Blaqhstarr
So my friend has offered me to Dj at her wedding reception. Does anyone have any tips that can help a young Dj out?
Posté Wed 11 May 11 @ 11:16 pm
DJGCE
before the event, go to other weddings with an experienced DJ and learn
Posté Wed 11 May 11 @ 11:19 pm
Rickd423
I'm dj'ing my first wedding in October, I'm a little nervous about that myself (even though it is my cousins wedding) I have done a few gigs but no weddings as of yet. It would be good if you could befriend a dj in your area that is experienced & pick his brain for his knowledge.
Posté Thu 12 May 11 @ 1:09 am
cguild
DJing a wedding is more than just about the music. It's about creating an environment that gives the new couple everything they want to make this day stick out in they're minds as the best day ever. You should coordinate with the photographer, caterer, building administration, parents, wedding party and the wedding coordinator if there is one. Every wedding has a schedule and you should find out when dinner is served, when the bride and groom are showing up, when the cake cutting is, when the toasts are... all that stuff. If you have any talent as an MC, you should be announcing the couple as they come in, introducing dances, getting people involved! Coordinate with the wedding party to find out if there is going to be any traditional wedding dances, dollar dance, mother-son dance, father-daughter dance, first bride-groom dance, any special songs they want played as well as the genre of music they want played, and especially any music they DON'T want played. There's a million things I'm not mentioning, because every wedding is different, but every wedding should be treated as it's the most important one you've ever done. It's supposed to be a special day and I could think of nothing worse than having a shitty dj at my wedding that fucks shit up.
Posté Thu 12 May 11 @ 3:18 am
Dozo10
cguild wrote :
It's supposed to be a special day and I could think of nothing worse than having a shitty dj at my wedding that fucks shit up.
(even though it is my cousins wedding)
Even worse , he's family ! the man/woman who f^$& up your wedding you'll have to see time and time again!
I would not think to light of the importance of the DJ and his work on that evening.
Tip: do some test evenings just with some friends.Where at one party A song is a floorfiller on the next party the same song can be a mood killer.
its not just playing records! ;-)
DJ-ing is not a life style, its a commitment!
Posté Thu 12 May 11 @ 5:56 am
Blaqhstarr
I have been djing at my school for while and the people on campus seem to be enjoying at what i do. There where times when I f**ked up the mood and everyone came rushing to the dj booth requesting songs i do not have. That almost made me wanna quit djing all together, but its all good for now.
Posté Thu 12 May 11 @ 6:19 am
coach k
Below is a sample timeline, but go with a more experienced DJ to a few of his/her wedding gigs if you can to see how it supposed to be done.
As for your music selection, join a record pool or two, Grooveshark is pretty good because it gives you access to over 8 million songs. mp3poolonline.com is one of my favorites. Also get a playlist from your cousin of what songs they'd like to hear.
As well as brush up on your MC skills, don't be like Joe Fool and say something like "Ah yo, I wanna give a shout out to the new MR AND MRS BALL & CHAIN, BIG UPS FAM!!!!" No proper english 100% of the time! I'm not saying you have to sound like super nerd, but remember you're still a professional regardless if it's family or not. So remember you never know who's watching and listening and may want you for their wedding or next event.
Remember - this is just a sample - your times and activities may vary!
6:30pm - Guests Arrive - Background Music - Cocktails
7:00pm - Bride and Groom arrive and are announced to the guests (pick out a fun song for your entrance!)
7:15pm - Cake Cutting Ceremony (go straight over to the cake after you are announced and walk in while you have everyone's attention - this will give the caterers time to cut the cake and have it ready to serve later)
7:30pm - Dinner (sometimes a minister will say a blessing here) [SIDE NOTE] - An "Eat and Mingle" buffet style dinner is preferred over a "sit down" dinner because a sit down dinner tends to slow your party down and can make your guests "sluggish".
8:15pm - Toasts (Best Man, Maid of Honor, Parents, etc.)
