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ARTICLE
I wanted to try something different and knew I didn’t want to return to IT, so I embarked on making my well-paid hobby into a successful, full-time business!
I have always loved music and I’ve been DJing for many years now, at a variety of events, from clubs to corporate parties, but I have always found that weddings are my favourite type of event to work at.
There are a few reasons for this. I love being part of such a special day. Weddings are a time for celebration and I love being able to help create a memorable experience for couples and their guests.
The challenge of playing music that will appeal to a wide range of people at any wedding is exciting; you have guests of all ages and musical tastes, so it’s important to mix things up and keep everyone entertained.
I also enjoy having the opportunity to get to know my couples and learn about their special day. This helps me to create a personalised experience that’s truly unique to them.
There is regular work to be gained in the wedding industry. On average, 275,000 weddings take place every year in the UK, each of which has an average of 88 guests. With around 75% of all weddings hiring a DJ, this means over 18 million people waiting to be entertained, so there’s no surprise that demand for good wedding DJs is high!
Becoming a full-time wedding DJ in the UK can be an exciting and rewarding career choice. However, it is not an easy road to success. To go from zero to hero as a wedding DJ, you need to have a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and a passion for music. It is also a competitive industry, so you need to be prepared to put in the hard work. Although this is not a definitive guide, hopefully using my experience I can delve into what it takes to become a successful wedding DJ in the UK.
Getting started
The first step to becoming a wedding DJ is to gain experience. You can start by practising at home, performing at local clubs, and attending events to observe experienced DJs. It’s essential to build a strong foundation of skills, such as beatmatching, mixing, and reading a crowd. You can also get involved in online communities and forums to learn from other DJs and get feedback on your performances.
Just as important as music is lighting. Learn how to adapt to the different moods of the evening, from the first dance to full-on party mode, and how to light these moments accordingly.
Many DJs will have their own ideas, so again, you can shadow those who are more experienced, look at social media, and adapt the approach to suit your budget along with your client’s need.
Adapting lighting is a must for any wedding; there is no point having all the lights moving with multi-coloured effects whilst the couple are having their first dance. For instance, for the first dance, I turn all my main lighting to white and point it at the ceiling. This allows the photographer to capture those classy first-dance photos without the horrible red and green dots we regularly see. Also, bear in mind that lasers can damage CCD sensors in cameras, so it’s wise to avoid using laser effects, especially during the first dance.
Uplighting or mood lighting will also enhance the look of a room. Try to blend the colours closely to the colour scheme of the day, but when the party starts you can put them into multi-coloured party mode to match the beat of your music.
To easily achieve this, DMX-programmable lighting is a must. Creating scenes to suit the mood is an expectation from many couples now. For instance, I own a selection of lighting and choose what is right for the occasion, as well as what the couple want to achieve. Is it a subtle lighting effect or do they want a nightclub vibe? The choice is up for discussion.
Invest in your equipment
As a wedding DJ, you need to have high-quality equipment that’s suited to your budget but capable of handling the demands of live events. In order to ensure effective sound and lighting, it’s important to invest in equipment that’s reliable, well-made and easy to use. You do not need to break the bank, but you should be willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to get started.
You will need a good playout system, speakers, and ...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full interactive access to this and the last year of magazines via the Pro Mobile Magazine App which is available from both the Apple App Store and Android PlayStore
I have always loved music and I’ve been DJing for many years now, at a variety of events, from clubs to corporate parties, but I have always found that weddings are my favourite type of event to work at.
There are a few reasons for this. I love being part of such a special day. Weddings are a time for celebration and I love being able to help create a memorable experience for couples and their guests.
The challenge of playing music that will appeal to a wide range of people at any wedding is exciting; you have guests of all ages and musical tastes, so it’s important to mix things up and keep everyone entertained.
I also enjoy having the opportunity to get to know my couples and learn about their special day. This helps me to create a personalised experience that’s truly unique to them.
There is regular work to be gained in the wedding industry. On average, 275,000 weddings take place every year in the UK, each of which has an average of 88 guests. With around 75% of all weddings hiring a DJ, this means over 18 million people waiting to be entertained, so there’s no surprise that demand for good wedding DJs is high!
Becoming a full-time wedding DJ in the UK can be an exciting and rewarding career choice. However, it is not an easy road to success. To go from zero to hero as a wedding DJ, you need to have a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and a passion for music. It is also a competitive industry, so you need to be prepared to put in the hard work. Although this is not a definitive guide, hopefully using my experience I can delve into what it takes to become a successful wedding DJ in the UK.
Getting started
The first step to becoming a wedding DJ is to gain experience. You can start by practising at home, performing at local clubs, and attending events to observe experienced DJs. It’s essential to build a strong foundation of skills, such as beatmatching, mixing, and reading a crowd. You can also get involved in online communities and forums to learn from other DJs and get feedback on your performances.
Just as important as music is lighting. Learn how to adapt to the different moods of the evening, from the first dance to full-on party mode, and how to light these moments accordingly.
Many DJs will have their own ideas, so again, you can shadow those who are more experienced, look at social media, and adapt the approach to suit your budget along with your client’s need.
Adapting lighting is a must for any wedding; there is no point having all the lights moving with multi-coloured effects whilst the couple are having their first dance. For instance, for the first dance, I turn all my main lighting to white and point it at the ceiling. This allows the photographer to capture those classy first-dance photos without the horrible red and green dots we regularly see. Also, bear in mind that lasers can damage CCD sensors in cameras, so it’s wise to avoid using laser effects, especially during the first dance.
Uplighting or mood lighting will also enhance the look of a room. Try to blend the colours closely to the colour scheme of the day, but when the party starts you can put them into multi-coloured party mode to match the beat of your music.
To easily achieve this, DMX-programmable lighting is a must. Creating scenes to suit the mood is an expectation from many couples now. For instance, I own a selection of lighting and choose what is right for the occasion, as well as what the couple want to achieve. Is it a subtle lighting effect or do they want a nightclub vibe? The choice is up for discussion.
Invest in your equipment
As a wedding DJ, you need to have high-quality equipment that’s suited to your budget but capable of handling the demands of live events. In order to ensure effective sound and lighting, it’s important to invest in equipment that’s reliable, well-made and easy to use. You do not need to break the bank, but you should be willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to get started.
You will need a good playout system, speakers, and ...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full interactive access to this and the last year of magazines via the Pro Mobile Magazine App which is available from both the Apple App Store and Android PlayStore
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 120, Pages 50-55.
