Becoming a Wedding DJ: 4. How to get work.

It may seem like a very easy thing to do - advertise in the local paper, turn up at a Wedding Fayre or two but in actual fact it is probably the most difficult aspect of becoming a Wedding DJ.

WHERE TO START LOOKING FOR GIGS

Here are a few things you can do to help you get started and gain some experience as a Wedding DJ:

Contact local Hotels and enquire if they need a resident DJ: If you have just started you will need to offer yourself out cheaper than most, sometimes for free! I know this sounds bad but would you want an inexperienced Wedding DJ supplying music at your Wedding? Certainly not. Also if the hotels have their own resident DJ why not offer your services as a stand in or emergency measure? That way you can show your reliability and gain their trust.

Attend Wedding Fayres: A Wedding Fayre is a great place to start showcasing your talent and it acts as a wedding couple central. Choose wisely though as they can be expensive and you could be advertising next to an established Wedding DJ. You may want to offer your services as a Compere for the event. This will help with your business advertising and help get you noticed but may mean that you could get a discounted stall rate - Always a bonus!

Advertising: There are a number of ways you can advertise and it really doesn’t have to be expensive. Get a basic website built and register with online directories such as Welsh Brides. Register your business details with the good old Yellow Pages too. If all else fails you can always place an ad in the local paper.

Join an Entertainments/ DJ Agency: This is probably the cheapest way to get started and a good way to gain experience. Again exercise caution! Some entertainment agencies are very good and will keep you working 7 nights a week if you want it, but some (As with most industries) can be rogue. Just be sure of their terms and conditions as agency fees can sometime be very high.

I Hope these starting points prove as a useful tool when looking for DJ work. There are a lot of us Professional Wedding DJ’s out there so be patient and persevere.

Becoming a Wedding DJ: 3. Sourcing Equipment

DECIDE YOUR PREFERENCE

Now I’m going to show my age but hey. When I started as a Wedding DJ many, many years ago Vinyl was the most readily available resource, only the high tech DJ’s had CD players! Now though there are several equipment choices out there. Some Wedding DJ’s still use the old faithful Vinyl but many have now moved to Laptops, iPod's, MP3 Players and my preferred choice - CD’s.

Of course though there are many more things to consider when sourcing your equipment. It can be a very time consuming task and expensive if you jump in feet first. Therefore it’s very important that you do your research before you hand over your hard earned cash.

FOR STARTERS

When starting out as a Wedding DJ, sourcing top drawer equipment wouldn’t be the first thing on my to do list but having reliable, trustworthy equipment, certainly. As is making sure your music sounds good to your audience. It took 10 years of hard earned Wedding DJing to get my BOSE PAS system, I would of course recommend it to one and all, however not until your sure this is a profession you will enjoy.

DO’S AND DON’TS

• Don’t rush out to your nearest DJ equipment shop/ store and buy the first thing you see!
• If you choose a Laptop, DO ask does it come with pre loaded music and software? If not check prices and software compatibility.
• Don’t get sucked in by bells and whistles. Equipment should be sourced for a working purpose, if its fun to use then that’s a bonus.
• Do, buy good quality speakers. Remember though high wattage doesn’t necessarily guarantee a good sound
• Don’t buy a cheap mic! You need to sound good and clear. Don’t live up to Peter Kay’s stereotypical DJ image!
• Do, buy excellent quality, durable cables and leads. Also make sure you have at least 1 set spare at all times
• Don’t rely on one source of music only. If you choose technology based equipment such as a Laptop, always have a back up system. An iPod perhaps.
• How many lights will I need? Do get a good balance as too little can make your dance floor bare, too many could make your set up seem overpowering and could look tacky!
• Don’t get second hand equipment if your serious about working as a Wedding DJ. Having reliable equipment is paramount.

If your still unsure about what equipment will suit you, try asking someone you know who is a Wedding DJ or Party DJ. Or if you don’t know anyone you could try online forums for advice.

Sourcing equipment is an exciting prospect, just make sure you get what you need not what you think you desire.

Happy pickings!

Becoming a Wedding DJ: 2. In the Beginning

MEDDLING MOTHERS IN THE MAKING OF A WEDDING DJ

One random afternoon back in 1995 a wedding couple knocked on my mum’s front door to ask if they could book my sister (who was a professional DJ at the time) to DJ at their forthcoming wedding. My dear mother explained that my sister was now living and working in a different area therefore could not but that I could do it for them! I was 15!!

I had always had a keen interest in music and I had accompanied my sister to her gigs on several occasions. As a result of this I kind of knew what to do. Still I was terrified! I sat down with the couple to discuss their wedding theme and music preferences. I needed all the help I could get. They were happy with our discussion and booked me there and then. Perhaps my sister’s good reputation helped their decision a little I thought.

