The Importance of a Professional DJ at your Wedding

A wedding is said to be the one event that will stay in a couple's consciousness for their entire lives. It is an event that is symbolized by true love between two people. The success of a wedding reception has lots of variables, but one certainty; did EVERYONE at the wedding enjoy themselves!  Entertainment preparation is thus imperative to execute the perfect wedding.

In addition to all the thousand details that you need to keep up with in planning your wedding, insuring that you have a great professional DJ should be at the top of the list. You may think anyone can play music, but keep in mind this will be the entertainer at your reception contributing to over 80% of the success of the wedding.  He will be interacting with not just you but your guests and the other on-site vendors.

There are two aspects of wedding music that need to be addressed when planning your big day. First you may wish to select certain music for your professional wedding DJ to play during the actual wedding ceremony. Next, the wedding reception; it's pretty much anything goes when it comes to selecting wedding music, provided it's tasteful fun and appealing to everyone.  Don't just hire someone and tell them be here at 6. Be sure he fully understands what is expected of him and that he keeps your vision and expectations front and center!

He should be able to give you advice and suggestions for improving the tone and atmosphere of your wedding.  An experienced professional DJ knows what works and what doesn't at a wedding as many have performed at hundreds.  He should be asking questions like the size of the crowd, the median age of the crowd and how interactive would you like him to be; he should also be getting a feel for the type of atmosphere that you want portrayed at your wedding.

Be sure you and your professional wedding DJ have a plan in place to ensure success.  Sit down with the DJ prior to the ceremony and go over details such as what he should be doing for the all the important events that will be taking place during your wedding and reception.  He should have a detailed planning form for you to fill out and listings of his music for you to build a suggested playlist from.

As with many things in your wedding, prior planning will make a huge difference in the success of your wedding.  We here at Move It Music DJ and Lighting are a professional DJ and Lighting company providing unmatched service for your wedding.  We can help you create and execute the perfect wedding with great music, excellent customer service and beautiful lighting effects.  Give us a call today at 1-866-MOVEIT-1 or visit us online at http://www.moveitmusic.com/.

Tipping your DJ and other Wedding Vendors

Tipping...
Though you may think you've accounted for every imaginable wedding expense, there is one fee that might elude you: the tip. Rewarding vendors with a tip is expected, and it will serve as a thank-you for a job well done. But figuring out whom to tip, how much to pay, and when to offer it can be tricky.

While some vendors include gratuities in their fees, many will leave the amount up to you -- and the level of service they provide can influence what you give them. Tips can add up quickly, costing you a few thousand dollars. Gratuities for caterers alone can be $200 to $600 or more, for example, depending on the number of guests, your catering costs, and where you live. Most tips should be handed out the day of the wedding, so it's wise to assign the job to a friend or family member. A follow-up thank-you note and online review/recommendation is often a valued tip as well!

Officiants
While it isn't necessary to tip priests, ministers, rabbis, or other religious officiants (many of them, in fact, won't accept cash tips), if you want to thank them for their services, consider making a donation to their organization or house of worship. A typical amount is $75 to $100, separate from any fee you may be charged for the officiant's time. If you belong to a church, your own minister or priest may perform the wedding at no charge. In this case, you could make a donation to the church, and as an extra thank-you, consider sending something personal, such as a gift certificate to a nice restaurant. If your wedding is performed by a civil employee such as a judge, clerk, or other nonreligious official, then forgo a gratuity. Such officiants are paid a flat rate and are usually not permitted to accept tips or donations -- local law may actually prohibit it. A thoughtful card, however, is always appreciated.

Catering Staff
Many caterers include a gratuity in their contract to be divided up among the workers, but be sure to ask. If the gratuity isn't included, plan on tipping all staff members, including the catering or banquet manager, waiters, bartenders, chefs, and other essential workers who help serve guests.  "Most catering staff members receive a decent hourly wage, however, so you needn't go overboard on their tips," says Joe Piane, sales manager and executive chef at Piane Caterers in Wilmington, Delaware. You can calculate the tip as a percentage of the cost of your total catering bill. Figure on paying about 15 to 20 percent of the amount for the banquet manager to share with the kitchen and serving staff. Another way to compute the gratuity is to offer a flat amount for each worker, which is often a more economical method, especially if your catering company is expensive. You'll want to give roughly $100 to $200 for the catering or banquet manager, $50 each for chefs (and bakers), and $20 to $30 each for waiters and kitchen staff, divided into separate envelopes. Tips can be paid in advance to the director of the catering company, or you can hand them to the banquet manager toward the end of the evening.

