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With the upcoming Entertainment Experience Workshop conducted by Bill Hermann scheduled for August 2017 in Australia, a few DJs have asked me “Is it worth it?” and “what is it all about?”. So I thought I would take a few moments to share what I’ve learnt from Bill Hermann.

I first met Bill while in the USA for a DJ convention. Prior to that I had heard about him through various DJ groups, social media and online chat sites (yeah, remember those). Bill is held in high regard by so many, that initially I was a little intimidated when I first met him, however that quickly disappeared.

As an Aussie, we can often find Americans to have personalities that are a little hard for us to handle, however Bill was warm, friendly and very much understood Aussie humour. It wasn’t long before Bill & I were Facebook official and getting along well.

I had been wanting to do the Entertainment Experience for a long time, so when things started to form for it’s first tour of Australia I was quick to get involved to help make it happen. Both my wife and I purchased tickets for the workshop.

It took exactly 6 hours of workshop (not even the end of Day 1) for me to realise that I had got more value from the workshop than what I paid. But the true value didn’t show itself until much later. The skills that are taught in the workshop started to enhance my performance as a wedding MC and lead to better feedback not only from brides and grooms, but also from other wedding suppliers.

The advice and mentorship hasn’t stopped after the workshop either. On more than one occasion Bill has been there to give me the right advice at the right moment. This literally happened in the middle of the night when I was stressed about a last minute MC job I was asked to do. Like a magic genie, Bill popped up on Facebook messenger and said hello. He was willing to talk me through the issue and helped me create something cool for the event.

One of the unique lessons that Bill has taught me is about accepting compliments. This is something I had struggled with for a long time and his advice worked a treat.

So to answer the questions at the start of this blog: Yes, it’s definitely worth it. And the only way to see what it’s all about, is to jump in the deep end and give it a go. What you’ll get out of it will vary greatly from person to person. This workshop is rarely made available, so you can either get a seat now, while you still can, or spend years waiting for it to come around again, cursing yourself for not doing it sooner.

This post was contributed by Glenn Mackay. Glenn is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and an ABIA Award Winner, based in Brisbane, Queensland. He currently holds a position on the DJAA Committee and together with wife Miranda runs the G&M Event Group. G&M Event Group provides DJs, MCs, Lighting Design, AV and Production options for ceremony and reception.

If you are considered one of the best wedding DJs, MCs or other wedding professional in Australia (or anywhere for that matter), it is probably because you are giving brides (and grooms) exactly what they want and need. There is far too much competition out there for this not to be true!

What I have learnt from speaking with brides over the decades either through social networking groups or the old fashioned way (telephone calls, meetings, emails), these are some of the things that brides want from their wedding suppliers.

1. To feel like their wedding is the most important wedding you’ll do this year. To feel like they are the only bride in the world.

2. To hear back from you about their email or phone enquiry right away. Like now. If not now, then today.

3. To know you will be on time for meetings, conference calls and their wedding.

4. To be able to get an appointment to meet with you within a very short time period or at their convenience.

5. To be able to ask questions and make changes throughout the months leading up to their wedding.

6. To be charged rates that equals the value and demand of the professional and service they are receiving.

7. To be treated like a friend, not a client.

8. A contract that clearly and simply outlines everything they are getting.

9. Speedy delivery of any physical products they ordered.

10. Compassion for their stress.

11. That you check your email and phone messages regularly and respond just as regularly.

12. A range of payment options.

13. That you are organised.

14. That you are going to write down (and properly file) all of the details you discuss in your consultations, meetings and/or conversations.

15. That you recognise them and know their name when they see you at a bridal show! (Yes, it happens)

16. That you offer something within their budget, if you know it ahead of the consultation.

17. That you fully appreciate the responsibility that comes with being an integral part of their wedding day.

18. A website that showcases a large sampling of your portfolio for them to view at home.

19. A blog. Brides love blogs.

20. That you deliver on all your promises. Yes, all of them!

21. That their expectations to be at least met but preferably, exceeded.

If you are able to provide the majority of the above listed things, you will be well on your way to having a very happy client, someone who will be singing your praises to all and sundry plus most likely end up with a new friend.

This post was contributed by Serge Olivieri. Serge is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and currently serves on the DJAA Committee, is based in Sydney, New South Wales and runs DJ:Plus! Entertainment which specialises in weddings. With a focus on quality and high level customer service, DJ:Plus! Entertainment has been awarded numerous State, National & International awards.

To consistently deliver successful outcomes in wedding entertainment as a DJ/MC, we all know planning is important. Ad-libbing is also as a great skill (to make it up as you go along) but are we skilful enough to only ad-lib to deliver consistent results without planning? Something we often miss along with the planning and ad-libbing is the art of ‘being in the moment’.

The late Robin Williams was a master of ‘being in the moment’, because of his high level of planning, preparation and his ability to ad-lib. Thankfully we don’t have to be Robin Williams, but we do need to be authentic to ensure our clients have fun at their wedding.