8:30pm - Bride and Grooom First Dance
8:35pm - Father of the Bride and Bride Dance - (optional)
8:40pm - Mother of the Groom and Groom Dance - (optional)
8:45pm - Entire Bridal Party Dance - (a song just for the bridal party can help "warm up" the dancefloor)
8:50pm - Upbeat Dance Music Starts Immediately following the last of the "dances". A good trick is to have the entire Bridal Party on the dance floor when the fast music starts (see above where we played a special song just for the bridal party) this way there's already people on the dance floor having a good time and it will be more comfortable for your other guests to join in - no one wants to be the first one on the dance floor!)
9:45pm - Bouquet Toss / Garter Toss (optional)
10:15pm - The Party Continues until LAST CALL / CLOSE
As for your music selection, join a record pool or two, Grooveshark is pretty good because it gives you access to over 8 million songs. mp3poolonline.com is one of my favorites. Also get a playlist from your cousin of what songs they'd like to hear.
As well as brush up on your MC skills, don't be like Joe Fool and say something like "Ah yo, I wanna give a shout out to the new MR AND MRS BALL & CHAIN, BIG UPS FAM!!!!" No proper english 100% of the time! I'm not saying you have to sound like super nerd, but remember you're still a professional regardless if it's family or not. So remember you never know who's watching and listening and may want you for their wedding or next event.
Remember - this is just a sample - your times and activities may vary!
6:30pm - Guests Arrive - Background Music - Cocktails
7:00pm - Bride and Groom arrive and are announced to the guests (pick out a fun song for your entrance!)
7:15pm - Cake Cutting Ceremony (go straight over to the cake after you are announced and walk in while you have everyone's attention - this will give the caterers time to cut the cake and have it ready to serve later)
7:30pm - Dinner (sometimes a minister will say a blessing here) [SIDE NOTE] - An "Eat and Mingle" buffet style dinner is preferred over a "sit down" dinner because a sit down dinner tends to slow your party down and can make your guests "sluggish".
8:15pm - Toasts (Best Man, Maid of Honor, Parents, etc.)
8:30pm - Bride and Grooom First Dance
8:35pm - Father of the Bride and Bride Dance - (optional)
8:40pm - Mother of the Groom and Groom Dance - (optional)
8:45pm - Entire Bridal Party Dance - (a song just for the bridal party can help "warm up" the dancefloor)
8:50pm - Upbeat Dance Music Starts Immediately following the last of the "dances". A good trick is to have the entire Bridal Party on the dance floor when the fast music starts (see above where we played a special song just for the bridal party) this way there's already people on the dance floor having a good time and it will be more comfortable for your other guests to join in - no one wants to be the first one on the dance floor!)
9:45pm - Bouquet Toss / Garter Toss (optional)
10:15pm - The Party Continues until LAST CALL / CLOSE
Posté Thu 12 May 11 @ 7:00 am
l_rids
I'll share my secret set that will go off at most wedding gig's you do
Can't get enough
September
Celebration
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
Congo
You should be able to beat match all those songs so it mixes perfect. By the end of the set you should be around the 125bpm range which you can go into pretty much all the recent stuff like afrojack, lmfao, usher, rihanna, snoop dogg, david guetta, black eyed peas.
Just remember not to put all your hits out at once. Mix it up and you should keep the floor rocking :)
Can't get enough
September
Celebration
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
Congo
You should be able to beat match all those songs so it mixes perfect. By the end of the set you should be around the 125bpm range which you can go into pretty much all the recent stuff like afrojack, lmfao, usher, rihanna, snoop dogg, david guetta, black eyed peas.
Just remember not to put all your hits out at once. Mix it up and you should keep the floor rocking :)
Posté Thu 12 May 11 @ 5:22 pm
ya know the explicit version of " i'm f$cking you tonight"? don't play that .....
Posté Fri 13 May 11 @ 3:26 am
johans
Nice tips, thanks. I also need to do a wedding soon.
