Reception before they wanted him to, and they never could understand why.
Why Two Weddings?
The only reason DJs book two weddings per day is because they can offer lower rates. DJs would rather attract more bookings with lower rates and in the end make more money, than if they only did one wedding per day. Like the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Just Your Wedding
It's apparent to me that I'm the only DJ that will not under any circumstance book two weddings per day. I really care about the couples that entrust their wedding to me. Even with the opportunity to make more money, I would never treat someone this way. If you decide to have me help you with your wedding, you will be treated honestly and fairly and as if you’re a best friend or close family member.
How To Choose A Great DJ
References
If a Dj has a track record of leaving 50% of the couples that he DJs for relatively happy, and leaving the other 50% upset from the terrible job he did, he still has all those other 50% of the couples to get good references from. These are the references that DJs give out. If you use references as a measure or guide in any way, you could be completely tricked and you wouldn’t even know it.
Awards
Awards displayed on DJs websites. Nearly all these awards are given according to number of votes that anyone can submit, similar to American Idol text in votes. In other words, I’ve seen most won by DJs having friends and family vote for them. A bit misleading.
Demo Video
Some DJs provide videos showing short clips of "edited" work, which cannot show any level of consistency, punctuality, reliability, or any customizability of music. It doesn't in any way provide you with information of the actual level of quality of service you should expect since the footage is selectively chosen and edited, so any DJ can put out a good demo video and hope it works as bait to hook some couples.
Meeting
Some couples make the misjudgment of thinking that if they can only meet the DJ in person they can see if they have a “fitting personality” or “how well they get along with him” and that this will definitely tell them if they should hire him. As your DJ I’m going to be busy working and running your wedding for you, so you need a professional and expert running your wedding and not someone you “feel” would be someone you could hang out with or go to dinner with. Just like voting for a president, do you want someone as your president that seems you would like to hang out with and have a beer with, or someone that is actually going to run the country right. Or a mechanic that seems cool and fun and you seem to get along with, or one that’s going to get your car running again and not ruin your engine while doing so.
This is How
It only takes one time of a serious mistake or poor reliability to destroy a wedding, and these tactics above will actually cause couples to make a calculated misjudgment of hiring a DJ that ends up being nothing like they were assuming he was going to be. So if none of these tactics work, then how do you know if a DJ is consistent at providing great work? He provides a guarantee that you will get great work. A DJ is in no way going to guarantee their work and put it on-the-line if he doesn't have an amazing track record and is confident that every couple that hires him is going to greatly appreciate the superior work and professionalism they receive. That’s how.
DJ Horror Story
Not Customized After All
It’s common for guests to come up to me when I'm working a wedding and tell me about their own personal wedding DJ horror story. The most common is that their DJ ruined their wedding by playing music they told him not to play. They all say nearly the same thing. They say our DJ seemed sincere, professional, honest, and promised he would definitely only play the music we wanted off our list, but he didn’t! They often say they even gave him a No-Play List, but he played many of those songs too. Then they tell me that no matter how much they pleaded and demanded he play off their list, he still just kept going back to playing music they didn't want.
Still Recommended
Also they usually say he came with good references, or that he came recommended, or something similar that lead them to hire him.
Do Other Type Events
Yes, it’s really this common, but one reason I know why this is common is because DJs play other types of events like clubs, business parties, BBQs, and teen dances where they have the latitude to play whatever they feel like playing. At those events DJs aren't tailoring the music to a couple's taste. This is what they then end up doing all the time, even when at weddings and even when they say they will stick to just your music.
DJs Drink
A major contributing factor is that nearly every DJ I’ve ever met drinks while they’re DJ-ing. Most DJs are stressed about talking in front of a crowed even after many years of doing this work, so they have a few drinks to take the edge off and loosen up. Still other DJs figure, “hey it’s the weekend, it’s a party, and why shouldn’t I have fun too?“ Also let’s face it, people mainly go into DJing so they can be at a party while they work. Some hide an ice cooler for drinks under their table, while others drink directly from the bar or ask guests bring them drinks from the bar in an exchange for playing their request. This is one of the single biggest contributing factor to a lot of weddings being ruined.
Only Customized
With me your music will be perfectly tailored to your taste. Unlike other DJs, every time I work I’m doing weddings, so every time I work I’m tailoring the music to a couples taste. I don’t drink when I’m DJing, I’m working to make your wedding great,and I can’t be off in any way, and just to reassure you that I don’t just say something and then not follow through, you have a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee with me - you will get your music!
Reducing Stress (#*!@*#) on Your Wedding Day
Relaxation and fun are truly possible with me as your disc jockey. This is because with my many years of exclusively disc jockeying weddings I have developed my craft and skill to facilitate all the fine and important steps and formalities with ease. My objective for you as the bride and groom is to enjoy your reception without stress and have fun throughout the progression of your reception.
