Busy Season

We are in full effect right now with busy season. 22 events the past 3 weeks, 9 this week! We've been working with great people at great facilities and I can't stress how important it is to choose a venue that has a professional staff and gives you the personal attention you deserve (see Ray's Boathouse & the Lakeside Events Center). If the facility you book allows outside caterers, choosing a catering company that provides everything you need and not just the basics will go a long way to helping ensure you have a successful event (see Occasions Catering & Jonz Catering). Entertainment should be the next thing you consider for your event - and I encourage all to make your event unique! Just hiring a DJ is fine by us, but entertaining your guests with a magician like Nash Fung or a service like Flipped Out Productions will make your event unique and memorable. And last but not least, utilize your vendors that you hire initially as resources to help you find anything else you need for your event. There are a lot of great wedding planners, photographers, florists, officiants and event rental businesses to make your dream a reality. Signing off for now...we'll be back soon!

Recent Song List From Wedding Reception

I was asked recently to make the play list of the songs I played during dancing for a wedding of some clients. I thought I'd share it with the world, since it's a decent variety of the music they and their guests wanted to hear that night.

Celebration – Kool & The Gang

Let’s Get It Started – Black Eyed Peas

Electric Slide – Marcia Griffiths

Get Down Tonight – K.C. & The Sunshine Band

At Last – Etta James

Poker Face – Lady Gaga

Now That We Found Love – Heavy D & The Boys

Culo – Pitbull

We Are Family – Sister Sledge

Waiting All My Life – Rascal Flatts

Feel Like Making Love – Bad Company

Like A Rock – Bob Segar

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

Let’s Dance – David Bowie

Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees

Cha Cha Slide – Mr. C

Live Your Life – T.I. & Rihanna

Money Maker – Ludacris

Wild Thing – Tone Loc

Push It – Salt & Pepa

Low – Flo Rida

Crank That – Soulja Boy

Hey Ya – Outkast

I Know You Want Me – Pitbull

Disturbia – Rihanna

4am – Kaskade

Sea Of Love – Honeydrippers

Yeah – Usher

Get Low – Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz

Twisted – Keith Sweat

Show Me The Way To Go Home – Emerson Lake & Palmer

Goodnight Sweetheart - The Spaniels

(Encore #1) Wild Thing – Troggs

(Encore #2) Gloria – Van Morrison

Wedding Season is in Full Swing!

As the month of June begins every vendor in the wedding industry and every bride-to-be is fully aware that this is the month that the wedding season gets into full swing! This is the month that begins the season that we, as wedding vendors, spend the remainder of the year preparing for. I can feel the electricity in the air!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every bride (and groom!) all the best. Life is a wonderful journey and a great travel companion makes the journey that much more worthwhile. As a DJ, I do my utmost to ensure that the start of your journey is as stress-free and fun as possible! What a better way to start a life together than to dance the night away with your family and friends? I'd love to help make that a reality for you!!!

Additionally, I would like to wish all the wedding vendors a very successful season. Don't work too hard! Looking forward to working with you this season and ensuring that the road to happiness for these new couples starts seamlessly.

How to Pick the Perfect Wedding DJ

I was surfing the web recently and came across this helpful article posted on a website. I feel it would be useful to anyone trying to find a DJ for their wedding, and Adam's DJ Service so I admit I'm copying and pasting here, but I'm also giving the author credit where it came from. I'd like my blog to be full of useful information to my clients, and so I believe I'm not plagiarizing if I give the proper credit, right? Anyways, here's what I found...and here, only on my blog, I've put my comments in parenthesis ( ) for your reading pleasure! For the original, without my comments and comparisons of how we fit the mold of "the Perfect Wedding DJ," visit the ehow.com link below.

Adam Tiegs - Owner of Adam's DJ Service

http://www.ehow.com/how_2118807_pick-perfect-wedding-dj.html

How to Pick the Perfect Wedding DJ

A bad Wedding DJ can be hard to identify beforehand and can ruin an otherwise amazing and memorable wedding reception.

Keep yourself from being burned by a newbie or unscrupulous business owner. In this article, we will take time to consider a few factors that will indicate both the experience and professionalism that you can expect from your prospective DJ. From these indicators, we can hope to weed out potential mistakes that can turn your very special occasion into an unforgettable disaster.

The most critical things to look for are experience, commitment, and professionalism (We've got all 3!).

Using your internet access and telephone, you can begin to scout potential DJs. In each step, ask yourself the questions listed and use the answers to develop your standards in selecting an appropriate wedding DJ.

Step1

It may sound strange but Commitment is the number one factor to look for. Without it, your DJ could show up late or not at all. Commitment goes further than the day of the event as well. Does the DJ answer the phone during business hours? (Or at least return messages if busy!) Is he/she willing to work with you on song requests? (That's what our planner form and final planning meeting is for!) Does he a have clear set of driving directions to your event? (Or at least know the address, and been there before due to our policy on site visits!) How much more is he willing to do besides DJ and collect your money? (Networking with other professionals within the industry, offering knowledge like this article, providing tips and advice, and putting full-time dedication into making sure your event runs as perfectly as possible?)

