From The DJ's Table

Well hello there…It’s obviously been awhile since I’ve posted anything. Sorry about that. I’ve been busy doing events, and I’ve also been struggling a little bit with what to write about. When I started this site I wanted it to be a little of everything. Tips and Tricks for fellow DJ’s, Ideas for the Event Planners, and General Tips for Anyone planning a Wedding, Party, Event, etc.

So, now I’m wondering if I should focus on just one area. And if so, which one? According to my website analytics, I have had a lot of visitors to this site over the last year. But, I haven’t got much feedback. So if you are one of the  many, I am asking you to become one of the few. Please comment or email me your thoughts on which direction you would like to see things go here. You can also contact me if you would like to become a contributing writer for the blog.

Thanks,

Jeremy

jeremy@fromthedj.com

BTW – If you are one of the many visitors, I would like to say Thank You!

Happy Holidays!

As I was headed out to DJ a holiday party this past weekend, I was quickly reminded of how careful you need to be when leaving to and from your events. Here’s a short list of things to consider…

1. Give yourself ample extra time to get to your events. Take into consideration any adverse road conditions, construction/accident traffic, and just the general slowness of traffic in bad weather.
2. Watch for icy conditions when you’re outside of the car as well. You don’t want to get all the way to your event just to “Eat It” in the parking lot and end up missing it.
3. Be sure to cover any electronic equipment when loading and unloading at your event. Water + Electronics = Bad Things…Garbage bags can work in a pinch to cover speakers and such adequately for short trips in and out.
4. Try not to load the car up too early before you leave for your event. If your equipment is exposed to the cold  for an extended period, it will form condensation when moved into a warmer environment. Condensation = Water…Water + Electronics = Bad Things…This also goes for CD’s. They will “Fog Up” when you get them into a warmer area and will not read correctly if you attempt to play them before they warm back up.
5. Try to dress weather appropriate when traveling to and from your events. In most cases, it’s usually easy enough to change clothes before your event starts. Especially, if you have given yourself ample time to get to your event.

These are a just a few quick considerations to think about for this time of year. If you have any comments, or something to add, I would love to hear it. Thanks, and Season’s Greetings!

Well, it’s been awhile since my last post…and I’m sorry. I will try to keep things a bit more current from here on out. With that said, let’s get on with the show.

Gone are the days of  The Chicken Dance and The Hokey Pokey. This is an ongoing trend I’ve noticed over the last few years. Majority, if not all, of my clients are putting  these songs on their “No Play” lists for weddings. And to be honest, I’m really not heart broken about it. People no longer want the “Cheeze” with their dinner and dancing.  

Another trend (that I hope actually isn’t a trend) is a few clients have started to request no line dance songs.

“No Electric Slide? No Cha Cha Slide? Even if one of your guests request it? Ok…”

This actually troubles me a little. It’s not that I love these songs (god knows I’ve played them enough over the years)…It’s more of the fact that these songs are sort of “Tools” for most wedding djs. These are the “Hey, I know that dance…Let me up there” songs that usually get the guests up and moving. Now, I’m not saying that a dj should rely solely on these songs. Not at all. A good dj knows how to work a crowd regardless of the music selections played. I guess I’m just trying to say that sometimes it’s nice to have those ”Tools”  available if you need them.

In the end, it’s all about what the client wants…If they don’t want it, obviously you don’t play it.

I would love to hear from any other djs, wedding planners, or even brides on this one. What are your thoughts on the subject? Please comment below. Thanks!

Ahhhh, Spring is in the air. That means only one thing…Wedding Season is in full “Bloom!” Time for you Brides out there to finalize those song lists with your DJ. One of the questions I get asked frequently is if I have any suggestions for the Father Daughter Wedding Dance song. After making sure that they discussed it over with their father first (Some Dads prefer to pick this one out themselves), I will give them this list of my most requested songs.

1. “I Loved Her First” – Heartland
2. “My Girl” – The Temptations
3. “My Wish” – Rascal Flatts
4. “Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
5. “What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
6. “Over The Rainbow” – IZ
7. “My Little Girl” – Tim McGraw
8. “The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
9. “In My Life” – The Beatles
10. “Forever Young” – Rod Stewart

There are so many more songs I could list, but I’m going to leave it at ten. Just remember…keep your father involved in the selection process. This song is as much for him as it is for you.

If you have a song (or Songs)  you would like to share with everyone, please list them in the comments section below. Thanks!