9am - 5pm April 2nd 2009 with our friends at Movin 100.3
Wednesday
Thursday
Hire a Professional or ......
I came across this article on the website Blissfully Domestic in the Wedded Bliss section. It is written by Carrien a former bride reflecting on the true meaning of her wedding day. She ultimately discovered that the truth is that the important part of the wedding is the fact that you are getting married. She does however discuss some of what went wrong on the day of and included this little nugget...
...the DJ didn't start the dance in time because he was my BIL(brother-in-law) and out drawing graffiti on our getaway car and there were key elements that were missing from part of the ceremony...
This happens all too often. What should be a very well orchestrated and stress free part of the day...music/entertainment...gets little attention and even less budget in the planning stages and then is the area that is most awkward, disappointing and obvious on the day of the wedding when something goes wrong. It won't matter how great the food was, how beautiful the tables looked or how stunning you were in your dress if the guests are left feeling that things were disorganized and they didn't have a good time. That will be their memory! All the other careful planning and attention to detail will be for naught because the guests are distracted.
Hiring a Full-Time professional Wedding Entertainer eliminates this distraction. YES it costs more than you thought it might but it is an investment in your peace of mind and insurance that all of your hard work, all of the money spent and time taken to make things just the way you want them, won't be overlooked because your BIL, or some part-time weekend DJ missed their cues, didn't know what they were doing and left you with what you paid for. Hire a professional.
Quick Stat:
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
Tuesday
Tips to control wedding reception expenses
I do my best to try and find good solid advice that I can share with my clients both here on the blog and when we are working together to plan their weddings. Most of what is on the popular bridal sites is the same regurgitated stuff and some of it is quite frankly sketchy and over simplified. It is always refreshing to come across a thoughtful and spot on list of recommendations, particularly when it comes to controlling costs, something many are concerned with this year.Today I found just such a website with just such a list. The website is Elegala.com. They have compiled a practical list of the Top 10 Ways to Save on Wedding Costs
If you are looking for honest and practical ways to cut costs without sacrificing your dreams there's a good place to start.
I would echo the advice of Tip #4 Enlist a Pro and extend it past a wedding coordinator and on to your wedding entertainer. Hire your professional coordinator to help you to get discounts from vendors and on goods. Then hire a professional Wedding Entertainer to execute the plan that you and the coordinator worked so hard to get just right. Putting a perfect plan, in the hands of an amateur or "weekend" DJ is akin to handing a kid a loaded rifle and telling him to go get supper. Unless you have a really rare kid, you'll be pretty hungry that night, or worse.
Ok that may not be the most elegant analogy but you can see what I am going for here. Don't gamble with the investment you have made in your reception however big or small. Hire a Professional Wedding Entertainer and then enjoy your reception knowing that everything will be handled just the way you wanted it to.
Quick Stat:
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
FYI - The parent company of the above referenced blog is Hawthorn Publications. While I agree with the wisdom expressed in this particular article I find elements of Hawthorn's business practices distasteful bordering on illegal. Hawthorn solicits Catering Halls and offers to create a "book" for them which showcases their venue and their preferred vendors. There is no charge to the venue from this book. All the venue has to do is give the salesperson from Hawthorn their "preferred" vendor list. The sales person contacts the vendors on the list and offers them advertising in this book for anywhere from $250 - $2000 or more depending on size of ad and location of venue. If vendors do not pay they are no longer considered "recommended" or "preferred" Not because they're no longer the best choice but simply because they wouldn't PAY for the referral. I'm pretty sure here in NY State that this violates Rico racketeering laws but I don't rely on venues for referrals so I haven't looked too far into it. I get 99% of my referrals from PREVIOUS CLIENTS! My Brides & Grooms are AWESOME and they recommend me directly to their friends. I don't pay them for this word of mouth advertising. They receive nothing from me for referring their friends. So why do they do it? I guess you'd have to ask them. I prefer to believe that it's because they want their friends to get EXACTLY the kind of attention that they received when I DJ'd for them. My clients are THE BEST! Thank you all for allowing me to be your DJ in the past and for referring me to your friends. I work as hard as I do for each and every one of you and I promise that will always be the case for the friends your send to me!! - J
Wednesday
WINNER - Bride's Choice Awards 2009
WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that JH Weddings-More than just a DJ! has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means JH Weddings-More than just a DJ is one of the very best DJ's
Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.
“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”
JH Weddings would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!
Quick Stat:
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
An interesting thought..
I am a frequent reader of Blue Orchid Designs and the blog written by it's founder Liene. Today I came across this post http://www.blueorchidblog.com/2009/01/your-wedding-budget-does-not-define-you.html on twitter.
I could not agree more with the statement that your wedding budget does not define you. Your wedding reception should be an honest reflection of you and your fiance. In the end it is a celebration of the much more important event. Your ACTUAL wedding. It is an opportunity to share with family and friends the joy you are declaring to the world at having found that special person with whom you want to spend your life. A lavish wedding will not turn your life around. It won't make you a better person. It won't make people like you more or think more highly of you.
This morning I received a phone call from a groom seeking pricing information for a Photo Booth for his reception. He indicated that he had a budget amount for the rental and wanted to know if I could adjust the pricing to meet their budget. Setting that request aside for a moment I expressed my congratulations and told him that I was truly happy to hear that he and his fiance were looking forward to sharing their special day with their loved ones. Then as I have had to do many times in the past, I had to explain that I would be unable to accommodate his request to lower the price of the booth and in fact that the price for rental would be increasing this Saturday following the Bride's World Bridal Show. I pointed out the fact that we offer the only professional photo booth in New York State for less than $1,000.00 and that our prices were already the best around. He replied.."I know, that's why we called you." I wished him the best and we ended the call. I don't know what their overall budget is but here is a picture of the venue. This is no
bargain basement event. I think sometimes wedding planning causes people to stretch themselves in an effort to have their reception speak about their position, success, or stature. This is unfortunate because once the party is over you are still you, only now you're married and in many of these cases in debt. Your guests will each take away their own impression of the day and you really have little control over that.
Devise a budget that works for you. Plan a party that is a reflection of who you are as a couple and enjoy this special moment. Hire professionals to protect the investment you are making, and make due without those things that don't fit into the budget. In the end you'll be glad you used your head, while following your heart. You'll still be married with or without Photo Booth pictures if you can't fit them into the budget and you'll be glad that you aren't paying interest on your memories for years to come.
Powered by: CostofWedding.com
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
I could not agree more with the statement that your wedding budget does not define you. Your wedding reception should be an honest reflection of you and your fiance. In the end it is a celebration of the much more important event. Your ACTUAL wedding. It is an opportunity to share with family and friends the joy you are declaring to the world at having found that special person with whom you want to spend your life. A lavish wedding will not turn your life around. It won't make you a better person. It won't make people like you more or think more highly of you.
This morning I received a phone call from a groom seeking pricing information for a Photo Booth for his reception. He indicated that he had a budget amount for the rental and wanted to know if I could adjust the pricing to meet their budget. Setting that request aside for a moment I expressed my congratulations and told him that I was truly happy to hear that he and his fiance were looking forward to sharing their special day with their loved ones. Then as I have had to do many times in the past, I had to explain that I would be unable to accommodate his request to lower the price of the booth and in fact that the price for rental would be increasing this Saturday following the Bride's World Bridal Show. I pointed out the fact that we offer the only professional photo booth in New York State for less than $1,000.00 and that our prices were already the best around. He replied.."I know, that's why we called you." I wished him the best and we ended the call. I don't know what their overall budget is but here is a picture of the venue. This is no
bargain basement event. I think sometimes wedding planning causes people to stretch themselves in an effort to have their reception speak about their position, success, or stature. This is unfortunate because once the party is over you are still you, only now you're married and in many of these cases in debt. Your guests will each take away their own impression of the day and you really have little control over that.Devise a budget that works for you. Plan a party that is a reflection of who you are as a couple and enjoy this special moment. Hire professionals to protect the investment you are making, and make due without those things that don't fit into the budget. In the end you'll be glad you used your head, while following your heart. You'll still be married with or without Photo Booth pictures if you can't fit them into the budget and you'll be glad that you aren't paying interest on your memories for years to come.
Quick Stat:
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
Tuesday
During the first dance...
Often I am watching a couple on the dance floor during their first dance. And I get to thinking...The wedding day has been absolutely magical. Every moment has been PERFECT.
Friends and family were on their feet as I told their personal magical Love Story and they walked through the doors into a room
that isgorgeous.............................................
magically twilight, the walls a beautiful match to the colors which trim the room in just the right shade....
as they floated into the room, waving and smiling and took center stage in the spotlight and....
she looked at him.....
and he looked back at her......
and in the that moment I know just what that groom is thinking......
Quick Stat:
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
Saturday
The iPod DJ: Time to debunk the Myth
Tonight I joined a Wedding group on Facebook and as I was reading through the posts the iPod DJ question reared it's ugly head. Here's the question...I have heard a lot of couples which are trying to save money using ipod, other mp3 players and laptops to play music during their wedding instead of hiring a professional band or Dj. Is this true? Does it make sense? What about the quality of the sound?
...and here was my reply...
I am a professional wedding entertainer, what many people call a "Wedding DJ"
If all I did was play music then an iPod & a full-time iPod attendant, might be able to do my job, but I am asked by my brides & grooms to do so much more than that.
I am...
- Wedding "Day of" coordinator
- Master of ceremonies
- Personal Advocate(Remembering what you've forgotten/making guests happy with your choice of music, etc)
- Professional Advocate (working with other vendors)
- Sound Technician
- Equipment Rental Company
- Music Programmer
- Personal Music Shopper(this music isn't free!)
- and oh yeah Disc Jockey (physically mixing music that guests will enjoy from those songs you've chosen from my library/"Reading" the dance floor/adjusting to keep the party going)....
But let's assume that all I "did" was play music. Here my experience allows me to "read" the dance floor and know not just "what" to play but probably even more importantly "when" to play it. No one can dance all night. Very few people want to at a wedding. They visit the bar, the restroom, and socialize. Programming a night of music for a wedding should consider all of these activities and allow for them all. That is what "reading" the dance floor is really all about. Let some people off so others can come back on. Let your friends join you for a special toast at the bar, while your older relatives dance to music they enjoy for a few minutes before we get everyone together for a great song enjoyed by all ages. Many brides & grooms are choosing the entire nights music. I think that's great. It makes the night very personal. It also challenges me to make sure that they get the reception they want and to find ways to present that music to their guests that doesn't make them feel left out. An iPod can't do that. Most novice dj's can't do that. I'd wager to say the friend or relative you're planning to ask to "man the iPod" won't be able to pull it off either.
Weddings are not precisely timed events either. Some activities take longer than you thought, others fly by in no time at all. So creating a fixed play list and "going with it" won't really do the trick.
If all I did was play music I'd still charge what I charge now because unless you plan on illegally downloading the music for your event you will not be enjoying the benefits of my 15 years of methodically, professionally and legally building my library. Not to mention the subscription services I belong to because I am a professional, which give me the hottest songs months before they hit the radio ensuring that I can play that "new song by what's his name" that your best friend/MOH is "just soooo into" right this minute.
And go ahead and rent all the gear you want. You could even duplicate my system, have it delivered and set-up but what happens if something goes wrong? Who's going to fix it? Oh and I suggest you rent a back-up system to be safe, that's what I do. I own a whole second set of equipment that I have on-site just in case. This is electronic equipment and things stop working for all kinds of different reasons. You see my experience with electronic gear says that Murphy...the guy with the law...He loves weddings and special events and if you're not prepared well....Oh and make sure to distribute those power amps over the correct number of circuits and with the proper Ohm load for the amp you rent. Ahh never mind I am sure that guy at the rental place, he was an experienced sound technician. He knows how to calculate the loads correctly to make sure that when you turn the system on it will all be fine.
If you're renting this system make sure you get some good public liability insurance. Even if you tape down the cords, and place the system carefully well I'd hate to see you get sued by a drunken guest who tripped on something. I pay for this insurance year round so for me it's pretty reasonable, for a one off event with the basic $1M/$2M Public Liability shouldn't be anymore than $2k or $3k dollars. Or you could just cross your fingers.
Can you save money by using an iPod instead of a DJ? YES! You'll only need 2 hours at your reception. Most guests will be ready to split as soon as the cake is cut. Provided they know its happening because the iPod didn't let them know and your cousin isn't really as good on the mic as you thought he would be. It's not really his fault he only had one or two drinks hey it's an open bar and it's your wedding he just wanted to celebrate.
I don't expect that my brides & grooms are aware of all these things. I'm sure there are a couple things that you may not have been aware of here. I want you to keep in mind that all of the above apply only to the playing of music. Item #9 on the list above. I haven't delved in to any of those other 8 responsibilities I am expected to take care of.
An iPod is great for listening to your favorite songs, watching a movie, catching up on a podcast. I doubt however any of us would want to spend an entire night listening to someone else's iPod locked into their "favorites" playlist. What an iPod is not? It is not a DJ. It is not a replacement for a Full-time professional wedding entertainer. It's not even a question of cheaper or not cheaper. It won't give you the experience you are looking for. Unless a cocktail reception is what you had in mind. If that's the case, call me I've got some great music suggestions for you.
It is time for the myth of the iPod DJ to die. I am not saying that you can't do it but you must realize that it is not DJ'ing your wedding. It is playing music, canned music, in a predetermined order by an individual who in all likelihood has never programmed a night of music before this time. The most important thing I can stress to anyone who is worried about getting a "bad DJ" is to simply get a Full-time Professional who has been in business for at least 5 years. Why? Because if they have been doing nothing but DJ'ing for 5 years and they are still working and still satisfying clients then you just need to make sure they understand WHAT you want and that they have the MEANS and DEMEANOR to pull off your wedding, YOUR way!
Just for fun, once again here's an iPod wedding for your evaluation.
Quick Stat:
www.jhatchdj.com
www.cnyphotobooth.com
Sunday
I hate diappointing people!
The last thing I ever want to do in my profession is disappoint people. Today I disappointed 5!Well it actually wasn't my fault.
People who visit my website are given the option to request a quote for services. The quote is instant and actually shows you the price right on the same page! This is based on the additional services requested along with the "base" price for up to 5 hours of entertainment. There are a lot of nuances to hiring Wedding Entertainment so I suggest that we meet to make sure it is a good match. People are surprised to learn that I am interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing me. The process takes some time and therefore I am able to "hold" dates for prospective customers that I know to be genuine.
In the case of the Photo Booth Rental quotes it is straight forward, here are the times and options, here's the price for the request. Happens instantly right in front of them. Often there are price shoppers and they are never heard from again. No sweat. I too price shop to ensure the best deal.
Every now and then though you get someone you know is serious and is making the decision to use my service or another. They contact us and ask questions and then....