Here are just a few examples of the many ways I can make a difference:
· I consult with the catering staff and/or your coordinator about beverage and dining announcements and see that the staff pours for the toast when they should.
· I will see that your photographer is present “in the room” and that their camera is ready to shoot prior to me announcing any stage of your reception. This way you get pictures of all the special events of your reception such as the first dance.
· Should you elect to have a Father and Daughter dance, a Mother and Son dance, or any other special dance(s); I will see that the necessary family members are present in the room, prior to the start of your first dance so that the transitions are seamless.
· There are many more things that other DJs miss and even many wedding coordinators during the wedding where one is used; things that make a big difference on how smooth your reception will runs. Some of which I will cover when we speak.
Just remember though that all disc jockeys say they help coordinate. They coordinate to a minor degree, but definitely not on the level that I do. I will make sure the two of you are aware and ready of each upcoming stage before announcing and without rushing the two of you, so everything will come together with ease. I am there to help facilitate your reception so you can relax and have fun, yet not feel rushed.
Budget Destroyed My Wedding
People ask me what types of weddings I DJ. I tell them I DJ all types of weddings; small, big, casual, nontraditional, lounge or cocktail hour style, formal, elegant, multicultural, and some with big budgets but most with not so big budgets. It should come as no surprise that no matter what type of wedding someone is having, there is no barrier to the fact that people don’t want their most important day of their life destroyed by their dis jockey.
Budget
Clearly your budget should be created in a way where you put funds where they matter the most and make the biggest difference. That would be the intelligent way to create any budget. But most couples forget this important rule when it comes to their DJ though. Before they even begin looking at DJs and have any idea of what they're doing and what’s out there, they already have a budget set for their DJ.
The music and announcing from your DJ covers more time than anything else; literally the entire reception. What your DJ does, says, plays, looks like, and how he coordinates will be experienced by your guests more than any single other thing involving your entire wedding. Your DJ will be the most important decision you'll make and where you should put the most consideration when budgeting.
Cut Back
I know money doesn’t grow on trees and the last thing anyone wants to do is blow money on something that’s not worth it, especially when you can only budget so much. But in this one area there is a reason to pay for quality to keep your wedding from literally being destroyed.
Unlike your DJ, you can cut back on flowers, open bar, horderves, dinning food, number of pictures, cake, video, open bar, or number of guests without totally compromising your wedding by having it destroyed. What will any of these things matter if your wedding is ruined by what your DJ does or doesn’t do?
Destroyed Weddings
I can’t help but feel sorry for all the many people I meet that tell me of all things having to do with their wedding, the biggest mistake they made was to not put a big enough importance on their DJ. They tell me they just didn’t realize how important it was to get someone that is at the top of their game and specializes in only weddings until it was too late. But of course, it was too late for them.
DJs Gone Wrong
You won’t find a list like this anywhere showing you what most brides and grooms experience from their disc jockey. Here are a few of the ways disc jockeys commonly ruin weddings:
Your DJ sending someone else out to DJ your wedding at the last minute. Other DJs normally send someone with little experience or some other problematic attribute to cover for the weddings they've booked.
Your DJ entirely missing your wedding day by being a no show because they forgot your wedding was that day. Scary and more common than what you dare to think.
Your DJ announcing by using the typical DJ style which sounds unnatural, over-hyped, and animated. Very goofy and embarrassing to have at your wedding.
Your DJ suddenly stopping the music and packing up to leave for home or another obligation and refusing to stay longer even when you want the reception to continue. They say, "I put in the four hour base that you contracted for and the additional time after that is optional on my part too, not just yours"
Your DJ emailing you just days before your wedding to tell you that something came up and that they have to cancel. I get a lot of these brides and grooms calling me at the last minute frantic to see if I'm available.
Your DJ not being reliable by arriving late to your wedding. Sometimes I hear of DJs showing up literally hours late to weddings.
Your DJ showing up with a really bad hangover and not being able to perform his work correctly. Many DJs became DJs since they are extreme partyers and tend to over do it.
Your DJ butchering your name by announcing it incorrectly when you two enter your reception. I don't know why, but this sadly is very common.
Your DJ announcing too much pointless information and annoying guests since your guests keep having to stop visiting over and over again to try to hear if it's something important he's announcing.
Your DJ acting shy and not announcing important steps to the point where guests have no idea of what's going on, leaving the guests confused or board and the reception in disarray. Believe it or not, some DJs have a real fear of public speaking.
