The DJ vs. the iPod

So because I have had this question numerous times on why people should get a DJ over an iPod or laptop, I called in an expert! I have asked Bob Graham from Airwaves to answer of few of the everyday questions brides and grooms are asking about their wedding night. Luckily he tackled them head on and had shared some insight on the importance of the personality over the computer!

Adrienne:  What is the benefit of having a DJ over say, a laptop or an iPod?

Bob:  We hear it all the time - DJs can read the crowd. But really, I feel that nobody actually even understands what this means. Basically, a DJ is there to ensure you have a great party just as a good server is there to ensure you have a great meal; having said that, DJs can be like servers. Some servers are AMAZING and make your night truly enjoyable and memorable. A great server can make a five-star restaurant the best in the city. People often talk about the food, just like they talk about the music, but if you can connect with your DJ on a personal level and they help you to have a more memorable experience, then the difference between a DJ and an iPod is incomparable. As people, we love other people; after all, that's why we have a party in the first place!

Adrienne:  What type of music would you suggest for a wedding that is all ages?

Bob:  I think for all ages weddings, you still need to sit down as a couple and think about the music that you both personally love. After you've thought of some suggestions for specific songs and musical styles that suit you, you need to think realistically about each of the guests you are inviting. From there, try to pick a DJ who already loves that kind of music because there is nothing better than humming a request to the DJ booth, only to have your DJ hum the next bar back to you and then play that exact song. You can only do that if you truly love the music you're DJ'ing. You also start the night off slow, playing the old tried and true favourites and then moving into the newer genres later in the night. I could list all of the songs, but you can Google 'Best Wedding Dance Songs of all Time' and you can find the classics that way. For the most current top 40, Google, 'Billboard Music Top 40' and they will all be there.

Adrienne:  How do I find songs to add to what type of music I would like?

Bob:  If you know what style of music you like, but don't know the specific songs, there are a couple of things that you can do. First, you can hire a great DJ who will be able to find them for you and work with you on the playlist ahead of time. If that isn't an option or you want to have personal control over the playlist, find one artist in that music style that you like and type it into www.vevo.com . Vevo will make a playlist for you based on the music you already like. As well, find a radio station playing your song by Googling the song name and then radio station. If you can find a radio station that likes the same type of music as you do, then chances are they will have a long list of songs that you'll like under their recently played list.

Adrienne:  If I forget a song, can you get them on the spot? Do I have to provide you with a CD?

Bob:  Our DJs can. We always ensure we have Wi-Fi or hotspots on our phones so that we can access the Internet. From there, we can quickly buy any request from iTunes and it's ready to go. You can always provide your DJ with a CD, but for a good DJ, this won't be necessary, just write down the artist and the songs and your DJ will always have them ready for you.

Adrienne:  Can you MC my wedding because I don’t want to have to ask someone I know to do that?

Bob:  Absolutely! To MC, we ensure that our DJ meets with you one on one to ensure that they are pronouncing names properly, sticking to the timeline, hitting all of the cues in the evening and working with you to ensure stories and speeches are properly coordinated. Our DJs can also play games or work on any requests. If you have an idea, just ask your DJ and if they love what they do, they'll accommodate you. The right DJ should feel like your friend who has your back on all things music-related.

Adrienne:  Why do I have to pay so much for a DJ?

Bob:  The reality is that you don't have to pay that much for a DJ especially if you factor in the entire cost of a wedding, the DJ cost is usually a very small percentage in comparison. They have to ensure everyone has a great time, interacts with each other, stays on the dance floor and has an unforgettable evening for hours on end. It's quite a bit of pressure to do that and it also takes quite a bit of skill. Most good DJs (and all Airwaves Music DJs) have already DJ'd for years and years and have invested upwards of $8-$10K in equipment. They also spend between 4-12 hours planning and programming the music for each wedding they do before you even see them on the big night. When you start to add up at least 10-20 hours and $8-$10K of gear for someone with 10 years of experience and over 100 weddings worth of experience, it makes sense to fairly compensate them. The cost of rental for the sound, lights and mics is about $400. Having someone there to ensure everything goes smoothly on your big day, putting in another 20 hours with years of experience is worth the extra $600. We see the couples who make an investment in their party getting the best results.

Adrienne:  What should I look for in a DJ and what should I watch out for?

Bob:  We put our DJs through a 15-step test designed to ensure they are professional, reliable, talented and basically just likeable, good people that we'd want at our own weddings. From there, we build a team by meeting regularly, genuinely getting to know each other and building a sense of real pride in what we do and what our company means to us and to our clients.  Most people don't have time to do that, so you can hire us or a company that cares about its customers as much as we do, or you can go at it alone. Whatever option you choose, here is a quick list of what I'd make sure you check off before hiring a DJ.

• Ensure they have previous wedding experience.
• Ensure you can meet them before the wedding. Don't hire anyone you cannot meet unless it is through a large company with a screening process.
• Get references. Check their Yelp or Wedding Wire page.
• Ensure they have reliable transportation, don't smoke and have at least their own mixing console.
• Find someone with modern equipment, modern style, who understands new music too. Make sure they have a passion and spark for what they do.
• Most of all, watch out for a negative attitude, any sign of ego or lack of compliance with your requests. Sometimes it isn't a right fit naturally, so make sure it just feels right. Your instincts have got you this far right? Keep trusting them. Most of the time, you can spot a bad DJ right away if you just listen to yourself and be patient in your search. Sometimes it can take a while to find someone great. 

So this may get old but I have said it time and time again, meeting with your vendor and getting that comforting feeling can make all the difference. You can see why having someone there and trusting them to set the mood of your evening can take a lot of stress off yourself and ensure your guests say, “That was the best wedding I have ever been to!"

(Photo: Courtesy of Airwaves DJ)

Check them out online at www.airwavesmusic.ca

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.