NOTHING
I follow up with a polite email asking if I can help them make a decision by answering any questions they may have and...
NOTHING
and then there comes an inquiry for the same date, same times and POOF! The request for the contract follows immediately (you can do this whole thing right from the same screen!) and VOILA! the deposit is paid by credit card online and if that was the last open slot I have the unsavory job of sending emails to all those who just didn't act.
I sent 5 of these today. I hate hitting send on these because I get emails like this one...
"I regret to inform you that we no longer have a Photo Booth available for your event. As you know we operate on a first come, first served basis and our automated system just took a reservation for another event on your date. We are always expanding and adding equipment and should another booth become available we will contact you. We hope that we can provide Photo Booth service for another event in the future...."
" NOOOOO! We had no idea that the date would fill-up almost a year in advance. Isn't there some way that you could take our deposit since we made the first request? Please help us out. You guys are so much cheaper than every other company in Rochester. We had made our decision we just sort of forgot"I would love to be able to help everyone that makes an inquiry. I would love to hold dates indefinitely but I have a limited number of Booths to rent (Adding more all the time) and MONEY TALKS! You snooze, you..well you get the picture.
If you have made up your mind about a vendor for your event GET PROACTIVE! Get in touch and MAKE THAT DEPOSIT! Many of us, myself included only contact inquiries 2 or 3 times because we don't want to seem pushy. I can't stand pushy sales people and I WON'T be one!
Don't let complacency put the services you want out of your reach. Having trouble getting the deposit together? Call the vendor and see if they will work with you by reserving the date and taking several payments over a period of time. You'd be surprised how flexible they can be. And don't assume that you can put off the decision making process.
I have BOOKINGS for Wedding Entertainment and Photo Booths in 2010! Deposits are paid, and those customers don't have to worry they have the peace of mind of knowing no one can jump their claim on their date!
I hate disappointing people!
Quick Stat:
Tuesday
Monday
Here we go again (UPDATED)
UPDATED!!!!!!!!!! (Scroll down)I know that a number of wedding professionals read this blog so I am urging you all to read this recent post on the Perfect Wedding Guide website.
Maybe I am mistaken but doesn't the PWG derive most of its revenue from advertisements? Aren't there Florists, DJs, wedding planners, Bridal shops, reception sites and make-up artists paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars to advertise to brides in there regional guides?
Why then would the collective editors decide to bite the hands that feed them and publish garbage advice like this?
Sure you can DIY your entire reception and save lots of money. You'll also spend your entire reception running around putting out little "fires" as you go. iPod stopped playing in the middle of your first dance? No problem since it's the grooms iPod he'll just stop and head over to the boom box and reboot, so you can start over and try and salvage a memory that doesn't include a curse of Steve Jobs under your breath.
Have your friend do your make-up so that when you get all those digital pictures that your guests took with their cameras on automatic you'll look like a $2 street walker at 5am on a Sunday.
Collect flowers from a field behind your house? When you doing that for your June wedding? In the morning before the ceremony? You sure aren't doing it anytime before that unless you have an industrial sized refrigeration unit to store them in.
Shop consignment on your dress. Why not? Just be prepared for the astronomically high alterations bill from your local bridal shop. They aren't offering discount alterations on dresses they didn't sell.
Oh and my personal favorite hors d'oeuvres instead of a meal.(bet you thought I'd be more upset by the iPod didn't you?) Your guests will be joining you through at least one meal unless you are planning some sort of combined ceremony/reception that ends in 2 hours. Yeah finger foods will encourage them to linger and share your magical day.
With wilted flowers on the tables of a strangers house, while your guests struggle to dance to whatever you happen to have on your iPod playlist, as the seams on your thrift store dress burst open cause Aunt Millie is half blind and just doesn't sew like she used to.
That'll sure be a memorable event to say the least.
Seriously though I am calling on ALL WEDDING PROFESSIONALS to write/call/email the editors of The Perfect Waste of Money...er umm..the Perfect Wedding Guide and remind them that you pay their bills, and then tell them you will be canceling your ad because too many of THEIR readers are not becoming YOUR customers based on pitiful advice like this!
PWG Holdings, LLC
39 Skyline Dr., Ste. 1001
Lake Mary, FL 32746
PHONE: (888) 222-7433
FAX: (888) 933-3404
WEB SITE: www.perfectweddingguide.com
EMAIL: corp@pwg.com
Just for fun here's an iPod wedding for your evaluation.
My Comments regarding my discussion with Tammy and this email, which I only just received (via 3rd party it has not as of yet been sent to me personally) are forthcoming.Hi J.
I wanted to respond to your email below and follow up on the discussion we had this morning related to the below content.
First, I always appreciate strong points of view and applaud passion. As we discussed, NEVER at anytime would Perfect Wedding Guide in any way, shape or form do anything to intentionally harm anyone! Over the years our company has dedicated itself to serving wedding professionals all over the country and to serving brides and their needs. We do more to connect brides and business than any other media company out there. The tens of thousands of vendors we have worked with over the years have benefited and continue to benefit from the many channels we provide brides and business to connect through print, internet, leads, bridal shows, networking events and more. No one puts more into this mission that PWG!
With that said, I think that if you had taken the time to call me before you made assumptions about our motives and reasons for providing relevant content to brides, you would have found that first, I am accessible and responsive (as per our nearly 2.5 hour conversation) and would realize we have a greater goal in mind to provide good, quality content to brides. We don’t dictate that content, brides do and with ever increasing demands from our vendors to provide more brides – we can’t accomplish the goal if we DON’T give them what they want. True, Brides don’t buy advertising, but neither do vendors if we don’t have brides! There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t get compared to larger companies. In order to provide more brides to you, we have to provide the information they want and demand to maintain credibility with them. If we don’t, they seek it elsewhere, because as you know, there are plenty of resources for them to turn to such as social networking sites and blogs, where the crazy brides can really go to town unchecked. Does anyone really want those type of sites to become the primary path for wedding information and education for brides? I don’t think so. What was never mentioned in the email below is the many positive articles, networking events, educational seminars and webinars Perfect Wedding Guide produces and participates on all levels to help provide more accurate and helpful information to both Brides and Vendors. We are dedicated to connecting brides to businesses and have helped many businesses grow over the years!
We know that times are challenging and again, I have to point out that PWG does more to work with businesses like yourself to generate sales and revenue than most of our competitors. I believe that’s why the majority of negative responders to the article are coming from vendors that don’t actually do business with us. The vast majority of our advertisers understand and know our commitment to them. We live with them and work with them every day in the markets we serve. We have a vested interest in their success. I hope that in the future, a more productive path will be taken. Most of us want to do better. Most of us are dedicated professionals and work hard every day to improve our businesses and serve our customers.
We did pull the article in question before our conversation, but after our rather lengthy conversation, I believe we both walked away with a better understanding of our intent and your position. It is important to me to educate – that’s why I believe in the article, but I also believe we can make the article more powerful by providing the pros and cons of each tip. I agree, Brides need to know both the potential upside and downside to their decisions. I hope that everyone can agree that this serves all interested parties fairly and provides real, valuable content to the end user that is helpful.
I am truly sorry this article hit a nerve – it certainly was not intended to cause harm or create the illusion that professionals are not necessary. Obviously, an iPod cannot give the same entertainment value a DJ can, obviously if a bride provides her own flowers it cannot compare to what a professional will provide. We know the value of using professionals and we certainly have a long enough track record to prove that. But we also can’t ignore the huge movement towards D-I-Y and the need to give them good information. The truth is, it helps all of us create valuable talking points to address the D-I-Y bride and give the pros and cons to their decisions. I’ve seen other vendors make the very same recommendations to brides that were in the article, not to mention that every single wedding related publication and website had covered this topic. We can’t be so afraid to address the truth given 85% of all weddings (which is 1.85 out of 2.2 million weddings per year) spend the average or below on their weddings. 50% of all weddings (1.1 million) spend approximately half of the average. Our job is to make sure we are supplying ideas, tips and vendors for all brides of all budgets. If we do that, we will all get more in the end because we will have a larger market to reach. If we narrow that field, we limit the number of brides we can reach - and in this economy, most vendors need to be looking at all budget levels to survive (I said most, not all)!
I respect your position, I understand you passion and I think we came to a productive outcome. Talking to each other usually provides a more positive outcome than threats and hysteria. In spite of the reason we came to talk, I ended up enjoying debating and discussing the issue with you. Thank you for taking the time to do that.
Please let me know if you have any additional thoughts or would like to discuss this matter any further – I will make myself available. I hope you find this information relevant to share with your colleagues.
Tammy Elliot – President, Perfect Wedding Guide
Quick Stat:
Friday
I went to New Hampshire on Thursday to pick up our newest portable Photo Booth (see post below) and we are very happy with it!We are going to be at Temple Concord in Syracuse, NY on Sunday for their annual Party Planning Showcase. The event happens from 11am-2pm and I invite everyone who is available to come down and let us treat you to a free photo booth session to check out the new booth!
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Quick Stat:
Tuesday
An Intriguing question
I was asked this really intriguing question by Pam Archer
"What question do Brides ask me that most annoys me?"
To be perfectly honest with you there are no questions that Brides ask that annoy me. What annoys me are the questions they DON'T ask. I spend quite a bit of my time trying to draw out of many of my Brides a vision for their wedding reception. They are all really fantastic at setting the stage with the colors and flowers, beautiful dresses and carefully chosen music and lighting, but when it comes to getting down to the essence of their expectations I usually get "a lot of fun" or "really great music" or my personal favorite "not a typical wedding reception." The latter is almost inevitably planning a traditional wedding reception and is setting her expectations of the night based on some previous "typical" reception that she herself enjoyed attending. All it takes is a look at the planner, and request list. Traditional dances(1st dance, parents dances), check. Cake cutting, check. Toss the bouquet, check. Traditional or in their words (typical) wedding reception. So how can this Bride say that she wants "something different?" What these things usually boil down to after about an hour of questions from me is...
I want lots of people dancing, laughing, and generally interacting in a large group with one another and I don't want to hear the same songs I heard at the last 12 weddings. BUT I want to have the same experience I had DURING those songs.
That's where it takes experience to to know why people react like they do to these "classic" wedding songs.
Too often the concerns over having what DJ's in the business have come to refer to as "cookie cutter" weddings have more to do with music selection than they do with any other elements of a reception. Play the Electric Slide and 95% of the time the dance floor will fill up. Play The Cha Cha Slide and the odds are even higher. Need to get all ages up and dancing? Celebration, YMCA, Shout, The Twist, We Are Family, Old Time Rock and Roll, etc all will serve you well. Why? Because they are familiar and comfortable and everyone at a wedding who isn't a natural dancer has got their "moves" all worked out for those songs. It's like an old shoe...worn out, ragged and ugly, but oh so comfortable and familiar.
So as a wedding entertainer you have a few choices.
First you could just embrace the cheese. You become a Cheesy Wedding DJ because well, it's easy, it's usually inoffensive, it's like vanilla ice cream always there and always safe.
Then you can try and Change the cheese. Sometimes it's just enough to swap out all the songs for lesser played alternates with the same groove, and general feel. The difficulty here usually lies in the closeness to the real thing. Guests start asking for the same old same old, and when you don't play their requests, well lets just say you are no longer a great DJ to that person. You're just the guy who didn't play the Macarena.
My personal choice is something else. I use every detail I can tear from the Bride about her wedding day plans, and expectations and I use that as my palette. I use every minute and every song to establish an atmosphere that moves toward achieving the Bride's stated goal of dancing and shared moments with her guests. I use my opportunities during formal activities when I get to address the guests to "get them on my side" and to remind them that they are there to celebrate the Bride & Groom. I work with the Bride to plan for moments together with her Husband, family, and friends. We craft truly personal activities that reflect the actual people getting married while emphasizing how special they feel each and every guest is to them. I also tell my Brides and Grooms and their bridal party members as you do so will the guests. If the Bride and Groom dance, so will the guests. If the Bride & groom mingle and talk. So will most of their guests. There's nothing wrong with that kind of reception just as long as it is what the Bride & Groom want. In 15 years I have encountered only 2 real "cocktail" style receptions where dancing was not a big expectation. They were fabulous events with brilliant and very personal almost intimate moments planned in advance.
So in short...(LOL)...it's not the questions that Bride's ask it's the one's they don't ask. How will you make my wedding reception mine and mine alone as unique as my future husband and I. As special as all of these people we care enough to share this day with. How will you do that without playing those tired old songs? Oh am I thrilled when I get that rare bride who knows what she wants and is bold enough to ask those questions. I look her right in the eye and smile and say....
I am so glad you asked.
I CANNOT be rented!
So I was reading over at a popular wedding site and came across an article offering advice to brides & grooms regarding music. The article was...shall we say....fluffy? I was about to click away and then this caught my attentionOnce the ceremony is complete and the newlyweds along with their bridal party and guests move along to the wedding reception, they should find themselves in an establishment which has music playing as well. The main choice which the couple needs to decide upon is whether to have a DJ or live band play at their wedding reception. There are a few considerations when trying to choose between the two.There are many things that I take exception to in this section of the article.
There are pros and cons to having a DJ play music at the reception. Some of the pros associated with DJs include less expensive fees, greater selection of music and the bride and groom will always know what the music will sound like, as it is prerecorded. Some of the negative aspects which one may find with a DJ is that there is only one individual playing the music, there is a lack of variety in song versions and the DJ may not be as lively as a band.
When considering having a live band play at the reception, it is important to consider some of the positive and negative aspects of doing so. On the bright side, when the couple has a live band play at their reception they will have lively entertainment by the individuals playing the music, there may be more exciting variations to the songs and it provides a more elegant and personal atmosphere to the special day. With regard to potential negative aspects of having a live band, the band members may not sound as good as on their demo tape, they may not have as many musical selections and they will most likely be pricier than renting a DJ would be.
How exactly is a band more "personal" than a skilled wedding entertainer/DJ?
You want more exciting versions of a song I have remix upon remix of the most popular tunes and if by chance I don't find a remix I will do one live on the spot. I don't think this is something most B&G's are seeking for their reception. My experience is that the standard version of a song is the one people truly want to hear. Not a "good cover" with an extended "jam" in the middle!
Want custom introductions for your bridal party(different specific songs for each couple)? I did a party this year with 12 couples in the bridal party and custom edited music from 30 different songs to personalize their introductions. Good luck having the band pull that one off.
Now I agree that a band is certainly a lot more entertaining to watch and if that is what you want, something for your guests to watch then have your DJ provide video screens for the party and take it to another level, but most times I find that the B&G want to enjoy their friends and family, while dancing to some good songs. It is my philosophy that the B&G should be the primary focus of the guests, not me and certainly not some raucous floor show.
Too each his own.
