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thumbtack, dj, wedding dj

Should I use Thumbtack to find my wedding DJ?

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Should I use Thumbtack to find my wedding DJ?

Technology has made it easier than ever to have the world at your fingertips. You can order a pizza and have it delivered to your house, do your grocery shopping, and lots more. But there are some things that require a personal touch that can’t be satisfied with a few easy clicks of the mouse.

Thumbtack is a business listing website that connects consumers to companies relevant to services or products they are searching for. So, if you are looking for a wedding dj, how does this pertain to you? It’s kinda like priceline but for DJs. Here’s how it works.

You sign up for an account and input your contact info. Find a dj in the service directory. Then fill out an inquiry form including the date, location, and budget for your wedding. It asks you if your venue will supply audio and lighting for your event or if it is the responsibility of the DJ. It even asks you if you want a fog machine for your wedding. And last but not least, what kind of music you’re in to. You click the submit button and you’re on your way to endless emails from DJs trying to outbid each other for your business. Sounds like a dream doesn’t it?

Now those criteria might be perfectly acceptable for a 13 year old’s birthday party at the VFW, but we’re talking about weddings. A pivotal moment in your life where you make the commitment to your fiance for the rest of your life. Something as important as a wedding needs to be handled with care. Imagine your grandma banging her head for 4 hours to some David Guetta like she was at the Ultra Festival in Miami. On second thought, let’s not.

The point is, your wedding guest list will be the culmination of a variety of genders, ages, personalities, and music tastes. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a DJ is the dancing and the music. But when it comes to weddings, your DJ holds a much higher responsibility of keeping things running smoothly and guiding you, your guests, and your wedding team through your wedding day. From introductions to the last dance, every detail great and small is tended to and executed to ensure that you are getting the most out of your reception. In terms of music, the job of your wedding dj is to cater to the masses and ensure that you and your guests young and old have an enjoyable experience throughout the day.

You won’t find that kind of dedication, attention to detail or expertise by filling out a generic form and hiring the lowest bidder.

Wedding Ceremony Music

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While browsing the WeddingWire forums today, I came across a pretty common topic for DJs. Ceremony Music. Jen writes the following…

“Ceremony music

I am having the most difficult time picking out wedding music. Our wedding is outside at an apple orchard and will be a non-religious ceremony. I really want some different from the traditional wedding march (it’s not my style). But everything I find just seems so cheesy. Suggestions?”

Jen, your wedding is whatever you want it to be. Years ago, traditions of church services, here comes the bride, and the grand entrance were all very common. Now the question is,  do you want to stay traditional or would you like something a little outside of the box?

Today, it’s very common to see live musicians taking care of the ceremony music as well as some secular or ‘non religious’ music at wedding ceremonies. The demand for all in one on site weddings is on the rise. So what should you pick for your ceremony music?

Usually I tell my brides who want something non-traditional is to choose something that is pretty sounding. Piano and or acoustic music is a good example. Artists like Jim Brickman are perfect for setting the tone. For recessionals lots of brides are going to country music these days. Country ballads are simple, honest, and heartfelt. AND PRETTY!

But regardless of what your musical tastes and style are, at the end of the day, choose something that best represents your love for one another. To get some ideas, visit the website below. Good luck and happy planning!

To get ideas for music for your wedding, check out http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-songs

Just another DJ

Just another DJ. What’s the big deal?

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Just another DJ. What’s the big deal?

Yes. We went there.

What has been your experience with DJs in the past? Has it been so excrutiangly loud that your head pounded for days? Was it too quiet and announcements couldn’t be heard when the bride and groom were introduced? Or maybe it was the fog in the air that you were choking on. If all of these sound familiar, this is the article for you.

When we do an event, we are very organized and want to make sure that EVERY detail is gone through with a fine tooth comb before we proceed. That being said, everything from the sound coverage to the last light shining on the floor has a place and a purpose for your event.

For some DJs, the bare minimum is enough. And for others, bringing everything but the kitchen sink is perfectly acceptable. The important thing to remember is, every event is different and has different requirements. One set of speakers in a small or medium size room with 8ft ceilings may do the trick. If you’re in a 10,000 sq ft room at the Aqua Turf, 1 set of speakers is probably not enough. Not from a volume standpoint but from a coverage standpoint. Think of sound like a painter would paint.

You can paint a bathroom with a single gallon of paint. But if you are painting the exterior of a house, you need several gallons to get the job done or you will have missed spots and dead areas.

When you’re hiring your entertainment or event production company for your next event, make sure they have the tools for the job so that your attendees will go home happy.

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Those Sucky Wedding Vendors (thoughts from a real bride)

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Those Sucky Wedding Vendors (thoughts from a real bride)

I was browsing the Weddingwire Forums today when I came across an interesting post from a bride entitled ‘SUCKY WEDDING VENDORS‘

Here’s what the bride had to say…
“Sucky vendors

Good lord I think I attract the crappiest vendors. Let’s see: Venue: switched 4 months in because the woman would take over a month to respond to a question and messed up our cake tasting 3 times. Photographer: just fired her last week via email but I have no idea if she even knows because she NEVER checks her email, facebook or texts and stranded me after I gave her a deposit back in November. Seamstress: made an appt last Saturday for my first fitting at 11am. They booked another appt at the same time and the woman wasn’t even there so I waited til 12:30 to see some woman who was just there to man the shop. Spoke to her yesterday and made an appt for today at 12:30 to go on my lunch break, I get there and another woman tells me “oh no, she never works on Fridays”. I took my dress n left n it’s now behind the door in my office-how special. WTF. Any one else have a-holes they are dealing with?? Did you leave them or juts stick it out??”

Good question. What should you do if you have a vendor that’s not communicating with you? It is after all one of the most important days of your life and a large life investment both emotionally and financially. Here’s what we had to tell her.

“Although I am a vendor, I can understand your frustrations.
This is what I tell every bride that comes our way….
The most important factor when finding vendors for your wedding is that they are a good fit. Are they the right personality? Do they conduct business professionally? Do they have any references? Are they isnured, etc…

If you do have a vendor that you are happy with, ask them for referrals. If they’re like me, they will want to make sure that they are only referring QUALITY vendors and not just a guy they’ve heard of on google.

Though you are not a client of mine, I would be happy to help you. Your wedding day is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable experience. Depending on what your tastes are, I might be able to steer you in the right direction to help you find some folks that would be a good fit. Best wishes!”

Now that may seem a little cliche but, it’s true. Most brides automatically go to price first and service second. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Being a good fit for the bride is so very important. The right personality means everything. So brides, take the time to get to know your vendors. Meet with them over a cup of coffee. If it sounds too good to be true,  it probably is. When your vendor talks to you, they should be honest, helpful, and accommodating. Because it’s all about you.