Blog | First Class D.J.

Wedding Tips

Dress shoes can be unbearable and dress shoes are slippery, on a floor with spilled drinks. Bring a extra pair of comfortable shoes to wear later during the reception for dancing.
Bring safety pins, Band-Aids, needle and thread, and Kleenex. You'll need these for repairs to your gown, as well as any blisters you may get from your shoes.
Bring some plastic building blocks, coloring books or other toys for the kids to play with, off in some corner away from the D.J. equipment to keep them quiet and out of everyone’s way.
Relax and have a good time. The bride and groom set the mood for the entire reception. If the bride is on the dance floor having a great time, so will her guests.
Put the wedding cake at the end of the food buffet line and have it cut up in serving pieces, right after the bride and groom cut the cake, so guests can get the desert with their dinner. This will leave you with less leftover cake to take home or throw away. Be sure to have someone appointed to immediately have the cake cut up in pieces.
If you're having a reception in the summer, try to get an air-conditioned hall. You and your guests will all be dressed up in formal clothes, which can become really hot. If your guests are hot and uncomfortable there won't be much dancing going on.
Outdoor receptions - while they may be cheap and scenic, it's a huge gamble when it comes to the weather. It can rain, be extremely windy, be really hot, really cold, the bugs can eat you alive, it can be muddy, poor electrical supply and such, so outdoor receptions are not always a good idea.
I've done some receptions where some, well-meaning, person poured the champagne before the guests even arrived. The bride and groom usually arrive up to 1 hour after the guests first arrive. Don't have the champagne poured until toast time. You don't want it getting all warm and going flat in the glasses, plus it's entertaining watching the best man attempt to open the bottle and letting all your guests hear that great POP of the cork.
Have your photographer take all of the bridal pictures before the wedding ceremony, so you won't keep your guests waiting for hours, at the reception hall, for your arrival.
Brides and grooms sometimes buy disposable cameras and put them on the tables, for the guests to take pictures. This can be a great idea for casual pictures that the pros might not be getting, but take into consideration that little kids often get a hold of them, and you'll get lots of pics of shoes, the floor, the ceiling, half a face etc.
An alcohol-free reception usually is a short reception. If your guests are loosened up a little, they'll be more relaxed and in the dancing mood.
It's truly amazing how many party planners and reception hall managers are clueless about the proper placement of the entertainment. They place the D.J. back in some corner, off in a closet, or in the middle of a room. Sound is extremely directional when it comes to the vocal part of music and speech. It funnels out of the speaker, in a V shape, while bass frequencies will fill an entire room. If you want your guests to hear the announcements that are being made throughout the evening, as well as enjoy the music, you need to put the D.J. in a proper location, so that sound and lighting can go over the dance floor first, then out to the audience. Placing a D.J. in the corner can take up more floor room, since the equipment will have to be placed further out onto the dance floor, to get the width needed for the entertainment system. Many times, I've been placed in bad locations and the guests cannot hear the announcements made. I realize that the reception is for the bride and groom, but the stage should be for the D.J., and not the bridal party. Once the bridal party has finished eating and the toasts have been given, the table remains empty for the rest of the evening, since they'll be at the bar, on the dance floor, dancing or mingling with the other guests. If you want the bridal table to be the center of attention......it can be placed on the dance floor, in front of the stage, used after dinner, it can be removed for the dancing but this can also cause another problem since the bridal party will be in front of the speakers, when it comes time for the toasts to be given on the wireless microphones. Improper mic technique, by your best man and maid of honor, can make it hard for the guests to hear the toasts, without bringing the volume levels up to the point of feedback, causing a loud squeal from the speakers. Sometimes a good place to put the bridal table is off to one side of the dance floor.
A bouquet and garter toss is for many of your guests the highlight of the reception, yet many brides seem to be eliminating this from their receptions. I think it's a great way for guests to find out who's single. What a great way for a single guest at your reception to meet their future husband or wife.
It's a good idea, if possible, to have as many pictures as possible taken before the actual wedding. This will allow you to get to the reception hall earlier so that your guests aren't left waiting on your arrival, for over a hour. This will allow for more dancing to party music at your reception, and less instrumental music!