Here is where I got "tweaked"
they will most likely be pricier than renting a DJ would be.I can be hired to do an event, but I am not a commodity to be rented!
This is the problem with some so called wedding planners ( I said some - I actually love working with a good qualified wedding planner at an event) They view the vendors as merely commodities to be shuffled around, and too often to be treated poorly, dismissively and too often without even the slightest professional courtesy. I never understand this. What benefit is there to a wedding planner in alienating any if not all of the vendors at an event? None that I can see. Your wedding entertainment, be it DJ or band, should be professionals with wedding experience. If they are they deserve the respect that their years of experience has earned them. You don't rent people. Your rent, chairs, tents, lights, etc...NOT PEOPLE!
Treat your vendors courteously and respectfully and they will work even harder than you ever imagined possible to give you your wedding, YOUR way
Quick Stat:
The fastest way to save the MOST money at your reception!
I read this online today and I am not sure whether I agree with this strategy or not. Here it is for your consideration.........
Just something to think about!
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Want to know the fastest and easiest way to save big money on your wedding?What do you think? Sounds reasonable but I know from experience that the guest list is a BEAST and one that is extremely hard to tame! Many brides and grooms spend weeks on making their list. Perhaps there's something in the amount of time spent dealing with this issue. Sort of a "can't see the forest for the trees" thing. Here's a thought take a look at your guest list and picture yourself intreacting with each person or couple on the list. When you get to a shudder or a feeling that is less than true exuberance make a note of that name. Then put the list away for a week, come back and read ONLY those names and see if your feeling is the same. If the mere thought of dealing with a guest makes you uncomfortable now, it probably won't change on YOUR big day.
Reduce the number of guests you invite!
At an average cost of $50-$100 per guest (for food, drinks, tips, taxes, etc.) you can save a lot of money really fast! Here’s a fact: Most brides and grooms invite TOO MANY people to their wedding! After the wedding, over 90% feel that they could have saved money by not inviting some of the people they felt obligated to invite!
If you are thinking of 250 people and you trim it to 225, you save anywhere from $1250 to $2500 dollars!! This alone pays for your DJ, or a professional videographer! Trim it to 200 and you have paid for your honeymoon!
Never forget: 90% of brides and grooms come away from their wedding realizing that they wasted a lot of money inviting people that they really didn’t have to! Trim that guest list! In fact, you are sure to be one of the 90% if you do not review and trim the list at least 5 times!!!! Trim that guest list! Look at all the money you will save!
Just something to think about!
Quick Stat:
Monday
Last Minute Crisis: Disasters that occur the Week of the Wedding, and How to Avoid Them”
Here are some more common Week of the wedding / Day of the wedding emergencies and strategies to prepare to cope with them.
Keep the bench DEEP!
A member of the bridal party is called out of town for his or her job or is in an accident, or too sick to be in the wedding. Plan for this! When you make up your list of bridesmaids and groomsmen, list a couple of “alternates” just in case!
Sitting with your back to the driver in the limo.
With all the excitement, you may be overly warm, you start feeling queasy….and get sick! Some people can get motion sickness sitting in a car in a way that their body is not accustomed to. Limo drivers are the best! And good at being smooth drivers, but sit facing the driver!
Your uncle’s old Ford broke down.
You want to save some money on a limo and your uncle has an old classic car he volunteers to drive you in, but it breaks down. The car isn’t a bad idea, the solution is to have a friend drive behind you just in case that old classic dies!
Early Bird NOT the worm!
You are having the pictures taken before the ceremony and someone is late! This can ruin the whole schedule very quickly! Taking pictures before your ceremony is a great idea but only if you insist that everyone be very early. What does “early” mean? Here’s a good standard: If they had a flat tire, they could get it fixed and still be on time!”
Perfume going in...
A headache or upset stomach because you drank champagne on an empty stomach. Most of us here in the real world rarely drink it so we aren’t prepared for what it can do to us. Eat a little something before downing the bubbly! It may save your night!
Here's a Tip!
Gratuities for service providers are traditional during the wedding day. While in most situations a gratuity is given for EXCEPTIONAL service, in the wedding business some companies actually include the gratuity in the contract. Tips for the servers, the priest or minister, limo driver, DJ, videographer, photographer, bartenders, etc can easily add up to hundreds of dollars! Decide how much you have spent and tip accordingly, as you would in a restaurant, better service gets a bigger tip!
Not breaking in your shoes!
And this goes for the whole bridal party! Not being able to dance at your own wedding without a lot of pain (or your maid of honor can’t dance with you to all your favorite songs from the college days) is a real disappointment. Plan ahead! Even bring a second pair of shoes for dancing! Remember, you will set the tone for the reception. And if the guests don’t see you dancing, they will be less inclined to dance as well!
Not packing a “Wedding Emergency Kit”.
Put a little bag together containing the following: A needle and thread, An extra pair of contacts, Asprin or Tylenol, Tums, Breath Mints, Make up. An extra pair of Panty Hose, Shoe polish for touch ups, Band-Aids, Tissues, Safety pins, AND, Whatever else you can think of! Don't want one more thing to remember then order one HERE for only $39!
Remeber the wisdom of Poor Richards Almanac.."An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Keep Murphy and his nasty law off your reception guest list!
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Keep the bench DEEP!
A member of the bridal party is called out of town for his or her job or is in an accident, or too sick to be in the wedding. Plan for this! When you make up your list of bridesmaids and groomsmen, list a couple of “alternates” just in case!
Sitting with your back to the driver in the limo.
With all the excitement, you may be overly warm, you start feeling queasy….and get sick! Some people can get motion sickness sitting in a car in a way that their body is not accustomed to. Limo drivers are the best! And good at being smooth drivers, but sit facing the driver!
Your uncle’s old Ford broke down.
You want to save some money on a limo and your uncle has an old classic car he volunteers to drive you in, but it breaks down. The car isn’t a bad idea, the solution is to have a friend drive behind you just in case that old classic dies!
Early Bird NOT the worm!
You are having the pictures taken before the ceremony and someone is late! This can ruin the whole schedule very quickly! Taking pictures before your ceremony is a great idea but only if you insist that everyone be very early. What does “early” mean? Here’s a good standard: If they had a flat tire, they could get it fixed and still be on time!”
Perfume going in...
A headache or upset stomach because you drank champagne on an empty stomach. Most of us here in the real world rarely drink it so we aren’t prepared for what it can do to us. Eat a little something before downing the bubbly! It may save your night!
Here's a Tip!
Gratuities for service providers are traditional during the wedding day. While in most situations a gratuity is given for EXCEPTIONAL service, in the wedding business some companies actually include the gratuity in the contract. Tips for the servers, the priest or minister, limo driver, DJ, videographer, photographer, bartenders, etc can easily add up to hundreds of dollars! Decide how much you have spent and tip accordingly, as you would in a restaurant, better service gets a bigger tip!
Not breaking in your shoes!
And this goes for the whole bridal party! Not being able to dance at your own wedding without a lot of pain (or your maid of honor can’t dance with you to all your favorite songs from the college days) is a real disappointment. Plan ahead! Even bring a second pair of shoes for dancing! Remember, you will set the tone for the reception. And if the guests don’t see you dancing, they will be less inclined to dance as well!
Not packing a “Wedding Emergency Kit”.
Put a little bag together containing the following: A needle and thread, An extra pair of contacts, Asprin or Tylenol, Tums, Breath Mints, Make up. An extra pair of Panty Hose, Shoe polish for touch ups, Band-Aids, Tissues, Safety pins, AND, Whatever else you can think of! Don't want one more thing to remember then order one HERE for only $39!
Remeber the wisdom of Poor Richards Almanac.."An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Keep Murphy and his nasty law off your reception guest list!
Quick Stat:
Thursday
Always so much happening
There's always so much going on that I sometimes wonder if I can keep up with it all. The Photo Booth inquiries have now reached the point of ridiculousness. I would need at least 5 booths to cover the inquiries we already have. Much of my time and attention during the day are being devoted to returning phone inquiries and replying to emails.
I guess it never occurred to me that the Photo Booth rentals might actually be good for DJ business as well. I know, I am supposed to be "the marketing guy" but this one just escaped me. Anyway many brides are finding their way to the DJ side of the website and inquiries are up for DJ as well. 2009 may well be my best year ever.
I was looking at site referrals today, the way people get to the website from the web itself and I noticed a bunch of referrals from www.lisa-walsh.com. Lisa is a wedding photographer of extraordinary talent as you will plainly see if you click over to her page. I get work with a lot of photographers but Lisa and her husband were two of the nicest professionals it has been my pleasure to work with.
And finally...a complete and total website redsign is underway! Go on over to JHatchDJ.com and meet JH Weddings!
Quick Stat:
Monday
Why Choose a Full Time Professional Wedding Entertainer?
Weddings are a special time in our lives where we celebrate the love two people share, and the bonds that tie all of us together. Planning for such an important occasion can be daunting with so many decisions and things to plan. You need a venue, officiant, florist, caterer, photographer, videographer, and of course entertainment. If you want things to run smoothly you'll need a wedding coordinator, but they can be expensive. If you have the money a high quality wedding planner can save you hundreds of dollars almost paying for their fee. Too often however brides & grooms just can't justify the expense. Often the caterer will offer coordination services, but they are mainly concerned with coordination of the food. There are too many facets to the job of catering to allow their full attention to the details in the "front of the house."So now what?
Do you really want to put a friend or family member in charge? Not only will they not have the opportunity to enjoy your reception but unless they have years of experience you are trusting your HUGE investment to, well an amateur. Their is another way. Hire a Premium Wedding Entertainer.
In addition to programming the music that you want to hear to set the tone for your event, they are already the one's who are responsible for making sure that the event happens just the way you envision. Who makes all the announcements? Who spends hours working with you on the details of the event? It's really the difference between a "DJ" and a Full-Time Wedding Entertainer. Experience, knowledge and attention to detail.
It is extremely important that you select a Full time Professional Wedding Entertainer that knows how to run a wedding. Most times the DJ/MC will be coordinating the traditional events of the evening based upon a time line worked out with the couple beforehand. By choosing a Professional Wedding DJ/MC you can guarantee that the night will run smooth and all of your guest will have a good time. That's really what it's all about, having a good time. An experienced Wedding Pro knows how to involve all of the guests so everyone feels like part of the action, playing appropriate music at the right time to get everyone dancing and having fun.
There's just something different about a Full-time Wedding Entertainer. When all you do is focus on bringing the wedding dreams of your clients to life it is your life's work. There is a whole other level of service to be experienced. No "day" job to interfere or distract from the careful attention to each and every event. No waiting til after business hours for a return phone call, or to receive a reply to an email. A full time pro can give you the kind of attention that your reception deserves.
With thousands of dollars invested in food, flowers, dresses and more don't you want a professional with experience and whose only focus is on you and your party?Planning your wedding with a full time professional wedding DJ is also a snap. Most premium wedding entertainers provide easy-to-use Planning Forms and an Online Music Database, so you can make sure everything goes the way you want. A true professional will ask a lot of questions to discover what it is that YOU want. There shouldn't be too much "I do this" or "I do that" but you should hear plenty of "What did you have in mind for..", or "When you close your eyes how do you see this event unfolding?" A Full time professional has the time to spend with you to ensure that your event happens YOUR way.
There are no "do overs" on your wedding day. Don't trust a lifetime of memories to "just any DJ." Protect your investment hire an experienced Full Time Professional Wedding DJ.
Quick Stat:
A General Time Table
With so much to do, every bride needs a surefire way to get organized and stay on track as she counts down toward that all-important day. Here’s a guide and checklist you won’t want to be without.
12 Months Before
*Buy a wedding planner and organizer, which is one of the true bargains for brides. (The only realistic alternative to not being well organized is hiring a wedding consultant to manage the details for you.)
*Talk with your fiancé (and parents if they will be paying the bill and adding to the guest list) about the size and a budget, possible date, and location for the wedding.
*Reserve the ceremony and reception sites. (If the wedding will take place in a large city, don’t dilly dally on this one. Wedding venues can be booked up solid for a year.)
*Book your DJ. What? you say a Whole year in advance. Yes. The times have changed and professional wedding DJ's have grown their referrals by word of mouth. If you want to have choices between the premium Wedding DJ's in Syracuse, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or Massachusetts you need to start looking now. It would be disastrous to delay and find that you must settle for less than you desire.
*Begin shopping for your dress. (You could be looking for that perfect gown for months, and most shops need at least four months to fill an order. Look for styles appropriate for the wedding venue and time of
day.)
*Shop for or begin making save-the-date cards.
*Send your engagement announcement to newspapers.
10 Months Before
*Make an appointment to meet with your clergyman. (At the time you make your appointment, let him know your wedding date. You and your fiance should arrange to meet with him as soon as possible, especially if you live in a large city or are planning to write your own wedding vows.)
*Begin scouting around for a baker, caterer, florist, musicians, and photographers. (Once you have found them, ask about and review price options.)
8 Months Before
*Research honeymoon destinations and prices.
*Begin the guest list. (Generally, half of the invited guests are the bride’s
and half are the groom’s.)
*Order your dress.
*Choose bridal registries and gifts you would like to receive.
*Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests.
6 Months Before
*Mail save-the-day notices.
*Select menu and flower arrangements.
*Order wedding stationery.
*Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses.
*Reserve rentals (tents, fans, etc.).
*Make honeymoon and flight reservations.
*Reserve hotel room for your wedding night.
4 Months Before
*Finalize guest list.
*Have first dress fitting.
*Order wedding rings.
*Schedule rehearsals.
*Find out if blood tests will be required.
*Get change-of-name forms.
*Visit the formal wear shop.
2 Months Before
*Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes.
*Pick out shoes. (When you get them home, don’t forget to scuff up soles
to prevent slipping.)
*Mail wedding invitations.
*Finalize vows and give copies to clergyman and groom.
*Select gifts for Bridesmaids & Groomsmen.
*If necessary, get change of address forms from post office.
1 Month Before
*Have final dress fitting.
*Pick up rings.
*Have programs printed.
*Confirm all reservations.
*Send announcement to newspapers.
2 Weeks Before
*Get marriage license.
*Make final arrangements with photographer.
*Organize seating plans.
*Begin writing thank-you notes.
*Type up toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception.
*Give final guest count to caterer.
1 Week Before
*Pack for the honeymoon.
*Make necessary banking arrangements.
*Host bridesmaids’ party and distribute gifts.
*Pick up wedding dress.
*Confirm rehearsal dinner plans with attendants.
*Final meeting with DJ to go over the plans and music selections
1 Day Before
*Have manicure and pedicure.
*Attend rehearsal and dinner.
*Mail announcements.
Wedding Day
*Eat breakfast. DO NOT SKIP THIS MEAL! It may be the last time you eat until the reception and you need the energy to get through the day feeling good. Don't ruin the day because your feeling run down or faint because you skipped breakfast!