Thanks to my sisters Wedding DJ business I was given her old equipment - Turntables, CD players and lights. I had my own music collection of Vinyl and CD’s, so all that was left was to play at their wedding. I remember the date very well, it will always stick in my mind – 1st June 1995!

The day of my first gig I felt physically sick and for two whole hours before going I cried my heart out. I was so nervous I felt that I might chicken out but I knew that it would ruin their special day so I sorted myself out and my dad took me and the equipment to their Wedding Venue.

HOW DID IT GO?

Naturally it could have gone a lot better, but after all, this was my first time. The Bride and Groom were very happy and off the back of their wedding I received my second wedding booking. So that’s where it began for me. You could say it’s thanks to my pushy mother. Even so now I love my job and although I have years of experience behind me I am constantly learning and always will be… well until I retire of course!

ADVICE FOR BUDDING WEDDING DJS

If you know a Wedding DJ or Party DJ go along with them to gigs. Offer to carry their equipment or something, no one will ever say no to that! It’s best to get some hands on experience before your go it alone. It will be like going to school or university for the first time – totally nerve racking, but if your serious about working as a Wedding DJ and doing a good job then bite the bullet! Trust me it gets a whole lot better after the first one!

Keep checking back with the Vocal Show Wedding Blog for further posts on Becoming a Wedding DJ.

Becoming a Wedding DJ: 1. Introduction

LIFE AS A WEDDING DJ

Many people have this idea that life as a Wedding DJ is pretty sweet – Just turning up at a wedding reception, lining up a few tunes, getting drunk and having a good old time ogling the ladies (or men) on the dance floor, but in actual fact there is more to being a Wedding DJ than people think (that is if you want to do an excellent job of it of course!). Yes, many of us have had a laugh at Peter Kay’s hilarious impressions of the ‘Typical Wedding DJ’ who shouts incomprehensively into the microphone, before playing the worst cheesy wedding music imaginable, however it would be naive of us to assume that all Wedding DJs worked in this manner. There ARE still those traditional, stereotypical Wedding DJs out there, we have all seen them, but there are also the other half who are hard working and very well attuned to their audience.

MY WEDDING DJ EXPERIENCE

Personally I love being a Wedding DJ! I love to see people enjoying themselves; when a particular music track sparks a memory and you can see the reaction on people’s faces and in the way they dance. I very much enjoy the social aspect of the job – meeting new people and going to new places as part of Vocal Show. Mostly though I love being part of somebody’s special event and knowing that I make a difference to their wedding day. I have been working as a professional DJ since 1995 and over this time have managed to learn a great deal about music, DJ playlists and generally how to keep an audience happy. Through being in the wedding business for so long I have grown up with many different types of music and due to my work mainly as a Wedding DJ I have developed a good knowledge of music from the 50’s right up to the present day. Whilst working I tend to rely mainly on intuition and draw upon my internal library of songs (not to be confused with a laptop library!). If I sense that a wedding party needs a certain feel to it I will change the music accordingly, so that my playlist stays fresh and always appropriate.

BEING A GOOD WEDDING DJ

As a Wedding DJ you must remember that it is your responsibility to please people of all ages. Different people have very different ideas of what is ‘good’ wedding music and what should be played at such an occasion, but it is a Wedding DJs responsibility to judge each moment and decide what music to play and when. To be a good Wedding DJ you have to remember that it’s very different from say a job as a Club DJ. People will go to a club to enjoy a particular type/ genre of music, and so the Club DJ will know what is required pretty much for the whole night. With weddings you don’t know what will work until you get there! You have to be prepared to experiment a little and change direction, depending on how people are reacting to your music choices.

In summary, being a good Wedding DJ isn’t really about you as the DJ – It’s about the people and what they need from you in order to have a great time.

WHY WRITE ABOUT BECOMING A WEDDING DJ

This series of posts are made to be of interest to:

1. Those who wish to learn a little more about me and what is involved in my job as a Wedding DJ for Vocal Show.
2. Those of you who are interesting in becoming a professional, self managed Wedding DJ and learning more about what is required of you to succeed in the wedding entertainment industry.

I’ll be writing quite a few Wedding Blog posts on this topic over time, outlining how to get into the wedding entertainment industry as a professional DJ, about bride and groom DJ relationships, working with Wedding Singers and Wedding Bands, plus many more aspects of the job.

On a final note, mainly to the aspiring Wedding DJs out there, I must say don’t get into weddings if you are just in it for your ego or an easy way to make some money. if you want to make some quick cash go and DJ in a local pub or club. Weddings are special events and are too important to mess up, You must be prepared to make a solid commitment to your role as a Wedding DJ.

Anyway, I’ll look forward to any of your questions and comments.

Take care.

Sally
Wedding DJ
www.VocalShow.co.uk