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9 Reasons Why Hiring an Amateur Wedding DJ Is a HUGE Mistake

Written by Stephanie Padovani

What most couples who are planning a wedding don’t know is that saving money by hiring an amateur DJ for your wedding comes with a high price tag.  Before you make a decision you regret, here are some things you need to know.

 

1. 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.

We’ve received those calls from desperate couples who had a “friend of a friend” 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?

2.  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 breastfeed 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?

3.  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 timeline, 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 she simply isn’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?

4.  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 she 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?

5.  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 and embarrass 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?

6.  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?

7.  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 told us her DJ played the unedited version of Sexxy 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?

8. 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?

9.  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 onsite 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.

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plan a wedding, wedding appointments, meeting with wedding vendors

No time to plan a wedding

No time to plan a wedding.

Hi Everyone!

In these fast times, people are turning to the internet for ALL of their purchases and investments when it’s time to plan a wedding. Weddings are no exception. In this day and age, you can find just about anything you need from dresses and shoes to hairstyles and centerpiece ideas with the click of a mouse of the press of a thumb on your smart phone or tablet.  We’re really living in Star Trek times with everything at our finger tips on demand. That’s the great part of planning a wedding in 2016.

Gone are the days of having to go to the store to buy a 3 ring binder with instructions on how to plan a wedding or spending hundreds on expensive wedding magazines off the rack that with undoubtedly end up on your coffee table.

Wedding planning season is in full swing and we’re here to help you. We understand that planning your special day can be hectic so we’ve made it easy for you. If you go to or wedding site www.PrymeTymeEntertainment.net, check out our HELPFUL RESOURCES page to find VENUES, PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, YACHT RENTALS, and a whole lot more…

These are all companies that we have worked with in the past so be sure to mention our name when you call. They’d be happy to help.

Burr Homestead Wedding – Lauren & Jon

Burr Homestead Wedding – The wedding of Lauren & Jon

Last night was a wedding for the ages. The marriage of Lauren and Jon took place at the Historic Burr Homested in Fairfield, CT. Lauren, Jon an guests were from the greater NYC area. That being said, their expectation of what a wedding DJ from CT was probably a lot different than what you’d expect. The fancy tuxedo, the golden microphone, maybe some mexican party hats and a few blow up instruments. But on this night, the music took them on a journey through the 5 boroughs. From the sounds of Frank Sinatra and the rat pack at  Radio City Music Hall, to the hip hop capitol of the world, Brooklyn, NY.

After a two and a half hour cocktail hour and Mediterranean influenced smorgasbord of delectable food, guests also enjoyed a candy bar that would even leave WIlly Wonka himself in awe. Every tasty treat from childhood from cotton candy, candied and caramel apples and even a smores station were featured.

Once the guests had their fill of champagne and sugary confections, the estate turned full swing into a house party. This wealthy, white collar town was shaken to it’s core when the music started. After a 4 hour marathon of dancing and singing, it was time to bring this party to a close. The night ended with a hug and a smile from the newlyweds and it was time to head back to the office.

Check out some video from last night’s wedding,.

Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

September 15th 2012 marks the day that Connie Chace and Austin Neudecker joined hands in matrimony.
Over 200 guests were in attendance for the vows at the Vanderbuilt Family’s ‘Elm Court Estate‘ in Lenox, MA. The newlyweds spent their 9 year courtship travelling the globe from country to country seeking out  adventure and experiencing the different cultures around the world.

The wedding was non-traditional to say the least. An hour and 15 minutes of vow exchanging, stories, and rememberances followed by another hour and a half of blessings, poetry and song. The food was eclectic and featured dishes from the places that they had visited around the world including India, Japan, Italy, Germany and others. The imported wine and beers from around the world also made an appearance for this marathon wedding reception. After a 2 hour dinner and a video narrated by the newlyweds, the dance floor was open to all to enjoy. For four straight hours into the early morning, the music room of the estate was transformed into a nightclub atmosphere complete with colorful uplighting to highlight the already beautiful architecture of the mansion. It was a heart pounding, fist pumping all out dance party that left even the most conservative of guests jumping for joy.

