“Most people call us looking for a price,” says Bob Hawkins of BobHawkins.com Professional Disc Jockey Service. “But in reality what they want to know is how to hire a deejay. Most don’t know what they want or what to expect.” Hawkins has 30 years of experience so it’s easy for him to guide customers doing this for the first time. And for most customers, it is the first time they’ve had to find a deejay. They know what they’ve seen at weddings and they know what they liked and what they didn’t. Most often, says Hawkins, it comes down to being there to offer them the advice that over 30 years experience can provide. A good deejay can make the difference and create a successful wedding reception. “It’s all about customer service. We get to know the bride and groom and we care about making the day a success,” says Keith Clark of Flashpoint Productions Premier DJ Services. “A deejay is the first there and the last to leave. He provides more than music. He’s an entertainer, a coordinator, and the one who makes it happen.” Interaction with the crowd seems to be a primary function of a successful deejay. For example, says Clark, they do games like the anniversary dance, which slowly eliminates dancers from the floor according to length of marriage. “The last dance we did, the couple had been married 52 years,” he recalls. “It was beautiful to recognize that as we celebrated a marriage which was only hours old.” “Weddings are more than dances,” says Hawkins, “they’re social events. The music is important but you need someone experienced who can read the crowd. And they have to follow the instructions of the couple exactly.” On the other hand, says Clark, a good deejay can react to the circumstances. During a spot dance at the last wedding he hosted, the bride’s 82 year old grandmother came out on the floor with her walker, so he engineered the spot to land on her and presented her with a rose. “People were laughing and crying at the same time,” he says. Both companies offer special effects such as lighting and smoke. Dry ice can create puffs of mist along the floor so one feels like one is literally floating on a cloud. Lighting effects, often mingled with mist or fog, can create real drama in a room. And bubbles which won’t damage clothing provide a festive air to a reception. But, warns Hawkins, be cautious when it comes to too many pyrotechnics. These can be dangerous if not properly handled. Choosing the right music can be simplified by huge lists on the deejay’s website. Many these days offer extensive lists which include many ethnic offerings. Flashpoint offers an interactive site where the couple can make changes to the play list even to the last minute. Computers mean that requests can be accommodated within seconds. In the end, choosing a deejay is all about being comfortable with the person who is, to all intents and purposes, host your reception. So take the time to chat with your prospective choices and see if your personalities mesh and if this is someone in whose hands you feel you can entrust your special day.
Bob Hawkins’ website is www.BobHawkins.com
Liz Campbell
Source: Brides Fall 2005
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