*Visit hairstylist and have nails touched up.
SHOW TIME!
Best Wishes!
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12 Months Before
*Buy a wedding planner and organizer, which is one of the true bargains for brides. (The only realistic alternative to not being well organized is hiring a wedding consultant to manage the details for you.)
*Talk with your fiancé (and parents if they will be paying the bill and adding to the guest list) about the size and a budget, possible date, and location for the wedding.
*Reserve the ceremony and reception sites. (If the wedding will take place in a large city, don’t dilly dally on this one. Wedding venues can be booked up solid for a year.)
*Book your DJ. What? you say a Whole year in advance. Yes. The times have changed and professional wedding DJ's have grown their referrals by word of mouth. If you want to have choices between the premium Wedding DJ's in Syracuse, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or Massachusetts you need to start looking now. It would be disastrous to delay and find that you must settle for less than you desire.
*Begin shopping for your dress. (You could be looking for that perfect gown for months, and most shops need at least four months to fill an order. Look for styles appropriate for the wedding venue and time of
day.)
*Shop for or begin making save-the-date cards.
*Send your engagement announcement to newspapers.
10 Months Before
*Make an appointment to meet with your clergyman. (At the time you make your appointment, let him know your wedding date. You and your fiance should arrange to meet with him as soon as possible, especially if you live in a large city or are planning to write your own wedding vows.)
*Begin scouting around for a baker, caterer, florist, musicians, and photographers. (Once you have found them, ask about and review price options.)
8 Months Before
*Research honeymoon destinations and prices.
*Begin the guest list. (Generally, half of the invited guests are the bride’s
and half are the groom’s.)
*Order your dress.
*Choose bridal registries and gifts you would like to receive.
*Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests.
6 Months Before
*Mail save-the-day notices.
*Select menu and flower arrangements.
*Order wedding stationery.
*Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses.
*Reserve rentals (tents, fans, etc.).
*Make honeymoon and flight reservations.
*Reserve hotel room for your wedding night.
4 Months Before
*Finalize guest list.
*Have first dress fitting.
*Order wedding rings.
*Schedule rehearsals.
*Find out if blood tests will be required.
*Get change-of-name forms.
*Visit the formal wear shop.
2 Months Before
*Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes.
*Pick out shoes. (When you get them home, don’t forget to scuff up soles
to prevent slipping.)
*Mail wedding invitations.
*Finalize vows and give copies to clergyman and groom.
*Select gifts for Bridesmaids & Groomsmen.
*If necessary, get change of address forms from post office.
1 Month Before
*Have final dress fitting.
*Pick up rings.
*Have programs printed.
*Confirm all reservations.
*Send announcement to newspapers.
2 Weeks Before
*Get marriage license.
*Make final arrangements with photographer.
*Organize seating plans.
*Begin writing thank-you notes.
*Type up toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception.
*Give final guest count to caterer.
1 Week Before
*Pack for the honeymoon.
*Make necessary banking arrangements.
*Host bridesmaids’ party and distribute gifts.
*Pick up wedding dress.
*Confirm rehearsal dinner plans with attendants.
*Final meeting with DJ to go over the plans and music selections
1 Day Before
*Have manicure and pedicure.
*Attend rehearsal and dinner.
*Mail announcements.
Wedding Day
*Eat breakfast. DO NOT SKIP THIS MEAL! It may be the last time you eat until the reception and you need the energy to get through the day feeling good. Don't ruin the day because your feeling run down or faint because you skipped breakfast!
*Visit hairstylist and have nails touched up.
SHOW TIME!
Best Wishes!
Quick Stat:
Sunday
5 Wedding "Emergency" Tips
Emergency Tip #1Traffic Congestion
We've heard from numerous brides who have arrived late to their own weddings because of either poor planning or vehicle malfunctions. Be safe map out an alternative route from place to place and arrange for alternative transportation, just in case! Every Professional DJ should have a multi faceted back up plan for transportation and equipment. New York City, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Baltimore wedding DJ's know how to navigate traffic headaches and leave extraordinarily early in anticipation of tie ups. DJ's in Connecticut, New Hampshire and rural Pennsylvania and Upstate and Central New York have experience with remote locations and rural routes which can be confusing to out of town guests and contractors. Make sure that everyone has a firm action plan to deal in advance with possible traffic congestion. Repeat this mantra, GPS, GPS, G-P-S!
Emergency Tip #2
Double-Booked Ministers, Photographers & DJ's
Sad but true. Ask your officiate to double-check his or her availability when you first make arrangements, and again the week of the wedding. The "Double booked DJ" is another true horror story told by far too many brides. Less than reputable disc jockey companies many with part time "weekend warriors" in their ranks will often make changes at the last minute resulting in a Disc Jockey who has no clue what you have in mind for your reception turning up unannounced. Even worse if your reception ends before 7pm your DJ may have booked a second event in the evening which negates any possibility of extending your event if the party is hopping. It's also a HUGE distraction as the DJ begins focusing on a fast tear down and quick drive to the next event when he should be focused on YOUR party. Dealing with a full time professional Wedding DJ who does only one event per day ensures that the DJ you plan with is the DJ who will perform at your reception.
Emergency Tip #3
Lost Limousines, DJ's & Caterers
Yes, this actually happens. Photographers, Disc Jockeys and even caterers get lost sometimes, too. Before your wedding, have all drivers confirm the directions to your destination to be sure they're exact. Most Full time wedding DJ's have embraced GPS and while systems can have quirks they are generally very accurate. Ask your wedding disc jockey if he uses a GPS system and if not just make sure you confirm his directions.
Emergency Tip #4
Cake Mistake and other Disappointments
Many brides have complained that their cake didn't taste or look as good as was expected. This often happens with less experienced bakers, such as those who don't specialize in wedding cakes. Definitely go in for a tasting before you sign a contract or pay any money, because the vendor just may not be able to provide the quality you're expecting. The same goes for ALL of your vendors. Quality not price should be your driving factor when it comes to the vendors who drive your event. Using a Wedding Professional who deals with the special intricacies and expectations that accompany a wedding day can save you a lot of headaches on the big day. A professional wedding DJ for example will be able to provide you with planning tools that can help you pace the days events and ensure a smooth effortless presentation that you can relax and enjoy with your guests.
Emergency Tip #5Rain at an Outdoor Wedding
If you're having an outside ceremony and/or reception, insist on a rain contingency. This works as a backup plan in case it rains. If your ideal ceremony site does not have an ideal backup (an alternate indoor setting), you may need to choose another. Never forget your wedding DJ in your contingency plans. Water and electricity just don't mix. Consult with your professional Wedding DJ to make sure that contingencies for inclement weather are sufficient so the party can continue rain or shine!
Here in Syracuse and Central New York, not many folks plan weddings much before June 1st and there are only a handful who brave late October events. The reason? SNOW. Syracuse DJ's know how to prepare for snow emergencies. Just like New York City and New Jersey wedding DJ's know how to navigate traffic headaches and leave extraordinarily early in anticipation of tie ups. Professional wedding disc jockey s in Connecticut, New Hampshire and rural Pennsylvania have experience with remote locations and rural routes which can be confusing to out of town guests and contractors.
All wedding emergencies can be dealt with by remaining cool and by relying on the members of your bridal party and by involving your wedding professionals in every step of the planning. Your Wedding DJ can offer advice on a pretty broad range of wedding day topics. An experienced DJ has seen many of these emergencies and can offer advice to help get things back on track. That's the difference between a part time weekend DJ and a full time professional with the experience to assist in all facets of your reception.
Quick Stat:
Tuesday
Exciting new changes!
Wow is there ALOT going on!I have a new service I am adding to my DJ services...Photo Booth rentals! I am proud to say that together with my new partner we have designed an incredible, unique and environmentally friendly photo booth for rent to Brides and grooms at an absolutely unbelievable price. Go over to the website and check it out!
BUT WAIT!
That's not all. I have also added a brand new Wedding Store to the website, and it isn't filled with the same old same old. There are dozens of individual boutique merchants offering high quality products from shoes, to tuxedos, favors to honeymoon "essentials" for example there's this awesome Bridal Tote "The Wedding Bag" from Shelley George. Here's the specs....
Perfect for toting your wedding essentials, this ultimate wedding organizer arrives stocked with two totes for your lingerie and shoes, two leather zip pouches for receipts and swatches, and a heart shaped leather jewelry box. Interior lining is printed with the words "Something Blue" and is divided to organize and store magazines, folders, jewelry, receipts and more. Two exterior side pockets with buckle closure provide easy access to your cell phone, keys and other essentials. Made from durable nylon and generously trimmed with extra soft pale blue leather. Measures 16" across, 12" high and 4.5" wide with lightly padded leather shoulder straps.Check out the Wedding Store over at the website......but WAIT! Just ONE more thing...
Wanna browse my entire music collection while you're on the go? Wanna see if I have that song your Dad wants to dance to? Check out our MOBILE MUSIC DATABASE! Simply fire up your phones web browser and direct it to..http://www.jhatchdj.djintelligence.com/search/pda/The Mobile Music Database is formatted to fit perfectly on your cell phone screen and is very functional!
Ok....NOW you can go over to the website and check out all the cool new stuff.
CNY Photo Booth Rentals
DJ J Wedding Store
Mobile Music Database
Monday
Jenny Lefcourt Apologizes to Wedding DJ's
So last week I received a notice from a fellow DJ that Jenny Lefcourt of Bella Pictures had appeared on MyFox Chicago to offer tips on how to save money. Here's the original email I received and the link to her appearance.
Here is an example of a real Ipod Wedding...
Typical. If you watched the segment notice how the co-founder of a photography website says the ONE thing that shouldn't be compromised is the photography. So I forwarded this email to all of my fellow DJ's as did so many others and I responded..
and voila I get the following response....
Here's Jenny's apology.....(I reprint it here so that it is archived in case Jenny gets the urge to spout off on TV again.
Got CREDIBILITY? Not anymore! Just goes to show you that there are wedding vendors out there who only care about their own self interest and care nothing for the clients much less their fellow vendors. CAVEAT EMPTOR!
Acclaimed wedding specialist Jenny Lefcourt, creator of TheWeddingChannel.com , was recently interviwed on Fox Channel Good Mornign Chicago on ways to economize your wedding in this difficult economic times.
Her recommendations included do not cut back on the photography--(after all, she is in the photography business-----it is the most important part of your once in a lifetime day. But do cut back on the bar, perhaps by not having an open bar, but opting for a signature cocktail instead.
Then she advises to dump the DJ or the Band. Instead, get an IPOD and make a fantastic list of your favorite music instead.
Here is an example of a real Ipod Wedding...
Typical. If you watched the segment notice how the co-founder of a photography website says the ONE thing that shouldn't be compromised is the photography. So I forwarded this email to all of my fellow DJ's as did so many others and I responded..
To Whom It May Concern,
Why would a wedding professional like Jenny Leftcourt throw an entire wedding services sector under the bus on TV? Suggesting that having a professional behind the equipment is unnecessary when it comes to music and yet is still crucial when it comes to photography seems counterintuitive but hey who am I? Just a 15 year FT veteran of the wedding business. It seems even more egregious when you consider that wedding photography is 3 to 4 times more expensive than the average wedding entertainer and comes embroiled in copyright and post wedding price gouging for additional prints, retouching, etc.
Maybe people who are looking to save money should just go with table cameras and Uncle Ernie on his SLR? They'd save alot more $$$ and they could hire a phenomenal DJ so that at the very least everyone had great memories to go along with the guests snapshots.
Great pictures of a crappy event aren't much of a keepsake. Then again I guess it doesn't matter to Jenny whether the photos capture something worth capturing as long as the brides don't make any cuts into her profits.
I for one would never suggest that it made sense to use anything but a professional for all aspects of your wedding. Entertainment, Photography, Catering, etc... it's a recipe that doesn't call for cheap substitutions.
Truly Disappointed,
J. Hatch (DJ J)
www.jhatchdj.com
(315) 561-9774
and voila I get the following response....
Dear Mr. Hatch,
Thank you for contacting us about Jenny’s recent TV appearance. I’m sorry that you were upset by her tips. In response to feedback about her appearance from the wedding community, Jenny prepared an apology which is available online at: http://www.bellapictures.com/pr/Bella_Pictures_Statement_6-30-08.pdf
Regards,
JOANNA TAGERT
PHOTOGRAPHY CONSULTANT
joannat@bellapictures.com
Direct: 888-556-7590 x 5146
www.BellaPictures.com
Your Story.
The Knot Best of Weddings 2008
PDN Top Knots Award Winner 2008
Best of City Search 2007-2008
Certified by The Guide (Here Comes the Guide)
Preferred photography vendor for Marriott Hotels & Resorts®
Preferred photography vendor for Renaissance Hotels & Resorts®
Here's Jenny's apology.....(I reprint it here so that it is archived in case Jenny gets the urge to spout off on TV again.
Dear Wedding Community:
Last week I appeared on a local Chicago television show as part of a segment about how cash-strapped brides can save money on their wedding plans. I have since had the opportunity to watch the segment and have also received emails from a number of wedding DJs who were concerned by my tips.
I apologize for suggesting that an iPod playlist could ever replace a live DJ. A DJ provides tremendous value to an event and in no way can that value be recreated with a pre-set playlist. I have tremendous respect for DJs and all wedding vendors and sincerely apologize to anyone offended by my comments.
I also want to clarify that, while I did co-found Wedding Channel, I am not currently affiliated with WeddingChannel.com or The Knot Wedding Network. My interview is in no way reflective of the views of either Wedding Channel or The Knot.
Respectfully,
Jenny
Jenny Lefcourt
Bella Pictures, Co-founder & VP of Business Development
Got CREDIBILITY? Not anymore! Just goes to show you that there are wedding vendors out there who only care about their own self interest and care nothing for the clients much less their fellow vendors. CAVEAT EMPTOR!
Wednesday
Choosing a DJ: What Should I be looking for?
Seem as though lately every time I go to write about any particular topic I find that one of my fellow DJ's has already nailed the topic down tight. Such is the case with the following, written to perfection by one of the giants of wedding DJ's Bill Smith from North Carolina. So here it is reprinted here with permission.....
Hiring a DJ: Points to Consider
By Bill Smith
Bill Smith and the Magic of Music
When you plan a party of any sort, your objective is to ensure that your guests have a good time, period. Your choice of entertainment, particularly if you are considering a DJ, is crucial to that end. Who you choose for your wedding reception or special event will have a greater degree of effect than any other factor, such as food or location. The DJ you choose is a direct reflection on you. Here are some important points to remember when you interview a DJ company.
Prompt return of your phone calls or Emails: You should expect to get a call back or an Email back within 24 hours. Many DJ’s are out working and may not be able to return your call within an hour or two.
