There are many different types of DJs. There is the club DJ, studio DJ, wedding DJ and many more. Since I myself primarily perform at weddings, I would like to take this time to talk about what makes a GREAT wedding DJ. I’d also like to cover how being a wedding DJ is unique and special in its own way.
It’s YOUR Big Day
DJs by nature LOVE to be the center of attention. That’s one of the reasons we became DJs in the first place.
However, a great wedding DJ must always remember that the wedding they are servicing is all about the couple and their guests.
Our big egos, they will have to take a back seat if we want to be great wedding DJs.
Clean DJ Set Up
(Wedding guest speaking) “WOW your banquet hall is beautiful! The flowers are gorgeous! All the food looks and smells amazing! The cake is breathtaking!
Look at the DJ equipment! It’s dusty, damaged and there are ugly wires everywhere!!!
A great wedding DJ understands that their setup can actually enhance or hinder the ambiance of your reception venue.
Professional DJs always keep their equipment updated and in excellent condition.
They also make sure to put wires and cables in their proper place…….out of sight!
A Great Wedding DJ Dresses Professionally
This is a wedding, not a high school graduation party.
A great wedding DJ should dress in a professional manner that communicates that the wedding that they are DJing is a VERY important formal event.
They should take the time to properly dress and groom themselves.
Not to mention, the photographer shouldn’t have to take extra time to edit them out of your pictures.
Furthermore, the cost of a wedding DJ can be expensive and they should dress in a way that supports their “professional price tag.”
Great with the Microphone
A great wedding DJ understands that he or she has not been hired to babysit the playing device.
One of their many responsibilities is to lead everybody at the wedding through the timeline, grand entrance and dedications planned for the evening.
They also understand that with their trusty microphone, they can really get that dance floor shakin’ with their enthusiasm, personalized messages and “shout outs.”
However, a great wedding DJ also makes sure not to overdo it on the mic. That’s really annoying and cheesy too.
Plays the RIGHT Music At The Right Time
This is the obvious, but not so obvious one. May I refer back to item number 1? It’s all about giving the people at the wedding what THEY want.
A great wedding DJ collaborates with the couple to help shape the music playlist that will be unique to each individual wedding.
Of course, every DJ has their own style which should be embraced.
However, it is important that the DJ combines his or her style with the style and vibe that is most appealing to the couple and their guests.
A Great Wedding DJ Is Experienced
As I mentioned earlier, there are many different types of DJs.
There are also many different types of events in which DJs provide their services including graduation parties, 50th wedding anniversaries, sweet 16 parties, cooperate events, holiday parties and so on.
These are all very important occasions and I have DJ’d all of them.
However, weddings are in a class of their own.
For many couples, it is the most important day of their lives.
A professional DJ coordinates and orchestrates all of the events and must also adhere to a strict timeline.
If you looking to hire a great wedding DJ, you will want to make sure they have at least 2 years DJ experience and also DJs on a weekly or monthly basis.
Organized and Prepared
A great wedding DJ will take the time to have a consultation with the couple to assist in the wedding planning process.
An experienced wedding DJ has often DJ’d hundreds of weddings.
Furthermore, they can give the couple guidance and answer many of their questions regarding what to expect on the big day.
A great wedding DJ will also assist the couple with completing their master of ceremonies form and review it with them prior to their wedding day.
In addition, the best wedding DJs ALWAYS contacts the banquet hall manager before the wedding to discuss important details.
These details include: when they will have access to the hall for setup, wifi usage and any “house rules” that the banquet hall may have.
Team Player
A great wedding DJ realizes that there are many vendors that are playing an important role in making your wedding as wonderful as possible.
Furthermore, we should look at our fellow vendors as part of our wedding team working together to make your dream wedding a reality.
It is so important that your DJ works well with other vendors and even helps them if possible to make sure everything goes as planned.
Reads the Crowd
A great wedding DJ wants to get people on the dance floor and keep that dance floor full with dancers all night long.
They must observe the crowd and ask themselves questions like:
What are the different age groups in attendance? What type of music is working well tonight? Which song should I play next to build on the momentum that I have already established on the dance floor?
When would it be an appropriate time to mix things up a little so the dancers don’t get bored and stay engaged?
Furthermore, a great wedding DJ should never see people plugging their ears and leaving because the music is too loud.
Enjoys Being a Wedding DJ
A great wedding DJ loves what he or she does. They also recognize that your wedding is a very happy day.
Here is a good tip to help you avoid hiring a grumpy DJ.
Ask how they handle requests during a wedding.
If they say they don’t take requests because “they call all the shots,” then there is a very good chance you have encountered a grumpy DJ.
It’s is at this point you say “I’m sorry but we are not looking for grumpy DJ. We are looking for a GREAT wedding DJ.
Wedding DJ’s
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Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer. Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist. I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and I have the distinct honor to work with an amazing team of Michigan wedding DJs.
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I liked the advice about remembering it’s not about the DJ. I honestly think it never is, because it’s about the people that are dancing, or for the event you’re playing music for. I also like what it said about having a clean set up for nice events. I don’t DJ, but I do plenty of music, and it’s impossible not to have wires going everywhere sometimes. I had to get creative when I was trying to make my little studio area look nice. It’s definitely possible to hid the wires if you put forth the effort.
Wow thanks for the great comment and thank you for your feedback. Regarding keeping the clutter of wires down. I used to run a studio out of my house as well and you are right about it being tough to keep all of the audio cables out of the way. Especially by the drums. I found that a good quality 16 channel studio snake helped A LOT. If you provide music from time to time you will find a good DJ tablecloth will also help hide the wires very well. If you would like to really take it to the next level, a facade covers pretty much ALL wire clutter. We have some videos on our site were you can see how clean everything looks with the facade. Hey thanks again for connecting. Stay in touch! 🙂
Great blog regarding to wedding function. Your tips are crucial for dj setup in wedding function is nice. I remember your idea in my wedding function specially.
Thanks Tristen!