I didn’t write this, but I think this is a great article about IPod weddings,
and I agree with everything that is stated.

“ iPod Weddings” by Ed Mullen

Yet another article about the scourge of the iPod? Well, yes, but this is one to share with grooms who are being tempted by DIY…

Getting married, mister? Congratulations!
Are you handling the details with your fiancée? Great.
Your job is to arrange the music? Brilliant.
You are doing it yourself? How so?
Your iPod! You’re kidding, right?
How much are you spending on your wedding?
Oh, it’s a control issue? You want your favorites played?
Have you really thought this through? Didn’t think so.

Although an iPod is a very efficient personal music system, there are
several problems that arise when depending on your iPod to handle your
wedding reception. Your risk vs. reward is not as clear cut as you might
think. So, here comes the “tough love.” I’ve been a mobile disc jockey
since 1979. I have some frank advice for you, since you get only one
chance to handle this wedding music issue…

To put it as simply as possible: Get a pro. A experienced professional
disc jockey solves many reception issues in the planning. Your preferences
and song list should be completely explored months before the ceremony
and delivered by someone who has been there before. The well-prepared
DJ also has professional grade sound equipment and back-up gear that is
dependable.
Technical Difficulties
Got some home speakers? What are you using for your amplifier? Briefly, my professional DJ speakers are better than your home speakers. I use powered JBL EON-15 G2 speakers, some of the best portable speakers available. A mobile disc jockey depends on durable, high-performance equipment gig after gig after gig.
Thinking of renting PA gear? Rental equipment costs money. Rental equipment also costs time. Pick-up and drop-off does not include your shopping time spent finding the right sound rental company. Got time? In the week prior to your wedding, time is your most precious commodity. Does the money-back guarantee give you any comfort if it fails at your wedding reception?
Risky business. You will not get a chance to test rental equipment. You can’t even do a venue sound check. Are all the connecting wires included? Are your XLR cables matched with 1/4″ speaker inputs? Too technical? This is just chapter one. Do you plan on any toasts or blessings to be delivered? Did you forget about the microphone? Would you say that all microphones the same?
When you are listening to your iPod, you involuntarily adjust the volume to your comfort. You’ll soon find out that all songs are not recorded at the same volume. Since you are pumping raw iPod sound, you have no volume control or equalizer (bass vs. treble) control. Your iPod is smaller than your keys. Have you ever misplaced your keys? Doesn’t it turn your stomach if your drop your digital camera on the floor or your cell phone on the parking lot? How durable is your iPod? Any back-up plan? What could possibly go wrong?

Musical Magic – or Mayhem?
What about your song selections? With an iPod wedding, you’ll get your songs and your random mix, but, you won’t get pacing, such as breaking up a lengthy, fast-paced set with one or two ballads. This is especially vital for a reception including a variety of ages. Are guests of all age groups attending?
“Got my favorite song?” Who will be asked this question? You will. It seems you forgot about audience requests or what tendencies are occurring on the dance floor. Observation is one of the most important skills of disc jockeying.
A pro disc jockey takes the bride’s and groom’s song preferences and presents them in such a way as to provide the guests with the couple’s very own musical signature. “Reading the crowd” is the disc jockey’s primary skill. Do you really think that “the crowd will dance to anything” anyway? Are you willing to bet your special day on that idea?

Time Keeps on Slippin’…
Should your wedding day responsibilities include troubleshooting power needs like batteries or chargers? Your attention will be directed to many different people during the ceremony and reception. Every person in attendance would like some of your time. Not to mention, your new partner. Your priorities need to be re-examined if your iPod gets as much attention as your new wedding ring. This statement will also be posed to you, by your new spouse. Guaranteed. Remember the difficulty that you two had selecting the names on your guest list? Your time spent with selected family and selected friends is such a memorable part of the wedding reception, so hold it as a gift with great value. Is your attention going to be diverted by sound equipment during the most important day of your life?
Maybe you had the breakthrough idea to ask a wedding party attendant to watch your iPod. So it seems that this friend is no longer a guest, but is now working for you. Maybe you’ll trust a non-guest who will baby sit the iPod. And maybe you’ll want a first-time chef baking your wedding cake too. Speaking of other vendors, are you aware that experienced vendors like the disc jockey, caterer, photographer, venue manager, video-grapher and wedding coordinator together work out the final details and fine-tune the timing…during the event!

