DJ MC Hiring Tips

The pandemic of 2020 has caused wedding receptions to be put on hold or only held with limited numbers, while observing restrictive social distancing parameters. Many wedding couples stated that they would not consider having their wedding reception during the pandemic because of the “no dancing” restriction. No or limited dancing appeared to be the biggest ‘deal breaker’ in proceeding with weddings.

Why are they not willing to compromise?

One of the major elements of most weddings is dancing. People just love to dance! In some cultures, dancing is an integral part of their heritage. Dancing is frequently the single greatest opportunity guests have to collectively express the happiness they feel for the newly married couple.

When dancing is not allowed, Facebook wedding groups are filled with comments such as;

“What’s a wedding without dancing? ? ”
“A wedding is not a wedding without dancing.”
“Now we can have all our loved ones at our wedding but no dancing? It’s not a wedding without it. ? ”
“No wedding is complete without dancing.”
“I’m not having a wedding without dancing. ? ”

When the joy of entertainment was taken away, many wedding couples were forced to appreciate the incredible impact that entertainment has on a wedding reception. For some, this was not big news, for others, the value of entertainment began to carry a far greater importance than had previously been realised. When being forced to choose between having a wedding with no dancing or postponing until they are permitted to have dancing, the vast majority of wedding couples chose to postpone.

Numerous surveys conducted with couples following their wedding have unanimously revealed that they would have spent more money on quality entertainment if they had known the true impact it was capable of delivering. Sadly, however, it is frequently the element that is not given the priority warranted during the planning process. In many cases, when the budget has been depleted, whatever is left over is relegated to entertainment.

Tragically, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken much from the world. In response, many of us have been reminded of those things we value most greatly. For it is often in times of loss, that we are sometimes reminded about what we cherish so greatly.

When this pandemic becomes a distant memory, we will be here to help you celebrate again. Remember why you postponed your celebration and ensure you get the best entertainment your wedding can buy.

Prioritise that which was paramount in your decision to postpone your big day.

If your wedding was postponed because it wouldn’t measure up to the level of entertainment and excitement you had been dreaming of, don’t relegate your entertainment to the bottom of your budget. If you have yet to secure your entertainment, ensure this is done early in the planning process.

Prioritise appropriately and we guarantee you will have a celebration that is more than worth postponing for. And like Ren McCormack shouts near the end of Footloose, your DJ & MC will help you in screaming with your guests, let’s daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaance!

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

The makeup of an event depends on the event itself, whether a birthday celebration, big family wedding, black tie awards night or teenage party, each will have its own needs and characteristics. The one factor they will all have is the requirement for music. This may be to create background atmosphere, moments of dancing, or to highlight spotlight moments. Whatever the reason, is it enough?

Music does play an important role when used to stir emotions or conjure up happy memories, filling the empty spaces of conversation as background and adding to the ambience of the event. But consider a room with harsh ceiling lighting, no personal touches and minimal room and table dressing. This may not be very welcoming and might not inspire guests to get into the party spirit. Would you put up your Christmas tree decked only with plain fairy lights and not a bauble or sparkle of tinsel anywhere?

There are many options in the marketplace to help create the look and feel you desire, with many experts ready to help and advise on your requirements. Lighting is a great place to start, so ask your DJ or MC Entertainer what solutions they have available or that they can help you organise. From full room up-lighting and washing the walls with colour to ambient lighting that creates excitement at the event entrance or to spotlight a key area such as the cake table. And be sure to discuss dance-floor lighting to set the right mood in the dance area. Likewise, a special dance-floor can be a great add-on if you are looking to encourage your guests to dance the night away reminiscing about the school formal, your hen’s night or bopping away together to family favourites.

To add a personal touch to any celebration, there are a selection of additional enhancements. Light up letters (commonly known as “Love Letters”) can create a great focal point for photo opportunities. For weddings, the initials of the couple, “LOVE” or “Mr & Mrs” are popular choices and readily available but depending on the type of celebration, consider simple emotive words such as DANCE, PARTY and CELEBRATE to enhance the wow-factor of the room.

