Wedding Blog
We originally planned on having an iPod wedding - but anxiety got the best of me after lots and lots (and lots) of people told me that the DJ is the one thing that most brides wish they had spent more on. Well, that anxiety, teamed up with the fact that NOT ONE of my friends wanted to be the emcee, (come on people, normally you all are hams and show-offs!) pretty much cemented my decision to try and find an affordable DJ.
I had a few rules for said DJ, including the following:
You’d THINK this would be easy, right? Apparently, to-be-married peeps in the Sacramento/Bay Area area either love the chicken dance or like to spend loads of money on their music slingers. We interviewed a few folks, but nobody really grabbed us.
Image via Switched OnAudio
Until we met Brandon of Switched On Audio. Brandon was recommended to me by my wedding coordinator - who at first billed him as being “only $8,000.” I was aghast. We were NOT going to spend that kind of money - we didn’t even HAVE that kind of money to spend on a DJ. Then she quickly clarified that he was actually only $175 per hour. Oh, okay. That was a little bit more than we had initially wanted to spend, but we were willing to check him out.
Brandon exceeded my expectations after a few short minutes on the phone. I started out by listing the dicey stuff, starting with that fact that we wanted to play lots of non-traditional music that most DJs don’t have in their catalog. I explained that Mr. Pomegranate and I have a wide range of music tastes from jazz to some more eclectic bands. For example, we tend to lean towards Icelandic bands. It’s actually just an odd coincidence, but some of our favorite artists like Bjork, Sigur Ros, Royksopp (from Norway, but close enough), Mum, and Gus Gus are all from Iceland.
Image via Geckoblue
Brandon laughed and stated that he knew of a lot of Icelandic music because - get this people - his wife is Icelandic! He sold me right then and there. THEN he continued to tell me that my brother and friend would be welcome to play a short set during the evening. I put down my deposit immediately.
Brandon is the owner of Switched On Audio and is currently re-working his website. He meets ALL of our requirements and has worked at our venue before. So I know that he’ll be excellent at keeping all of the evening’s activities moving, as well as keeping all of the guests engaged and entertained.
*I was once in a wedding where the DJ wore a sparkly silver sequin vest and a top hat. At one point she proceeded to SING ALONG with the song she was playing and DANCED with one of the tall pillars along the dance floor. Not gonna happen at our wedding!
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Yay for deciding to book a dj, I have been to a lot of weddings and in a lot of wedding and having a good quality sound system and a dj that can sort of carry the reception is a must, makes all the difference in the world. Congrats!
i have also been to a wedding where the DJ sang the songs. horrible. the bride was mortified and made us ask him to stop!
so glad you found somebody great!
Good thinking on opting for the dj over iPoding it. We got married on the 21st and went for the ipod/computer setup…the sound was fantastic…the music flow was not…i think the dance part of our reception was bunk as a result…lol
HA! We went to see a band we considered hiring at a gig on New Years Eve. The lead singer/pianist kept weeping and saying she just hoped and prayed 2008 would be a better year. All the while, wearing sequins! Neadless to say, we didn’t hire them!
i walked down the aisle to mum’s “green grass of tunnel.” check out dungen (swedish, not icelandic), if you haven’t already. 
Mr Espresso is huge into Icelandic musicians and I love Sigur Ros! We saw them live at Coachella- amazing!
We were able to get our DJ for under $900 (southern Chester County, PA)–and the two things that sold me were:
a.) the eponymous DJ (i.e. the name on the company) used to be a DJ on a local Philly station when it was a jazz station (which launched us into a 20-minute conversation over the phone about music) and the fact that they updated their library every few months with material that wouldn’t come out on the radio for a while yet;
b.) they have been the “whoops! Backup DJ!” over a dozen times ALONE at our venue when the actual DJ doesn’t show up–because they are 12 minutes from the site, not to mention doing events for the family that owns it time and time again.
Yeah, I was sold easily
And Sigur Ros is wonderful–and the new album just came out!!!
dang, i was planning on wearing my sparkly silver sequin vest on thursday but now i gotta find me a new outfit!