Step2

Analysis of the DJ’s website is also an important task. Look for elements such as booking procedures (first page), past event articles (see our Testimonials page), performance contracts (got one on the website, and share it in person at all consultations), and photos (see our Pictures page). Where has this person or company booked events (see our Links page and our preferred vendor and reference list, which I go over with potential clients at initial consultations)? How recently (Every Week!)? These web elements give you an idea of the DJ’s experience. The DJ doesn’t have a website? It’s probably a good idea to look elsewhere (especially if you found them on craigslist...no offense to anyone who might take offense to that!). This is a huge indicator that the DJ lacks experience, commitment, and professionalism.

Step3

Professionalism plays a part before, during, and after the event. DJs who do not work under a contract lack experience that would otherwise have convinced them to do so already. Contracts should be designed to protect both parties. Don’t be afraid to have the DJ revise a contract to suit your requirements (That is...if it doesn't cover all of the bases already!). Is the contract in plain view and accessible before booking the event (provided online, both in document format and online form format as well as paper format at initial meetings!)? Are they willing to meet with you personally to negotiate your terms and requests as well (I don't expect anyone to book us without meeting me in person first!)?

Step4

Experience plays the most important role during the event ceremony. This factor is often indicated by the DJ’s past event roster and current bookings. Is this person doing one or two weddings a month or is it a full time job? (It's more than my full-time job, it's my hobby-turned-career! It's the best job I've ever had!) Working with audio and electronic equipment demands the knowledge and skills to set up, operate, and diagnose problems on the fly. Speak to potential DJs but let them do most of the talking. Ask them about their experience directly. What were their most recent events like? When was the last wedding they performed? (No problem! I'm happy to discuss this, and usually bring up many specific examples of situations I've encountered at many events, usually the most recent events!)

Step5

Knowing the answers to these questions will arm you with the knowledge to make better DJ booking decisions. Take the time to do things right and also realize that your wedding reception is not the time to realize the "get what you paid for" lesson. Good luck!
(I can't stress that enough! - Please, visit Adam's DJ Service for more information about our history, services and contact information!)

10 Tips To Ensure A Successful Wedding Reception

How do you measure a wedding's success? Most likely it's by whether you had a good time or not. Adam’s DJ Service knows that music is the number one factor that guests use to decide if they had a good time at your wedding. And I share these tips with all of our clients at our initial consultations, so here's some great information for you!

Tip #1 Use our Planner Form provided at the initial meeting or on our website to write out your entire musical timeline. Then discuss this information in detail at the final meeting with your DJ. You should also give copies of a basic timeline to your other vendors so they will be on the same page throughout your event.

Tip #2 Even slightly loud music is hard on the ears of your older guests. Make sure these people are seated as far as possible from the disc jockey's speakers. Draw up floor plans for your guests, so that everyone will be comfortable with the volume where they are located. Also, if you’re having a buffet, by having tables announced or released to get food, the event will appear to be more organized, people will avoid standing in line and the meal will go by quicker.

Tip #3 The Grand Entrance sets the tone and establishes the energy for the entire reception. Work closely with your DJ and/or your coordinator to stage a Grand Entrance that reflects your style and personality. Clarify pronunciation of names and select the perfect music.

Tip #4 One good suggestion is to do a formal welcome toast immediately after the Grand Entrance. At no other time during the reception will your guests be more attentive and focused. The Bride, Groom, Parents or Close Friend should welcome your guests, thank them for coming and let them know about the great time that is planned for the evening. It sets a great tone for the evening and makes all your guests feel they are part of your big day. If any person in your wedding party is having some trouble coming up with a great toast try www.UltimateSpeeches.com.

Tip #5 The people in the wedding party are key players at your event and should stay in the main room, and together at all times if possible. Position the bar as close to the dance floor area as possible. Should the bar be located on another floor, or in another room, or even outside, more often than not the groom and ushers will congregate there. This leaves bridesmaids without dance partners.

Tip #6 The most important song of the evening is the First Dance. Pick a song that has meaning and when you hear it ten years from now you will still remember why the lyrics were so potent on your wedding day and will stand the test of time. For bride/father dance and groom/mother dance, choose wedding music that is from the parents' era as a tribute to them or even let them help pick the songs you dance to.

Tip #7 Keep your guests in mind: Include timeless standards and music from different eras that all guests will enjoy. Find out if there are any Birthdays or Anniversaries being celebrated on your wedding day and acknowledge them at some point during your event. Find out which songs were played at the weddings of your family and friends and play those songs at your event. This will bring them to the dance floor and help recall the emotions of their own wedding. One idea to help gather this information is to ask guests for their favorite songs on your RSVP cards when you send invitations out.

Tip #8 Include your bridal party in the music decisions. They can help come up with songs you might have forgotten and this also makes them feel included when they hear their favorites at your event.

Tip #9 Dimming the lights after dinner (along with liquid courage!) will motivate your guests to dance. Determine the desired lighting levels for dinner and dancing when you meet with your reception facility's coordinator and what time you would like them dimmed and to what level.

Tip #10 An overcrowded dance floor can be aggravating to the fair-weathered dancers. Make sure you have plenty of dance floor space. In addition, leave some space between the dance floor and tables so there is plenty of room for people watching. And make sure your vendors have enough space to operate in.

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