\u201cIt\u2019s just music \u2013 right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wrong.<\/b>\u00a0 Music, or rather, your entertainment, is KEY to a successful event \u2013 your Reception PARTY! Who has a party without music?!<\/p>\n

Now you may be thinking, \u2018I can just get some speakers, and run my iPod\u2019\u2026 Please allow me to assure you, this could be the biggest mistake you\u2019d make on your wedding. And I speak from personal experience here.<\/p>\n

When I was a bride, I had a VERY limited budget. And while I DID want to have a DJ, we had a choice to either feed people, or have music. Yes it really was that tight. But love prevailed, and we threw caution to the wind, and were married just the same. But not without some regrets. With the music \u2013 not the marriage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I always suggest that my couples consider putting their financial investment toward their memories \u2013 for themselves (through photo\/video), and for their guests, in the form of great entertainment.<\/p>\n

Guests may not remember what the bridesmaid\u2019s bouquets looked like, but they WILL remember how they felt, and if they had a good time.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the key reasons hiring a PROFESSIONAL DJ will give you the time of your life (and your guest\u2019s too!) for your wedding celebration:<\/p>\n

The most obvious \u2013\u00a0An excellent selection of music to suit all tastes.\u00a0<\/b>
\nWhile this may seem silly if you don\u2019t think it\u2019s important, or care about your guest\u2019s musical taste, but, this is a biggie. You really do WANT ALL your guests to enjoy at least some part of the dancing portion. Besides, who doesn\u2019t want to see Grandma shakin\u2019 her thang to some Beatles?!<\/p>\n

Ability to keep the crowd dancing<\/b>\u00a0by fading out music that clears the dance floor, and revving them back up with another kickin\u2019 song. Having someone manage the music selection LIVE will keep your party going. Can you imagine what would happen if you made a playlist on your iPod and it cleared the dance floor?! Who\u2019s going to manage that? It\u2019s pretty hard to recover from \u2013 trust me.<\/p>\n

Beat Mixing:<\/b>\u00a0 Skilled DJs know how to bring one song down and another up while mixing the two song\u2019s beats together \u2013 just like at the club, only it\u2019s your own awesome wedding!<\/p>\n

Sound Levels:<\/b>\u00a0Not all CDs are created equal, and neither are their sound levels. DJs mix and fine tune each song to ensure that no guest gets blasted, and so that the energy is kept at the same level in the room. Ever noticed that issue on your iPod? You\u2019re not dreaming, it happens. Imagine THAT full scale at your wedding!<\/p>\n

Allow me to interject my personal experience here.<\/i>\u00a0As a planner, I have encountered couples that insisted on iPod music. One in particular had a friend who was supposed to manage the music, however he ended up being seated too far from the soundboard, so every time the volume was too loud or too soft, he\u2019d come running from his table during the middle of dinner to manage it.<\/p>\n

After a while, he just didn\u2019t bother! And every time the volume went up or down, every guest\u2019s head would turn toward the sound mixer\u2026 ACK!! So I had to step up to become a permanent sound mixer, as well as toast prompter, kitchen cue-r, and everything else that a wedding planner must be.<\/p>\n

Proper Room Set Up:<\/b>\u00a0While you may think it\u2019s fairly a standard process to just set up some speakers, you may be surprised to know there is much more involved. Check it out:<\/p>\n

You should have a discussion with your DJ in advance about where the\u00a0VIP tables<\/b>\u00a0will be situated so that these guests can hear best (but again, not too close to the speakers either. Think about Grandma again who will be constantly complaining about the sound levels \u2013 she won\u2019t be able to hear the toasts, but then will be annoyed the all that \u2018noise\u2019 when the dancing starts!). Strategic advanced planning matters here!<\/p>\n

Circuit overload<\/b>. You\u2019ll want to know your amperage per device so that you don\u2019t blow the breakers \u2013 which may be linked to the kitchen, which is in the process of cooking your wedding meal! Oops. Yeah, that.<\/p>\n