Willingness to meet with you and present his/her service: Will the DJ try to meet with you soon, or is he/she just trying to book the date sight unseen? Is their material neat and professional looking, and is their presentation organized and informative?
Is the price too good to be true? It seems that the DJ is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a venue, food and clothing. This often leads brides and party planners to shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources. This often backfires when holding out for the lowest price. However, if you have adhered to the guiding principals noted here, you will know to avoid services that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level of quality and attention to detail that EVERY client deserves!
Do you LIKE the person that shows up? There is NOTHING worse in the world than having to do business with someone you do not like. Choosing the person who “feels” right is the most important factor in picking the right entertainer for your party or reception. The DJ you choose should be very open about what he/she can do for you and should volunteer information and “show” you that knowledge base.
Is the person knowledgeable about your type of event? There are all kinds of DJ’s. Club DJ’s, wedding DJ’s, Rave DJ’s…the list is endless!! Can the DJ you interview handle your type of event? Ask the DJ how many events of your type that he/she has done.
What sort of documents does the DJ use to procure your business? In a good interview, the DJ should show you several documents. First and foremost is a planner. This planner should impress you enough to the point where you begin to understand that the DJ you are hiring is a professional, and is capable of handling your event. A sample copy of the CONTRACT to be used should be available as well as a schedule of pricing information. A DJ may also give you a list of references. CALL THEM!! Ask if there were any issues or problem areas when the person dealt with the DJ.
Does the DJ have a viewable music database? It shows you what sort of music he or she has available. Many DJ’s do not use music lists, others do. In some fashion, you the client, need to be assured that the DJ you hire not only has a sizeable collection, but has a variety of music, especially for wedding receptions, where many different styles of music and guests will be in the same room together.
Does the DJ use professional grade equipment? If the DJ does not have pictures of his or her gear, you should ask to set up a time to see the equipment or see pictures of the DJ’s set up. Although there are many fine home stereo equipment components made, they are not suitable for commercial or repeated use and varying room conditions. The DJ should be able to tell you what he/she uses and characterize the equipment as professional grade.
Will the DJ offer to meet with you AFTER signing the contract to plan your event? A professional DJ is ALWAYS willing to discuss your event at any time before the event starts, and should display the flexibility to accommodate changes and help you solve problems. Meeting your DJ to plan your event is of paramount importance to a successful event such as a wedding reception.
Will the person that you interview be the person that will perform at your event? This is THE most common complaint about the DJ industry today. The person you meet turns out NOT to be the person that actually does your show. Often, you are not made aware of this. Ask the DJ you interview if he/she will be the actual person performing, or will someone else perform the event. You need to know this UP FRONT before you sign a contract.
Consider this when pricing your DJ service: You should consider your DJ service an insurance policy that ensures that all of the other money you spend will not result in bad memories or a less than enjoyable occasion. You do get what you pay for. Good entertainment is NOT cheap, and cheap entertainment often is NOT good!! And yet many people will pay far more for a cake, flowers, or food than they will for the most crucial ingredient at a party – the music. When was the last time you saw a cake reading a crowd and spinning a CD, motivating a dance floor crowd, or making announcements in a dignified elegant way? Further, when was the last time you heard a guest tell you “Boy, that prime rib was great, I can’t wait until I go to another party to have that again”? No, that DOES NOT HAPPEN. Instead, they talk about the music that was played, and whether they had a good time or not. The music is always what they will talk about and whether the DJ was any good or not.
Your DJ, if you have chosen a good one, will display many of the following skills and attributes before and at your event:
- Master of Ceremonies
- Party organizer
- Sound technician
- Light technician
- Ability to read a crowd and pick the right music
- Flexibility to adapt to sudden changes
- Follow the plan that you and he/she have worked out using the planner
- Seamless continuous music at all times unless otherwise specified
- Extensive library of music
- Professional grade of equipment
- Audience motivator
- Ability to co exist and coordinate with other professionals at your event
This article originally appeared at WedAlert.com
Thanks again to Bill Smith for his permission to reprint this article for everyone here!
Hiring a DJ: Points to ConsiderBy Bill Smith
Bill Smith and the Magic of Music
When you plan a party of any sort, your objective is to ensure that your guests have a good time, period. Your choice of entertainment, particularly if you are considering a DJ, is crucial to that end. Who you choose for your wedding reception or special event will have a greater degree of effect than any other factor, such as food or location. The DJ you choose is a direct reflection on you. Here are some important points to remember when you interview a DJ company.
Prompt return of your phone calls or Emails: You should expect to get a call back or an Email back within 24 hours. Many DJ’s are out working and may not be able to return your call within an hour or two.
Willingness to meet with you and present his/her service: Will the DJ try to meet with you soon, or is he/she just trying to book the date sight unseen? Is their material neat and professional looking, and is their presentation organized and informative?
Is the price too good to be true? It seems that the DJ is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a venue, food and clothing. This often leads brides and party planners to shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources. This often backfires when holding out for the lowest price. However, if you have adhered to the guiding principals noted here, you will know to avoid services that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level of quality and attention to detail that EVERY client deserves!
Do you LIKE the person that shows up? There is NOTHING worse in the world than having to do business with someone you do not like. Choosing the person who “feels” right is the most important factor in picking the right entertainer for your party or reception. The DJ you choose should be very open about what he/she can do for you and should volunteer information and “show” you that knowledge base.
Is the person knowledgeable about your type of event? There are all kinds of DJ’s. Club DJ’s, wedding DJ’s, Rave DJ’s…the list is endless!! Can the DJ you interview handle your type of event? Ask the DJ how many events of your type that he/she has done.
What sort of documents does the DJ use to procure your business? In a good interview, the DJ should show you several documents. First and foremost is a planner. This planner should impress you enough to the point where you begin to understand that the DJ you are hiring is a professional, and is capable of handling your event. A sample copy of the CONTRACT to be used should be available as well as a schedule of pricing information. A DJ may also give you a list of references. CALL THEM!! Ask if there were any issues or problem areas when the person dealt with the DJ.
Does the DJ have a viewable music database? It shows you what sort of music he or she has available. Many DJ’s do not use music lists, others do. In some fashion, you the client, need to be assured that the DJ you hire not only has a sizeable collection, but has a variety of music, especially for wedding receptions, where many different styles of music and guests will be in the same room together.
Does the DJ use professional grade equipment? If the DJ does not have pictures of his or her gear, you should ask to set up a time to see the equipment or see pictures of the DJ’s set up. Although there are many fine home stereo equipment components made, they are not suitable for commercial or repeated use and varying room conditions. The DJ should be able to tell you what he/she uses and characterize the equipment as professional grade.
Will the DJ offer to meet with you AFTER signing the contract to plan your event? A professional DJ is ALWAYS willing to discuss your event at any time before the event starts, and should display the flexibility to accommodate changes and help you solve problems. Meeting your DJ to plan your event is of paramount importance to a successful event such as a wedding reception.
Will the person that you interview be the person that will perform at your event? This is THE most common complaint about the DJ industry today. The person you meet turns out NOT to be the person that actually does your show. Often, you are not made aware of this. Ask the DJ you interview if he/she will be the actual person performing, or will someone else perform the event. You need to know this UP FRONT before you sign a contract.
Consider this when pricing your DJ service: You should consider your DJ service an insurance policy that ensures that all of the other money you spend will not result in bad memories or a less than enjoyable occasion. You do get what you pay for. Good entertainment is NOT cheap, and cheap entertainment often is NOT good!! And yet many people will pay far more for a cake, flowers, or food than they will for the most crucial ingredient at a party – the music. When was the last time you saw a cake reading a crowd and spinning a CD, motivating a dance floor crowd, or making announcements in a dignified elegant way? Further, when was the last time you heard a guest tell you “Boy, that prime rib was great, I can’t wait until I go to another party to have that again”? No, that DOES NOT HAPPEN. Instead, they talk about the music that was played, and whether they had a good time or not. The music is always what they will talk about and whether the DJ was any good or not.
Your DJ, if you have chosen a good one, will display many of the following skills and attributes before and at your event:
- Master of Ceremonies
- Party organizer
- Sound technician
- Light technician
- Ability to read a crowd and pick the right music
- Flexibility to adapt to sudden changes
- Follow the plan that you and he/she have worked out using the planner
- Seamless continuous music at all times unless otherwise specified
- Extensive library of music
- Professional grade of equipment
- Audience motivator
- Ability to co exist and coordinate with other professionals at your event
This article originally appeared at WedAlert.com
Thanks again to Bill Smith for his permission to reprint this article for everyone here!
Tuesday
Wedding Traditions and Superstitions
Wedding day superstitions have been around since the beginning of time. Whether tying tin cans to the back of the ‘getaway car’ to ward off evil spirits or the bride wearing something old to assure a happy and fruitful marriage, many age-old traditions have budded from such superstitions.
In days gone by, it seems that weddings were viewed as an occasion during which people were particularly susceptible to bad luck and evil spirits. As a result, an almost endless number of customs and superstitions have accumulated. Some are widely known, such as the bride not being seen in her wedding dress by the groom before the ceremony, and others tend to be regional or culturally specific. Either way, it appears that the bride and groom should be very careful!
Proposing and Engagement
- A woman should only propose to a man during a leap year, otherwise it endangers the marriage.
- Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
- It is bad luck for the bride to remove her engagement ring before the day of her wedding.
- Stag parties were first held by ancient Spartan soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days goodbye with a raucous party.
- It is unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname begins with the same letter as hers: To change the name and not the letter, Is to change for the worst and not the better.
The Bridal Shower
- The first gift the bride opens should be the first gift she uses.
- The person who gives the third gift to be opened will soon have a baby.
The Wedding Day
- It brings more luck if the groom arrives at the church before the bride.
- It's bad luck for the bride to start down the aisle on time but good luck to step into the church with her right food first.
- Saying your vows when the hour hand on the clock is going upwards, makes you work together in your married life. If you say your wedding vows when the hand is going down, it is bad luck.
- If the bride cries on her wedding day, those shall be the last tears she ever sheds over her marriage.
- If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
- It is considered bad luck for the bride to see a pig, hare or lizard running across the road, an open grave or to meet a nun or monk on her wedding day.
- Flower girls drop petals as they walk down the aisle is to ensure the new couple will have many chances to have children.
- Carrying a horseshoe or a bouquet in the shape of one is considered lucky for the bride, but only if the horseshoe is carried with the open end up so the luck does not ‘fall out’.
- An old wives' tale is that if the younger of two sisters marries first, the older sister must dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never landing a husband.
- Certain days are better than others for a wedding. The Victorians believed that it was lucky to marry on a day during the week that the groom was born. The luckiest day to marry was on the groom’s actual birthday. And, oddly enough, Saturday was the unluckiest day of all for a wedding!
Wedding Attire
- The loan of a wedding dress means good luck to the borrower and bad luck for the lender.
- A veil disguises the bride from evil spirits.
- Dressing the bridesmaids is to fool the evil spirits, so they will not know who is the bride.
- If the bride helps to make her own wedding dress, it will bring her bad luck. If she rips her wedding dress on the day, it means that the marriage will end in death.
- It is considered good luck if the bride finds a spider in her wedding gown.
- Wearing a pearl on the wedding day will bring bad luck and tears throughout the marriage
The Wedding Cake
- The bride and groom cut the first slice of cake together to ensure that they will conceive.
- The chief bridesmaid should keep a piece of cake in her pocket for the duration of the couple's honeymoon, if she hopes to marry soon.
- Single female guests should take home a piece of wedding cake and place it under the pillow to dream of the man they will marry.
After the Wedding
- Throwing rice (or birdseed or confetti) as the couple leaves the church dates back to ancient times and is meant to bestow fertility on the couple.
- The new bride must enter her home by the main door, and must not trip or fall, as it is a bad omen if the bride should stumble. Hence the custom of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold.
- The spouse who goes to sleep first on the wedding day will be the first to die.
Monday
The Dollar Dance..What is it and where did it come from?
I wanted to do a post laying out some of the more important considerations associated with a fairly common tradition at American weddings. I did a Google search and found that a fellow DJ from my area, Bill Terwilliger (aka DJ Bill T) already had written a great piece about it. He covered the topic so thoroughly that I couldn't find anything to change or add. So here it is reprinted with his permission....
The Dollar Dance by Bill Terwilleger (DJ Bill T)
Let's face it, folks. The "Money Dance" is alive and well, and it's a very
popular custom at most wedding receptions all over the New York State area.
In the nationwide wilderness outside of Central New York, it's frequently
referred to as the "Dollar Dance. But no matter what it's called, it means
that guests who wish to dance with the Bride and Groom while a few particular
songs are heard must pay for the privilege.
We are not trying to influence your decision on whether or not to have a
Dollar Dance at your wedding reception. We'll just give you some background
information on this subject to help you make your decision.
Some couples hesitate because they feel like it isn't done very often. We
estimate that the Dollar Dance is done at well over half of all the wedding
receptions we perform at, running the gamut from the ones held in the modest
halls, through the large reception halls, and all the way to those in hotel
and country-club ballrooms.
You say some of your guests might be offended? All of your guests have seen
the Dollar Dance at so many wedding receptions that now it's just part of the
landscape.
The custom was originated in America earlier this century by the European
immigrants, who wanted to assure that the young couple had a few extra
dollars to face the future with. It has endured in certain areas of the
United States, while it is virtually non-existent in other parts.
Here in New York, some feel that our custom has its direct roots in both the
Italian and Polish heritages, two groups of people who appreciate a good time
and love traditions.
You can even decide in which manner your fun-loving dancing partner can
deposit his/her offering . . . in a purse carried by either you on your wrist
or held by the best man & maid of honor.
The purse comes from Italian tradition, a variation of the "Communion Purse"
that young girls years ago carried on their First Communion Day, and
relatives and friends would put money in it as a gift on her special day.
Around here, the best man & maid of honor escort your dancing partners in and
out every twenty seconds or so. You can expect to dance with 15-30 partners
before it's over. The minimum donation is, of course, one dollar, although
several larger denominations are routinely donated.
This is important - timing is vital if you plan to have a Dollar Dance at
your reception. You want it to be part of the natural flow of your reception.
The trick is not to have it too early, or too late. The most natural time is
right after the garter and bouquet have been tossed, and as the last "event"
for the photographer. This point should be no later than one hour before the
end of your reception. By that time the guests are usually "relaxed" and
ready to participate in the Dollar Dance.
Some Brides have asked us how long the Dollar Dance should last.
The answer is obvious . . . until all of your guests have been given a twirl.
Your best man & maid of honor will see how many people you have in line and
they will know how to run through quickly and efficiently. They will notify
the me when it is the last Dollar Dance song, and it will come to a
conclusion naturally.