Most part I have prepared and under control, just have 1 issue.
The moment they bring in the cake or icream pie.
This is alway's a kind of an official moment and needs a special song, What are you playing?
I can't think of any song.
Any suggestions would welcome.
Thanks
Most part I have prepared and under control, just have 1 issue.
The moment they bring in the cake or icream pie.
This is alway's a kind of an official moment and needs a special song, What are you playing?
I can't think of any song.
Any suggestions would welcome.
Thanks
Posté Fri 13 May 11 @ 5:29 am
LINEMAN55
Try "How Sweet it is " by James Tayler
Posté Fri 13 May 11 @ 7:00 am
Dozo10
@ Johans , As a dutchman i saw a belgium wedding a few years ago, What happend when the DJ started playing "Doekjesdans" was jaw dropping. I know for sure THAT number u have to have ( i guess u already got that song) when youre dj-ing a Belgium wedding.
Posté Fri 13 May 11 @ 7:48 am
DJDiamondDee
Keep the flow going if a song clears the dancefloor, switch up as soon as you can. Family friendly versions, usually kids in the reception hall. Keep schedule of events, toasts cake cutting, etc... on track. Doing a wedding is an event you are the host for the evening. Also do some interactive songs, chicken dance or electric slide or macarana. Sounds lame but it will keep crowd involved. you will have a crowd of varying ages.
Posté Fri 13 May 11 @ 2:20 pm
Elepzia
Below is a sample timeline, but go with a more experienced DJ to a few of his/her wedding gigs if you can to see how it supposed to be done.
As for your music selection, join a record pool or two, Grooveshark is pretty good because it gives you access to over 8 million songs. mp3poolonline.com is one of my favorites. Also get a playlist from your cousin of what songs they'd like to hear.
As well as brush up on your MC skills, don't be like Joe Fool and say something like "Ah yo, I wanna give a shout out to the new MR AND MRS BALL & CHAIN, BIG UPS FAM!!!!" No proper english 100% of the time! I'm not saying you have to sound like super nerd, but remember you're still a professional regardless if it's family or not. So remember you never know who's watching and listening and may want you for their wedding or next event.
Remember - this is just a sample - your times and activities may vary!
6:30pm - Guests Arrive - Background Music - Cocktails
7:00pm - Bride and Groom arrive and are announced to the guests (pick out a fun song for your entrance!)
7:15pm - Cake Cutting Ceremony (go straight over to the cake after you are announced and walk in while you have everyone's attention - this will give the caterers time to cut the cake and have it ready to serve later)
7:30pm - Dinner (sometimes a minister will say a blessing here) [SIDE NOTE] - An "Eat and Mingle" buffet style dinner is preferred over a "sit down" dinner because a sit down dinner tends to slow your party down and can make your guests "sluggish".
8:15pm - Toasts (Best Man, Maid of Honor, Parents, etc.)
8:30pm - Bride and Grooom First Dance
8:35pm - Father of the Bride and Bride Dance - (optional)
8:40pm - Mother of the Groom and Groom Dance - (optional)
8:45pm - Entire Bridal Party Dance - (a song just for the bridal party can help "warm up" the dancefloor)
8:50pm - Upbeat Dance Music Starts Immediately following the last of the "dances". A good trick is to have the entire Bridal Party on the dance floor when the fast music starts (see above where we played a special song just for the bridal party) this way there's already people on the dance floor having a good time and it will be more comfortable for your other guests to join in - no one wants to be the first one on the dance floor!)
9:45pm - Bouquet Toss / Garter Toss (optional)
10:15pm - The Party Continues until LAST CALL / CLOSE
This is one of the best wedding gig tips i have ever seen, I would say that you should stick to this just in case you don't have enough experience on doing weddings.
Remember he is your cousin...so you can't screw up on this, he is the guy which you will see after the party and not like a regular dj that you won't see ever in your life against you hire him again!