Money Well Spent
Is it cheaper? Sure, hiring a professional costs more than a do-it-yourself project. But, is your wedding really a do-it-yourself project? This may not be the best time to show how frugal you are. You are planning the biggest party in your life and you have the opportunity to select experienced, professional vendors-so do the right thing. Although your input and your needs are essential in the planning stage, you must transition to the “guest of honor” stage to fully enjoy your wedding day. Don’t you want to experience it together with your new bride as the happy couple?
You will get a fair representation of what the modern disc jockey does during your personal meeting, months before your event. That’s why I like meeting the wedding couple to get both bride and groom perspectives on what to do and what not to do. The clients supply me with a song list and wedding preference timeline, just like they will tell their needs to the caterer, florist and so on. Your mix of traditional and modern choices makes your wedding unique. The DJ is the one who will weave your choices into a musical tapestry worthy of your most special occasion.

Get Real
You should know, by now, that the modern disc jockey is not so anxious to play line dances. This optional choice is covered in part of the couple’s song-list and is called the “do not play list”. We understand and appreciate that kind of instruction. You should know that the modern disc jockey uses judgment concerning objectionable lyrics. Your iPod does not have that kind of filter. The glut of sunny wedding music advice on the web does not give you the real life pros and cons about the modern disc jockey. There are some major practical limitations when you pre-program the music event, days before your guests see you walk down the aisle.
Every vendor wants a well-planned wedding, just like every client. So, let the chefs cook. Let the florist bring the flowers. Let the photographers shoot. Let the limousine driver drive. Let the professional disc jockey provide the soundtrack for your once-in-a-lifetime reception. Did you ever hear the old line about “making or breaking the reception”? What do you think they were talking about? A smart bride once said, “Good entertainment isn’t cheap and cheap entertainment isn’t good”. So, you want to have an iPod wedding? Are you kidding?
www.DJMrEd.com

Mark Sanchez
(602) 509-0519
www.ProfessionalMobileEnt.com

How Much Do You Charge?

When I get calls or e-mails from potential clients,
the number one most common question I get is,
“How much do you charge”

It would seem to make sense since most Brides look
at DJ’s as just another wedding vendor. However a DJ
is a personalized service not a commodity, e.i. cake,
wedding gown, food. Also Brides really don’t know what
else to ask.

Entertainment is a talent base business. Each DJ will bring
a different level of talent, experience, and expertise to your
wedding. This is how truly great professional mobile DJ’s will
base their pricing.

“Find out what makes a DJ worth his fee.”
There’s nothing wrong with asking about price, but you
should make it your last question. By giving out a price,
it’s just that, nothing but numbers. A price will not tell
you anything about the DJ’s talent, experience, expertise,
and unique services.

“You get what you pay for.”
I’m sure you’ve heard that statement before.
It couldn’t be more true in the wedding business.

Remember DJ’s are not created equal. Today anybody
can buy music & cheap equipment and be a self proclaimed
DJ. Once they figure out how to use, and get very familiar
with the equipment they become self proclaimed professional
mobile Disc Jockey’s.
Just because I know how to use a computer doesn’t
mean I’m a professional computer programmer.
There’s much more to it then that.

“But I’m on a budget.”
No question, weddings are expensive no matter what
your budget is. Trust me, I know you have a budget.
Everybody is on a budget, unless your marrying Donald
Trump.
Ask yourself…. how you want your wedding to be
remembered?
Every bride will spurge on at least one thing for their wedding.
When I ask Brides & Grooms to describe your wedding
in 3 words, the one word I hear most every time is “FUN”.
Good entertainment = “fun, yet entertainment is usually
falls on the bottom of priorities when hiring vendors for
a wedding.
Good entertainment is not cheap, and cheap entertainment
is not good.

A bad movies don’t last playing in the theaters long.
The great movies remain playing for an extended time.
If your DJ/ entertainment is not good your guests will
leave early. One thing your guests will always remember
about your wedding is ether how much fun it was, or
they had to leave early because the entertainment was bad.

The cheaper DJ is not the better value. What we all
really want is the best value for our money.

If the pictures were your top priority, I don’t think
you would have a friend take pictures with a Polaroid.
If the food is your priority, I don’t think you would
have KFC cater your wedding.
If the wedding gown is your priority, you wouldn’t
buy a dress from K-Mart.

If having fun is your priority, don’t have a friend DJ
your wedding, or look for the lowest priced DJ.
I promise you will be very disappointed.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and one of the
biggest days of your life. I would think you would want
to get it right the first time.
There are no do-overs with weddings…unless…
Mark Sanchez
(602) 509-0519
www.ProfessionalMobileEnt.com