With technology today it’s all too easy to get distracted and do multiple things at the same time. for example, while playing dinner music, emailing, updating social media and texting etc. It’s paramount to give 100% to the most important people in the room because we do this weekly, and for the client, it’s a once in a lifetime moment.

When planning, preparing and ad-libbing your next wedding consider ‘being in the moment’.

This post was contributed by Paul Collier & Steve Bowen. Both Paul & Steve are Accredited Members of the Alliance and currently serve on the DJAA Committee. Paul is based in Brisbane, Queensland and runs Paul Collier Wedding DJ, whilst Steve is based in Albury, New South Wales and runs Bowens Entertainment.

A story about my progress & the benefits of joining the DJAA.

Benefit;

noun

1. an advantage or profit gained from something. “enjoy the benefits of being a member”

Let’s think about that for a moment, ‘an advantage or profit’ gained from something.

I joined the DJ Alliance Australasia last year, and it’s really changed my perspective on my business, and others around me.

Maybe you’re an amateur DJ, maybe you’re a resident DJ, maybe you can make some sick tunes, and remixes at home, but you want to get out there and start earning some money.

But how….? Where do you start…? Who do you speak to…?

In 2015 I got my first taste of the DJ Alliance Australasia’s National Conference.

I paid to fly down to Melbourne for 3 days, and heard from an International MC Speaker, and sat in a room of over 50 other DJ’s from around Australia and heard from various speakers.

The benefits of joining the DJAA – isn’t just paying a membership fee. It’s improving yourself. It’s learning about other DJ’s and what they do. How they do, some of the tips & tricks that they have found – that they want to share with YOU! To help you improve, and open your mind to doing things you may or may not have considered.

It’s a group of people that act as a sounding board to listen to your concerns, fears, ideas and stories.

I remember flying down with this mindset that – I am walking into a territory of other DJ’s and that they are all going to tell me how they are better than I am. I sat in the corner and worried I was going to get grilled. “How much is your price”, “What do you charge” – all those questions we fear answering.

But it wasn’t – it was a bunch of amazing people who we all shared and talked about our experiences. I came back with pages and pages of notes that I just hadn’t thought of.

So when you think about the benefits of joining the DJAA, here is just a small list of some…

• Training and Development on becoming a better DJ (or MC).
• Monthly Catch Ups with other people to ask those burning questions you need help with.
• Yearly conferences to network, learn and improve your business covering all facets of being a DJ
• You set a standard for your business, such as Safety, Compliance & Registration.

For a small amount of money – which really isn’t a lot when you think about it, you gain so much more value in yourself, your business, and others around you.

I dare you to join the DJAA.

This post was contributed by Bradley Kjeldsen. Brad is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and an ABIA Award Winner, based in Brisbane, Queensland. He currently holds a position on the DJAA Committee and runs DJ Brad. Brad is a young, vibrant and professional music-lover who caters for Weddings, engagements, corporate events, school formals, kids parties, birthday parties, Christmas parties and office parties.

In this post, we are going to look at exactly what an MC (Master of Ceremonies) actually does at a wedding. What is an MC responsible for? What should a client be looking for in an MC?

One of the major downfalls that can ruin a wedding is a poorly organised MC. All too often a family member is chosen, simply because the bridal couple don’t understand or appreciate what an MC does. Often this family member uses this opportunity as their 15 minutes of fame instead of making the bridal couple the stars of the event.

What is an MC actually responsible for then?

An MC is not supposed to be a ‘funny guy’. A good MC is also not somebody that is “funny when they are drunk”.

A good MC is responsible for –

• Being familiar with (and even assist) in the event’s running schedule / timesheet.
• The MC should arrive to the venue before all the guests so they can greet them as they walk in the door. The MC should have had time to test the microphone, introduce themselves to the DJ and venue staff etc.
• Check that the order of entry for the bridal party that has been given is in the correct order.
• Make sure that any venue requirements in compliance with health and safety have been met. This may include making an announcement to guests of any such venue stipulations.
• Make sure the DJ or the musicians have the songs ready for each special time of the night (grand entry / cake cutting etc).
• Ensure that everyone that is going to be making a speech is present and ready prior to starting speeches.
• The MC should announce such things as speeches, introduce each speaker, cake cutting etc.
• A good MC will also ensure that the bridal couple are comfortable and being looked after.
• An MC is the host of the event essentially and all suppliers should be going to the MC rather than the bridal couple to check on anything they need to know. This allows the couple to relax and enjoy their night.

So, you can see, the MC is responsible for so much more than just making a few simple announcements. A good MC will be focused and ready to take any actions to make sure the night runs smoothly and all guests and especially the bridal couple are comfortable.

This post was contributed by Nik Edser. Nik is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and an ABIA Award Winner, based on the Gold Goast in Queensland. He currently holds a position on the DJAA Committee and together with his wife Natalie, run NikNat Entertainment. Nik not only provides MC & DJ services but also offers a live music option.