Another question we have been asked by Brides is "what songs should we play
for the Dollar Dance?" The Dollar Dance does not call for "message" songs,
which are the songs whose lyrics reflect personal sentiments. For example,
the formal dance for the Bride and Groom might be "Have I Told You Lately
That I Love You," the dance with the parents might be "Daddy's Little Girl,"
and the Bridal Party dance might be done to "That's What Friends Are For,"
all three of which carry a message relevant to the person being danced with.
For the Dollar Dance, any slow music will do. Your dancing partners will not
be listening to the words of the song anyway. They'll be too busy wishing the
best for your future.
So, dear newlyweds-to-be, it's your choice whether or not to include a Dollar
Dance at your reception. But, as we mentioned, our experience indicates that
it is now an accepted part of wedding receptions. After all, what's a dollar
or two in fun on a once-in-a-lifetime occasion?
Another consideration is that the Dollar Dance gives you the opportunity to
dance with those guests that you would not have the time or availability to
dance with otherwise. Those who join the Dollar Dance are just happy to be
able to share a dance with you on your wedding day.
Here are some songs that we have used over the years :
Count On Me - Whitney Houston
Friends - Michael W. Smith
Friends - Elton John
That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick
Together Once Again - Chris Tayor
You've Got A Friend - James Taylor
You’ve Got A Friend In Me - Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett
Songs Of Your Choice Are Always Welcome !
(this post originally appears at Bill T's website....www.billt.com reprinted with permission...Thanks Bill!)
The Dollar Dance by Bill Terwilleger (DJ Bill T)
Let's face it, folks. The "Money Dance" is alive and well, and it's a very
popular custom at most wedding receptions all over the New York State area.
In the nationwide wilderness outside of Central New York, it's frequently
referred to as the "Dollar Dance. But no matter what it's called, it means
that guests who wish to dance with the Bride and Groom while a few particular
songs are heard must pay for the privilege.
We are not trying to influence your decision on whether or not to have a
Dollar Dance at your wedding reception. We'll just give you some background
information on this subject to help you make your decision.
Some couples hesitate because they feel like it isn't done very often. We
estimate that the Dollar Dance is done at well over half of all the wedding
receptions we perform at, running the gamut from the ones held in the modest
halls, through the large reception halls, and all the way to those in hotel
and country-club ballrooms.
You say some of your guests might be offended? All of your guests have seen
the Dollar Dance at so many wedding receptions that now it's just part of the
landscape.
The custom was originated in America earlier this century by the European
immigrants, who wanted to assure that the young couple had a few extra
dollars to face the future with. It has endured in certain areas of the
United States, while it is virtually non-existent in other parts.
Here in New York, some feel that our custom has its direct roots in both the
Italian and Polish heritages, two groups of people who appreciate a good time
and love traditions.
You can even decide in which manner your fun-loving dancing partner can
deposit his/her offering . . . in a purse carried by either you on your wrist
or held by the best man & maid of honor.
The purse comes from Italian tradition, a variation of the "Communion Purse"
that young girls years ago carried on their First Communion Day, and
relatives and friends would put money in it as a gift on her special day.
Around here, the best man & maid of honor escort your dancing partners in and
out every twenty seconds or so. You can expect to dance with 15-30 partners
before it's over. The minimum donation is, of course, one dollar, although
several larger denominations are routinely donated.
This is important - timing is vital if you plan to have a Dollar Dance at
your reception. You want it to be part of the natural flow of your reception.
The trick is not to have it too early, or too late. The most natural time is
right after the garter and bouquet have been tossed, and as the last "event"
for the photographer. This point should be no later than one hour before the
end of your reception. By that time the guests are usually "relaxed" and
ready to participate in the Dollar Dance.
Some Brides have asked us how long the Dollar Dance should last.
The answer is obvious . . . until all of your guests have been given a twirl.
Your best man & maid of honor will see how many people you have in line and
they will know how to run through quickly and efficiently. They will notify
the me when it is the last Dollar Dance song, and it will come to a
conclusion naturally.
Another question we have been asked by Brides is "what songs should we play
for the Dollar Dance?" The Dollar Dance does not call for "message" songs,
which are the songs whose lyrics reflect personal sentiments. For example,
the formal dance for the Bride and Groom might be "Have I Told You Lately
That I Love You," the dance with the parents might be "Daddy's Little Girl,"
and the Bridal Party dance might be done to "That's What Friends Are For,"
all three of which carry a message relevant to the person being danced with.
For the Dollar Dance, any slow music will do. Your dancing partners will not
be listening to the words of the song anyway. They'll be too busy wishing the
best for your future.
So, dear newlyweds-to-be, it's your choice whether or not to include a Dollar
Dance at your reception. But, as we mentioned, our experience indicates that
it is now an accepted part of wedding receptions. After all, what's a dollar
or two in fun on a once-in-a-lifetime occasion?
Another consideration is that the Dollar Dance gives you the opportunity to
dance with those guests that you would not have the time or availability to
dance with otherwise. Those who join the Dollar Dance are just happy to be
able to share a dance with you on your wedding day.
Here are some songs that we have used over the years :
Count On Me - Whitney Houston
Friends - Michael W. Smith
Friends - Elton John
That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick
Together Once Again - Chris Tayor
You've Got A Friend - James Taylor
You’ve Got A Friend In Me - Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett
Songs Of Your Choice Are Always Welcome !
(this post originally appears at Bill T's website....www.billt.com reprinted with permission...Thanks Bill!)
Friday
Wedding Season 2008 has arrived!
The weather is breaking. Spring has already arrived at least according to the calendar and even here in beautiful Central New York there's a feeling in the air that is unmistakable. Wedding season has arrived for 2008!I love this time of year as I begin to work with my clients to fine tune their visions for the perfect reception. As the wedding dates draw near the details begin to fall into place. I can also tell that it wedding season because everyone is updating their free online planning tools several times a day! It's always fun to see what songs are going to be popular this year and to hear about all the new ideas.
I have booked 95% of my available Saturdays for 2008 and have a nice healthy helping of Friday and Sunday weddings as well. There are some dates still open and there was a cancellation so check your date if you're not already a client.
One of the things I noticed was that the bookings for 2009 seem to have spiked in the last month. Inquiries have also increased. It appears that as of now the most popular wedding date for 2009 will be 8/08/09 (72 inquiries to date!) I suggest that if you are planning a 2009 wedding you get the ball rolling with your catering hall NOW! If DJ's are already seeing a ton of inquiries that means caterers have booked dates. Generally speaking we are farther down the "food-chain" than the catering hall which is one of the primary decisions and one of the first things booked.
This is going to be a GREAT year. There's a lot of great new music to appeal to guests of all ages and there are some killer new pieces of DJ gear that I will be adding to the equipment list this year including a new Pioneer CD/PC Controller, new speakers, some great new efficient LED lighting effects, and maybe even in-house video montage FOR EVERY RECEPTION BOOKED included FREE!!!???? How's that sound?
Yep 2008 is going to be a great year. Lets talk about it. I will begin regular Tuesday & Thursday LIVE interactive Q&A sessions at 9pm EDT right here on the blog and on the website at www.jhatchdj.com
Ceremony Music..what, when & why.
For most, planning a ceremony includes choosing some great wedding music. The reception isn’t the only place where you can play your favorite songs. Ceremonial wedding music can be divided into five areas. Remember to plan for them all!
1. Prelude: Prelude music is played before the wedding begins. It may start as the guests are being seated and can include simple instrumental music or music sung by people close to you. The last song played during the prelude is for the seating of the Mothers of the Bride & Groom. Many Brides choose a special piece of music for this.
2. Processional: The music played as the wedding party walks in is called the processional. Traditionally, this is instrumental music - most commonly the wedding march and Canon in D. You can choose whatever your want, however!
3. Ceremonial: This is music played, you guessed it, during the actual ceremony. You may have friends of family members provide music and you can also ask the congregation to sing a church hymn during the proceedings.
4. Recessional: Recessional music is played as the wedding party leaves. Again, you can go the traditional route here or you can choose something that more suits your style.
5. Postlude: Finally, as the guests are filing out, postlude music plays. Instrumental music works nicely here.
Stuck on what songs to have at your ceremony? visit the website at www.jhatchdj.com
Monday
Here's a Tip...Seating guests by DJ Slam
Alot of energy, thought and some times even tears go in to planning the perfect seating chart for a wedding reception. During this important process be sure to make sure you factor the DJ into your thinking. These are only considerations. Ultimately as with everything the final decision is and always should be up to you. It's YOUR Wedding, YOUR way!Sit guests as far as possible from the DJ.
This is a fairly obvious consideration for some, but many times the DJ shows up to find he is within handshake distance of your guests and large empty spaces elsewhere in the room. The DJ should ideally be immediately adjacent to the dance floor with about a 10' x 10' area in which to set-up. (My gear uses about half this space) and at least 15' between the speakers and the nearest table. More is better here, the extra room creates a nice transitional space but there is such a thing as too far. There are many things a DJ can do to minimize the impact of amplified music on guests nearby but this basic fact always remains true...the closer the guests are to the source of the music (speakers) the louder the music will be.
BONUS TIP! Make sure that you have an official floor plan from the catering hall, or create a detailed map (measurements, serving table locations, outlets) Often Caterers will supply these diagrams with the tables drawn in YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS LAYOUT. I have never met a caterer who wasn't willing to work with a bride regarding placement of the tables. However many caterers are used to certain set-ups and may resist changes. Remember no matter which service your talking to YOU are the customer. YOU are paying the bills. YOU get what you want!(within the boundaries of the law...of course)
***The picture above is not mine and is not credited
Next Up....Respect your Elders! Where should my great Aunt sit?
Come back again next week for another great article from DJ Slam!
Tuesday
Great Article for Brides...
I came across this fantastic article on the website Party Savvy.com I think it has some great advice for brides my two favorite sections are quoted below. Click on the link to read the full article.
6 Ways to Make Your Wedding Reception Memorable
and then there's this...
6 Ways to Make Your Wedding Reception Memorable
1. Create a Fun Playlist
The best way to get people to have a good time is to play the right music. And the best way to do that is to dip into the oldies. Yes the electric slide and conga are a little cheesy, but can you think of anything better than seeing your 80 year old Grandma bust into the Cha Cha?
and then there's this...
4. Prepare!
You can’t expect to have a memorable reception unless you get organized. The two key people you need to get on the same page with are your reception coordinator and your DJ.Some DJ's like me actually provide the services described below as reception coordinator including interacting with your professional caterers to ensure that all of your desires for your event come together perfectly.
The DJ is an easy one. Have the DJ find cool ways to do the garter toss, your entrance, etc. Make sure your playlist is fun (as stated above) and make sure you blacklist any music that you hate!This is absolutely essential. The play/DO NOT playlist is so much more than just a list of songs to a professional DJ. In it he finds many clues as to your intentions, personality and desires for your reception.
As for your reception coordinator, you should write down every little detail that you expect them to take care of (for example, when will you be cutting the cake, when is the first dance scheduled, when should the candles be lit, etc.) To save you from unneeded stress on your big day, ask a relative to get there beforehand and make sure everything is going according to plan. This is the one place where I disagree. Don't send a guest at your wedding to check up on the event. Let guests be guests. So much last minute attention to detail takes place on the part of the catering staff, and the DJ. Sending in a third party who hasn't been part of all of the planning discussions is a potential for problems and miscommunication. Hiring experienced full time professionals with proven track records of providing outstanding service is the essential step. Once you do this you can rest assured that everything will go as you planned. Remember communication is the key. If you say you want it done the people you hire need to make it happen. You are the boss!
Saturday
Monday
Thursday
Times when you don't hyphenate your name
Here are some good examples of why hyphenating your last name is a really bad idea...
Saturday
CONGRATULATIONS Michael & Hannah
This was a lot of fun. Hannah & Michael are friends of mine. I LOVE working for people I know because it makes the performance personally meaningful. I give 100% effort at all my parties but when it's friends or family you really step it up a notch. Hannah is a teacher who just graduated from college with her degree and spent time student teaching in both of my children's' classrooms. Additionally she is my daughters Pioneer Clubs teacher and has been an incredibly positive influence on my little girl.
The Springside Inn is a nice, family run establishment that serves some really great food. The Inn is old (it opened originally in 1854) and while it is well maintained it is an old building filled with all of the nuances that give old buildings their charm. The grounds are beautiful for pictures and the staff was very pleasant and accommodating, despite some problems with the seating chart, everything was handled well and professionally.
Hannah and Michael are just like most of the Brides and Grooms I've worked with over the last 15 years. They had a very definite idea of what they wanted to hear musically for their wedding. They chose a lot of really great music and we would have had an awesome party had we stuck strictly with what they had chosen. However as the big day arrived and their friends and family began talking to them about their desire to dance to specific songs and to really have a great time they began to wonder if their music selections focused too narrowly on their own tastes. This prompted Hannah to ask me to "play just good music that everyone will enjoy." Taking this new "flexibility" to hand I am happy to say that the dance floor was filled the entire time, and keep in mind this was an AFTERNOON wedding reception, which usually present the biggest challenge to dancing. I managed to play about 90% of Hannah & Michaels requests only having to add a few classics like "Build Me Up Buttercup", and "The Twist" to move things along.
(* Special note - I tell all my client this and I truly believe it with my heart but its good people that make a good party. The DJ can guide it and he can even take it to the level of GREAT but it starts with the people. If they want to have fun, and you give them the basics they will, even in spite of a crappy DJ)
And there you have it. That is the art of what a really good DJ is capable of. Discerning what music will motivate a crowd and how to string those songs together to keep people involved is indeed an art form. Like any art it takes years of trial and error, and herds and herds of practical experience to learn. Thats what a DJ does if he wants to make people happy.
Making requests is fine. You need only read the previous post to know that I am willing to play strictly the music that clients choose during their affair. Any professional DJ should be willing to do the same. However I encourage people to allow the DJ the flexibility to work "his magic" on the crowd. You can essentially play 40-50 songs duringa 4 hour party. Pick 20 that you absolutely MUST hear, and leave the DJ with the room to string those requests, together with "appropriate" requests from your guests and the songs that he KNOWS will move people to enjoy themselves. That is the recipe for a GREAT event. One which will be memorable to you and your guests.
Friday
Happy 50th Birthday Linda
LIVE FROM Pensabene's Casa Grande!
Every now and then you meet a client that you just love. Linda is just such a client. I met Linda when Cheryl at Pascale's recommended me for her 2006 company holiday party. She is one of those people who can make you smile at every turn. She has such an energy and is so filled with a joie de vie that you feel like a long lost friend from the moment you meet her. The party was arranged and we had a blast thanks in no small part to a great ice breaker game called "Human Scrabble" and some really choice tunes requested by the guests. Linda told me at the end of the night that she was turning 50 in 2007 and that she would love it if her husband booked me for the party. Music to my ears!
