What does a wedding DJ actually DO? They only push buttons and play music, right?
If you think that’s all that is required of a DJ, let alone a WEDDING DJ, you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Here are just a few things great wedding DJs actually do at every event.
A Wedding DJ understands that they are not there to be the headliner – YOU are.
A great wedding DJ knows that every wedding reception is different and will discuss with you exactly what your vision is for your wedding and will work to make sure that dream is realized. This is done in the planning stages of the wedding. There are a lot of the “behind the scenes” work that’s done in advance before the actual day of the wedding. A great DJ wants to ensure your big day is one you’ll always remember, and they will help you plan your playlist and events.
The DJ works with your other vendors to ensure your event runs smoothly.
There are a lot of moving parts to a wedding. Most weddings have a professional photographer. You may have hired a wedding planner. Behind the scenes leading up to your wedding, a professional DJ will be in contact with the other vendors you have hired to make sure everyone is on the same page BEFORE the event. When it comes to your photographer, maybe they need to get everyone together for a group shot. When it comes to a wedding planner and making sure that your timeline is on track, your DJ will be the person that makes the announcements to let everyone know that it’s time to focus your attention on the dance floor for the first dance. A great DJ will work with all your vendors to ensure everything is perfect for your wedding day.
The DJ sets the mood and Tone of the entire reception.
Most weddings have a wide variety of people of all different ages and demographics, all of which have a different idea of the music they like. What other kind of event can have an 80-year-old grandmother on the dance floor with a 30-year-old groomsman and a 10-year-old child? A great wedding DJ should be able to read the room and play an appropriate selection of music for your guests. Reading the room is when the DJ uses their knowledge and experience (and eyes!) to keep the music flowing to ensure that everybody has fun on the dance floor. Reading the room and knowing what song to play next to get the desired reaction is a skill that is not taught but is learned over time with experience.
The DJ provides the right equipment for the job.
Every wedding is different, and every wedding venue is different. When planning a wedding, there are a lot of logistical issues that can arise. How many guests are you expecting? How large is the venue? Two speakers suffice for a crowd of 50 in a small room, but is it enough to cover a larger area venue or a guest list of 300? All of these are questions that a professional DJ will know the answers to and should be able to let you know if they can provide you with the professional-grade equipment you require for your wedding.
The DJ offers planning advice when asked.
Most couples have never planned an event this daunting and have many questions regarding the structure of the night. A lot of information on the internet can leave your head spinning, and sometimes you need to hear real-world experiences to make a decision. A great DJ will be able to give advice on what they have done at various weddings to help you make a more educated decision on what will be suitable for your wedding. This can be advice on multiple elements of the wedding, from the structure of when to do special event dances (pros and cons of doing them after introductions or after dinner, etc.) to genre/style/vibe questions(what kind of cocktail and dinner music should you play?) to simple song suggestions (what are some songs for our grand introduction?).
The DJ also MCs.
A wedding DJ does more than play music; they also MC (or work with an MC to command the room). Your DJ will have control of the microphone and handle all necessary announcements, from your special event introductions (Grand introduction, special song introductions, etc.) to simple directing traffic announcements (The buffet line is open, direct your attention to the cake cutting). You want to hire a DJ who controls the room and keeps things on schedule.
As you can see, there are a lot of different things that a great wedding DJ must be able to do to ensure that your event is exactly how you envisioned it. If you are in the Gulf coast area (AL, MS, FL) and are looking for a DJ that can do all these things, feel free to check us out at djlynch.com anytime!