I Want to Meet The Bride

When I am providing my services as the concierge at a beautiful country hotel, I often greet brides who are having a meeting with the wedding planners at the hotel, or having a walk round with the photographer to discuss the best photo locations (tip – always ask the concierge!) or, recently, a chat with their florist about table centrepieces, decorations etc.

As you progress through your wedding planning you will visit the dress shop for several fittings, perhaps have a menu tasting, a hair and make-up trial, a rehearsal of the wedding ceremony.

But at what point did you meet with and get to know your evening entertainer?

Yes, “get to know”.  Do they have an understanding of you, your wedding day, how you want it to go? Do you know about them, their style?  Have you discussed your expectations of the day, of the entertainment?  How will they start the evening, end the evening?  Have they understood your expectations, and have they explained to you how they can be met?

I read Facebook pages and trade magazines aimed at DJs, and a frequent topic that comes up is what the DJs describe as demanding brides.  Long music request lists, unrealistic timescales, plans that simply won’t work.  You will have heard the expression “Bridezilla”!

I can genuinely say that in the years since I became a professional wedding DJ rather than just a hobbyist (some 25 years ago!) I have never had a Bridezilla. Not one.  Am I just being nice?  No, I’m being honest.

By meeting with every single bride and groom – in person by preference or by telephone/zoom call if needs must – I make sure that I understand what the vision of the wedding day is.  My meetings will last an hour plus, because I will go through every element of the day – note it, make suggestions if appropriate and ensure I “get it”.  By ensuring that I know the timings of the day I can plan my arrival, set up, even when I get changed. I can tailor my service to your special day, dovetailing with and complementing all the plans and details.

• Too many song requests?  Let’s have a chat about how I can ensure as much of your music as possible gets played (whilst still having freedom to react to your guests).
• Very short turnaround time? We can discuss ways to mitigate that.
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I could suggest that too many people attach too little importance to planning the evening entertainment (and indeed, and extras during the day), but sadly that seems to include DJs too.  Even after 32 years, I know that I could not just rock up and DJ your wedding.  Every wedding is different, every wedding is unique.

 

That’s why I always want to Meet The Bride

(with apologies to Elton John!)

Let Me Entertain You

What is a DJ? What does a DJ do? What do you think of when you think of a DJ? Is it just a guy (usually) who plays records? Almost a glorified jukebox?  How do you view the “superstar” DJs?

What do DJs think they are?

To me, I’m an entertainer, a performer – whether playing music or acting as a compere.  For me the job goes way beyond playing music, beyond the flashing lights or clever gimmicks.  For me it is about putting on a performance, being part of an event that is then the best that it can be – a memory for all who were there.  Even though I am in a corner, behind the decks that is not where I should stay.  My personality projects out, whether in the choice of programming of music, interaction with the crowd, dancing and showing that I’m having a good time too.

Under our Silverball Country brand we (Francesca and I) work at festivals, managing the second stage – but just like DJing it is more than just naming the act about to walk on stage – we are there to build up the crowd, get the atmosphere bubbling ready for when the band or singer walk on and start to play.  The audience should be ready for that first chord, that first note.  We will play with the crowd, tease them, tell them about the act, not just their name!  It is all about putting on a show and being part of the show.

More than that we will have greeted the artistes, help them load in, set up, sound check, arrange their merchandise, get to know them – and on certain occasions park their van, take them to the toilet and set up the microphone to the right height based on Francesca being as tall as the lead singer!

This holds true for DJing and hosting a wedding or party – liaising with the venue staff, the caterers, the photographer, ensuring the cake is ready, facing the right way – a million and one things that you may never see us do.

I don’t turn up, set up, play and go home.  I want to be sure that I have given my all to your event. I may not be physically making music, but I am making memories, helping you to have a great time, hitting the right tracks at the right time, looking for that moment when someone will shriek with delight at a much loved tune, a song that takes them back.

What am I? 

A performer, an entertainer, a professional

Sweet Talkin' Guy

I received a lovely compliment after a party recently – lovely but slightly confusing for me.  The party was a surprise 70^th, and I did my usual show with introductions, making an event out of the birthday cake, generally trying to entertain the guests.  At the end of the party the couple who booked me came across and said, with the usual thank yous

It was so nice to have a DJ that interacts

Now there was the confusing part. I kind of assumed that all DJs “interact” - I mean, to me that is an essential part of DJing. Without interaction you might as well just put on a playlist.  So obviously this got me curious – so I asked them why that stood out for them.  It turns out that they got married last year and “the DJ for the wedding may as well have been mute”

One of the difficulties of DJing is that you can’t always benchmark your service against others, because I tend to be working rather than attending parties.  More recently I have been working on the other side of events, as a catering manager or butler (all of my work is in events and hospitality, this is not a part-time job for me!) and so I have been taking the opportunity to observe the entertainment.