I heard from Linda again about a month later when a friend of hers called to ask if I was available for her 50th Birthday party. She told me that Linda had confided to her that I was the BEST DJ she had ever seen and that if she wanted a really great party she should book me for it. I booked the gig and we had another great time. (Great 50th birthday game called "Older than/Younger than) It was at this party that I met Linda's husband and she insisted not only that he take my card, but that he better not even think of hiring anyone but me. That very night Linda handed me an envelope containing her request list...all 14 pages!
Her husband did indeed book me for Linda's not so surprise, SURPRISE 50th Birthday party. Another list followed via email....12 pages long (phew at least its getting shorter)
A week before the party Linda sent me through "snail mail" her final revised list....10 pages.
I sat down and programmed them into the laptop to get a feel for what I was dealing with. Linda had requested 9hr and 38minutes worth of music to be played during a 4hour party. She had indicated special dedications on about half of the songs for a total of about 5hours worth of stuff. Whats a DJ to do?
Well not panicking seemed a good place to start so I planned out the night as if I would have 10 hours to play. I always pre-program the music that I think I will need. This is a great overview of the flow of the party. It ALWAYS changes but its like a painter doing a rough sketch, or a novelist doing a synopsis you need to have the ideas sussed out to get a vision of where you'll go.
I then made note of all the special dedication songs giving them top priority. Weaving together a playlist is pretty cool. checking the starts and stops to make sure they flow is detail type work and I always throw in some "easter eggs" in the shape of themes - a string of songs that are related in some way that only I know. Once in a blue moon someone will come up to me at a gig and say..."I see what you did there.." but mostly its just for myself.
Pensabenes Casa Grande is nice place. I've done weddings there in the past and the staff is very friendly. It's an incredibly easy load in which is always nice to encounter.
The guests arrived about 45 minutes before Linda and gave her a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY as she came in. I got down to playing through the massive list of requests and trying to decide what stayed and what had to go. About 15min into the party I played "Stormy Monday" by the Allman Brothers Band which my notes told me was for Linda's brother. The tune is a bluesy sort of mid tempo deal with lots of solos and its over 10min long. About half way through Linda came up and says "What is THIS?" I showed her the request list and she said "Ugh - my brother - skip to the end of this - I want energy I want excitement!" and with that statement the request list trimmed itself to just over 4hrs.
You see most people when they are planning a music list go with songs they "like" and don't consider the way or the context in which they will be played. So a song that you love to hear cause it reminds you of something or someone is truly a great song, but may not be so hot for a party where you want people energized, excited and dancing. A good DJ with some decent experience will tell you that his or her personal music preferences play absolutely no part in crafting a great set-list. What matters are things people don't immediately think of when it comes to music...tempo, key, length, lyrical content, mood,genre. 2 great songs will not necessarily play well together. If the songs don't "mesh" then you kill the flow of the music and if you do that the dance floor will empty and you have to start over to rebuild it.
When Linda realized, and she could only have realized this on THAT night at THAT moment, that what she really wanted was high energy she eliminated alot of the mellow memory tunes from her list, which represented about half the list. Weddings can be even worse as everyone is so focused on love. I have received 30 song request list with 25 slow songs on them and 5 hip hop songs of the current charts. If you play that type of list you can be assured that the party will be a snoozer AND that the majority of guest will look to leave ASAP!
As it was we had a great time. The party reunited many old friends, some from quite far away, and Linda has told me that she's calling me soon to schedule this years company holiday party. Honestly I can't wait!
Every now and then you meet a client that you just love. Linda is just such a client. I met Linda when Cheryl at Pascale's recommended me for her 2006 company holiday party. She is one of those people who can make you smile at every turn. She has such an energy and is so filled with a joie de vie that you feel like a long lost friend from the moment you meet her. The party was arranged and we had a blast thanks in no small part to a great ice breaker game called "Human Scrabble" and some really choice tunes requested by the guests. Linda told me at the end of the night that she was turning 50 in 2007 and that she would love it if her husband booked me for the party. Music to my ears!
I heard from Linda again about a month later when a friend of hers called to ask if I was available for her 50th Birthday party. She told me that Linda had confided to her that I was the BEST DJ she had ever seen and that if she wanted a really great party she should book me for it. I booked the gig and we had another great time. (Great 50th birthday game called "Older than/Younger than) It was at this party that I met Linda's husband and she insisted not only that he take my card, but that he better not even think of hiring anyone but me. That very night Linda handed me an envelope containing her request list...all 14 pages!
Her husband did indeed book me for Linda's not so surprise, SURPRISE 50th Birthday party. Another list followed via email....12 pages long (phew at least its getting shorter)
A week before the party Linda sent me through "snail mail" her final revised list....10 pages.
I sat down and programmed them into the laptop to get a feel for what I was dealing with. Linda had requested 9hr and 38minutes worth of music to be played during a 4hour party. She had indicated special dedications on about half of the songs for a total of about 5hours worth of stuff. Whats a DJ to do?
Well not panicking seemed a good place to start so I planned out the night as if I would have 10 hours to play. I always pre-program the music that I think I will need. This is a great overview of the flow of the party. It ALWAYS changes but its like a painter doing a rough sketch, or a novelist doing a synopsis you need to have the ideas sussed out to get a vision of where you'll go.
I then made note of all the special dedication songs giving them top priority. Weaving together a playlist is pretty cool. checking the starts and stops to make sure they flow is detail type work and I always throw in some "easter eggs" in the shape of themes - a string of songs that are related in some way that only I know. Once in a blue moon someone will come up to me at a gig and say..."I see what you did there.." but mostly its just for myself.
Pensabenes Casa Grande is nice place. I've done weddings there in the past and the staff is very friendly. It's an incredibly easy load in which is always nice to encounter.
The guests arrived about 45 minutes before Linda and gave her a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY as she came in. I got down to playing through the massive list of requests and trying to decide what stayed and what had to go. About 15min into the party I played "Stormy Monday" by the Allman Brothers Band which my notes told me was for Linda's brother. The tune is a bluesy sort of mid tempo deal with lots of solos and its over 10min long. About half way through Linda came up and says "What is THIS?" I showed her the request list and she said "Ugh - my brother - skip to the end of this - I want energy I want excitement!" and with that statement the request list trimmed itself to just over 4hrs.
You see most people when they are planning a music list go with songs they "like" and don't consider the way or the context in which they will be played. So a song that you love to hear cause it reminds you of something or someone is truly a great song, but may not be so hot for a party where you want people energized, excited and dancing. A good DJ with some decent experience will tell you that his or her personal music preferences play absolutely no part in crafting a great set-list. What matters are things people don't immediately think of when it comes to music...tempo, key, length, lyrical content, mood,genre. 2 great songs will not necessarily play well together. If the songs don't "mesh" then you kill the flow of the music and if you do that the dance floor will empty and you have to start over to rebuild it.
When Linda realized, and she could only have realized this on THAT night at THAT moment, that what she really wanted was high energy she eliminated alot of the mellow memory tunes from her list, which represented about half the list. Weddings can be even worse as everyone is so focused on love. I have received 30 song request list with 25 slow songs on them and 5 hip hop songs of the current charts. If you play that type of list you can be assured that the party will be a snoozer AND that the majority of guest will look to leave ASAP!
As it was we had a great time. The party reunited many old friends, some from quite far away, and Linda has told me that she's calling me soon to schedule this years company holiday party. Honestly I can't wait!
Saturday
CONGRATULATIONS Brian & Jessica
Live from Gilfillans aka The DJ with no pants!
I like Gilfillans. I get along well with the owner Dan and its a nice place even if the layout in both rooms is a bit awkward for a DJ on a wedding. I got myself together to head out to this wedding with PLENTY of time. 4hours in advance as a matter of fact. I carefully laid out my clothes, planner, checked my gear, loaded the trailer and generally was feeling pretty smug and prepared as I headed out to DJ a great wedding.
I arrived during the couple in the other rooms ceremony but was so early that I decided to wait to unload rather than be a potential distraction. The gazebo at Gilfillans is the first place that I ever performed a wedding "ceremony" as the offciant.
Yes gentle reader I am registered and legally able to act as the officiant for you ceremony. I have done it twice, though both times it really didn't count. Once at Gilfillans and once at Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay. You see both the couples had gotten married before hand and were holding ceremonies for the benefit of their families so they were already legally married. I did not know this the first go round so I inquired and learned that in many states anyone who registers with the county in which the ceremony is taking place may officiate a wedding and sign the license. Just to be double sure I got my self ordained on the web which has been court tested and passed. but I digress...
Once the ceremony was over I nloaded and set-up my gear (about an hours work) and then turned to getting ready with 45 minutes before my contracted start time. The one thing I hate about my job is having to dress in bathrooms. It's just so..blah! I hate it! Anyhow I unzip my garment bag to discover that my dress shoes are nowhere to be found. This is irritating but not a really big deal. I know of one really successful wedding DJ in Baltimore who wears flip flops with his tuxedo and has a Schtick that he does explaining it. I could fix this...no biggie. I stripped of my shorts and dug into the bag for my......
OMG!
I have no pants! The jacket, the shirt, the...hey wait..these are from LAST NIGHT OH JEEZ I have grabbed the wrong garment bag I have 40 minutes till I have to intro the bridal party and I have..no shoes...and no pants.
I frantically called my wife who was on her way to the movies with our youngest child. She did a U-turn and began the 45 minute trek to save my hide! I then did what any self respecting professional would do. I put on the elements of my tuxedo that I had...shirt, tie, vest, jacket....and shorts and sneakers...and went out to greet the Bride & Groom....
Wanna know how this ended? leave a comment in the comments section voting to hear then end. I will only finish if I get 4 or more requests......caio
I like Gilfillans. I get along well with the owner Dan and its a nice place even if the layout in both rooms is a bit awkward for a DJ on a wedding. I got myself together to head out to this wedding with PLENTY of time. 4hours in advance as a matter of fact. I carefully laid out my clothes, planner, checked my gear, loaded the trailer and generally was feeling pretty smug and prepared as I headed out to DJ a great wedding.
I arrived during the couple in the other rooms ceremony but was so early that I decided to wait to unload rather than be a potential distraction. The gazebo at Gilfillans is the first place that I ever performed a wedding "ceremony" as the offciant.
Yes gentle reader I am registered and legally able to act as the officiant for you ceremony. I have done it twice, though both times it really didn't count. Once at Gilfillans and once at Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay. You see both the couples had gotten married before hand and were holding ceremonies for the benefit of their families so they were already legally married. I did not know this the first go round so I inquired and learned that in many states anyone who registers with the county in which the ceremony is taking place may officiate a wedding and sign the license. Just to be double sure I got my self ordained on the web which has been court tested and passed. but I digress...
Once the ceremony was over I nloaded and set-up my gear (about an hours work) and then turned to getting ready with 45 minutes before my contracted start time. The one thing I hate about my job is having to dress in bathrooms. It's just so..blah! I hate it! Anyhow I unzip my garment bag to discover that my dress shoes are nowhere to be found. This is irritating but not a really big deal. I know of one really successful wedding DJ in Baltimore who wears flip flops with his tuxedo and has a Schtick that he does explaining it. I could fix this...no biggie. I stripped of my shorts and dug into the bag for my......
OMG!
I have no pants! The jacket, the shirt, the...hey wait..these are from LAST NIGHT OH JEEZ I have grabbed the wrong garment bag I have 40 minutes till I have to intro the bridal party and I have..no shoes...and no pants.
I frantically called my wife who was on her way to the movies with our youngest child. She did a U-turn and began the 45 minute trek to save my hide! I then did what any self respecting professional would do. I put on the elements of my tuxedo that I had...shirt, tie, vest, jacket....and shorts and sneakers...and went out to greet the Bride & Groom....
Wanna know how this ended? leave a comment in the comments section voting to hear then end. I will only finish if I get 4 or more requests......caio
Sunday
Happy 50th Anniversary Doc & Lucille
It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of this lovely couples 50th Anniversary celebration. 125 family members and friends were on hand to wish the couple well. I played a selection of hits from all five decades of their marriage including "their" song "Nobody Does It Better (from The Spy Who Loved Me)" - Carly Simon.
I was able to broadcast live from the Hotel Syracuse using the Local TPG wireless I found downtown at the 50th Birthday party last month at Pannini's.
The Hotel Syracuse sure isn't what it used to be. When I arrived the place was hot and smelled musty. Eventually the maintenance guy arrived and got the AC cranking and by the start of the party the room was cool and the smell had gone. Sad that such an historic building was allowed to deteriorate to it's present state. We were in the Persian Terrace which used to be gorgeous and still retains much of its charm. The catering at the Hotel is run by Pascale's and they are ALWAYS top notch.
Not alot of dancing but there was some. The average age of the crowd was easily 65 and it was late afternoon. All in all though I received numerous compliments and Maureen (my client, one of the couples daughters) was very pleased. Nice tip for a Sunday gig!
Saturday
Live from Canadaigua Inn on the Lake
I don't even know where to begin. This was the kind of gig Wedding DJ's dream of! Fairly easy load in and an always pleasant and helpful staff make Canadaigua Inn on the Lake a great place to play. Add to that the SPECTACULAR lakeside views (literally on the water!), awesome sunset, laid back client and a very enthusiastic crowd and this was a 10 out of 10 for wedding receptions.
The meal was served in 4 courses and the bride chose to spread out a series of toasts in between each course. Unbeknownst to the bride 4 of her bridesmaids had prepared a musical tribute to her. They contacted me 3 weeks before the wedding and emailed me the accompaniment in mp3 format. They sang pretty well and everyone cried.
Guests danced from the moment the Parents dances ended till the very last downbeat. They had great requests, but mostly let me do my thing with the bride & grooms list and just enjoyed the party.
I was able to grab onto the free wi-fi from the hotel which came in really strong for being outside under a tent lakeside. More and more hotels are providing free wi-fi as are many catering halls. The world will be awesome when its just a wave in the air everywhere!
HUGE tip from the father of the bride! Handed out tons of cards felt like a million bucks on the long ride home...
under an unbelievable cherry moon that seemed about to touch down on the road before me...
The meal was served in 4 courses and the bride chose to spread out a series of toasts in between each course. Unbeknownst to the bride 4 of her bridesmaids had prepared a musical tribute to her. They contacted me 3 weeks before the wedding and emailed me the accompaniment in mp3 format. They sang pretty well and everyone cried.
Guests danced from the moment the Parents dances ended till the very last downbeat. They had great requests, but mostly let me do my thing with the bride & grooms list and just enjoyed the party.
I was able to grab onto the free wi-fi from the hotel which came in really strong for being outside under a tent lakeside. More and more hotels are providing free wi-fi as are many catering halls. The world will be awesome when its just a wave in the air everywhere!
