Do You Really Need An MC For A Reception?

I have seen bridal websites where brides can post questions,
and share ideas and experiences. I’ve read some posts where brides
ask if they need an MC for their reception.
Let me just say if you invite over 30 guests to your reception you
need a Master of Ceremonies if you want any kind of direction.

Your wedding is a big production that can take more than a year to
produce and plan like a movie or a TV show. A movie needs a crew of people
including producers, actors and a director. Your wedding, like a movie needs
the same crew of people to make the event successful.
TV shows like “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” will have a
Master of Ceremonies. The MC is the one that is also directing & guiding the
audience to what’s about to take place, and what’s coming up. Without an MC
how do you know what’s happening or what’s about to happen?

A wedding needs direction, the director of a wedding is the MC. A professional
MC will have the entertainment training and experience to keep your guests
informed throughout the night without taking the focus off the Bride & Groom
(the star of the show).
A wedding MC is there to run the show not be the show. Like a TV show a good
MC can build a connection with his audience and keep them in tune. A bad MC could
make you want to turn the channel, or leave a reception early.

Weddings are unique events with several important formalities & traditions that can
take place. Unlike a birthday party where a DJ can get away with just showing up
and playing any kind of music to the crowd.
Therefore there needs to be a plan (agenda). An MC needs to be involved with the
planning since he will be the one (MC) guiding & directing your guests.

You go out to a movie or turn on the TV to be entertained. Your reception is the
entertainment part of your wedding, where more time and money is spent.
If a Movie or TV show gets bad reviews or ratings they won’t last very long.
If your reception entertainment is poor it won’t last very long ether.
What kind of reviews will your wedding get?
How do you want your wedding day to be remembered?

A good wedding MC will take the time to get to know you and know you well.
By doing so that MC can represent you the way you want to be represented,
by your style and by your expectations. If your wedding MC knows nothing
about you how can he represent you? This is one reason why many wedding
DJ’s get the reputation of being cheesy or goofy because they are not sure
how to act.

Imagine how you may feel in front of a large group of people you don’t
know with most of them looking at you. Now think about having to talk
to them on a microphone.
Now think about how you may feel in front of the same group of
people, but only this time you know a little about the guests and more about
the couple your representing. Representing that couple on the microphone
just became much easier.

Ever seen a Mobile DJ stay behind his DJ booth all night at a wedding?
Wonder why?

Always meet with a few prospective wedding DJ’s first. Make sure they ask
questions about you, get to know you and the style you want to create for
your wedding.

Do you really need an MC for your reception? Absolutely! But what you really
need is a good professional MC that will get to know you and represent you well.

Mark Sanchez
www.PhoenixDJ.net

A Disc Jockey Can Be The Master of Ceremonies  Too?

If you  grew up in the 80′s or early 90′s you couldn’t miss the  early rap
and hip hop videos. Then the rap stars would gloss themselves the MC,
With a partner being the DJ behind the turntables. i.e. MC
Hammer, Young MC, Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, DJ Jazzy Jeff etc..
These artists were self proclaimed MC’s because they rapped on the
microphone.That is one style of an MC. I had a guest at a wedding once
ask me what does MC mean after I introduced myself as the MC for
this evening.
Today some people still misinterpret what an MC really is. A Master of
Ceremonies is a person / performer who acts as host and someone who
conducts a program of varied entertainment at a formal event. A
professional MC is a well spoken talented host with hundreds of hours
of training and experience i.e. Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest.

A DJ can be the MC too?

Yes it’s true, a DJ can also be trained to speak as your Master of Ceremonies.
I read a post yesterday on The Knot forums.

A bride was reviewing her vendors after the wedding. The DJ got a great review QUOTE
“T_ _y did such a great job. With _ _ _ (DJ service) you get both a DJ and an MC which
was very nice.” Meaning you get 2 people, a DJ and a Master of Ceremonies. Don’t get me
wrong I’m very glad to hear that her wedding went great. What she may not realize is that
she paid extra to have 2 people, (a DJ and an MC) as opposed to one person who could
realistically do both.
There are professional Disc Jockeys who are also professional MC’s too. Billy Joel,
Elton John, Harry Connick Jr., Alicia Keys are just a few artists that can play the piano and
sing at the same time. Therefore a DJ can play music and preform as your MC at the same
time.
A DJ and an MC for a wedding is not only nice, but it’s mandatory if you want direction and
flow for your reception. If you choose a DJ that’s not a true MC and is not comfortable on a
microphone, he will not have the respect or command of your guests as they will tune him or
her out the reast of the night.  All direction and flow will be lost.
A well trained, talented, experienced MC can really make a big difference by captivating and
directing an audience in a professional classy manner without taking the focus off the guest
of honor and help the flow of your wedding or event run smoothly.

Mark Sanchez

www.ProfessionalMobileEnt.com