I recommend talking to your cousin and asking him for some songs that he and the bride really want on that special day, because you can be playing 100000 songs, but there is this SPECIFIC and only song that makes the people in the party say "Oh, remember when the dj put "name of song" that was great!"
You got to be remembered and don't put to much pressure on yourself you need to be loose but concentrated on your work, after all its what you like, right? Try to make a little Plan B playlist or an emergency playlist in which if you see that the things are not going like you really like they would....just pull out that playlist you made and see if that changes the peoples mood and get someone on the dancefloor.
Try to get some retro remixes, those remixes of songs from the 70's or 80's that have the new house or electro house beat. Remember that there is going to be young and old people in the wedding so what better way than putting and old song that will grab the old people attention and with a housey beat that will catch the young people attention too!
Good luck!
As for your music selection, join a record pool or two, Grooveshark is pretty good because it gives you access to over 8 million songs. mp3poolonline.com is one of my favorites. Also get a playlist from your cousin of what songs they'd like to hear.
As well as brush up on your MC skills, don't be like Joe Fool and say something like "Ah yo, I wanna give a shout out to the new MR AND MRS BALL & CHAIN, BIG UPS FAM!!!!" No proper english 100% of the time! I'm not saying you have to sound like super nerd, but remember you're still a professional regardless if it's family or not. So remember you never know who's watching and listening and may want you for their wedding or next event.
Remember - this is just a sample - your times and activities may vary!
6:30pm - Guests Arrive - Background Music - Cocktails
7:00pm - Bride and Groom arrive and are announced to the guests (pick out a fun song for your entrance!)
7:15pm - Cake Cutting Ceremony (go straight over to the cake after you are announced and walk in while you have everyone's attention - this will give the caterers time to cut the cake and have it ready to serve later)
7:30pm - Dinner (sometimes a minister will say a blessing here) [SIDE NOTE] - An "Eat and Mingle" buffet style dinner is preferred over a "sit down" dinner because a sit down dinner tends to slow your party down and can make your guests "sluggish".
8:15pm - Toasts (Best Man, Maid of Honor, Parents, etc.)
8:30pm - Bride and Grooom First Dance
8:35pm - Father of the Bride and Bride Dance - (optional)
8:40pm - Mother of the Groom and Groom Dance - (optional)
8:45pm - Entire Bridal Party Dance - (a song just for the bridal party can help "warm up" the dancefloor)
8:50pm - Upbeat Dance Music Starts Immediately following the last of the "dances". A good trick is to have the entire Bridal Party on the dance floor when the fast music starts (see above where we played a special song just for the bridal party) this way there's already people on the dance floor having a good time and it will be more comfortable for your other guests to join in - no one wants to be the first one on the dance floor!)
9:45pm - Bouquet Toss / Garter Toss (optional)
10:15pm - The Party Continues until LAST CALL / CLOSE
This is one of the best wedding gig tips i have ever seen, I would say that you should stick to this just in case you don't have enough experience on doing weddings.
Remember he is your cousin...so you can't screw up on this, he is the guy which you will see after the party and not like a regular dj that you won't see ever in your life against you hire him again!
I recommend talking to your cousin and asking him for some songs that he and the bride really want on that special day, because you can be playing 100000 songs, but there is this SPECIFIC and only song that makes the people in the party say "Oh, remember when the dj put "name of song" that was great!"
You got to be remembered and don't put to much pressure on yourself you need to be loose but concentrated on your work, after all its what you like, right? Try to make a little Plan B playlist or an emergency playlist in which if you see that the things are not going like you really like they would....just pull out that playlist you made and see if that changes the peoples mood and get someone on the dancefloor.
Try to get some retro remixes, those remixes of songs from the 70's or 80's that have the new house or electro house beat. Remember that there is going to be young and old people in the wedding so what better way than putting and old song that will grab the old people attention and with a housey beat that will catch the young people attention too!
Good luck!
Posté Fri 13 May 11 @ 4:28 pm