Posts Tagged ‘entertainment’
Things you should know before hiring a DJ for your wedding (Part 2)
August 12th, 2009 | 
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A colleague and Wedding Entertainment Director, Peter Merry of Merry Weddings, came up with the perfect analogy when he asks brides and grooms to think of their wedding as if they were creating a blockbuster movie. The bride & groom is the producer of their own wedding production. And as the producer it should be their goal to hire the very best director to bring all the elements together and turn them into something truly spectacular.
I’m sure that you realize that it takes more than a good soundtrack to make a great movie. And in the very same way, your wedding reception needs more than just music in order to make it a blockbuster wedding reception.
Typically, Hollywood producers will spend more time and scrutiny choosing their director then they will in choosing the actors, because they recognize that it’s the director and his creative talents that will truly set the pace for the movie.
If you think about it, you’re far more inclined to think that a movie you have not yet seen is going to be great because it was directed by Steven Spielberg than you are to think it is going to be a great movie just because it’s starring Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise.
Unless you’re looking to hire the Wedding Singer, there are three types of entertainment commonly available for weddings and receptions:
Today, probably the most common type of entertainment seen at wedding receptions is Disc Jockeys or DJ’s. Pretty much as their title implies, their role at a wedding is primarily to play recorded music and energize the dance floor. They will often make announcements when asked and lead typical events as requested, but somebody will still have to guide them as to the who, what, when where and why. Their role at a wedding is generally fairly limited. We typically refer to this style of DJ as a Gig DJ.
Next is the DJ/Master of Ceremonies. This is generally considered a step up from the typical disc jockey as far as the level of professionalism. Ordinarily a good MC/Master of Ceremonies has had additional training in public speaking and basic event direction. Whereas the typical DJ is ideally suited for Night Clubs, Radio, School Dances and Birthday Parties, the Master of Ceremonies is better adapted for formal events and will typically do a much better job of representing you.
Finally… the Wedding Entertainment Director. A Wedding Entertainment Director is a professional entertainer who has specialized in weddings and is well versed in the art of formal event entertainment. They are highly skilled in developing event plans and timelines that increase crowd participation and involvement. They provide all the services typically associated with both the Disc Jockey and Master of Ceremonies, but adhere to much higher standards and are dedicated to making that once in a lifetime event something truly fun and memorable.
Stay Tuned for: Part Three
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Things you should know before hiring a DJ for your wedding (Part 1)
The results of an interesting survey published in the St. Louis Bride & Groom magazine showed that as many as 78% of all brides surveyed immediately following their wedding reception were unhappy with the entertainment provided at their reception.
The same survey also showed that when asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
* *Sources: Simmons 2001, USA Today 2002, National Bridal Service 2001, The Knot 2002, St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine 2008
My intention here is in no way to make you leery of every DJ you speak to, but rather, help you to become an informed entertainment shopper. Remember, every DJ you speak to wants your business; you have the power… use it wisely!
The most common error made by brides and grooms when shopping for entertainment is in thinking of a DJ as if he or she is a product. This is what I like to refer to as the Wal-Mart mentality, and it’s perfectly understandable how we got that way.
When shopping for laundry detergent you can save a lot of money by choosing the generic or store brand laundry detergent. Many of us have even come to learn that many of these products are actually the same product made by the same manufacturer, only with different labels. And you’ve probably discovered your laundry comes out just as clean as when purchasing the name brand product.
However, unlike products, DJ’s are individuals with different levels of commitment and different levels of experience using equipment with different levels of quality. The variables within this range are seemingly infinite.
Your challenge here is twofold…
The first part of the challenge will be up to you to discern what level of importance you place upon the entertainment at your wedding reception. If you are planning a quick in and out wedding reception and involving your guests in an exciting and memorable afternoon or evening is not a part of your plan, then you might simply choose a DJ based upon the lowest price.
If however, a fun, exciting and memorable wedding reception is your plan… then there are a few things you should know.
When first meeting with a bride I typically discover that they are completely unaware of the types of options available to them. Most brides are usually surprised and excited to discover that the entertainment can go well beyond the music.
A DJ is a DJ…is much like saying a car is a car. Corvette, Mercedes and Porsche drivers might find that statement offensive as they know from experience that not all cars are created equal.
There are DJs, wedding specialists, and even the next level of wedding entertainment…the Wedding Entertainment Director. The difference between them is the level of experience and the level of commitment to a particular wedding event.
Stay Tuned for: Part Two