By 12:30 am the majority of the guests were pretty tired after the high end swaray but found one more burst of energy for the last song, “The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas” came on and the words “I’ve had the time of my life” could be heard throughout the estate. It was a wedding of epic proportion and one that noone would soon forget.

grand oak villa wedding, kate & chris

Kate & Chris at Grand Oak Villa

Kate & Chris at Grand Oak Villa

On August 9th, 2012 –

Kate Fasano and Chris Keller sealed the deal and began their journey as husband and wife. Pryme Tyme Entertainment was fortunate enough to be a part of the festivities. After a lovely ceremony at First Congregational Church in Watertown, the Kellers, family, friends and guests made their way down to Watertown’s wedding destination, The Grand Oak Villa. Kate had known Aaron (President of Pryme Tyme) since grade school and after finding him on facebook asked if he could be her wedding DJ for her special day.

With over 4 weddings in the Fasano family this past year, the Kellers had seen many different DJs and were anxious to see what a Pryme Tyme Entertainment wedding would be like. The newlyweds and guests enjoyed an energetic party atmosphere and danced late into the night. Pryme Tyme Entertainment’s funtastic photo booth was also in attendance and was a big hit with guests and brought out the kid in everyone.

Thank you to Mr and Mrs Keller for choosing Pryme Tyme Entertainment for their special day at the Grand Oak Villa. We wish you many happy years to come and hope to see you again soon!

Party in Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

In June, Pryme Tyme Entertainment rolled in to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel in Poughkeepsie, NY for the Valencia Sweet 16. We entertained over one hundred guests for an intimate Sweet sixteen party. Parents, kids, and grandparents alike enjoyed fabulous cuisine and a posh lounge atmosphere. There were a few of the guests that could have been taken for music royalty. And when I mean royalty, who else but the Jackson five. Well, in this case, the Jackson 4.

After dinner the room erupted into a full on dance club atmosphere that would leave five boroughs worth of New York City club jumpers green with envy. Friends and family of all ages danced the night away until the late evening and went home exhausted and soaked with perspiration. It was the perfect end to an already perfect evening. Poughkeepsie, YOU ROCK! We’ll see you on the road… Thanks to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel for being fantastic hosts!

 

Proms, Proms, Proms

Proms, Proms, Proms!

May was a fantastic month for proms here at PTE. We kicked things off with New Fairfield at the beautiful Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury CT and rocked over 250 students. The whole night was a high energy Hollywood themed atmosphere.
Wanna see a video? Click the link below to check it out.

New Fairfield High School – Prom 2012

Next up we had an EMERGENCY PROM for Mercy High School. We loaded up 10,000 watts worth of sound system and a basic light show and headed to the Aqua Turf. All within an hour. Phew! It could not have gone better. I don’t think I saw so many smiling faces when I arrived and started playing. The energy of these kids was INSANE! They danced and sang all night long till the last song at 11:30. As Frankie Valli said, “Oh what a night” The students and faculty enjoyed themselves so much in fact, they scratched their junior prom dj the following week and asked PTE to entertain the junior class.

Check out the highlights by clicking the link below.
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL – PROM 2012 – Highlights

I assisted with a photo booth for a friend of ours and had a nice relaxing night at the Aqua Turf just a few weeks after Mercy High School’s prom and ran a photo booth. The students at Litchfield High School were some of the best kids I have had the pleasure of working with so far this year. The photo booths were JAMMING from the time the doors opened till 5 mins after the prom ended. **If you would like a photo booth for your next event, call and reserve yours with Pryme Tyme Entertainment!**

The last and final prom for the season was for Oxford High School. We headed to the Aqua Turf one last time and set up “CLUB PRYME TYME” The intelligent light show, fog, and killer sound system using our new MAXX STAXX brought the house down. Our videographer was there to capture it all on camera. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT! You would have thought we were at a concert. The dancefloor was PACKED all night long! One of my fondest memories of that evening was as people were leaving, a young man asked that I play just one more song for he and his girlfriend to dance to.  I dimmed the lights and just left a single spot in the middle of the floor on them. It was a picture perfect moment. Two hearts coming together right before my eyes. That moment will last a lifetime and I was happy to be a part of it.