To add excitement to your event, remember the thrill of the carnival sideshows and take inspiration from this; popcorn, fairy floss and lolly carts, chocolate fountains and photo booth stations with a dress a up box. This can create for some welcome distraction, especially for an all-day wedding where it can be a long day for guests. The photo booth options have exploded over the past years and the choices range from traditional enclosed booths to increasingly more popular “magic mirrors” that are not limited to a closed booth. Rather, up to 15 people at once can gather around the mirror for a terrific and fun group shot. If you prefer something more compact, there are digital based systems in all sorts of hip or vintage styles that take surprisingly little room but deliver fantastic photographic results and many can be sent directly to your guests Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Music is the foundation of a great time with family, friends, and colleagues. It creates drama, stirs emotions, and can spark fond memories of people and places. How all of the ingredients of your event are matched and blended is what will make it remarkable, successfully mixing audio and visual elements to stimulate all the senses.

Is music enough? Not always, but there is plenty of opportunity to work with your DJ or MC Entertainer to create the perfect recipe for your event or celebration.

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

When searching for a DJ or MC to provide the entertainment at their wedding, most wedding couples don’t know a lot about what they should look for. In nearly every case, the very first thing they ask when the DJ or MC picks up the phone is, “How much do you charge?”. Most people have not considered that the concept of price is only one of three factors that should play into their decision making. These three components are PRICE, QUALITY and SERVICE.

Many couples want the cheapest price, but the highest quality and best service for their wedding celebration. It is important to understand that when one of these three components are compromised, it inadvertently impacts one or both of the other two components.

Higher prices are almost always associated with high quality and high-touch level service. In the case of a DJ or MC, a higher price generally translates to extremely professional, polished performances, strong customer service efforts and great attention to detail. A DJ or MC service that charges a higher fee for their talent and skills, usually has earned this right due to great public and industry respect gained over a long period, by continuously meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

On the other hand, a lower priced DJ service does not generally offer highly trained DJs that have undergone peer reviewed performance critique (quality). Their attention to detail is not always at the level that higher priced services offer, but their pricing generally makes their services more accessible to a wider range of customers that do not require or desire higher levels of service.

Most professional, reputable DJs & MCs will charge a higher fee for their services than a hobby or part-time DJ or MC who is only looking to make a few extra dollars on the side. If a DJ or MC is communicating that they offer absolutely the same quality and service that another very differently priced DJ or MC offers, you should fully vet the DJ or MC services you are considering.

When planning any large event, risk tolerance is something that varies greatly according to the person in charge. Everyone looks at price, quality and service differently. If your risk tolerance is high, choosing a lower priced option may not be a bad decision. You might be ok taking a chance on lower quality or service. On the other hand, if your risk tolerance is very low, finding a DJ or MC with a higher price will increase the odds of exceptional quality and service for the things that you value highly and don’t want to take any risks on.

Consider what you value, how important entertainment is to you, and what your risk tolerance is. This will tell you everything you need to know about price, quality and service as YOU see them (not what some slick sales material is trying to tell you). After taking the time to consider these three factors, selecting a DJ or MC will be so much easier for you and your once in a lifetime event.

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

In many parts of the world, the Master of Ceremonies (MC) role may be filled by a variety of people from a favourite aunt or uncle to the best man or maid of honour and in other cases, there is no person truly in the role – things just “happen” throughout the event. In many regions though, the DJ will also take on the role of your event MC. In this post, we will explore just a few of the many great reasons why your DJ should also be your event MC.

Your DJ has seen a lot of events and based on that experience, they generally have a pretty good idea about what works and what doesn’t work for countless situations. Most DJs have an incredible ability to recognise when things are not flowing correctly or when moments are missing the appropriate set up. They will adjust things on the fly as needed to ensure all moments create the impact you planned for.

