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| The Dreaded List
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I need some help and advice here from my fellow pro DJs.
I've been DJing at weddings and black tie events, mostly in Surrey, for 25 years now and still go out with the attitude of trying to make every function the best one I've ever done, but there is a new phenomenon starting to appear that is making this more difficult.
We've always had requests, special songs, themes and suggestions in advance and it's always a challenge to blend the music mix to accommodate the tastes of the client and conform to what the crowds want. Nothing pleases me more than ending an evening to rapturous applause and thanks all round for doing a brilliant job, so what is this new problem?
It's the latest advice from bridal magazines in an effort to fill their editorial, 'don't take a chance when you book a DJ, give them a list of exactly what music you want, preferably in the order you want it played'.
I will admit, we do tend to operate at the higher priced end of the function market and, particularly with weddings, most of our clients have researched the whole day thoroughly and fine tuned every last detail. I've read that as couples tend to wait a little longer for their careers to take off before 'tying the knot'; it is becoming more common for the bride and groom to foot the bill for their own wedding. This means they have complete control over every aspect of their day and are often able to afford a much more lavish event than their parents could. At the very least, I have noticed many couples now seem to pay for the entertainment side of the wedding themselves. We are based in Surrey, so maybe this trend is not as prominent elsewhere, but I have a feeling it is cropping up all over the country.
Now if you are given an exact play list of every single song required, in the exact order they are to be played (sometimes this even includes the background music), you are surely onto a winner, a guaranteed success, a sure-fire thing! Turn up, play the list, go home, happy client. You could even (legally please) pre-prepare the tracks, push the start button, retire to the bar and watch it all go fantastically, exactly to plan. In fact your next door neighbour could do this; you don't need to turn up at all! DJing has never been easier, these people are paying top dollar for this much control, while you are listening to it all happen drinking Pimm's on the patio.
Written By Gavin Day |
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The full article can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 13, Pages 38 - 39 |
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