Your DJ forcing your wedding to end early by intentionally playing music the guests are turned off by in order to get guests to leave, just because your DJ just want to go home or wants to meet friends out that night. Basically killing your reception off so they can leave. I've actually had a lot DJs ask me if I do this, since they seem to think it's a good idea.
Your DJ saying he dresses one way, but then on your wedding day he shows up dressed inappropriately or looking like a slob.
Your DJ forgetting to bring your First Dance song or just not bothering to get it. (I have couples all the time tell me this happened to them on their wedding day).
Your DJ not playing your music selections. For more on this read Wedding Secrets section, "Is Music Really That Important to You"?
Your DJ playing music that you hate and asked him not to play or playing songs from a no play list you gave him. Strangely this is very common. For more on this read on Wedding Secrets, "Is Music Really That Important to You"?
Your DJ not being a real wedding pro since he can't pick up on what time to play what particular songs. This is actually a real skill that not everyone develops, and if a person can develop this skill it only develops with many years of only focusing on and DJing weddings.
Your DJ getting drunk and rude with guests at your wedding. Yes this really happens!
Your DJs equipment going out in the middle of your reception and him not having back up equipment. What happens then? Your wedding is over! Some DJs say they bring back up equipment, but then don't always do it.
Your DJ embarrassing you by announcing at your wedding using crude, crass, or tacky jokes with the announcements.
Your DJ lacking the ability to accurately coordinate the stages of your reception and unable to keep things on track and together. This is actually a real skill that not everyone develops, and if a person can develop this skill it only develops with many years of only focusing on and DJing weddings.
Your DJ plugging in high wattage dance or room lighting and blowing the electrical circuits in the room out. No sound, no room lighting, no nothing. A terrible way to end your wedding! And yes I occasionally hear of this happening.
Your DJ suddenly misbehaving by being inflexible, difficult, and belligerent with you at your own wedding, when prior to your wedding he acted friendly and professional. This is high on the list of the most common things couples tell me happened to them during their wedding.
Your DJ unable to manage all the multiple tasks and variables that a DJ MC must manage in order to keep the reception from being ruined.
Your DJ not bothering to do the necessary pre-wedding work and showing up unprepared and wrecking your wedding.
Your DJ not being reachable before your wedding and leaving you stressed out and worried leading up to your wedding day.
Your DJ having to leave your wedding early or arriving late to your wedding because they've booked another wedding besides yours on your wedding day. Yes, shockingly all other DJs I have ever met really will book two weddings per day. But it's more money for them so they do it anyway.
If your music and how well your wedding runs is important to you, then take heed since these problems listed above are real and you can expect these problems with DJs. Odds are you can count on having at least two of these happening to you with other DJs. Of course it's always possible to be one of the lucky ones where the DJ does ok job at your wedding, but gambling with your wedding like this is crazy.
With me these problems wont happen to you. I have such a high regard for punctuality, reliability and brides and grooms that in all my 20 years of disc jockeying I have started the music on time every time. I’m into my craft as a true specialist, so the coordination and style of announcing is truly professional. When someone hires me for their wedding I know they are counting on me to pull through for them. A few attributes I poses that allow me to provide such a high quality and dependable service are; I'm extremely punctual, organized, detail oriented, caring, and a true professional. It may sound funny, but I'm even a DJ with a higher education; a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from a top highly rated university.
Disc Jockey MIA
It’s a common occurrence for brides and grooms to call me in a complete and total panic, franticly calling me to see if I’m available to DJ their wedding that’s in just a day or two. They are frantic and stressed out since they haven’t heard back from the DJ they hired and their wedding is in just a day or two.
Brides say, “I saw your website and can tell I can trust you and want to see if you’re still available for my wedding tomorrow?” They then say, “The DJ I hired some time back won’t return my calls or emails and I don’t know what to do other than hire someone else.”
It’s a very common thing for DJs to go MIA on brides and grooms. I can only assume it’s the type of person that commonly goes into this line of work, since a DJ going MIA is more common than any other wedding professional or service that brides and grooms can hire for their wedding.
You have to be more careful when hiring your DJ more than any other service or thing concerning your wedding. If you don’t have total and complete dependability and trust with your DJ you have a potential wedding disaster scenario on your hands.
Some DJs that have gone MIA on couples are some that brides and grooms tell me came highly recommended to them by other couples, location managers and other wedding vendors. So just because someone comes highly recommended appears to not make much of a difference.
I’m friendly, helpful, flexible, always accessible, and most importantly stress free for brides and grooms. A very large number of DJs end up being difficult to work with, not helpful, difficult to get hold of, and actually will increased your stress. Not me, I’m always accessible even on your wedding day. Sounds funny to say, but I don’t disappear or go MIA. If you hire me for your wedding you will be comforted to find that I’m 100% accessible to you at all times and an extremist in being responsive.