In the case of a wedding, your DJ will come at things from a neutral, third party, point of view. This is very beneficial because when a family or friend is the MC at a wedding, they generally know one part of your audience a lot more than the rest. What can result from this, is that they say things only some will understand or cater more toward one part of your audience, leaving the other half feeling disconnected. A DJ can not make this mistake as they need to research both sides of the family and all of your wedding party (for example) so that it comes off that they know everyone equally.

Speaking on a microphone is typically something your DJ is already very adept at. They understand how to use sound equipment appropriately so that their voice is heard loud and clear without any additional coaching.

Many DJs also undertake specialised MC based performance training (such as MarBecca Method Workshops) to become uniquely prepared at presiding over the special moments at your event in ways that cousin John or Aunty Kim simply will not have the ability to do.

Oh and there shouldn’t be fear that your DJ will become that inebriated MC from that wedding last year. You remember that one, or you heard about that one, right? The things that were said at that wedding scarred some people for life. OK, maybe you didn’t hear about that wedding, but either way, this shouldn’t be an issue when your DJ is the MC. Professional DJs generally avoid all alcohol at events they are hired for.

If the above ideas mean something to you, take time during the consultations you’ll carry out with DJs before selecting the one you’ll hire to get an understanding of their approach to each of these topics.

There are many more reasons than just the above, but this should get you started on thinking about the many reasons why your DJ should also be considered for being your MC.

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

What if your DJ or MC

• gets sick, has an accident or their vehicle breaks down on the way to your event?
• experiences equipment failure at a crucial moment?
• experiences a power outage?
• has a medical or family emergency?
• does not have a contingency plan to address all these and other scenarios?

Throughout life, we take certain precautions to ensure that should something not go to plan, we minimise or eliminate the likelihood of any disruption. For example, many of us subscribe to a road service, we carry a spare tyre, we take out insurance, we carry a power bank for our phone, etc.

Similarly, your DJ or MC should also be taking precautions to ensure that your wedding or celebration will proceed with little or no disruption. When researching potential entertainers for your event, delve into what back-up processes and procedures a DJ or MC has in place. This might include things such as equipment failure, dealing with inclement weather, staffing, technology and so much more.

Those that understand the significance of your celebration will be able to clearly articulate all of the back-up measures they have in place to ensure your celebration will not be put in jeopardy due to their unpreparedness. Those that truly wish to go above and beyond, will not only have contingencies for all the situations you may be specifically concerned about, but also those that you may not have even considered, such as a sewing kit, a spare garter for weddings, batteries, safety pins, etc.

As a guide, the DJAA suggests that your DJ or MC have the following backup solutions available;

• Equipment Failure – built in redundancy and/or additional items on site
• Staffing – staff on standby or if a sole trader, reciprocal arrangements with other comparable services
• Technology – multiple devices for music playback, multiple microphones (wireless & wired), spare parts, tools for minor repairs
• Power – generator or battery powered solutions
• Inclement Weather – solid Plan B and maybe even a Plan C
• Wardrobe Malfunction – additional appropriate clothing on site
• Physical paper – based backup of timelines and other important information

You will invest a significant amount of time and money into planning your event. Why would you risk it all on an entertainer that may not value your celebration as much as you do, by short cutting things and not having adequate backup procedures and contingency plans in place?

An experienced DJ and/or MC service should have adequate contingency plans for events such as illness or equipment failure. A backup DJ/MC should be available in case of an emergency and solutions the DJ/MC can use to ensure the show goes on in the event of any equipment malfunction.

You don’t want to worry about “what if” scenarios with your DJ or MC, so make sure to discuss what options are available if the worst should happen. Behind almost every good wedding or other event is an equally good backup plan. Knowing that there is a backup plan will help you feel extremely confident in the choice of your DJ or MC and help ensure that your celebration goes off……without a hitch!

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

A lot of us had big dreams for 2020, but that abruptly changed. The current situation no longer resembles what we envisioned for the year. None of us can truly say when things will return to normal, but we all share the same hope.