How I do most weddings

Playing instrumental music, while your guests arrive, so they can mix and mingle.
Announcing of the Bridal Party, at the Grand Entrance.
Playing soothing instrumental music before dinner.
Cutting of the cake (which can sometimes be a messy, small food fight), so your guests can have cake with their dinner and you're not stuck with a lot to take home.
Dinner prayer given by your Minister, or Grandparent.
I'll then release the Bride and Groom, as well as the rest of the Bridal Party and the parents of the Bride and Groom, for the dinner line and release other tables of guests, as needed.
Relaxing instrumental music, during dinner, so your guests can chat easily! After all...that's the great thing about your wedding...it's a large family reunion and people need time to catch up on things, before the party gets started.
Next comes the Best Man and Maid of Honor Toast, a time for your closest friends to possibly embarrass you.
Then it's time to pick things up a bit, with the throwing of the bouquet. Women can get pretty aggressive going after that bouquet!!
Now it's his turn with the garter toss. A time to show off those lovely legs and to see how long his arms are.
Next up is dancing to the songs you've chosen for a) The bride and groom dance.b) The father and bride dance.c) The mother and groom dance.d) The bridal party dance.
Then it's your chance to recoup some of your expenses for your big wedding, with the dollar dance, as well as a chance to have some close conversations with your guests. Sometimes it's fun to see if the bride or the groom collects the most money! As an extra incentive for your guests to dance, you can offer them a shot of alcohol, or a Jell-O shot, when they pay their dollar. Some couples are now doing a DASH FOR CASH instead, of the dollar dance!
Then there's the anniversary dance, where all married couples come to the dance floor for some slow dancing and the D.J. asks couples married less than 5 years to leave the floor, then 10 years etc... to see who the final couple on the dance floor is and find out how long they've been married! A record for you to strive for!!
Then it's time to, get the party kicking with all those dance favorites that people of all ages can dance to at once, like the Electric Slide, the Cha Cha Slide, the Cupid Shuffle, the Wobble, Watch Me, the Macarena, the Cleveland Shuffle, the Hokey Pokey, the Chicken Dance, Y.M.C.A., the Locomotion, the Twist, some Swing Music, some Blue Grass, even some Polkas and, depending on your guests liveliness and time available, I might have them up for a Limbo Contest or a Hula Hoop Contest. I'll also be playing all those classic rock, country, motown and current R&B music, all edited with clean lyrics, so that your grandparents and kids aren't offended.

ADVICE FOR A GREAT RECEPTION

Are you or is someone you know having a wedding reception? Here are 16 things you've probably never even thought of, that as a professional mobile DJ, I suggest make for better parties. I first want to point out that it is rare that all these items are followed in any given event but the more you can adhere to them, the more likely your party will be at full steam come closing time.

Don't put the older guests next to the dance floor/speakers. If you have to ask why, then you may want to hire a harpist for the night.
Don't cram your entertainment out of the way. Your entertainer should be seen. Powerful entertainers will work to get people on the dance floor but they must be seen as part of the action, not just some sideshow.
A party should end when it shouldn't end, not when it should. Ending a party before it dies down leaves everyone with the impression the floor was packed all night. It just feels better when people are left wanting more versus being completely burned out.
A too small dance floor is better than one that is too big. Why? The answer is simple: It creates the impression, whether real or not, that the floor is full. People are more likely to dance when the crowd on the floor is dense than when they feel like they are the only ones out there. Take it from the pro who knows about dancing and crowd psychology, not from the banquet manager selling you on why a huge floor is so important. If people end up dancing on the carpet, then great they end up dancing on the carpet and the story of your floor being so packed people couldn't even fit on the floor only further reinforces my point.
Darker is better than lighter for dancing. People feel they are less of a spectacle, less on-stage when they think they're harder to see. That's why crime increases at night and yes when some people dance it is a crime. This one works along the same lines of psychology as tip 4.
Keep exit doors closed. Doors are inviting and you don't want to invite people outside of the main room. Having them open allows more light into the room, which again works against the psychodynamics of the dance floor. Open doors invite people to their cars in the parking lot. You want to keep their focus in the reception room for as long as possible.
This is a very general but valid statement: nicer places, (country clubs, etc.) actually make it harder, especially in the summer and fall months to get people up and moving because they are so pre-occupied enjoying the scenery. Think about it... would you rather enjoy a cold beverage on a breezy deck outdoors amidst the trees or a sweaty dance indoors? It isn't that the night can't be great but all things being equal, nicer venues pull from the floor potential. As a DJ I love playing nicer events and usually do so, as that's my target market; but it can't change simple human nature. If you're having your party/reception at a really nice venue then you'll just want to pay closer attention to some of the other factors to tip the scales in your favor.
Bars should always be in the main room. Preferably closer to the dance floor but the floor shouldn't be in the way of any lines to the bar. If a bar and/or desserts are put outside the main room, then a huge percentage of potential dancers are unavailable. Bars are like kitchens, they draw people to them. If you can help it, don't make your DJ wrestle with the draw of a bar.
If you're going to shut the bar down for 30 minutes out of, say, 6 hours, do it during dinner. If you do it at 11:30 then the party will more likely die out, as people will feel that it's time to go.
Happy music keeps things going. Keep away from any negative vibes at all. Keep the mood up-up-up.
Respect the musical opinions of your local professionals. They do this for a living. Be careful not to cut out all the cliché wedding music as you'll find this will negatively impact the dance floor potential. People dance to what they know. A wedding reception is not the time and place to prove to your friends and family that you're into obscure music. You've got a lot of people from all over your family tree that want to have a good time, so let your DJ exercise all his or her tools and really work his or her craft.
The entertainment should eat with the guests and not be fed a soggy club sandwich in the janitors closet. From tons of experience, the more my brides and grooms treat me as a guest, the more likely their unpaid guests will respect me too. I find it rather ironic that the nicest venues often have some sort of crapitude (made up word) towards DJs, bands, photographers, and video crew and will encourage the bride and groom to shovel them off away from the action during dinner with a plate of moldy (I'm not kidding) cold cuts. Wouldn't it make sense that they be right near the action? Not to mention, if you treat your vendors like second class citizens, how do you think that affects their attitudes? Your pros will bend over backwards for you if you just treat them with the same respect that you'd treat your guests with. I can tell you now that professional wedding vendors will even do extra for you at no charge when you treat them right.
Don't do a dollar dance. The reason is that when the bride and groom are doing this the guests realize they won't be seen slipping out the door. If you must do one, do it early on after the main dances and limit it to 3 songs max.
People tend to remember the beginning and the end of an event. That's why your DJ should do a strong, grand introduction. It helps build rapport early on, and if done right and with energy and enthusiasm, it puts him or her in a more powerful position to work your crowd all night.
It is best for any traditional events or speeches to be done and out of the way before dancing begins. In addition, it is important for pictures of the bridal party and bride and groom to be done, when at all possible, before the dancing begins. As a DJ I have seen more parties lose steam because my bridal party is having pictures taken after the bridal dance. Do all the pictures before. It may cost you an extra hour earlier in the day, but it will save you from losing a good handful of guests early on in the evening.
If you have to cut corners, don't compromise on the entertainment. My clients never complain that they paid too much for my services. Also, know that experience is king in the entertainment world. I am a better DJ after every event I do.

