Lend an Ear
Phyllis Cambria
The room is exquisitely decorated, the menu is delectable and all your loved ones are gathered, but the wedding reception fizzles. What’s missing? The music.
There are few elements that can make or break a reception as quickly as the type of music. For greatest flexibility, more and more bridal couples are choosing to hire a DJ.
“The increase over the last five years is substantial,” said Jeffrey Gold, president of Platinum Gold Entertainment Inc. in South Florida. “The DJ industry, with MCs, lighting packages and dancers has become a multi-million dollar business because the public is seeing the entertainment value in using a DJ.”
Since music styles change quickly, a DJ is able to quickly tap into a new trend or play the latest No. 1 hit more easily than a band might.
“If you watch MTV or VH1, you’ll see how fast a trend happens,” Gold said. “One day no one had heard of Ricky Martin, the next day he was a superstar. With the age of the Internet, most music is literally a download away. If you want a song and it’s out there, a professional DJ company will find it.”
While some trends vary, dancing cheek-to-cheek seems to be back in vogue.
“People want music from the ‘70s, music they can dance to as a couple,” said Frank Zip, president of Jam Mix Productions, Inc. in New York.
“Anything romantic works,” Gold said.
“Latin music is really hot, hot, hot, along with swing and big band rhythms,” said Linnyette Richardson-Hall, wedding coordinator and president of Premiere Event Management in Baltimore. “However, I’m also seeing a big trend toward more danceable music that requires you have a partner and dance in sync with each other.”
Sometimes it’s variety that’s important.
“Our guests ranged in age from cousins in their teens to grandparents in their seventies,” said Christine McAdams of her Long Island, N.Y., wedding. “That covers a variety of different musical preferences. The DJ we hired was able to play everything from a Peabody to the ‘Hustle’ to line dances and even reggae. They also did numbers like ‘YMCA,’ ‘Electric Slide,’ and the ‘Macarena.’ Everyone had something to dance to.”
Hiring a DJ company can have economic advantages, too.
“I usually recommend a DJ because, many times, a DJ is less expensive than a band,” said Patty Sachs, a celebration specialist in Minneapolis and author of Pick a Party: The Big Book of Themes and Occasions.
“Plus, since the music plays a relatively short time at a typical wedding with toasts, blessings, and things like the bouquet and garter toss, a band will often sit idle. That can be a big waste of money,” she said.
However, when choosing which DJ to use, price shouldn’t be your only consideration. There’s more to supplying the entertainment at a wedding than just playing music. You need someone to handle introductions, schedule toasts, moderate activities and make sure all the important elements of the reception are met.
“We always send out a team,” said Zip. “We have a DJ select and play the music, and an MC motivate the crowd and take care of the party’s flow.”
Having the proper sound system is essential because different venues aren’t always acoustically friendly.
“Sometimes a room will have a dead spot where the sound doesn’t reach, or an area where the sound is amplified too loudly. That’s why we like to check out a room to make sure we balance the sound correctly,” Gold said.
Since even the best equipment occasionally breaks down, a good DJ company will be prepared.
“If a DJ doesn’t have back-up at the event, additional equipment should be on standby at the company’s home office with personnel available to bring it to the party site,” Gold said.
When you choose a DJ, personal experience or referral is a great place to start, but seeing him or her at a wedding is paramount.
“Watching a DJ or MC perform at a corporate event or bar mitzvah is good for evaluating the stage set, lighting and sound. However, how they work at that type of party isn’t necessarily the same way they’ll work at a formal wedding,” Gold said.
For instance, different activities or ethnic dances are more likely to be requested at a wedding than at other social events. Therefore, it’s best to evaluate a DJ at another wedding so you can make an “apples-to-apples” comparison.
Lighting, smoke and bubble machines, and pyrotechnic packages are often available through a DJ service. These set-ups are geared so the lighting and sound systems can work in conjunction with each other.
It’s always best to give the DJ all special music requests and a breakdown of the event’s schedule at least two weeks before your wedding date. That will ensure there is time to find all the music you want, and allow the DJ to coordinate the event’s schedule with your caterer.
Distributing party props is another option that varies by personal taste and regional preference.
“Although props such as glow necklaces, funny hats and inflatable toys are used more often at bar mitzvahs and other social events, their use at weddings is increasing,” said Zip.
Whatever you choose for the music, special effects, lighting packages or props, use the expertise of the DJ company you select to guide you in hosting a wedding reception that sizzles, not fizzles.