A big thank you to New Fairfield High School, Mercy High School, Oxford High School, Robert and Don @ the Aqua Turf for a fabulous Prom Season! You guys are the reason why I love what I do. Keep rockin, and we’ll see you next year…

Hawks Landing Wedding – Steve & Laureen

Last weekend PTE had the pleasure taking part in the celebration of Steve & Laureen’s wedding at Hawks Landing Country Club in Southington, CT.

The first thing that I noticed when I arrived is the very down-to-earth, cozy atmosphere that Hawks Landing had in the room. Seeing as it was the first wedding of 2012, this was a very welcoming experience to ring in the new season. I was greeted by the  event coordinator, Jamie. Jamie is new to Hawks Landing and was recently promoted to her new position. She handled the wedding VERY well. She has a passion for what she does and made Steve & Laureen’s guests, wedding professionals, and most importantly the bride and groom very comfortable. That is a DREAM for every wedding vendor. When the venue takes into consideration every little detail from a services perspective, the wedding is an absolute success.

The afternoon started at about 4pm with some light refreshments and conversation. The music that Steve & Laureen had picked out was not your typical “Weather Channel Kenny G“, instead they wanted a repertoire of classic rock, and some familiar songs that everyone likes to sing along to. Sweet Caroline was a big hit during dinner and it was clear how many Red Sox fans we had in the room.

Steve and Laureen elected to skip some of the typical formalities and get right to heating up the dancefloor following cake. The first song out of the gate was ‘It takes two’ by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock. Although there were MANY different genres played that evening, most of the requests came from the late 80’s through today. We played motown, funk, new age, hard rock, hip hop, r&b, techno, and threw in a polka for good measure.

By 8:45, people were starting to wind down a bit. But they weren’t getting away that easy. We ended the night with a killer mix and sent the people home to ‘The Time’ (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas. By this time, the suit jackets were off, the heels are nowhere to be found, and the guests who were wearing their Sunday best looked as if they had hit the treadmill at the gym.  It was then, when both the bride and groom came to me with open arms and said, “Thank you Aaron. This was perfect. You were amazing. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

Congratulations to Steve & Laureen on their marriage. We are so happy we were a part of one of the happiest days of your life. Cheers!

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TAX DEDUCTIBLE WEDDING

Did you know that you can write off your wedding? It’s true. Take a look at tax deductible wedding.

From: FOX NEWS

Sabrina Rivers – Wedding Planner and Author of The tax deductible wedding

Can you really write off this wedding?

“Yes you can. Some of the four points that I like to talk about is location. Most people don’t realize that if you have your wedding at a museum or a historical house, zoo, or botanical garden, that is tax deductible because these places are considered non-profit. A lot of them have the 501-C3B designation by the government to be tax exempt.”

So in other words, the money you pay for your wedding reception is considered a charitable contribution?

” You may not be able to deduct all of it, but you will certainly be able to deduct a huge part of it.”

Now what about food? If the facility supplies the food and flowers, that can’t be tax deductible can it?

“Well, food and flowers can also be deductible. Different food banks have different restrictions but, you can certainly donate your food to a shelter, and your flowers can be donated to a children’s hospital, a Ronald McDonald house, or hospice. I am a hospice volunteer and people donate flowers all of the time. ”

And also, some people don’t usually think about this but, what are you going to do with your dress? A lot of people decide to save them for later, or you can also donate your dress to charities such as brides against cancer, or the salvation army, and even goodwill. That is also a tax deduction.

“Now here’s another idea. Have you ever thought about your honeymoon being tax deductible? You can take a volunteer vacation. There are global volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club… You’re helping others and you’re getting a tax deduction. ”

“Some people, in lieu of wedding gifts, make charitable contributions. Everyone feels differently. You might get a few people who think it’s cheesy, and some others may be very very comfortable about helping others. There are lots of charitable places like the I Do Foundation located in Washington DC.”

– To get your copy of Sabrina’s Book click on the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Deductible-Wedding-More-Less-Fret/dp/0762750863