Safety:<\/b>\u00a0Wires need to be taped down too. DJs know how to do this discretely and have ample cord to go around the\u00a0perimeter<\/i>\u00a0of the room, instead ofacross<\/i>\u00a0it! Additionally, some cords may need to go above the door frames for safety reasons and would need to be taped to the wall. However, if you hold your reception at a Heritage location, be rest assured, they have strict rules about what kind of tape can be used. Professional DJs know this and come prepared!<\/p>\n

Back up<\/b>: A professional DJ also has back up equipment should there be any sort of failure. They can quickly grab the spares, and get the party hopping again fast \u2013 and perhaps even without anyone ever noticing!<\/p>\n

DJ \/ MC.<\/b>\u00a0Not all DJs are great MCs, but some are, and they do know how to manage a microphone with ease. (*Hint: if they hold the mic like a rapper \u00a0– all choked up at the top while it looks like they\u2019re eating it, they\u2019re probably not going to be a great MC choice \u2013 on the next MTV awards maybe, but not your ideal MC).
\nProfessional speakers know how to hold a mic properly, they speak into it clearly, and\u00a0have good diction. Your wedding is not an opportunity to \u2018dis the establishment\u2019, so form matters at this occasion!
\nAlso, content is the main entree here, so if they\u2019re worth their salt they\u2019ll want to know your \u2018love story\u2019. They\u2019ll do their homework on you so they can host your day with more than enough information to make them look as if they\u2019ve known you for years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Entertainment<\/strong>: Aside from MC\u2019ing your reception, you\u2019ll want to keep the crowd entertained. Not to worry \u2013 a professional DJ will also provide creative input on how to keep the energy alive, and knows where to incorporate the \u2018entertainment\u2019 too. They also know the reception is about the couple (not them!), and will work hard to heighten the day\u2019s emotions too (yes, you really will want to laugh and cry with great joy.) These will be the most powerful memories of your celebration. The biggest belly laughs at our reception are some of\u00a0my<\/em>\u00a0favourite moments. Don\u2019t discount your DJ\/MC\u2019s role in this very important element! Look for someone with a balanced personality when interviewing them. If they\u2019re super shy, or over-the-top overt (where you can\u2019t seem to participate in the conversation), they may not have what it takes. Get references \u2013 they\u2019ll provide the most honest feedback.<\/p>\n

Your professional DJ will also not be crude, or rude, or drink on the job. They\u2019re working after all. And they will dress appropriately, in a suit. And they\u2019ll leave their 8 Ft. promotional banner at the office. Seriously.<\/p>\n

Accreditation<\/strong>: \u00a0Your DJ should demonstrate their professionalism by participating in associations that help keep them fresh and current in the world of wedding entertainment. Here are a few associations that support DJs, as well as educate you \u2013 the consumer.\u00a0Check them out:
\nCPDJA<\/strong>:\u00a0Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association<\/em>\u00a0(www.cpdja.ca<\/a>)
\nCDJA<\/strong>:\u00a0Canadian Disc Jockey Association<\/em>\u00a0(www.cdja.ca\/site\/home<\/a>)
\nADJA<\/strong>:\u00a0American Disc Jockey Association<\/em>\u00a0(http:\/\/adja.org\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n

So you see, there is MUCH more to a DJ than just his\/her music collection. And you certainly get what you pay for. If your DJ is a professional, this will be his\/her only source of income, and they take their job seriously, and charge accordingly.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t regret YOUR wedding by having your guests leave early because they\u2019re having a miserable time. A few hundred dollars difference to hire a professional DJ may make or break the kind of memories you\u2019ll have of your wedding.<\/p>\n

Choose wisely, and happy planning!
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Special thanks goes to the amazing Michael Coombs and Peter Merry, DJs Extraordinaire! I learned much of what I have shared here through them, both as a leaders in the wedding community, and through first hand experience while working with Michael (Peter \u2013 come to Toronto so we can finally work together!). You guys rock.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This blog was posted with permission from The Wedding Coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s just music \u2013 right?\u201d Wrong.\u00a0 Music, or rather, your entertainment, is KEY to a successful event \u2013 your Reception PARTY! Who has a party without music?! Now you may be thinking, \u2018I can just get some speakers, and run my iPod\u2019\u2026 Please allow me to assure you, this could be the biggest mistake you\u2019d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tips","8":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n