This unexpected emotional journey has been trying and challenging for many of us. We can only empathise with couples that find themselves rescheduling their wedding after so much effort and planning. Some couples are struggling to find alternate dates that work for all their vendors, while others are simply waiting to see what happens next.

Without definitive answers, this can all seem a little overwhelming. Putting something on hold that you have invested your heart and soul into can be really frustrating. As wedding professionals, we want all couples to know we are here for you. We know some weddings have to be rescheduled and we are working with you to ease some of the stress.

Many of our industry friends are doing the same thing and working to help ensure couples have their special day, even if that means it is in 2021 instead of 2020. These professionals really do care about your wedding, as well as your health and well-being. To us and our industry friends, it is never just a wedding, we understand that this is one of the biggest moments in your life.

Let’s not lose sight of what a wedding is: the celebration of your love with family and friends. When you have the support and love of your family and friends along with a great team of wedding professionals, wedding dreams come true, even if the date is different.

This article was kindly contributed by Guest Blogger, DJ and MC, Ken Prentice, C Tech of Loops N Jamzz. The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task. A lot more goes into it than most couples ever consider. It is easy to feel like it’s all becoming a bit too much after a certain point, especially when it comes to choosing your wedding DJ.

So why would it be a good thing to meet your DJ?

Well, for peace of mind, it isn’t as simple as just typing “wedding DJ” into a search engine and quickly browsing a bunch of websites and looking through their photo galleries. If they have testimonials on their website, this may be a good start, but it will never replace meeting them face to face.

A professional DJ will offer the opportunity to sit down with them before you buy. These conversations (or a consultation) can make all the difference when it comes to your wedding day, so make sure you take advantage of them.

Ask all the questions you can think of and make sure the DJ can deliver what you have in mind. It is also vital that you have the opportunity to see whether you all ‘click’ as they can be with you for so much of your wedding day and represent such a large part of your wedding success. Use the consultation to make sure you’ll be hiring someone you can be at ease with and who will be a positive addition to your day, after all, building up that level of rapport can only be a good thing.

Also, many modern wedding DJs will likely have a few options regarding the services they supply that may not always be transparent from simply reading the text on their websites.

Finally, your DJ has likely been to far more weddings than you have and will be a resource to you. They will advise you on elements that are enhanced with entertainment that you may have never considered.

As most married couples will likely tell you, finding a DJ who can provide what you are looking for; someone you will get on with; and will fit within your vision of your wedding day is no small feat. That said, putting in the time and effort to meet them before you make any decisions are vital and the key to making your wedding day as enjoyable for you both as possible.

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

This probably goes without saying, but the past few weeks have been a bit of a blur for all of us.

For those of you planning a once in a lifetime event, this has been a blur of unique proportions, mixed with plenty of emotion and challenging decision making. Everyone in the special events world understands the discomfort you are going through, trying to figure out what is going to happen with your 2020 event.

Event professionals across the world have hastily been coming together, through video and phone, for conversations to figure out the best path forward. While much of the conversation has centred around how to provide for their families and their employees over the coming months, there is also the other side. We have been speaking at length about the hard work, effort, money and emotions you have invested in your special events, and the uncertainty that you must be feeling. Likewise, the attachment that many of your wedding suppliers feel towards your wedding can leave them feeling emotionally and physically drained too, even without performing at the wedding.

In the case of a wedding, years, and sometimes a lifetime of dreaming have gone into planning this special occasion. Through the following words, we would like to share some perspectives on postponement that have come from many in the special events world: decorators, wedding planners, florists, DJs, venues, and more.

Deciding on a new date for your special celebration carries many benefits with it and we would like to share some of those here. This big step will allow you to preserve all that you have invested into your big day, and it also ensures that the professionals you are counting on will be around for you too.