There's a high probability that a cheap (or free) DJ won't be in business by the time your wedding arrives. Many low-priced DJs aren't charging enough to support their own businesses for the long term; you're just financing their hobby. Meanwhile, your wedding is 6-12 months away or more. I've received those calls from desperate couples who had a friend of a friend who is a DJ cancel on them last minute. It's not pretty. Do you want to risk the possibility that the cheapie DJ is bankrupt and out of business before your big day? Amateurs are less invested in their performance than a wedding professional. The amateur DJ is doing it for fun, and if something goes wrong, it's not a big deal. A wedding professional, on the other hand, risks his entire reputation and livelihood with every performance. One bad review can destroy his business and he knows it. At one wedding, the DJ brought along his wife and newborn. Their table was littered with McDonald's bags and his wife decided to breast feed the baby during dinner. Would you rather have an entertainer who is 100% invested in his business and performance on your wedding day or someone who does it as a hobby? A wedding is a unique event that require the skills and experience of a wedding specialist for a smooth, flawless ceremony and reception. It's about more than just playing music. Your wedding DJ is responsible for coordinating the time line, orchestrating the introduction and flow of events, working with your other vendors, managing the guests, reading the crowd and making sure the right song is played at just the right time. Even a DJ who is quite experienced in the club setting will be at a loss because they simply aren't familiar with the flow of events and how to prevent disasters when something goes awry. One inexperienced DJ mistakenly announced a special dance with the bride and her grandfather because he forgot to update his notes. The entire family started crying because Grandpa had passed away two weeks earlier. Are you willing to place the outcome of your wedding in the hands of someone who doesn't do weddings for a living? Your guests won't dance without an experienced entertainer who can read the crowd and keep the momentum going. You have to play the right songs at the right time and in the right order to maintain dancing. Oftentimes, the mood changes and your entertainer needs to change the program to maximize the dancing along the way. If they can't mix from one song to another, you'll have gaps of dead air or awkward rhythms that will frustrate your guests and clear the floor. Many couples think that providing an amateur with a set list of songs they love will be enough to make a fun wedding. It's not. You need someone with experience to work with your requests and what your guests are responding to in order to avoid an empty dance floor. One bride regrets hiring her DJ because he played Unforgettable five times during the wedding because he didn't know any other slow songs. Are you willing to sacrifice the fun at your wedding to save money on a cheaper DJ? The MC (the guy or girl on the microphone) has a huge impact on the mood and outcome of your party, for better or worse. An obnoxious DJ with an abrasive voice will irritate your guests and dampen the mood of the entire party. Professional DJs invest in vocal training and practice to optimize their performance. I personally witnessed one DJ that embarrassed everyone by making suggestive comments to the bride over the microphone. Do you want just anyone acting as your wedding host or do you want a professional speaker you can trust? Your special events may not happen if you don't hire a specialist who's experienced in channeling the flow of events.Who will direct your bridal party and guests at the ceremony? Who's going to line them up for introductions? Who's in charge of making sure the toasts, special dances and dedications go without a hitch? Just having the equipment and knowing how to push play doesn't guarantee the people wrangling skills you need for a fun, smooth reception. In most cases, your entertainer is the one who makes sure your special events are executed as you've requested. One inexperienced DJ forgot to bring the couple's First Dance song; they were forced to dance to Barbra Streisand, who they can't stand. Will you risk leaving your special events to chance or do you want to ensure that everything is done according to plan? An amateur doesn't have the experience to include your unique requests in a way that truly expresses your personality AND keeps people dancing. You can't make your guests dance to the songs you like if they don't feel the same way. Your DJ needs to read the crowd and have the experience to build sets of music around your preferences. An amateur DJ can play the songs you request, but lacks the experience necessary to make it work. One bride us her DJ played the unedited version of Sexy Back during dinner and had five minutes of dead air while he queued up the next song. Do you want your guests on the dance floor all night or is it acceptable to have large chunks of time with no dancing? An amateur DJ has inadequate or non-existent backup equipment, which means that if something fails you have no music at your wedding. A fully functional backup system on the premises is essential to making sure you have music at your wedding no matter what. Most amateur DJs won't have a backup plan if a speaker blows or a laptop crashes.We were approached at the end of one wedding by a DJ in the next room who asked if he could borrow our speakers because his were broken. Are you willing to takes your chances without a backup on your wedding day? DJs who charge less invest less into their equipment, which means you have inferior sound and performance at your wedding. A stereo system that sounds great in your living room doesn't sound good in a spacious wedding venue. Professional speakers and equipment are necessary for clear sound that has impact at low volumes, so your guests can speak at the tables even while the dance floor is thumping. If you want your guests to actually hear your exchange of vows at the ceremony, you'll need professional equipment and an on site tech to make sure that happens. One DJ showed up at a venue for the first time without ANY speakers or mixer because he's been told that he could, use the venue's sound system and he didn't call ahead to verify. Are sound issues like blasting music or impossible to understand audio acceptable on your wedding day? If you're not planning to have any formal events at your wedding, and you'd like a cocktail party more than a dance party, it may make sense to save money by hiring a non-professional. But if you're investing thousands of dollars on creating the perfect day, please don't jeopardize it by hiring someone who doesn't know what they're doing. Your wedding day only happens once; make sure you hire a DJ who gets it right.

