Specialising in Weddings
Some DJs charge more for weddings - others
argue that they do the same amount of work for every function so why charge more
for a wedding. But who is right? There's only one way to find out .... let's
look at the subject in more depth.
The Wedding Specialist
Weddings
are very different to any other event or function. For many brides, it's the day
they have been planning and dreaming of all their lives. There is an assumption
that if you put the word 'wedding' in front of any other word it doubles the
price and this doesn't just apply to the entertainment either. In this
newsletter we'll limit our scope to mobile DJs and try to understand why a
wedding specialist is able to command a higher than average fee for their
service.
Successful wedding receptions don't just happen by accident -
they are the result of a lot of time spent on pre-event planning, meetings with
the clients and work behind the scenes which normally totals more hours than the
actual event itself. After all, how can you make a wedding unique to a
particular couple if you don't even really know them?
As a wedding
specialist it is also important to understand all the elements of a wedding and
to be able to personalise the evening to make it special and memorable. So how
can this be achieved?
Reassurance
Most brides have never booked
a disco before. It is often the thing that worries them the most. It is a very
important day for them, and they've heard all the horror stories and watched Peter Kay imitating a
cheesy mobile DJ. Most brides need reassurance and
convincing that they have chosen well and that she is the DJ's most important client.
It’s a confidence building exercise long before the DJ steps foot in the
function room.
The Enquiry
From the moment the telephone rings or the
email pops into the inbox, the discerning bride is judging the service. A bride
may be dealing with many different suppliers and at any one time waiting on replies from several
of them, and getting very stressed with the
process. Being efficient with email responses and returning phone calls promptly is imperative.
The Email
There might be numerous emails from a
client during the planning process. Coming across as friendly, knowledgeable and
approachable is important because it builds rapport and
will ultimately make their evening a far better event.
Pre Booking
meeting
DJs are not in short supply. Deciding between different suppliers
based on a telephone conversation, email correspondence or website information
can present a dilemma for potential clients. Many wedding DJs meet up with a
bride and groom prior to being booked. It shows that they are confident about
their ability and also provides a platform
to find out more about the couple and tailor responses to suit their needs.
Pre Event meeting
This is very different from the pre booking meeting. It
gives the DJ an opportunity to:- discuss the finer details of their wedding;
-
impart knowledge and offer options and advice;
- learn more about them and their
personalities;
- begin to formulate ways of personalising their event;
- establish
elements to be included in the evening;
- determine musical tastes.
All these
things assist with the ultimate goal of presenting a truly unique and memorable
evening of entertainment.
The First Dance
First dance songs are chosen
for a number of reasons such as the meaning behind the lyrics, it reminds them of a
memorable moment they shared together or the song moves them.
Often, a lot of
time and thought has gone into choosing this song. It is imperative that the DJ
plays the right song, including their chosen version. Most importantly, it is essential the song is available on a
separate music source and is ready to play if the unthinkable happens. During
the pre event meeting, the DJ would have offered options such as whether they
wanted the whole song, other people invited to join them part way through or the song shortened.
Other special dances, such as father daughter and wedding party, might be
requested and need preparation.
Personalisation
There are many small
things that a wedding DJ can find out about the couple and include in the
evening to make it truly individual and reflect the personalities and remit of
the bride and groom. Through general conversations, little snippets of
information are picked up and used to contribute to the evening.
Examples are;
finding out where they are going on honeymoon and playing a suitable song; are
there guests attending from overseas and, if so, source some music from their
country; is anyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary; what do they do for a
living and is there anything you can do to include this (bearing in mind that
their work colleagues will probably be at the evening reception).
The wedding DJ
not only accepts playlists, but also discusses at length the preferred genres as
well as
the 'not to play songs'.
Other options that help to personalise the
evening are the inclusion of traditions such as the bouquet toss and garter
routine. It's also important to ascertain whether the bride and groom want a fun lively party, a
sophisticated evening soiree or a club style evening.
Additional
Services
As well as playing the right music for the bride and groom and their
guests, many wedding DJs offer additional services that could enhance their
evening. Especially for the 'non dancey guests', some wedding DJs offer
country/ceilidh dancing, line dancing, games, karaoke or quiz. If children are
attending, many provide some action dances and games early evening especially
for the younger guests.
Extended Services
Some specialists
offer a full wedding day entertainment service which includes the ceremony,
wedding breakfast and evening reception. They source and provide the couple's
chosen songs and give them valuable advice to ensure the ceremony runs
effortlessly and smoothly.
Those DJs who provide background music for the wedding
breakfast may also include a master of ceremonies service. As MC they ensure the
wedding breakfast is entertaining and flows seamlessly. They have an extensive
knowledge of wedding protocol and traditions in order to be able to advise their
clients, a clear microphone technique and highly tuned people skills.
The
Guests
Brides and grooms not only want the wedding of their dreams, they also
want their guests to enjoy the day too. The wedding DJ regards himself as more
than the person who plays the music. They see their role as extending far beyond
this by interacting with all guests and ensuring everyone leaves with fond
memories.
Things can and do go wrong. A wedding specialist understands
the importance of the event and as such, ensures there is a plan B for
absolutely everything from getting to the venue, having back up equipment and a
contingency plan for illness.
By specialising and finely tuning their
service and performance, they put the 'Peter Kay' stereotype to bed. Going back
to the original question, this is why a wedding specialist charges more and why
clients are prepared to pay more for their services. (it's not about the amount
of equipment).
Already do all this?
If you are already a wedding
specialist, consider joining the Wedding DJ Alliance®. WdjA promotes the
importance of booking a wedding specialist to brides and grooms and generates
enquiries. (There is a selection procedure based on good professional practices
and your level of experience in the wedding DJ market). Find out more at
www.wdja.co.uk. |
