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DJ'S ARE THE PARTY PROS
This is where DJ's will give their two cents worth on what it takes
to make a successful party/reception.
iPod Weddings: Part 1
By Ted Chamberlain
Ted's Tunes DJ Service
The whole issue of I-Pod weddings
is a thorny one and few people understand it properly but here it is
in a nutshell. I've taken my info from the AVLA website and they
have authority over the music copyrights and they issue DJ's with
their licenses.
1) I-Pod weddings are legal if the
wedding couple buy a one time license for the reception. We know
that the chance of that happening is very slim. An I-Pod wedding
could be legal if the reception was at a private place like a
backyard tent or home.
2) An unlicensed I-Pod wedding is
illegal in a hall or hotel that rents their premises for events.
It's important that halls and hotels understand this because they
also could be liable in a lawsuit.
The AVLA license is good for one
event and any copied CD's or music on the I-Pod that was used for
the reception must be destroyed or erased after the vent and we know
that the chance of that happening is also very slim. The AVLA has
authority to litigate any unlicensed event and that goes for
unlicensed DJ's copying music or using unlicensed hard drives.
I've also added an article taken
from another Professional DJ Service in the US re: I-Pod weddings.
It's real interesting and insightful.
iPod Weddings: Part 2 - The Pros
and Cons of Using an iPod
Much has been written about the
advantages of using an iPod or other MP3 playback device for wedding
ceremonies and receptions. One obvious advantage is that you can
save quite a bit of money not hiring a DJ for your wedding music.
You can also have absolute control of each and every selection of
music and the order in which it's played throughout the entire
event.
However, the harsh reality is that
in most cases, these may not be advantages at all. Just ask anyone
who has been to a wedding where an iPod was used without the
guidance of a professional wedding disc jockey. True, you may save
hundreds of dollars, but at what cost to the quality of your wedding
reception?
Keep these facts in mind:
• An iPod can't "read the crowd",
but that's a professional wedding DJ's 'specialty'. A pro can change
the tempo if your guests want a slow song next or a faster song
played. Working with a professional wedding DJ who has a vast
knowledge of all styles of music will, in most cases, make your
wedding reception 'an affair to remember'. Filling your iPod with
songs that YOU like doesn't guarantee that all your guests will like
them as well.
• An iPod can't mix the music like
a professional DJ. You'll have a 2 or 3-second 'dead-air' gap
between songs that can kill the energy on the dance floor. On the
other hand, a professional wedding DJ can mix almost seamlessly from
song to song, keeping the guests dancing until the very end.
• An iPod can't act as a Master of
Ceremonies. Hiring someone who does weddings on a regular basis and
knows all the formalities associated with such events is priceless.
If you think a friend can do the same job as a professional, think
again. Be very careful and sure of the friend or relative you ask to
do this for your wedding. Unfortunately, too many friends have
'frozen' at too many weddings, and there are no "do-overs" when it
comes to weddings.
There's a reason we use the words
"professional wedding DJ" and not just "DJ". There is a huge
difference between the occasional wedding DJ (the 'weekend warrior'
that has given the industry a bad name) and the full-time
professional who customizes and personalizes every wedding s/he
does. I urge you to seek out a professional who can help you plan
the wedding of your dreams. A professional wedding DJ will go beyond
just playing the music like an iPod or hobbyist DJ. They will act as
Master of Ceremonies and keep the flow of the reception going
through his or her coordination and directing skills.
(Thanks to DJ Ron Michaels at
Ron Michaels Weddings for the Pros and Cons)
DJ's Walk a Fine Line All the
Time
By Ted Chamberlain
Ted's Tunes DJ Service
While it may seem fairly simple to
spin discs at an event; I can tell you from my 30 years of
experience that there´s more to it than meets the eye. All DJ´s have
their favourite formulae and combinations of songs that will
encourage people to get up and dance. That's what we're paid to do.
Our very survival and reputation as a DJ service depends on how
successful our efforts are at filling the dance floor. We can have
all the right music at our disposal but if, for some reason, we
don´t play it; or we're asked not to play it ; we're in for a long
night. DJ´s feel the pulse of the party and react to the response on
the dance floor and therefore we play music that promotes that party
atmosphere.
Guests often make requests that the
brides or event organizers have already requested us not to play.
This is explained to the guests but sometimes it doesn't go over
well. DJ´s have to be diplomatic when this situation arises and even
more so as the night progresses due to the effects of fatigue and
alcohol on some guests. Sometimes we're caught between what we know
will work and what we were directed to play. This is absolutely the
toughest part of the business because we know from experience what
works. Music is truly a subjective thing with every person liking or
disliking songs, artists or genres for different reasons. DJ´s are
no different but we can´t simply play what we like; unless we know
it'll fire up the dance floor.
Brides often ask me if I take
requests and I respond by saying that it's no problem and that they
should also consider how their requests will affect the dance floor.
Request lists of nearly 200 songs are not necessary because it's
only possible to play 50-60 songs in any given evening. Your DJ
needs some flexibility to interweave requests into the evening's
music without being tied to a play list like a radio station. They
need to be able to utilize their experience for the benefit of all
the people attending your event. This will ensure a party where your
guests leave with sore feet having had a good time that they can
talk about for years to come.
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