Requesting Music from your Wedding DJ with Elegant Event Entertainment
Posted by Jason | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice
We’ve heard horror stories from Brides and Grooms who have been to weddings where the DJs played terrible music, where no one danced, or worse when they knew the DJ did not adhere to the client’s specific request list. Luckily, with EEE, you don’t need to worry about that. As a member of the Los Angeles Wedding DJ community, I am proud to say that our company Elegant Event Entertainment has had great success in playing music for our clients that suit the client’s unique music tastes and keeps the dance floor packed at the appropriate dance times at weddings. This is due in large part to our adherence to the client’s very own personalized music request list which we allow every client to create and provide to us.
Every one of our clients has a personalized Online Event Planner; they can log in from our website and are able to choose as much music as they would like to hear at their event. Using an international database of songs and artists, our Clients can tell their DJ which songs are MUST PLAY, DO NOT PLAY, as well as some additional choices of music that perhaps isn’t found in the database. This information is kept safely in their personal online event planner file for our staff, the DJ, and the client to see 24/7, and both client and DJ can make changes to the list as it’s necessary.
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Happy Mothers Day; a special reflection from one Wedding DJ who meets a lot of moms!
Posted by Jason | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice
I am not a mom…I’m a Wedding DJ in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. I love my job and my company! You know that much about me if you’ve been coming here to read our blogs for a little while. I also love my mother, and I wanted to write something about mom’s on this Mothers Day Weekend, because I get to see a lot of moms in my line of work. There are usually 6 very important people that I deal with week in and week out. Of course, there’s the Bride and Groom, and the Bride’s Father, and the Groom’s father…but then, there are the moms! Mother’s are often the most proud people on earth on a wedding day. Even the moms that are simply in attendance are proud, ever thinking of the day their child or children will say “I do.” My poor mother sits 2700 miles away in Florida, reading my posts about another wedding I’m DJing this weekend on Facebook, week after week, and I can only imagine that she keeps hoping one of those posts will include me as the Groom and not the DJ! Well, truthfully, I hope the same thing, but it’s just not in cards for the immediate future I suppose. In the meantime though, I do want to say a personal thank you to my mom for all of her support for me, her guidance of me growing up in North Carolina to become a well spoken, well dressed, smart, southern gentleman with a savvy city-boy sense of humor and taste. My mom never allowed me to accept failure or anything less than what I knew I could achieve. It’s been her drive and determination to see me succeed that has carried me to the highs of success as a business owner and in my performing career. I am perhaps the most confident performer and businessman I know, and I owe that confidence to my mother’s belief in me and her ability to trust me with “grown up” tasks beginning at a very early age.
I’ve also been lucky to have other women in my life who were very much like a mother to me, and I speak for all the people who’ve had similar women in their lives when I say “thank you so much for all of your love and support.”
Mom’s are pretty awesome aren’t they? Wedding DJs get to stand back and watch mothers having the time of their lives dancing with their son for the Groom and Mother dance, or mothers who hold back the tears as their daughter dances with dad one “last time”. All of these wonderful mothers are such a special part of the Wedding Day festivities… well, all accept for the Momzilla’s that come along every so often and try to ruin a Bride and Groom’s special day, but I’m quick to remind them that this is their daughter’s big day and not their own. Mom’s are emotional and sentimental, sometimes high strung and very protective, but they’re also extremely strong and loving and it’s an honor to work with so many wonderful mothers of Brides and Grooms each and every week. And let’s not forget all of those Brides who I have watched walk down the aisle or as they smiled and melted into the eyes of the groom during their very first dance with their new husband, those many many young women who are now also Mothers themselves. I love each and every one of my clients and I honestly love to keep up with them on facebook or other social media sites, just to see how their marriages and their families are growing in all that love that surrounded them on their Wedding Day. I’m no fool, I know that marriage and family isn’t perfect, but I can tell you one thing, in this line of work, it’s hard to focus on the negatives and dysfunctions of family, even the negatives in my own family, when week after week I get the chance to work with people on their happiest day.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Whether you are a Bride’s Mom, a Groom’s Mom, a New Mom or Not a mom, Go tell Your Mom how much she means to you, how much you love her and how much you care…you can be sure of one thing, she’s always thinking the same about you.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Jason Jones- CEO
Elegant Event Entertainment
Small Weddings don’t need Wedding DJ’s…Or Do They?
Posted by Jason | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice
It occurred to me that our Wedding DJ’s seem to be working more and more weddings with smaller guest lists these days. It got me to wonder whether there are more small weddings due to economic hardship, or in fact, if the majority of weddings have been smaller all along. Statistics show that most weddings are of a smaller nature which gives me confidence to know that most of our clients understand the importance of hiring a wedding dj no matter the size of their guest list. If your wedding is of a smaller nature don’t be discouraged, some of the most fun weddings can have 75 people or less, I’ve witnessed it, I’ve been a part of those joyous celebrations!