HUGE tip from the father of the bride! Handed out tons of cards felt like a million bucks on the long ride home...
under an unbelievable cherry moon that seemed about to touch down on the road before me...
Live from Casa Larga Vineyards
Great reception! I highly recommend this venue. Terrific staff, great food, beautiful setting. Thanks again and.....
CONGRATULATIONS Tom & Alicia Carroll!Sunday
Pics of me at a Wedding
Here are some pictures sent to me by a photographer friend. His pics are GREAT, my scanner is apparently very dusty, and pretty crappy!
Wednesday
Single use "wedding cameras"
Single Use Wedding Cameras
Single Use Wedding CamerasI always have the guests return them to me at the DJ table. That way they don't "accidently" wander home with guests. Additionally I have designated "Table Photographers" to be responsible for the cameras.
What's a Table Pass. Come back tomorrow and find out!
Sunday
DJ Coolness for all ( with ipods)
We've marvelled at this little beauty from afar, but now it appears KNG America is bringing the FUNKit Animated Speaker System to the States this October, at that same $100 pricepoint we'd been hearing. The folks at iLounge managed to get their hands on one a little bit early, and they seem plenty entertained. Along with his wax scratching prowess, the FUNKit announces your tracks with appropriately lame DJ lines like "here's another FUNKit exclusive," which is sure to prove entertaining for 30-45 seconds before you kick the thing across the room. A hundie well spent, in our book. Be sure to peep the read link for lots more action shots.
Friday
20 Years and this is a first
I recently had a meeting with the folks at the University Sheraton Hotel. Up to several weeks ago this was one of my favorite places to play. Beautiful room and a generally upscale clientele. Though there had been a handful of "moments" they were nothing out of the ordinary and I enjoyed a good rapport with the banquet staff. All of my events, including the event in question, were huge successes. Thats what made the out come of this meeting, in my opinion, so ridiculous.
This was an attempt to work out a disagreement and some outrageous threats made against me by a manager on duty at the hotel during a Bar Mitzvah performance from 7pm to 11pm. At 10:30pm a woman, dressed in an SU sweatshirt approached my table and said, "If you don't turn down I will unplug you." No identification, no greeting. She simplythreatened to unplug my equipment, mid party, with a packed dancefloor and when I told her to go ahead, knowing full well she wouldn't she threatened to have my van towed if I didn't comply. Additionally she had a security guard at the hotel threaten to remove me physically from the building while I was attempting to secure my vehicle. She felt I was too loud and claimed that, get this, 300 people staying in the hotel had complained. This despite the complete lack of any complaint from the party guests, my client, the manager of the ballroom, and the head of security.
So fast forward to the meeting and ....
Nothing. After having made the unbelievable and outright false claim that there had never been a complaint regarding an event in the ballroom (in actual fact it is a regular occurence that guests staying on the floor directly above the ballroom complain about any noise coming from below. This was confirmed with every DJ company I contacted who had played at the University Sheraton) the manager in question went on to recant a myriad of lies she had told her colleagues regarding the events of that evening yet still maintained that her job was, by hotel policy, to prevent room comps and complaints by all means possible and that was just the way it was. No apology. No explanation of her outrageous behavior.
In a nutshell the head of security summed it up like this. The Sheraton University (run by the Starwood Group) places it's desire to not have to "comp" rooms for guests that complain over the desires and satisfaction of the clients who book events in their facility. Any guest staying in the hotel can determine the sound level that is appropriate for any party, held any time, day or night in the Hotel ballroom, simply by claiming that it is too loud for them.
Henceforth....
I WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT EVENTS BOOKED AT THE SHERATON UNIVERSITY HOTEL.
Let me make this abundantly clear, this decision was mine. I was not asked to refrain from performing at the hotel, or banned or anything of the kind. In fact I think they were quite shocked when I informed them that I would no longer appear there. You see there are very few DJ's for high-end Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in this area and I am one of them.
My concern is for the success of the event at which I am performing. While I can empathize with the manager on duty's predicament, in light of this ridiculous corporate policy, I will not place the desires of a single hotel guest over those of my client and their guests.
In 20 years I have never felt the need to boycott a reception location but there's a first time for everything.
This was an attempt to work out a disagreement and some outrageous threats made against me by a manager on duty at the hotel during a Bar Mitzvah performance from 7pm to 11pm. At 10:30pm a woman, dressed in an SU sweatshirt approached my table and said, "If you don't turn down I will unplug you." No identification, no greeting. She simplythreatened to unplug my equipment, mid party, with a packed dancefloor and when I told her to go ahead, knowing full well she wouldn't she threatened to have my van towed if I didn't comply. Additionally she had a security guard at the hotel threaten to remove me physically from the building while I was attempting to secure my vehicle. She felt I was too loud and claimed that, get this, 300 people staying in the hotel had complained. This despite the complete lack of any complaint from the party guests, my client, the manager of the ballroom, and the head of security.
So fast forward to the meeting and ....
Nothing. After having made the unbelievable and outright false claim that there had never been a complaint regarding an event in the ballroom (in actual fact it is a regular occurence that guests staying on the floor directly above the ballroom complain about any noise coming from below. This was confirmed with every DJ company I contacted who had played at the University Sheraton) the manager in question went on to recant a myriad of lies she had told her colleagues regarding the events of that evening yet still maintained that her job was, by hotel policy, to prevent room comps and complaints by all means possible and that was just the way it was. No apology. No explanation of her outrageous behavior.
In a nutshell the head of security summed it up like this. The Sheraton University (run by the Starwood Group) places it's desire to not have to "comp" rooms for guests that complain over the desires and satisfaction of the clients who book events in their facility. Any guest staying in the hotel can determine the sound level that is appropriate for any party, held any time, day or night in the Hotel ballroom, simply by claiming that it is too loud for them.
Henceforth....
I WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT EVENTS BOOKED AT THE SHERATON UNIVERSITY HOTEL.
Let me make this abundantly clear, this decision was mine. I was not asked to refrain from performing at the hotel, or banned or anything of the kind. In fact I think they were quite shocked when I informed them that I would no longer appear there. You see there are very few DJ's for high-end Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in this area and I am one of them.
My concern is for the success of the event at which I am performing. While I can empathize with the manager on duty's predicament, in light of this ridiculous corporate policy, I will not place the desires of a single hotel guest over those of my client and their guests.
In 20 years I have never felt the need to boycott a reception location but there's a first time for everything.
Wednesday
Who Pays for What?
Here are some old-school breakdowns—with a modern twist
Okay, time to have that cash chat. Get together with every single person who might contribute to the total cost of the wedding. That means all parents, you and your fiancé, and anyone else with a financial interest (may you be so lucky as to have an eccentric and wealthy aunt). This is the fastest way to find out how big you can dream. (And, speaking of big, this is probably the time to ask both sides to submit a first-draft guest list. You'll need it sooner than you think!)
More and more often today, weddings are paid for by a two-family counsel—and more than 60 percent of brides and grooms are paying for at least part of the costs as well. This makes it pretty clear that the old rules of divvying up the wedding bills simply no longer apply. What follows here is a slightly updated version of the traditional who-pays-for-what breakdown to help you put things in perspective. Bring it to your money talk to help the conversation along.
Tradition, Modern Style
Bride
• Gifts for bridesmaids
• Lodging for bridesmaids
• Couple's personal stationery and thank-you notes
• Wedding programs/guest book
Groom
• The bride's engagement ring
• The marriage license
• Officiant's fee
• Rental or purchase of his formalwear
• Lodging for groomsmen
• Gifts for the groom's attendants
• Boutonnieres for self and groomsmen, as well as flowers for both mothers and grandmothers (it's much more common today for flowers to be paid in one lump sum, usually by the bride's family)
• The bride's bouquet (see above) bride and groom:
• The wedding bands
• The honeymoon (in very traditional families, this is still considered the groom's expense)
Bride's Family
• Engagement and wedding pictures
• Wedding invitations
• Wedding consultant, if applicable
• Bridal ensemble
• Ceremony fees: rental of synagogue or chapel, chuppah, aisle carpets, or other decorating items
• Flowers: reception, ceremony, bridesmaids' bouquets and fathers' boutonnieres (see Groom for more on wedding flowers)
• Reception: site fees, caterer, food, bar, gratuities, decorations
• Music: ceremony, cocktail hour and reception
• Bridesmaids' luncheon (a traditional gesture of thanks)
• Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception
Groom's Family
• The rehearsal dinner (optional) or any other expense they elect
Bridesmaids
• Bridal shower
• Bridesmaid dress and shoes (flowergirl/ringbearer attire is paid for by the child's parents)
• Any traveling expenses
• Bachelorette party (optional)
Ushers
• Rental of formalwear
• Bachelor party (optional)
Guests
Traveling and lodging expenses (even if you're having a destination wedding, guests pay their own way)
Bucking the Trends
These are the most common ways that the old guidelines of who-pays-for-what are being adapted to reflect the multi-host wedding that is so popular today.
Groom's Family
• All beverage and liquor service
• Limousines
• Music for the reception
• Photography and/or videography
Bride and/or Groom
• Bride's ensemble
• Wedding flowers
• All wedding stationery, including invitations, announcements, and thank-you notes
This content originally appeared in Modern Bride magazine
Okay, time to have that cash chat. Get together with every single person who might contribute to the total cost of the wedding. That means all parents, you and your fiancé, and anyone else with a financial interest (may you be so lucky as to have an eccentric and wealthy aunt). This is the fastest way to find out how big you can dream. (And, speaking of big, this is probably the time to ask both sides to submit a first-draft guest list. You'll need it sooner than you think!)
More and more often today, weddings are paid for by a two-family counsel—and more than 60 percent of brides and grooms are paying for at least part of the costs as well. This makes it pretty clear that the old rules of divvying up the wedding bills simply no longer apply. What follows here is a slightly updated version of the traditional who-pays-for-what breakdown to help you put things in perspective. Bring it to your money talk to help the conversation along.
Tradition, Modern Style
Bride
• Gifts for bridesmaids
• Lodging for bridesmaids
• Couple's personal stationery and thank-you notes
• Wedding programs/guest book
Groom
• The bride's engagement ring
• The marriage license
• Officiant's fee
• Rental or purchase of his formalwear
• Lodging for groomsmen
• Gifts for the groom's attendants
• Boutonnieres for self and groomsmen, as well as flowers for both mothers and grandmothers (it's much more common today for flowers to be paid in one lump sum, usually by the bride's family)
• The bride's bouquet (see above) bride and groom:
• The wedding bands
• The honeymoon (in very traditional families, this is still considered the groom's expense)
Bride's Family
• Engagement and wedding pictures
• Wedding invitations
• Wedding consultant, if applicable
• Bridal ensemble
• Ceremony fees: rental of synagogue or chapel, chuppah, aisle carpets, or other decorating items
• Flowers: reception, ceremony, bridesmaids' bouquets and fathers' boutonnieres (see Groom for more on wedding flowers)
• Reception: site fees, caterer, food, bar, gratuities, decorations
• Music: ceremony, cocktail hour and reception
• Bridesmaids' luncheon (a traditional gesture of thanks)
• Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception
Groom's Family
• The rehearsal dinner (optional) or any other expense they elect
Bridesmaids
• Bridal shower
• Bridesmaid dress and shoes (flowergirl/ringbearer attire is paid for by the child's parents)
• Any traveling expenses
• Bachelorette party (optional)
Ushers
• Rental of formalwear
• Bachelor party (optional)
Guests
Traveling and lodging expenses (even if you're having a destination wedding, guests pay their own way)
Bucking the Trends
These are the most common ways that the old guidelines of who-pays-for-what are being adapted to reflect the multi-host wedding that is so popular today.
Groom's Family
• All beverage and liquor service
• Limousines
• Music for the reception
• Photography and/or videography
Bride and/or Groom
• Bride's ensemble
• Wedding flowers
• All wedding stationery, including invitations, announcements, and thank-you notes
This content originally appeared in Modern Bride magazine
Tuesday
You never can tell
I did a wedding at one of my least favorite venues this past weekend. It really is a shame that I dread performing at this particular place because its exactly 5 minutes from my home. Here's the thing the folks who lease the building and book the events could care less about the quality of the events they host.
It has been 3 years since I first performed at this venue and they are still experiencing the SAME POWER PROBLEMS! It would cost about $100 to get someone out to fix the problem but that is apparently too much.
The place is FOR SALE which is probably why no one has any desire to put forth an effort to maintain, or better yet improve, the place. The owners (whom I haven't seen in 2 years) are asking waaaaay too much for this venue. At about half the asking price it's STILL expensive for what you get and where it is.
The bride and groom were great. The guests extremely complimentary.
We opened the Father/Bride and Groom/Mother dances up to all the other parents and kids in attendance and there were plenty. This is a really nice touch if the B&G know that they will have lots of extended family in attendance.
The bride said she wished they had gone with the video montage but was glad they had opted for the Love Story even though it seemed ( in her opinion) pricey when they booked. to quote her...."it TOTALLY made the reception!"
It has been 3 years since I first performed at this venue and they are still experiencing the SAME POWER PROBLEMS! It would cost about $100 to get someone out to fix the problem but that is apparently too much.
The place is FOR SALE which is probably why no one has any desire to put forth an effort to maintain, or better yet improve, the place. The owners (whom I haven't seen in 2 years) are asking waaaaay too much for this venue. At about half the asking price it's STILL expensive for what you get and where it is.
The bride and groom were great. The guests extremely complimentary.
We opened the Father/Bride and Groom/Mother dances up to all the other parents and kids in attendance and there were plenty. This is a really nice touch if the B&G know that they will have lots of extended family in attendance.
The bride said she wished they had gone with the video montage but was glad they had opted for the Love Story even though it seemed ( in her opinion) pricey when they booked. to quote her...."it TOTALLY made the reception!"
Friday
TGIF: Farewll Summer 2006
Well here it is Friday going into the last weekend of the summer of 2006.
There's so much to say about this summer that I know I can't do it all here.
36 events from May 1st to today. Grad parties, mitzvahs, weddings, weddings, weddings and a great convention in Atlantic City. The relaunch of my company with new website, new brand, new image same DJ J.
There are tons of tid-bits to share as we begin to collect ourselves for winter. I still have 12 or so weddings before holiday parties kick in and then that long quiet of winter from January to April. Here's to a fall and winter filled with stories and tips for your amusement and my therapy.
There's so much to say about this summer that I know I can't do it all here.
36 events from May 1st to today. Grad parties, mitzvahs, weddings, weddings, weddings and a great convention in Atlantic City. The relaunch of my company with new website, new brand, new image same DJ J.
There are tons of tid-bits to share as we begin to collect ourselves for winter. I still have 12 or so weddings before holiday parties kick in and then that long quiet of winter from January to April. Here's to a fall and winter filled with stories and tips for your amusement and my therapy.
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