What I have seen has shocked me, and disappointed me.

DJing is, and should be, both interactive and reactive, especially for a wedding.  Whilst your wedding day (or any party) is in itself a major event, every element of it should also be an event in its own right – and for that you need interaction.

Now, I’m not saying that I become a cheesy Tony Blackburn tribute act, but I talk, and I do more than simply “announce”.  I was at a wedding this weekend, where the DJ made no announcement at all about the cake cutting or even the first dance.

I will organise the cake cutting – gather your guests into position, get everything ready to hand over to the photographer to get that magical photo, and then turn to the crowd, get them involved with a countdown to you actually cutting the cake – imagine the difference with the shouted numbers, the cheering, the excitement as opposed to essentially silence and nobody being sure when you have physically cut the cake! (its very helpful to the venue staff as well so that they can quickly come and remove the cake!)

The first dance is the last formal part of a wedding – and again needs to be properly introduced, with a build-up, once more ensuring that all of your family and friends feel they are part of it.  Once you are dancing, if you are feeling shy and want people to join you there is nothing worse (in my eyes) than seeing a bride and groom frantically waving to people to join them on the dance floor – that’s my job!  After receiving the prearranged signal (normally just a panicked look!) I will re-announce you as husband and wife, and then invite people to join you - usually the wedding party, followed by family, married couples, couples and then all the single people “grab a partner”.  Done in stages (although fairly quickly) you will easily have a full dance floor.

Throughout the party the DJ should be reacting to what people like, what music works, requests and your playlists. If a DJ isn’t doing this, then perhaps they shouldn’t be a wedding DJ – or a party DJ at all!

Perhaps this sounds a little critical, but the DJ is there to bring the party and ensure that everything not only runs smoothly but is presented in the best way possible - even announcing the buffet can be done with humour and professionalism.

Look for videos on my website and facebook for examples – and let’s have a fun, smooth and interactive celebration!

Wait until you see how I end a wedding….

Ch-Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I passed a major milestone this weekend – I DJ’d a full 4+ hour party without using any CDS. For the first time the disco was 100% laptop driven.  I’ve resisted the switch until recently, but I am finally (almost) a convert.  I say “almost” because until I’m totally comfortable with the reliability of laptops I will continue to have CDs available as a backup

This step made me think about the changes to the equipment I have used since starting out in 1988, as a fresh faced 19 year old.  It all began with a traditional (for the time) “twin decks” console, some traffic lights and a pair of speakers. The speakers are still in my garage, but all the rest is long gone (which is a shame really, I’d love to play with that console again!)

After a few years (I have no recollection how many) I upgraded to a separates system a air of turntables mounted wither side of a proper mixer in a long “coffin case”.  The mixer served me for years, even after moving to CDs.  This set up allowed much better control for mixing scratching and drop-ins.  I can still remember the first (and best) mix – “Joy and Pain” into….”Joy and Pain”.  Two different versions, mixed to perfection - as much by luck as judgement I’m sure, although it was quite achievable using vinyl!

The move to CDs was as gradual as my current move to laptop, and was made quite tough by the lack of flexibility – having to physically balance a domestic style cd player within reach while still using the turntables!

Now it is all easier, even the CD rig is totally flight-cased and easy to use, store, transport and set up, and even the laptops have separate controllers that mimic the kit we have used for years.  Lighting effects to have become far more sophisticated and controllable, using LED allows a huge range of colours, and a whole lighting show can now be controlled from a smartphone

Even the advertising has changed – now I have various social media platforms as well as the website (www.silverball-leisure.co.uk)which is entirely self-built, reflecting the ethos of Silverball Leisure – personal but professional.

Times move on and so do I – but it is fun to look back and what I used to use, and what I used to wear! (man, I LOVED that dress shirt!)

Personal-Passionate -Professional

x

Get The (kids) Party Started

Although we focus mainly on weddings, we are also rather special at Children's Parties too!  Like much of what we do, the content and method is based on seeing things that don't work - and changing it!
If you simply put on music for children, many of them won't dance, because they don't know how to, they are shy or they are being distracted.  The very simple way to deal with this is to teach them the dance steps - and yet most DJs don't do this!
We don't believe in making a party into a competition, so fewer games, our emphasis is on interaction and involvement for all
Recently I had the absolute delight of entertaining at my own God daughter's 7th birthday party, and this is how we went about it!