Now, although a smaller guest list does not necessarily mean a smaller budget, it’s fair to say that the majority of smaller weddings are on a stricter budget than those “pull out all the stops” weddings with 300 or 400 guests. Many Brides and Grooms who approach us are very concerned about their budget, especially if they have a smaller wedding. However, even with a smaller budget and guest list, you need some form of Entertainment! The most obvious and affordable choice is a Wedding DJ. I’ve written numerous articles for our Blog on how to hire a DJ, why to hire a DJ, and so on, but I simply wanted to reinforce that you really do need an Experienced Wedding DJ if you expect the party to be fun, to stay on some type of schedule, and to be handled professionally. The great news for you is, you can afford it! Pricing for DJs ranges all over the place, we’ve talked about it in several blog articles such as our Wedding DJ Pricing article and you’ll see it for yourself if you shop enough places on the web and at bridal shows and magazines. If you’ve got 60 guests coming to an evening wedding in a smaller ballroom or even a garden venue or backyard setting, you want those 60 people to have fun don’t you? Many clients with smaller weddings think they should simply keep it “low key” and just use an ipod or home stereo system to play music throughout the reception, or perhaps worse, they have a friend strum the guitar all night. My question is “who will make important and appropriate announcements to keep your guests involved and aware of things that are happening throughout the event?” The answer is usually “uh? We didn’t think of that.” or “my Uncle is public speaker (translation=teacher/sales manager) and he’ll do it.” My answer: “so your Uncle has to work on your wedding day? How many Weddings has your uncle actually ‘worked’? Or “does your friend have to play guitar all night? Does he have a sound system so he can be heard clearly and does he have microphones for your toasts and other announcements?”
I hope you get my point and that you’ll let your relatives and friends enjoy themselves at your wedding and allow a professional to keep the party moving along nicely without feeling rushed or too “produced”. You also should relish the fact that even though our DJs want you to provide us with a lot of your favorite song requests, you won’t have to try to put the songs in a sequence that flows perfectly and entertains from start to finish, that’s the DJs job and he’ll constantly tweak the music set list throughout the night, which is something you or your guests should not be worrying about! Our DJs have many styles, we can keep it very low key, but always professional and fun, so don’t let your “Smaller Wedding” discourage you from allowing it to be a lot of fun. Oh and by the way, “Fun” does not mean “Cheesy”, our DJs certainly know the difference!
So, whether you have “Religious Constraints” that prohibit or limit dancing or certain types of music, or alcohol, (all of which can be “fun inducers” but are not necessary to have a party) or you think you have “No Dancers” on your guest list (which I highly doubt) these weddings still need someone to play music to serve as a nice accompaniment to the event. You don’t need the smoke and mirrors and crazy lights and confetti blasters that many DJ companies try to sell you, but you will want a professional sound system with microphones for toasts and announcements. And although I wouldn’t use the term “no-frills DJ” you might require a more simplistic approach, a DJ who at the very least will manage the flow of the timeline, play great music in sensible rotations, make announcements and keep the guests aware of the schedule and special events throughout the evening. Let the professionals, not your friends and family keep up with all of those details and your event will be executed perfectly!
DJs provide the soundtrack to the most important day in your life and they carry the responsibility of making sure that everything they are in charge of happens without a hitch, which leaves you and your guests to do one thing: enjoy yourselves! No matter the size of your guest list, consider hiring a DJ, you’ll be very surprised at our affordability and you absolutely won’t regret it. Your guests will thank you and they’ll be talking about how much fun they had for years to come!
Photo provided by Cheryl Ogden
Los Angeles Wedding DJ Prices: What exactly are you paying for anyway
Posted by Jason | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice, Wedding Planning
If you’re planning a Wedding or other Special Event I’m sure you’re interested in how much it’s going to cost. And if you’re hiring a DJ in the Los Angeles area, we know you are certainly concerned with your budget, but we all know that old saying “you get what you pay for.”
In this article, I want to point out some of the factors that influence DJ pricing so you will have a better understanding of how we determine our prices and you’ll realize that we truly can work with almost any budget. We believe having some kind of entertainment is better than none at all, but great entertainment and hiring a great DJ is paramount to the overall success of your event.
First I’ll list the “5 Most Important Questions” a Professional DJ should ask you to help determine your needs. If you can answer some of these questions for us, we’ll know exactly how to price and plan for your event.
5 Main Factors that influence Wedding DJ Pricing:
1. Q: What is the date, time, and location of your Event?
By Knowing these details, we determine which of our DJ’s are available, what type of equipment you’ll need, the level of difficulty of set-up/tear-down, and if we’ll need to asses any other fee’s.
