We know that one of the most fun aspects of any wedding is the music and dancing! Who doesn’t love to let loose and “get low” on the dance floor? However this is also the time when a lot of scheduling conflicts and other issues can come into play. We reached out to Washington DC Wedding DJ Ed Witles with the Elegant DJ to discuss some of these issues with us and to receive some expert advice on how to avoid such problems.
PW: If you were hired for the entire event what are some of the blocks of time people should have music for?
EW: You need music for the happy hour if not already provided for. This is a great time to ‘set the mood’ and get the room buzzing with anticipation for a really fun event. No Kenny G will be found at my events.
PW: What are the moments throughout the wedding that the DJ would have to be involved in MCing/ making announcements?
EW: Only speak when appropriate and then keep it simple yet eloquent. Never hamming it up. Also, make sure all the VIPs and staff are aware prior to any announcement.
PW: How many weeks in advance do you like to have the couples song suggestions, do not play list, etc.? Do you have any suggestions for how they make the list?
EW: Couples are always free to get their list over to me, but two weeks is the cut off time that I feel most comfortable with. If you give a list of over 100 songs, please sort them by ‘must play and please play’. And keep in mind that an average of 12-15 songs/hr is played when you are making your list.
Never assume your DJ is an expert if you want ethnic or cultural music played. Some songs might sound fun but could be offensive to certain guest. Get him/her a list ASAP and indicate when and where it should be played.
PW: Have you come across any common scheduling issues that you would like to share?
EW: Not really. Except for certain venues that need to change the rooms over in case of inclement weather, none that I am ware of. That is when a DOC can really be helpful.
PW: Are there any songs or genres of music that you would advise your clients to steer clear off?
EW: In my opinion I feel that line dancing and karaoke are really not good choices for an upscale wedding event. Exception, ethnic dances and the occasional soloist dedication.
PW: How do you deal with guests making requests during the wedding?
EW: During my events, I treat guests request as suggestions, not demands to be played next. First it must pass the couple’s test, then my test. If the client doesn’t want it played, then an alternate is suggested. Never will I send a guest running back to the couple whining that his/her song can’t be played. Exception – Mom or Dad asking for a certain song that the bride has banned. That needs to be discreetly handled w/ all parties. The folks might foot the bill but it is not their wedding.
PW: Any Further Suggestions, tips, or advice?
EW: You can have a really fun event w/o having your DJ play the ‘dirty dozen’ cliché wedding music. That said, your family and friends took time out to be there for you and as such – you want to make sure they have a great time. So keeping that in mind, some songs that might be ‘odd’ can be really fun if done right and played at the right time.
DJ’s boasting 1,000,000+ songs is strictly for ego reasons. It is more important to have a diverse library and knowledge of what to play and when.
He/she should be skilled creating certain sets while keeping the guests happy.
Anyone can play the top 10 off billboard and folks will dance, but a truly talented DJ will create fun dance sets and song transitions that will take your dance floor to the next level and wanting for more.
See you on the dance floor!
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
