I recently had the opportunity to sit and chat with James Esposito, Owner of Move it Music DJ and Lighting Productions, and we had the chance to discuss many items which come up often when considering wedding entertainment options.
How did you get into this business?
I got into this business by playing music and being the emcee for Sweet 16 parties and Graduation parties for my friends at the age of 13. I entered the Wedding entertainment industry in 1998, where I brought a fresh approach at mixing old and new music to keep the dance floor packed.
Why do you love what you do so much?
I truly love helping to make a couple’s wedding day memorable for their family and friends. It is extremely rewarding to see three generations of family members dancing together.
What Venue would be your dream Venue to host an event?
My dream venue is a piazza in Rome. A beautiful, open space filled with hundreds of guests, young and old.
How many weddings does Move It Music perform at each year?
Move It Music hosts approximately 175 flawless weddings per year. During2011, I personally am performing at 81 of those weddings.
Why should Clients choose Move it Music for their Wedding / Special Event?
My clients choose Move it Music for all of their entertainment needs, as well as a flawlessly executed event. We eliminate the margin for error in the planning process by asking the right questions. On the day of the wedding, we impeccably assist the bride and groom through all of their formalities while maintaining their timeline with their other vendors. Our set up is clean, self contained and features state-of-the-art equipment and a repertoire of over 65,000 songs. Along with all of this, our clients choose Move It Music because we keep the party going! There is always a packed dance floor till the last song!
What are some challenges associated with outdoor weddings?
The challenges associated with outdoor events include power, acoustics and weather, all of which we are very accustomed to by this point. This coincides with eliminating the margin for error in the planning process by asking the correct questions. Site visits, showing up early and having the right equipment to handle any situation ensures a flawless delivery.
When you meet a client, what is your process for customizing your services to them?
Each venue a client chooses has its own unique fun, engaging, exciting and enthusiastic challenges. Our professionals at Move it Music have performed events in the most challenging of venues/circumstances including boats, private residences, museums and most wedding venues in Boston and throughout the North and South Shores of Boston. We are highly knowledgeable with regard to our clients’ different cultural music preferences, and we listen to our brides and grooms. At Move It Music, we play the music that the clients want to hear at their wedding. Also, our online planning forms make it easy, from our “must play” category to the “do not play” list and everything in between. We are interested in delivering the final product that the bride and groom want. We are also able to handle the additional services for their wedding including Uplighting, video and sound reinforcement, and this also helps us customize the perfect event.
What is the most memorable event you have ever worked on?
The most memorable event I have ever worked was a fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation. We had over 1,000 guests on the dance floor together!
What is the most requested songs at Weddings?
We receive such a variety of requests, it is very difficult to choose just one, but with today’s trends, it seems that most requests have the artist Pit Bull in them.
What do you consider to be the biggest misconception of DJ’s?
I believe the biggest misconception of DJ’s is that any DJ can play music for a wedding. At Move It Music, we are true professional wedding DJ’s; we work tirelessly to control the flow of the entire event from ensuring the perfect timing for the processional and recessional music to a smooth transition into cocktail hour and finally flawless formalities that set the tone for the evening to come.
What sets you apart from other DJ’s in your field?
What sets us apart from others are the memories we create for our brides and grooms, our clean and state-of-the-art set up, our customized online planning forms, our versatility for any style of music, and our real DJ’s who mix all the music live. We are also a small company with only three DJ’s, as opposed to a referral house that you will see with most DJ companies. This enables us to give full attention to every detail of our client’s special event.
What is the most unusual request you have had?
The most unusual request I have had is when Michael Flatley from Lord of the Dance asked me to the play the Fraggle Rock them song at a charity event. Everyone got out of their seats and had a blast.
What is the one thing you would like folks to know about the DJ Industry that perhaps we would never know?
What I would like everyone to know is how specialized a talent it is to be a wedding DJ. It takes years of events to learn all of the small details associated with being a successful wedding DJ. The family semantics involved with a wedding can be a challenge in order to keep the event running smoothly. We are the Master of Ceremonies, the Face of the event, and we do in fact control the feel of an event. We always keep the feel and music consistent with the bride and groom’s theme, carrying through their motif and timing of their cuisine.
Why is there such a vast difference in pricing among DJ Services?
The vast price difference in DJ services is due to experience and owners’ preference. Let’s face it; there are only so many bookable weekends in the season in New England, which spans from April through October. Many owners of entertainment companies will book themselves at a higher rate than their employees utilizing a tiered price system insinuating that one DJ is “better” than another. They are able to do this because of the demand for DJ’s and lack of consumer research. We here at Move It Music have the same price for all of our DJ’s, as we only provide the “best” DJ’s for every event.
What is your response to Clients who say they don’t want a “cheesy” DJ or one who sounds like a “game show host”?
I will first ask for their definition of cheesy. One very important thing to remember is that every client is different and so are their expectations. We do not have a set DJ “style.” We adapt ourselves to each clients tastes – planning each piece of the event together and delivering exactly what the bride and groom want.
What is your least favorite song to play at Weddings?
I do not have a least favorite song to play at weddings; my only concern is that the guests are enjoying the music, and they always do.
What is the most popular First Dance song these days?
It seems like the breakout artist Adele is topping the list at this time.
Any upcoming new and exciting trends in your industry?
Unfortunately, an upcoming trend is the “IPod” DJ. With a play list and a small PA system, these “one-box” DJ’s have been flooding the industry. When choosing the DJ for the biggest day of your life, be sure to choose a professional Wedding DJ.
Do you offer additional services besides DJ services?
We do offer additional services to our DJ and MC services. We are a lighting company providing wireless LED uplights, customized monograms and LED votives. We also offer plasma video projection and a completely digital “Old-Time” Photo Booth.
Why should people select you for their wedding?
The fact that we are “real” mixing DJ’s combined with being exclusive Wedding DJ’s set us apart from all others in the industry to date.
About Move it Music DJ and Lighting Productions:
Move It Music DJ and Lighting is a Boston based DJ Entertainment and Lighting Company providing unforgettable events throughout the New England Area since 1998. With over 35 years of combined entertainment experience, Move It Music’s professional DJ’s feature the latest in digital sound and lighting equipment to ensure that your Special Event will be one to remember. Our Masters of Ceremonies (MC’s) are polished and accomplished professionals that play the perfect music for your wedding ceremony and reception, corporate or social event. Move It Music DJ and Lighting is an award-winning, full-service entertainment company that knows how to enhance your event with the perfect music, professional lighting and attention to detail.