Research + Relationships

Putting together an event like a wedding requires a lot of research to find the perfect dream team of wedding pros. By now, you have already done that work and discovered an amazing group of people and companies that are the right fit for you. Finding a new wedding date with your current team saves you from having to do that work all over again. Chances are that great relationships have begun between you and the individuals you’ve decided to work with too. Giving those relationships even longer to develop will ensure you have the most dedicated team of people on your side when your big day arrives. You also preserve the individual planning sessions that have taken place with your wedding planner, DJ/MC, decorator or florist. All of your plans can still take place, even if not in the short term. Don’t discard the work you and your dream team have already completed.

Pricing + Payments

Many of the wedding professionals we have talked with will honour the pricing you booked them at for a future date. Precise terms will vary from company to company, but overall, staying with the company you have booked saves you from potential price increases when the world returns to normal. We can’t be sure of anything just yet, but the fees you have currently agreed to will likely be more favourable than those in coming years. Most booking or reservation fees are also non-refundable, but most companies are willing to transfer those payments to a postponed event date. In most cases, a cancelled event will result in the loss of any payments made. Postponement of your event will ensure that any payments made will translate into services for you when your party takes place.

Non-Saturdays

An unexpected bonus to finding a new date is that many event professionals are offering incentives for non-Saturday events. Due to the number of weddings being postponed right now, Saturdays in 2021 (for example) are going to be in very short supply. Therefore, many companies are offering valuable incentives if people are willing to move their event to a Friday or Sunday or even a regular weekday. In the case of a wedding, no one will remember your wedding just because it happened on a Saturday, they’ll remember it for all of the happiness and joy it brought them, watching you and your partner tie the knot.

Supporting Each Other

These added incentives are being made available by many wedding professionals because they want to still be around when you need them. A mass cancellation of events right now assures that many of the companies you depend on might not make it through this crisis. Help them remain in service to you by moving your event to a future date and maybe, the incentive to go to a non-Saturday will bring you something wonderful you didn’t expect!

Regardless of all that is happening in the world right now, there is no need to re-write your dream wedding. All of the details—your choice of flowers, that incredible photographer, the music for your dance party, the exquisite dinner you have planned—can still go on. If you are worried that COVID-19 might impact the date of your celebration or special event, reach out to the event professionals you have hired and work on a new date as soon as possible.

We are all very excited to see your dreams come to life through the amazing event you have planned. We need to put those dreams on pause for a few months of course, but we want to be here when you are ready to make those dreams come true. We’re going to need a big party at the end of all of this anyways, right? Let’s make that party yours!

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

Your wedding day is coming up and everything is in place. You’ve spent countless hours, not to mention dollars, to choose meaningful things that are beautiful, sentimental, fun and unique. But what you might be thinking now is, “What if they don’t see it?” or “What if no-one feels it?” Or how about, “Will I remember it and will it be something worth having the photographer capture?”

Special events, particularly weddings, sometimes seem like a huge gamble with a big pile of money on a roulette wheel. “Here we go! I hope it all comes together!”

There are many things you can do to assure that the space you have put so much time into will have the best chance of having an impact on your guests and get the most out of your photography. One of those things is staging!

Staging is an old concept used for years by the theatre community to help frame the story being told. Think about it…you are sharing a story with your friends and family. A story filled with those things that are important to you using the beautiful things you have chosen to share with all of them.

Staging has several layers to it and we could go very deep around how to use it to enhance every part of your wedding. Let’s just give you a basic concept you can use when standing in your venue making decisions about how it’s going to look.

The two most common types of staging you’ll likely be using are Proscenium Staging and Theatre In the Round Staging.

Proscenium Staging is defined as being when the audience looks at the staged area and it is framed all around the action with no-one seated behind it. Proscenium Staging is like your head table against a wall or window with all of your guests in front Similarly, when you say your vows to each other and everyone sits and watches from one side , this is also Proscenium Staging.

Theatre in the Round Staging is used when the action is in the centre of the room and the guests are seated around the action. The easiest example from a wedding is likely your first dance. This is an ideal example of Theatre in the Round Staging.

