The Breakdown: What a Professional Wedding DJ actually does and What you are paying for ?
What you see is me playing your favourite songs for 5 hours and loving it. What you won't see is me working behind the scenes to make the music part of your event perfect.
A bit of background info
A lot of my music is on CD and Vinyl. I can't possibly carry it all my music with me and find it at a moment's notice on all those compilation albums anymore. I had resisted going digital in the past, however, In the last few years, I have had to transition from CD to Digital because my brain has so much music it in it was running out of space for new music.
For example, I have been paying for a monthly top 40 subscription
( 20 songs per CD) for over the last 15 years that is over 3600 songs to try to remember. Not to mention all in different genres. Then there are all those other compilation CDs,the best of, the Beer Drinking, BBQ, Retro, 60's 70's, 80's, 90's, JJJ Hottest 100's, Dance, House, Electro, Disco, Trap, Bass, Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Blues, Alternative, Rock n Roll, Metal, Big Band, Rock, Mullet albums ,Movie Soundtrack, Halloween, Country and the whole albums of bands more.
"So many songs, I know I have that somewhere?"
In the last few years for professional reasons, I decided to go digital as I wanted to break into the world of Video DJing. I love music video clips. I have worked with Nightlife in lots of venues over the years and love it. So I decided to get digital with Serato. My DJ Peers have been encouraging me to go that way for a long time. I caved in with no regrets. I had to start again buying my music from scratch as I needed the music clips. My music at the highest Bit Rate to ensure they are of the highest quality. It has made life easier as I can find my songs easier.
Here is the time breakdown for a Wedding
7:30 pm one Thursday, I get a booking
1 hour in phone calls
I usually like to meet couple before the event to ensure we are all on the same page. ( This did not happen on this occasion as I was booked through another company)
5-hour wedding
on a Saturday
Queen Victoria Tea Rooms
6:30pm-11:30pm
16 songs per hour that are is about of 80 songs.
Firstly I systematically compile the songs on a new digital list, This takes time as not all the songs are on my hard drive or in the one place.
I was sent a list of 60 songs, the type of music from the prohibition, Big Band music and music by Michael Bublé, Nina Simone and others. I have some so I need to purchase a lot more of this style of music.This takes time as some of the songs on the list have the wrong spelling. I have to Google them as well to make sure it's the right song with the right length in the right year and mix and singer. 4+ hours
They want three songs to be remixed at a particular time in the song. I do this beforehand as it reduces the risk of errors on the day and I want their day to be perfect. 1 Hour
The special songs such as:
2 x Entrance
Cake
3 x Waltzes
1 x karaoke
Bouquet
Garter and
3 x farewell circle
are on a separate list with a backup.
The other songs I do have I can work with so I add them to the list, That leaves 20 songs I need to put together on their list that will go with their set and a few extras as some of their songs are less than 2 minutes.
I need to run all the songs through Serato to make sure they have no errors and ready to play
I need to purchase the ones I don't have from Itunes or if iTunes doesn't have them Amazon or other places. In my mind, I am making notes of songs that will mix well together and songs that will not. I need to check the list again to make sure I have it all and test the songs I don't know to see how they work and how they will go together and to find out what key they are in.. 4 hours + I have not left home yet and I have spent over 9 hours getting ready for this gig.
There was dancing, lots of dancing
1 pm Saturday
Load the Car with DJ equipment
2 x 1000 w speakers
1 ski bag containing 2 speaker stands and 1 x light stand
4 x lights
1 x dj console
1 x computer
1 x cordless microphone
1 x case of leads, plugs and extension cords
1 x trolley
1 x bag with headphones, usbs, gaffa tape and other equipment
2 pm check Google for traffic delays
2.30pm Leave home 1.40 hour drive
4.10pm Arrive at venue
Park car in loading dock
Unloading is 3 trips with a trolley.
There are 2 service lifts and 1 standard left at the end of the walkway, then up another floor to the venue.This takes 50 minutes
5 pm
Back to the car and move it from the loading zone to normal parking. Park the car. Go and sign in with security. Go back upstairs to the venue,
5.15pm by the time I am back in the room
begin to set up the equipment this takes 1hour by the time all wires and cables are hidden and taped down.Sound check
6.15pm set up and ready to play
get changed and fix my hair
6.30 pm Play for 5 hours
11.30 pm last song
12.30 am Pack up 1 Hour, find the car Pay the fee at the parking station and sign out.
1.50 am Drive home 1.20 minutes
12 hours
It was a great Wedding the Bride and Groom were very happy and so were their parents.
Here is a rough estimate of
What you are Paying for
10 hours preparation of music
12 hours door to door for the GIG
22 hours
Expenses
Tolls
Parking
Public Liability Insurance
Music Purchases
Petrol
Most weddings receptions are kind enough to provide a small meal for the DJ. I have to tell you I am so grateful for those that do.
Thank you
When the DJ quotes you 5 hours you are really getting 20+ hours. Not all weddings are like this with parking and location. It's always good to get as much information as possible before the gig to factor in the time so you are not late. To arrive 1.5 hours before the commencement of the wedding usually works best for me.
Next Blog: What other information the DJ needs for a successful wedding.