Why is it that DJs in the Dallas, Arlington, Frisco, and Ft. Worth areas vary so much in price? Aren’t all DJs the same? I mean it is just playing music for a few hours right? Well…
Brides & grooms are sometimes a bit new to the world of event planning. There are a lot of variables that go into your event to make it a success, not the least of which is the music selection. But other things include all the “behind the scenes” issues that an experienced wedding coordinator or disc jockey will handle for you on your wedding day. This might be speaking with photographers and videographers in order to make sure they are in the right place at the right times. It could include privately updating key guests of honor that a special moment is about to happen or making sure that people giving the toast know how to properly use a microphone. I often have to remind the food service people to be sure that help is ready for the cake cutting, etc., etc.
A good wedding DJ & MC also knows what to say and when to say it on the microphone. How many times have you been to a wedding where the “DJ/MC” could not be understood when speaking on the mic? Does that person know how to properly “sound check” a room and did they have the time in advance to set-up and test their sound? Someone offering top-notch service helps you avoid losing once-in-a-lifetime moments because they know what you want and will not say something inappropriate.
Most Party DJs know something about music – especially the latest hits, but a Wedding DJ has to know how to please a crowd with grandparents, children, and every age group in between – that only comes with experience. A DJ that works in clubs or has limited experience with weddings often consider themselves to be “the entertainment” for the audience that is at your wedding. In my opinion, the wedding DJ & MC is there to help you create an atmosphere for you and your guests to celebrate a wonderful day, not be the star of the show.
At weddings, there are numerous traditional events that happen. Possibly a Grand Entrance with your wedding party. Special dances like the First Dance, Father & Daughter Dance, Mother & Son Dance, Anniversary Dance, and more. Why do these dances happen? What are they for and what do they represent? When should they happen during the course of the event? Daytime events are handled differently than evening events. Some wedding traditions can create a lot of mixed emotions for some family situations. How does a DJ who has limited time with a bride and groom have a chance of handling these things correctly?
We do all this by planning your event in advance. An advantage of being full-time is that I am able to speak & meet with my brides & grooms as often as needed to make sure that I know what they want to happen at their wedding reception. We discuss and listen to music. Sometimes we make special edits of certain songs to make them fit the occasion just right. We make sure that the flow of the event is written down for me to show the caterers, photographers and videographers. We also create a general play list and a “do not play” list.
So many companies sell a 3 – 4 hour DJ package and farm it out to a part-time DJ that is usually not available (and sometimes not allowed) to speak with the client in advance. This may work for a small party, but the reality is that a quality wedding DJ & MC will spend many hours of planning, meeting, and preparing to make sure that everything is just right on your special day. Some companies now charge extra for set-up and tear-down times, travel costs and mileage. Liability insurance is now required by many facilities. Equipment must be cleaned and maintained, music files loaded, administrative files kept, websites updated, dry cleaning must be picked up! :^)
You want to make sure that you have the best chance for success on your special day with the least amount of hassles. With an average wedding attendance of 150 – 200 guests, the difference in price per person is usually only a dollar or two. In the world of wedding disc jockeys, it pays to be an educated consumer. This is one time, where you only get one chance to get it right.
Contact me anytime!