No one can deny that music is important at any event. Whether it is by a band or DJ, it should definitely not be taken lightly. You MUST and I really mean it, you MUST hire a professional. As a planner, I hear it all: "We are on a budget, so our friend is gonna create a playlist on his iPod and cue it with his remote." or "Our guests aren't dancers, so we are just gonna pop in a CD during dinner." and then there is my absolute favorite "My uncle used work in Radio, so he's renting equipment and DJ'ing as a wedding gift."
Each of these scenarios are bad news because 99% of the time they will not end well. Believe me, the iPod will not play on cue throughout the night; if the CD is not forgotten at home, it will be quite embarrassing when your guests watch as your pal runs to click play on the player; and your loving uncle, although he means well, will not know how to read the crowd and will only play the things he likes to hear.
Luckily for you, my lovely readers, there are quite a few fantastic DJ's and bands throughout Toronto and all across Canada. One of these are
Maximum Music. The ever so gracious Rod McMahon, owner of Maximum Music, was happy to sit with us and provide his tips and opinions on hiring a DJ.
How did Maximum Music get started?
Maximum Music was a hobby in high school and university that because of my love of music became full time employment for me in 1994 and we have not looked back since then!
What sets you apart from other DJ's?
Clients like the accessibility and personal attention from the office and then we can match them up with the most appropriate DJ from our staff a month or two before the wedding. We are also specialists in weddings and that is where our focus is, not high school dances and night clubs.
Are you part of any professional associations? Which?
We are members of the CDJA ( Canadian Disc Jockey Association) and CPDJA ( Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association) I was on the executive of the CDJA back in the mid to late 90's and now am part of an advisory board for the CPDJA. They are both networking and lobby groups for the DJ industry and allow us to get our music licensing that allows us to use recorded music for public performance.
What 5 tips can you give a couple to help them make the best choice in DJ's/MC's?1. When getting a referral to a DJ service make sure you have similar taste to the person who is referring you. You may not enjoy the DJ at your small and intimate reception that was appropriate for your co-workers big Italian wedding.
2. Choose some "must play" and "do not play" songs for the DJ to play that are your favorites but also leave some room for the DJ to take requests and play to the crowd.
3. If you have the DJ introducing the bridal party, make sure they know how to pronounce your names or, have a family member do it if the names are complicated.
4. Even though you may like a certain type of music yourself you may have to compromise and make sure that the choices are danceable and a reputable DJ company will work with you to create a list that you really like and will still get the guests dancing.
5. If you are inclined, take some dance lessons or choreograph your first dance. It does not need to be fancy or complicated but it is really nice to see a couple that are comfortable and confident during the first dance ( and the photos will show this ).
What are important questions that a couple should ask their DJ's before booking?
Don't just take their word that they have a back up structure in place to deal with a last minute emergency. It is easy to promise, but more complicated to deliver should there be a last minute incident.
Working with the DJ service to build some "must plays" and "do not plays" in advance of the wedding is important. You do not want to be redirecting a DJ at your wedding reception if the music is not moving the guests to dance.
Are there any misconceptions that couples have, that you'd like to clear up?
The price is not a direct correlation to quality. You can get a great DJ in the $800 to $1500 range any more or less than that should be looked at critically.
Do you feel it is important for a couple to hire a Wedding Coordinator? Why?
A wedding coordinator is a great asset at the reception for our DJ for a few reasons.
1. We tend to get better and more realistic time lines and itineraries from weddings that have a coordinator.
2. At the reception we can deal with the wedding coordinator to tweek schedule issues and make decisions on the fly without bothering the bride and groom and if the coordinator thinks the bride and groom need to be consulted then they can be the intermediary.
3. Often a wedding coordinator can get you a 10% discount on services. We offer this as a way for coordinators to justify their fee by saving you the cost of the wedding planner over the suppliers.
Are there any special promotions you have going on right now?