2. Q: How Many Hours of DJ Services do you require?
We build our prices first by determining the number of hours of Entertainment you need. As a rule, Most Receptions are 4-6 hours, Ceremony & Receptions are 5-7 hours.
3. Q: Do you need the DJ for the Ceremony & Reception?
If you require Music and/or microphones for the Ceremony and the Wedding Ceremony is in a different area than your Reception, we will generally need to provide an additional sound system.
4. Q: What is your overall vision for the Event?
Your Event is unique, and we want your vision and personalities to shine through! By knowing the “feel” you’re trying to achieve for the event we can pair you with the perfect DJ to meet those needs. In addition, our Event Planning/Coordination staff can help you locate other vendors and offer great tips to help you achieve your dream of a perfect event.
5. Q: What is your overall Budget for Entertainment?
We believe Great Entertainment is Priceless, but we can custom tailor a package to suit most budgets. Being up front about your budget will save you a lot of shopping hassle.
Read the rest of this entry »
Los Angeles Wedding DJ’s “Top 5 Helpful Wedding DJ Blog Articles”
Posted by Jason | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice, Wedding Planning
Below is a quick list of links to our Favorite and “Top 5 Helpful Wedding DJ Blog Articles” that we published here on our “Los Angeles DJ Blog” throughout 2009 in an effort to help our current and potential clients with the planning of their DJ entertainment. This list should give you a bit more insight about us, and what we can offer our clients. Whether you’re just beginning to search for DJs in Los Angeles or if you’re looking for music ideas for your Wedding, we’ve got you covered! Click the links below that interest you and feel free to browse and read all the articles we post, past, present, and future!
1. Hiring a Los Angeles Wedding DJ? Click Here for helpful hints!
2. Wedding Ceremony Music Ideas- Click Here
3. Bride & Groom’s First Dance Song List. Choosing the “Best” Song for you!: Click Here!
4. Father Daughter Dance Songs & Helpful Hints for Fathers and Daughters Click Here!
5. To Watch Our Los Angeles DJ Services Demo Video Click Here!
And Remember, our Blog is always being updated with Articles, Stories, Reviews of Los Angeles Wedding Venues, Event Planning Tips, Wedding Song Ideas, and so much more. If you need a Los Angeles Wedding DJ, or a DJ in Southern California for any special event, you’ve come to the right place! Please keep coming back and feel free to leave comments on our Blog if something sparks your interest, just type in the “Comments” box and click “Submit Comment.” Happy Planning and Best Wishes!
Click Here to Read the Bios of Our DJs
Wedding Ceremony Music: Does It Have to be so traditional???
Posted by Chris | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice
So being a DJ for 20 years now, I’ve done my fair share of wedding ceremonies and receptions. It’s got me thinking about ceremony music, when provided by the DJ. I always seem to get the same question time after time. “What type of music should we play for our ceremony?” “We have no idea what to choose for the ceremony, Help!” I can remember 5-10 years ago it was a no brain-er DJ’s would always suggest the following:
“Bridal party can walk into Canon in D by Pachelbel, the Bride must walk into some sort of Bridal March and the exit as Husband and Wife should by Wedding March by Mendelssohn or a second choice of Spring (From The Four Seasons) by Vivaldi.
Flash forward 10 years now, and that’s not the case anymore. Of course you’ve probably seen the video on you tube of The Best Wedding Entrance Dance Ever – Chris Brown – Forever when the bridal party is walking down the isle to Chris Brown’s pop song-Forever. AND WHY NOT??? Read the rest of this entry »
Is your Wedding DJ’s music too loud?
Posted by Jason | Filed under Wedding DJ Advice
It is a huge honor to be in the category of elite Los Angeles Wedding DJs. As one of the owners of Elegant Event Entertainment, I try to listen attentively to our clients for compliments and concerns in order to constantly try to improve our service.
Although we rarely receive complaints, I recently was reminded that there is one complaint I hear a lot, so often that I’ve nearly become immune to it. Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange County – every crowd has someone who mentions this magic topic – volume!
We have a policy when this happens: our DJs immediately walk from behind their DJ table/booth to double check the volume out front, we’ll walk around the room, and if warranted, we will always adjust the volume accordingly. But you can imagine what it’s like for a DJ to get a complaint from 1 or 2 people every night about the music being too loud, especially when hundreds of other guests never say anything at all. I have even had to ask myself if my hearing was going bad, but I am pretty sure it’s not. Some people are just very sensitive to loud music, particularly elderly people.
I have even had complaints where a client felt I should move my DJ set-up, (speakers and all) after a few guests complained that the speakers were blaring in their ears. The problem wasn’t that the music was extremely loud, this was during dinner, however, this table was right next to my DJ system, right in the line of fire of my speakers, and coincidentally, this table had all of the elderly guests seated there. Read the rest of this entry »
If you are an experienced wedding DJ who loves working to serve the needs of your clients,