The DJAA has recently announced that Jim Cerone, The Perfect Host will be conducting workshops immediately following the 2015 DJAA National Conference. It is very exciting to have a major American Wedding Entertainer share his wisdom with DJs in Australia. I just wanted to share my experience of learning from Jim and getting to hang out with one of the nicest blokes in the industry.

For me, I credit Jim for starting me on my training and development path as an Entertainer and 6 years on, I am very proud to be one of his peers. My training journey began at the 2009 Mobile Beat Las Vegas DJ Conference, my first DJ conference – I had no idea what to expect so I was like a sponge just taking in all the seminars. However the seminar that had the biggest impact on me, was Jim’s three part, “The Perfect Host” Seminar.

So whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting out, you will learn lots from Jim Cerone. Tickets for Jim’s Perfect Host Workshop on Thursday 6 August 2015 can be puchased at the following link here.

Brian Davis is the DJAA’s Treasurer and a Wedding DJ and MC in located in Brisbane. In addition to being the sole performer for DJ Davis Weddings, he is also a Certified Wedding Planner and Amateur Stand-up Comedian.

Planning a wedding is such a daunting task. Not only does everything seem to cost a fortune, but most brides are under pressure to make everything perfect. This is especially difficult when most brides have never planned a wedding before.

So how can you plan your wedding with as little stress as possible? Well my advice is to spend some time to research all your wedding suppliers. There is a great saying that “You don’t know what you don’t know”. So why not do some research and find out as much as you can.

There are also some amazing books out there for brides such as Peter Merry’s “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever” which gives couples a wonderful insight into how to plan a great wedding. Whereas most “Wedding Planners” are more interested in decorating your wedding, this book offers some great ideas so that couples can ensure a fun and smooth running wedding.

Almost every bride I meet wants her wedding to be fun, unique and memorable. Everyone has been to wedding before and most follow a very similar course of events. Most couples do the same things that every other couple have done before them, with no real reasoning as to why they are doing it.

When it comes to weddings there are very few things that you ‘have’ to do. Your celebrant will take care of all the legal stuff, but apart from that you are free to make your wedding celebration as personal as YOU want it to be.

To make your wedding unique, you don’t have to even do anything over the top or ‘crazy’. You may even choose to follow all the normal wedding traditions. Most of my clients follow the normal wedding traditions, but we work with them to create unique, personalized moments around those traditions so that the couple and their guests will remember their wedding.

Whenever you need help putting together a great wedding reception, you should always ask your entertainer for their advice. If you have hired a high quality DJ and Master of Ceremonies, they will be able to help you create a timeline which will be conducive to a fun and memorable wedding celebration.

Article contributed by: Glenn Mackay – G&M DJs. On behalf of the DJAA we would like to thank you for your contribution to the industry.

Unfortunately most couples when searching for a DJ/MC to provide the entertainment at their wedding, don’t know anything about what they should look for when hiring one! From experience, in nearly every case, the very first thing they ask when the DJ picks up the phone is, “How much do you charge?”. Most have not even considered that the concept of price is only one of three factors that dictates the economic standards of competitive enterprise. These three components are PRICE, QUALITY and SERVICE.

Many couples want a cheap price, but the highest quality and best service for their wedding celebration. More often than not, for a cheap price the couple ends up with a cheap celebration and cheap quality which relates directly to the minimal fee paid for their chosen DJ. It is important to understand that when one of these three components is compromised, it inadvertently impacts one or both of the other two components in a negative way. Higher prices are almost always associated with quality – in the case of a DJ Entertainer this translates to extremely professional, polished performances, strong customer service efforts and great attention to detail. A DJ 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.

Not surprisingly, most professional, reputable DJs will charge a higher fee for their services than a hobby or part-time DJ who is only looking to make a few extra dollars on the side. For the reasons explained above, you should fully question a DJ service that is low in cost…as most likely, quality and service will also be low. Accordingly, there is a very good chance you will be putting the success of your wedding celebration at risk in order to save a few dollars. Also, bear in mind all the time and money you have already invested in your wedding day and the impact the DJ/MC has on it’s success. If the venue was just average, the food was only ordinary, the speeches were far too long, but the entertainment was exceptional, your guests will still always remember your wedding as one of the best they have ever attended.

Article contributed by: DJ:Plus Entertainment On behalf of the DJAA we would like to thank you for your contribution to the industry.

Day two of the DJAA Annual General Meeting saw guest speakers from across Australia take the floor and share their knowledge. The day was simply overwhelming with a vast amount of knowledge shared and ideas gained. Facilitated by Steve Bowen and with guest speakers Mark Wall, Bruce Harrison, Peter De Wever, Jono Toohey, Glenn Mackay, Robert (The Guru) Huggins, Andrew McCarron and Serge Olivieri.

Day one of the DJAA Annual General Meeting consisted of many great decisions and dicussions on how the DJAA will be proceeding in the future. Non-Members, New Members and Existing Members all contributed in a thorough and passionate way.