To Start
Interaction, Interaction, Interaction.  Simple dances at first to get everyone involved and to use up their excited energy.  The dances get a little harder as we progress stage by stage.  Drop in a small competition - who can go craziest to the song Aisy Waisy (lets go crazy).  Although this is a "contest" it is open to all, as it doesn't require any skill - in fact there are bonus points for falling over! (although we don't tell them that)

 A party isn't a party without a game, so we introduce Musical Bumps - again it is simple, its up tempo and it keeps the energy levels up.  When a child is "out" we bring out three puppets.  First children hold the puppets, subsequent children choose a "team" to go to - so we never actually use the word "out"

Just before food time we get the musical instruments out and have a bit of a carnival, and a line lead all round the room by the birthday child.  This gets the children into a line, ready to sit at the table or collect their food - Parents tend to love this idea!

After they eat, jumping around would be a BAD idea!  We then do a seated activity - we have a hilarious story, parachute play or a very fast version of pass the parcel to choose from

The final part of the party is the disco proper - lights down, disco lights up and play the birthday child's favourite songs.  Throw in some cheerleader pom poms and you have a high energy end to the party - just as all the parents arrive to collect!  The pom poms make for a great final photo too!

There you have it - party the Silverball Leisure way.  No "dance competitions", no bored children and no stress for you!  We have plenty of other activities not covered here - just ask if you'd like to know more!

Hello Again....

It is lovely to get positive reviews, thank you cards, kind comments, even recommendations - but nothing beats being asked to DJ for  family again...and again!

Around 4 years ago I was honoured to be asked to DJ for Carly and Andrew's wedding at the Preston Cross Hotel in Great Bookham (one of the last weddings ever held there) and this weekend I was delighted to be the DJ for Carly's surprise 30th birthday party.  It was of course lovely to see them both again - and many family and guests who remembered the great night we'd had - but most of all, a true delight to meet their very cheeky daughter!

From the wedding 2014...

...to 30th Birthday

And a beautiful daughter!

A surprise party is never an easy thing to organise, much planning and subterfuge is required.  I asked Andrew how he' managed to pull it off

"Just lied"

And that is probably the most accurate advice I could give anyone planning a surprise party!

"Just Lied..."

So we partied, we cut cake, we ate pizza, we danced to a wide range of (mostly cheesy) music and we rounded off the night for the die-hards with  some classic Ibiza tunes!

More pictures can be seen on our Facebook page and videos are on YouTube

Brown Paper Packages Tied up With String - A few of my LEAST favourite things!

Who doesn't love a package?  Well, obviously nobody - we all like to receive a package, but I feel a little rant coming on about packages in the wedding industry!

Disco Packages

Gold package, Silver package, premium package... why sell a range of levels of service?  Why offer a service (package) that is deliberately inferior?  In my opinion your disco offering should be the best that it can be - you shouldn't be charged extra to make the disco look a bit better, to carry more music, or (and I've seen this!) to allow more requests?  

Then there are the add ons that aren't really add ons.  Pay for early set up, pay to use a radio mic, pay a DJ to play background music (seriously?  For mealtime you literally just need a playlist, you don't need a £50 per hour DJ!)  Suddenly your cheap price DJ isn't so cheap after all!

Of course this is just my opinion - but I don't sell packages, I sell the best that I can be.  I don't add on extra costs, I tell you the price from the outset.  Sure, we offer optional extra services - three to be precise:

Mood lighting

Giant Games

Event Management

That's it! No gimmicks, just honest prices

That's something we all like to receive! 

Package Discos

Ok, this may sound like sour grapes, but bear with me!  So many times at wedding fairs when we speak to couples we are told "The disco comes as part of the package with the venue"

I can't speak for all venues, all discos and maybe this is how you want to book your wedding reception, but look at it this way...

You are planning the biggest day of your life, a true one off event and you want it to be perfect.  You've chosen a beautiful venue, looked at dozens of dresses until you found "the one"  The cars suit your personalities, your photographer offers amazing pictures, great albums.  The flowers, the colour scheme, the cake - oh! The cake will be magnificent.  Every single detail of your day has been handpicked by you to suit your perfect day.

Except one.

And its not a little detail.  Its the party to celebrate your wedding, its the cake cutting, the first dance, the last dance, its the dancing with your friends, its the waltz with your Dad, its one of the parts of your day that everyone will remember and talk about.

And its the one part you haven't chosen.

Its the one part that's been chosen for you.

And as an events professional that worries me.

Its your day.  Have it your way.