Years ago I got invited to a wedding reception which I attended, and witnessed a D.J. that played only one style of music....COUNTRY.....all night long, other than The Chicken Dance and Y.M.C.A.! This D.J. was also using, believe it or not....car stereo speakers, as his main speakers on the stage, and a guitar amplifier to power them. Everything sounded very honky midrange in tone. He didn't even have something as simple as a mirror ball, for dance floor lighting. I really felt sorry for the bride, knowing she could have, and should have, had so much better for entertainment. All D.J.s are not created equal.How are these new D.J.s going to get their learning experience??? They're going to learn from all their mistakes, if they learn at all, that they'll make at your party that you're paying for. It's like getting paid money to go to college!! I don't think you want to pay for their education, do you? So be sure to go with an experienced fulltime D.J. and not a part time D.J. with a full time job somewhere else. He might have to cancel out on you the week of your show, due to a mandatory work weekend at his full time job. Trust me - this stuff does happen!! You never know how bad many D.J.s out there really are until you get to see and hear a good one. Only then do you realize how bad things are. Imagine having lived your entire life only having hot dogs to eat then, one day, you get to dine on steak and lobster; only then do you realize just how blah hot dogs are!

Just a random thought - have you noticed that many D.J.s phone book ads, or web sites, state that they are Ohio's Premier or Ohio's #1 or Best in Ohio or Areas Finest etc. I'm curious on who gave so many a first place prize. This web site will show you all I have to offer so you can, at least, be totally informed on 1 of the many D.J.s you are looking at. Don't be blown away by some D.J.s that say they have 1 million songs etc. These D.J.s are using illegal pirated hard drives, and they have so many duplicated songs that it's insane. Just how many times do you have to have The B52's Love Shack in a karaoke or D.J. collection, on a hard drive, to fluff up your total song number?I have an ex wife whose favorite quote was VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE. While variety in partners isn't good for a marriage, Variety in music is definitely more likely to please all of your guests. My job is to make those important announcements that need to be made and play a variety of music, in different styles for people of all ages to enjoy and doing this brings out the dancers, on their own, to have a great time at your party!!! It works every time!!