Musicians and Deejays (DJ)
Tipping customs vary, depending on whether you hire an independent band or deejay or book through an agency. For independent bands and DJ’s that book their own gigs, tipping is still customary.  Valerie Romanoff, owner of New York City--based Starlight Orchestras, adds, "We're always pleasantly surprised when clients tip us and recognize the entertainment value of what we provide.”  If you employ your band or deejay through an entertainment agency, the company will usually either include a gratuity in the contract or suggest that you give each band member or deejay a little extra in cash. If your contract includes a "service charge," don't assume that it is the gratuity.  If you feel that the service you received from one of these vendors was extraordinary, an additional 10 percent tip would be a nice gesture.  Musicians should be tipped about $20 to $25 apiece; DJ’s get at least $100.  Many bands offer a vocalist for the ceremony at an additional cost. Tip him or her the same amount as you would one of the other musicians.  Hand out the tips in cash at the end of the night.

Stylists and Makeup Artists
Even though it's a particularly special day, you can still tip stylists and makeup artists as you would for a regular appointment -- 15 to 20 percent. For each assistant who helps with secondary tasks, such as shampooing, plan on giving a gratuity of $3 to $5.  You can hand out tips in envelopes directly to stylists, or leave them at the salon's front desk. If you're short on cash, it's fine to tip by check or include it on a charge. If a stylist comes to your home or the wedding site, tip as you would at a salon, but in general, makeup artists and hair stylists who own their own businesses are not tipped.

Photographers, Videographers, Florists, and Wedding Coordinators
For people who own their own businesses, as many of these vendors do, tipping isn't necessary. "They've already negotiated their fees and expect only that amount of money," says Jeremy Faryar of LIFEstories Film, a New York City videography company that specializes in weddings. For photographers, videographers, and florists who do not own their own businesses, tip $30 to $50; wedding coordinators should be given about $100 to $200.  If you feel that the service you received from one of these vendors was extraordinary (say, if the videographer stayed and took footage of an after-wedding party even though it wasn't in his contract), an additional 10 percent tip would be a nice gesture, says Ruth L. Kern, an etiquette consultant in Barrington, Illinois. Or you might send a thank-you gift such as flowers or a print from your photographer showing the vendor in action at your wedding.

Site Staff
Wherever you have your wedding, there will likely be many behind-the-scenes workers, such as coat checkers, powder-room attendants, or parking valets. Make sure you do not overlook these people -- while you may not have much contact with them throughout the celebration, they help keep guests happy.  Sometime before the wedding, ask the site manager to instruct workers not to accept any tips from guests. Instead, plan on tipping them yourself. At the end of the evening, pay coat checkers a total of $1 to $2 per guest, which they can share. Powder-room attendants should receive 50 cents to $1 per guest, to be divided among them. Set aside $1 to $1.50 per car to give to the parking manager, who can then divide up the cash among the valets.

Seamstresses, Delivery People, and Drivers
Though they won't actually be at the wedding, these workers' preparatory roles are just as important, so be sure to thank them in some way.  The people delivering the flowers and cake should receive at least $5 each at the time they make their deliveries. A gratuity for your limousine driver may already be included in your bill, but if it's not, consider giving a tip of 15 to 20 percent of the cost (pay it in cash when the driver picks you up). For seamstresses, a cash tip is not expected, but sending a small gift such as a photo of you in your dress is a wonderful way to show your gratitude.

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com

Questions you should ask your prospective Wedding DJ Company...

I have put together a few questions every bride and groom should ask a DJ company they are considering for their wedding. Of course, I took the liberty of answering them as well...

Can we meet with your company ahead of time to go over wedding details?
Yes. We recommend it. Many people mistakenly believe we’re only about the music. That is not the case. The DJ helps coordinate time-lines, announcements, speeches, and vendors. Cake cuttings, name pronunciations, speeches, and of course music selections are discussed in an advance consultation. We try to never perform at a wedding without at least one face-to-face consultation. Not meeting with you personally and discussing your wishes will generally result in a poor performance. If a DJ company tells you it's not necessary to meet, they are not interested in what YOU want for your wedding.

