| |
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Replace Your Wedding DJ With An iPod
by: Tim and Tammy Smith
Whether its true or not, most everyone agrees that wedding DJs are expensive. A
popular tip circulating the net is to replace your wedding DJ with an iPod and
DJ your reception yourself. While this may sound like a great idea, there are
some things to consider. Just as with any do-it-yourself project, you must be
aware of all facets before you start.
The first most important job for a good DJ is to play music that the crowd
enjoys. A simple shuffle has no way of knowing who is dancing to what. A person
does need to run things, but not just any person will do. Putting your 12 year
old nephew won't do you any good. The person in charge of the music needs a
large amount of music knowledge. A good DJ should have this knowledge. A good DJ
should be able to identify a song based on a few bars hummed out of tune or a
snippet of lyrics that are slightly incorrect. Your DJ must not have a fear of
speaking in front of a crowd, and this is not as easy as it sounds. One simply
has to think of all the Best men who have hemmed and hawed their way through a
wedding toast with the microphone held at waist level. Also, does he/she know
how to auction off a garter or any of the other traditional reception
activities? If not, will the bride and groom want to do these things while they
should be enjoying their guests? Oh, and just like you would give your wedding
singer or officiant a tip for performing your ceremony, don't forget a gratuity
for your impromptu DJ.
Unless you're a music collector, chances are you don't have a music library with
waltzes, polkas, old country, new country, oldies, classic rock, new rock, soft
rock, hard rock, hip hop, dance, etc. And, unless you want to subject your
guests to your musical tastes, you should probably buy a selection of these
songs. If you're not up on popular waltzes and polkas, or don't know which songs
are currently topping the country Top 40, search the web. $25 dollars should buy
you enough music on iTunes to cover enough various musical tastes that most
guests will enjoy themselves.
Another task for a good wedding DJ is one who is covered by insurance. Sure,
your homeowners policy *might* cover it, but I'd hate to see your premiums next
year if an accident does occur. Don't think accidents will happen to you? Are
you serving alcohol at your reception? If you're telling yourself, "All the
drunk people I know never act like fools!", stop and think about that again.
Besides, many venues require proof of insurance because they don't want to see
their premiums raised because your grandma tripped on a speaker cable and broke
her hip. Searching the web for "wedding event insurance" will yield a whole crop
of insurers who will give you a $1 million dollar policy for around $200.
Equipment is of course another important factor a good DJ brings to your
reception. Do you know where to get speakers? Or mics? Or Mixer?? Larger cities
will have rental companies that can provide these things. You can even find many
such companies by searching the web for "dj equipment rental". Most wedding
sized systems rent for anywhere from $250 to $500 dollars per day. In most
cases, you must provide a truck or van to transport the equipment. Now, do you
know how to set these things up? If not, will the rental company give you a
tutorial? Some rental companies will give you a tutorial when you pick the
equipment up, but make sure to take notes, because if you have to call them
later they will likely charge you for a service call. Some equipment rental
companies will deliver, setup, and test their equipment as well as pick up
later, but this is extra.
That being said, if you KNOW your group will interact without being prompted (or
just don't care if they interact or not), and if you've got a person with an
encyclopedic knowledge of music that will run your iPod (instead of enjoying
your reception), and you have adequate insurance to cover any accidents that
occur due to your iPod setup, and you have a large enough music library to make
sure everyone gets to hear the music they want, and you're able to get your
hands on adequate dance lights and speakers, and will be saving money by
spending $550 to $700 then by all means use an iPod. You honestly have no need
for a DJ.
If planning and organizing all this sounds like just one more hassle, you'd
probably do better to hire a professional so that you can enjoy your reception
and spend your first day as husband and wife doing something besides returning
rental equipment. For a few dollars more you'll get professional equipment,
professional knowledge from someone who has planned and performed at hundreds of
weddings, peace of mind that any glitches will be resolved quickly, no hassles
about tearing down equipment when the reception is over, and no worries about
getting it back before you owe another day's worth of rental fees.
About The Author
Tim and Tammy Smith own and operate By Request DJ & Karaoke Company in Fargo,
ND. They have been providing exceptional entertainment at weddings, proms, and
parties since 1991. Visit their website at
http://www.byrequest.dj.
byrequest@byrequest.dj |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