Except for the desire to have friends get involved, I had the exact same requirements for a DJ. We needed a DJ to do our reception as well and in the course of the conversation he asked whether we had thought about our processional music yet. I said that I knew my choice was a little (ha!) non-traditional, but I wanted to include music from the Pirates of the Caribbean films in the processional and in our introduction to the reception. He asked if I had any specific song in mind, and when I told him, he pulled it up on his list immediately! Turns out HIS wife is a huge Pirates fan so that’s why he has all of the music in his collection! I put down my deposit then as well!
Glad that he fits the bill, hiring a DJ can be scary! I’m like you, I am petrified of the cheesy dj syndrome. I mean, are there people out there that want that?!
I went the safe route and hired the same company that my older sister had used! Luckily she did all the research… it was great!
Becky
Our wedding is in Sac as well and the DJ shopping was a NIGHTMARE. One bride told me that the sequin, obnoxious thing was really common in Sac and that at her wedding, her DJ threw T shirts into the crowd! She said that they are often Radio DJ rejects.
I am wary of our choice, but he promises to behave. He nearly passed out when I told him that I’d like my sister to annouce us instead of him doing it.
Does anyone know of a DJ EXACTLY like this in Texas, preferably near Houston?
That’s awesome that he knows Icelandic music. You guys are going to have a great wedding!
I think you guys are a joke…. Look at it from a DJ’s perspective; You’re hired for 4 or 5 hours of music, you play the most incredible dance songs; people decide to dance in the last hour of the night; and then suck at dancing anyway. Get over it…. the DJ should cost about $500 and he should be dressed nicely and have a full collection of music that plays without interruption (if needed). He should have a microphone and perhaps lighting. period. If you want a non-charismatic robot, have the venue play music through their ceiling speakers.
@Tony: additionally; I’ve seen people spend over $2000 for a DJ only to see him do the same crap a cheap DJ does…. it’s not rocket science you know….
The law of supply and demand dictates that a DJ charges what the market will bear. DJs that are in more demand charge more. Perhaps they are not always necessarily better DJs but better MARKETERS.
However, a “budget DJ” has to cut corners to keep his prices low. This can mean lower quality equipment, no back up equipment, no liability insurance, etc. Probably not the kind of risk most want to take after planning for a year and spending thousands on their weddings.
Since anybody can buy some equipment and proclaim they are a DJ, you have to do some legwork. Are they well trained and experienced? What is their “cheese factor”? Their demeanor and ability to communicate? Will they give you a live audition so you can see and hear their system?
Some ARE better than others. Better at music selection, song mixing, attention to detail, mic presence, etc.
I have posted an article on my website on hiring a good DJ:
http://www.djcraig.net/simpletest
Thanks!
Had to post because of my company name!
:o)
What you are paying for at the end of it all is experience and judgement.
Remember that you aren’t just paying for a 4 hour performance. You are paying for 5, 8 or 10 years of experience.
The ability to read a room, body language and program your set accordingly is what sets a professional DJ apart from the rest in our opinion.
Having a perfect balance of being able to think on your feet and lead the room in a direction with music selection while still being able to conform the the direction and musical taste of the client.
Most DJs that need to talk all the time or throw out props do so because there is a lack of energy in the room and they feel the need to fill it. If the music is being programmed properly then there would be no void to fill.
We have a list of questions you should ask your potential DJ on our website that you might find helpful.
Also, always meet the DJ in person prior to hiring and ask for a testimonial from a recent client.
How the DJ conducts themself in a meet/greet should give you a good idea of their personality and level of professionalism.
Also make sure to clarify if the DJ is willing to work from a playlist that you create. This is the #1 compliant I hear….that the client puts time into making a music list and the DJ ignores it the night of the wedding.
Good luck!!
:o)
Hey Mister DJ
“Djs that please without the cheese”
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Mrs. Pomegranate, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 27, Technical Specialist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Software Engineer
Engagement Date: August 23, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 5, 2008
Venue: R.H. Phillips Winery
About Me: Hi, I'm Miss Pomegranate and I'm a shopaholic. I have a weak spot for the chic cheap - especially anything I can re-create on the DIY. Shoes are my vice, music is my passion in life and technology is the medium by which I live and work. When I'm not scoping out a sale, I'm spending my quality time training for a marathon, playing Wii with my fiance and snuggling with my Silver Labrador and Teacup Panther - and oh yeah, planning my wedding!
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