Do you provide references for your DJ’s?
We are extremely proud of our past performances and Love it when clients brag about our services. We have an informative WeddingWire Website available for prospective wedding clients to read what past brides and grooms have to say about or DJ’s. If you would like, we can provide additional references for you to contact directly, just ask.

Do you have a social media site where we can follow your Wedding events?

We have an excellent presence on Facebook, please check out our page and become a fan.

Is your company insured?
Yes. Move It Music DJ and Lighting is fully insured under a $250,000 policy to perform in all facilities or outdoor events. Many banquet facilities require certificates of insurance before letting mobile sound systems work at events in their facility. This is important protection for you, your guests and the facility in the unlikely event of a mishap.

Do you take music requests? Will you avoid playing certain songs?
Yes. When you contract us to do your event, you will have access to our immense online library of music to choose your Priority Requests and Do Not Play requests.

How far should I book in advance?
Most clients book Move It Music DJ and Lighting nine to eighteen months in advance of their wedding. Some dates may sell out early due to popularity and surrounding holidays (especially in the summertime). Here's a good rule to consider. If your wedding is in the months of May through December, 12-18 months is when you want to book your Wedding DJ. If it falls between January and April, 6 to 9 months will usually be safe. When booking novelty dates like 10/10/10, the sooner the better. The weeks before and after Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, go very fast.

How Many DJ's work for Move It Music?
DJ Jimmie Espo-
An 18 year DJ veteran and Owner of Move It Music DJ and Lighting; DJ Jimmie Espo is an Exclusive Wedding DJ. Jimmie performs at over 60 weddings per year.
DJ Chuck Uglietta-
An interactive genius, Chuck's weddings are always the event of the year!
DJ Julio Sanabia-
One of Boston's premier Latin/American DJ’s, Julio is a true Professional.
DJ Jeffrey G-
Jeff is a newcomer to the industry adding a youthful energy to the team

Is your music library extensive and diverse?
Yes. We have of over 65,000 songs to complement any event. Because of our close ties to the music industry nationally, we have the latest music available before it reaches the charts and in a variety of genres. We also have a library of tunes that stretches from the 40's to today’s hottest hits.
If you just cant wait, you can search our online music database here.

Do I need to serve you a meal at my wedding? 
Some disc jockeys do require a meal. However, we do not. In most cases this will save you money. Our DJ's do not smoke, sit, and never take breaks. We are actually "real DJ's!" 

What do you require from the Venue or Caterer?
Our requirements are very simple; for the main ballroom / reception area, we require an 8 foot banquet table.  We provide all of our own linens for a clean and uniform look.  If cocktail hour music or ceremony setups are purchased, we may have additional table requirements. 

Do you have backup equipment in the event of failure?
Yes. All of our equipment is backed up, but more importantly, it is thoroughly checked out when arriving at the event. Whenever possible, depending on the facility, the equipment for your event will be set up much earlier in the day.

Does your company accept credit cards?
Yes. We accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express credit cards for your convenience and you can pay online securely in the comfort of your own home. A small fee may be required to cover the merchant cost.

Does your company provide an interactive website?
Yes. Our clients have the ability to layout the specifics of their event and select their favorite songs online at their leisure up to one week before their event. As far as we know, very few companies offer this amazing service and our clients love it. You can access the client are from our website.

Am I getting real value for my dollar?
Yes. We believe we have a very low price for the quality and services we provide. We think it's a real value when you look at all you get for your dollar. Face to face consultations, interactive website, a mature and highly skilled Wedding DJ, extraordinary customer service, insurance, backup equipment and the list goes on and on. All for one great price! That means no setup fees, no tuxedo fees and a lot of other add-ons our competitors use to pump up their selling price.

Will I have a signed agreement?
Yes. If you decide to book with Move It Music DJ and Lighting for your Wedding, you will receive a service agreement to sign that effectively protects you against any defaults. This contract will be mailed to you once your booking forms are complete. Move It Music guarantees to hold your date for 7 business days from the date of the contract, pending your signed return of the contract as well as the agreed deposit amount mentioned in this agreement.