Okay guy, I need your help!

I've been asked to be the DJ for my sisters wedding in August. I have never done a wedding before, and while I've done 2 adult parties, they were not nice. In fact I hated them. Constant changes in music tastes, guest fighting over what song they wanted me to play next and continuous digging through my CD collection to find a song. It was awful. Everybody has different tastes in music and you cannot make anyone happy. Adult DJ's are the most abused profession in my opinion as they are always bad-mouthed by the guest after the event. They were too loud, didn't play 'dancing' music (whichever interpretation they have of the word). They didn't look right or had no lights.

Anyway, I can't get out of this job so that's not an option. I was thinking about booking someone else but I've just searched all the websites for wedding DJ'S in my area, and I have to admit, I wouldn't trust any of them with any wedding. The photos looked tacky, the set-up minimum and they were wearing Jeans at the event!
If anything, looking at these websites has increased my confidence that I'm the best out there and so the best chance she has at making the wedding perfect.

But I'm still new to this and so need some advice.

What adult games can you play at a Wedding?

Does anybody have a copy of their song-list they could share with me, so that I have an idea of what music I need to source?

What are your thoughts on YMCA, Ops Upside Your Head, Macarena?

What should I NOT do? What are the pitfalls of a bad wedding DJ?

Steve

Steve

I'm NOT a wedding DJ - so this is just my opinion. I think you should have a fair amount of old classics - but don't over do it. We went to a wedding a while back and the DJ was playing non-stop cheese. It was too much. In my opinion there's nothing wrong with YMCA and Macarena. However I'm wondering if Oops upside your head has had it's day!

I'd get hold of some modern POP. I really like Paloma Faith and Elize Doolittle. Great songs that aren't going to offend too many people.

What about getting a list of songs that your sister likes and go from there?

A great game that I sometimes use is the heads and tails game. Get everyone to stand up and they have to guess whether a coin is going to be heads or tails (get someone else to flip it) by putting their hands on their head or bottom. Everyone sits down who get it wrong. Wait until there are just a few people left and get them to stand in the middle (so there's no cheating) carry on until there is just one person left who is the winner.

How about the old POST, STOP, TOPS, ETC game?

Mark

A friend of mine has done a few of these. The one thing he said he learned from experience is to have "light" music during Dinner.

We had a banquet, and that music kept the spirit of the evening.

Why not touch base with Ken Scott?

I know at one time he was doing DJ work on the side. That could have been years ago, so I'm not really sure if he's still doing this type of work.

Gerry

I've worked at hundreds of weddings. It's unlikely that you'll be required to do more than play the songs they want. Remember that at a wedding, there are usually many folks who've not seen each other for years. This is a time for the clients to enjoy their time, and they very rarely want a "performer" to take over the few valuable hours they have together. I offer a cabaret for weddings, but I'm rarely asked to do it. You should try to get extra work entertaining the kids though - this normally happens during the speeches, when the kids tend to get bored.
Games for the adults would be a big "no-no", in my opinion. Far better to play requested songs, and as this is family, you can pre-empt that by finding out what music they'd like.

Let the folks talk, let them have all the time they want to re-familiarise themselves with old acquaintances. Take a back seat, and IF they want "cabaret", keep it short, simple, and in the round. Make a fuss of the wedding couple, perhaps make balloons.
It's very,very rare for wedding functions to need a "performer". Don't take over, as I said, let the folks socialise. Most important is to have a BIG selection of songs, so that ANY requested song can be played. And have a well-structured play list, so that you keep the dance floor full, and the punters happy.

DJing is NOT simple, though you may perceive that local DJs are unprofessional because they wear jeans, and have little set-up,that really makes little difference in this special environment where you have all ages, and getting just the right balance of music can be far from simple. A good DJ only needs to play the RIGHT music at the RIGHT time. Do you think you can do that? I seriously doubt it, with no experience! Do you think you can get the kids, the teenagers, and the adults, all dancing along for most of the evening? A good DJ will read his clients, and know exactly how to do this.

If it were me, I'd recommend hiring a professional DJ who really knows what he's doing. And take on the kids' entertainment, which is what you know.
Potty

Stephen

I've just been doing a couple of google searches on "wedding DJ". This area does seem to be a bit of a minefield! Who knew this would be so complicated?!

Maybe you should follow Potty's advice and pass on this. However, I've always been of the opinion that "fortune favours the brave". It is for your sister so she's hardly going to ask for her money back! (or is this a freebie?)

Just remember to have some "quo"!

Let us know how it goes.

Mark

http://www.bridaltips.com/dj.htm

Everything you wanted to know about what to do and what NOT to do!

What did we all do before the World Wide Web?!

Mark

It is a real head-banger of a problem. DJ's have such a bad rep in the real world. I can understand why as guests eventually run out of gossip to chitchat about and so the natural line of conversation is to talk about the entertainment, and most adults will focus on the negative as it drives the conversation for longer. If they do one thing wrong, that is what they remember and talk about.

When the DJ has to play songs all-day, knowing that if they choose one wrong song, that is what the guest will remember, it puts them under a lot of pressure. It is this reason that I think most of the DJ's I have met during my years of shows were laid-back, not caring type. They knew they were going to get some bad feedback, no-matter how good they were and how much effort they put into it. Therefore why should they waste their time with someone they know is never going to book them again. Just do a standard job and have done with it.

I'm not saying this is true of all DJs, but sadly for most of the DJ's I've met so far.

I can't pass the booking on, and thankfully I do have a large selection of music (20gig). I will be taking requests on the night so at least I can pass the blame somewhere. I have most of the equipment and I'm buying the rest. But it is very interesting how much demand there is for decent wedding DJs, how few there are out there, how fewer still good ones, and how fewer still with a decent website. They can demand big fees as well.

If you can get the formula right, it will bring in a lot of money. But its not something I'm personally interested in, so after this wedding does anybody want to buy some disco lights from me!

Steve, another thing to be aware of - don't just play every requested song. No DJs do this, they only play requests if - either - everyone seems to want that song - or, if it's an appropriate song in their opinion.
I have, on occasion, see a DJ play a requested song that loads of people are asking for, against his better judgement, and then half way through the song, the dance floor is empty!
I don't agree that DJs only get negative feedback - a good DJ will get loads of glowing tetimonials, much the same as other entertainers.
I guess we're lucky here in Brighton, as we have many international DJs, such as Fat Boy Slim, and loads of guys who work the Ibiza Club Scene. It's quite normal here to have top end DJs at weddings and functions.
Some kids' entertainers also offer discos - and I do, but only for the kids!
Potty