Consider where you, the stars of the show (the reason they came to watch) and the action that’s being presented will be. Where will your guests be? Imagine being that guest and now take into consideration what they will see around and behind you. Will what they see frame you beautifully? Will it have balance and symmetry? Can everyone see you from every seat and what will the worst seat in the house see? Are there structures within sight lines and do you care? What’s on the walls or windows behind you? Is there a door or an exit sign or a fire extinguisher in the framed area?

Taking these things into consideration not only draws your guests more deeply into the moments you want them to experience, but it will also ensure that the photographer and videographer will have great angles to work with, making sure that your investment with them will be somewhat protected.

This simple way of thinking about staging can help you envision what your guests will experience from the ceremony to the cocktail reception to the dinner and into the dance. Where you are, where the bar should be, where the dance floor should go — all of these decisions can have an enormous impact on the success of every moment. The visual and performance artists you have decided to engage for the day should understand this concept in much more depth. Hiring people with a working knowledge of this concept will assure that all of the most important moments you plan for will be felt by everyone just as you imagined.

This article was kindly contributed by Guest Blogger, Bill Hermann of Bill Hermann Entertainment. The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.

You’ve reached the party planning stage where it is time to decide on entertainment. Do you go with a live band or a DJ?

That is a big question with many pros and cons on either side. Both have their benefits, both can have their drawbacks.

As lovers of music, DJs are often big fans and supporters of live music, but when trying to entertain a wide variety of age groups and demographics, is a band the right choice for your party?

Some bands are fantastic for playing many genres of music, however their song knowledge will vary from band to band. How do they handle requests? Do they know the latest songs that came out online this past Tuesday? If the lead singer is sick, do they have another singer to fill in? Bands can also take up a considerable amount of space, especially in a smaller venue.

There are definitely some cool things a band can provide because they are live. The right band can provide great interaction and very high energy with a crowd. Because the music isn’t prerecorded, they can also do fun things like change the words around and change names in the songs to personalise details for the wedding couple or company they are performing for. Some bands also have the ability to seamlessly play groups of hit songs together in non-stop medleys.

When it comes to a DJ, they are generally quite versatile with many music genres and seldom take up a lot of space. DJs can be very interactive with the crowd and can play almost any request because a DJ usually carries over 10,000 popular songs (and sometimes upwards of 50,000+!) that could be played at the drop of a hat! If your DJ comes down sick, they generally have a solid backup plan in place where another DJ in their company can come to the rescue or they belong to an association where a network of other DJs can fill in last minute. If the music isn’t working right for the dance floor, a DJ can change the genre in a heartbeat. In addition to spinning your tunes, DJs can also be your MC for the evening, helping to keep the flow of your event running smooth.

Some DJs have event been fortunate enough to play with bands at weddings and corporate events. The key to making that succeed is for the DJ to play close attention to the band during their sets and if someone requested a song the band didn’t know, there is the first song for the DJ start their next set with!

It is up to you to decide how versatile your entertainment needs to be for your specific event. The energy of a live 8 or 10 piece band can be tough for a DJ to compete with, but the music selection and mixing ability of a DJ might more than make up for that.

Ask yourself which of these two options will appeal to your guests in the best way possible. This will help to ensure your guests are happily remembering the celebration long after your event.

Happy planning!

The DJ Alliance Australasia along with our international not-for-profit partner Associations, the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (Canada) and the National Association of Disc Jockeys (UK) are publishing a series of articles designed to help the general public better utilise the industry our collective Associations represent. We hope these articles are helpful and function to assist everyone achieve greater event success with mobile DJ & MC entertainment.

DJs & MCs wishing to publish DJAA “DJ MC Hiring Tips” blog content to their own website is permissible provided the content remains unchanged and when credit is given to a guest author that credit remains intact at the end of the blog post as originally written. Those republishing blog content must also have the following line inserted at the start of the post:

This was originally published by the DJAA (embed link to original article here) and has been republished here with permission.