Had an interesting conversation with a prospective couple tonight. Get this...

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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So I just had about a 1 hour phone call with a prospective bride and groom. They were referred to me by a local Hilton hotel in the area (Thankful for the referral)

The bride had her list of 20 questions for me... She told me that another DJ they spoke to a week ago told her ...Get this. He told her that he does let let guests use his microphones at any events. The client will be required to bring their own, OR maybe the venue can provide one for them to use!

:cheers: :banana:

I have never heard of any DJ telling a prospective wedding client this. Have you?

They also told me that another DJ told them that he refuses to play any Country Music, and won't honor playing it if the couple requests any! ....These guys must not want to do weddings, or maybe they are clueless?
 
I don't find many couples around here that are big country fans... but at least he was honest about what he offered. Those are weird things to draw a hard line on for sure. But, it's better to learn that at the interview than at the wedding.
 
It's one thing if playing Country music is not your thing. It's another thing to tell a potential client you won't play any Country music even if a guest request it. If it's something you don't do then I say just simply pass the event on to another DJ that does what they are looking for. Maybe that DJ doesn't feel comfortable playing Country music and doesn't want to ruin their wedding or make themselves look bad.
 
The microphone thing is weird, but not playing country music... well, that’s weird too, but I get it.[emoji1] I don’t play hip-hop, and I tell prospective clients that up front. I want them to know what they’re getting... full disclosure. Around here, it’s not a big problem, as country music is very popular. I realize it limits me to events with an older clientele, and I’m OK with that. Very few young wedding couples want a DJ who’s old enough to be their grandpa. I’d have very little chance of getting wedding clients anyway, so why not enjoy the music I play?[emoji4]
 
I have never heard of any DJ telling a prospective wedding client this. Have you?

Yes, totally weird and completely out of norm for a DJ business that wants to excel and accomplish success. This DJ company wouldn't even be in the potential offering with brides in my community. Every bride would scratch him immediately.

Not providing a microphone is senseless , but refusing to play a style of music is even more crazy. Never heard of such stupidity.

Very few young wedding couples want a DJ who’s old enough to be their grandpa. I’d have very little chance of getting wedding clients anyway, so why not enjoy the music I play?emoji4.png

I'm approaching 70 and can't schedule all the weddings I get asked to accommodate. I do around sixty a year. If you want to provide the wedding market it is wise to stay current with your music knowledge including hip-hop. Geeze, I do about 20 school dances a year too. And, yes I like hip hop and country music equally, so I do play the genres I enjoy.

Still young and extremely active, satisfying ALL types of events. By turning down weddings and schools, I'd only be left with about four gigs a year, maybe a retirement party, a 50th anniversary party and perhaps a class reunion. I've never been asked to play for a senior citizen group. Bobcat, how are you keeping your doors open?
 
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There are a bunch of Country fans in the DC metro area.

My language was sloppy. There certainly are... but the majority of the weddings I do are couples that tend to ask me not to play it. Which is a huge shift from when I was doing weddings in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and country was pretty standard at every one.
 
... Bobcat, how are you keeping your doors open?

Doors???[emoji1]... Lately, gigs are few and far between, but I’m not too worried about it. Most of the events I do are corporate events, office parties, and various private parties as you described. I do fund-raisers, both charity and political. The political fund raisers are gonna pick up soon, so I’ll have more business than I want.[emoji4]
 
It's one thing if playing Country music is not your thing. It's another thing to tell a potential client you won't play any Country music even if a guest request it. If it's something you don't do then I say just simply pass the event on to another DJ that does what they are looking for. Maybe that DJ doesn't feel comfortable playing Country music and doesn't want to ruin their wedding or make themselves look bad.
I recall you explicitly saying you "wouldn't play any of that tack-head music" !
 
Guests use the mic? yes
Country music if requested? yes
Answer 20 questions in an email? no response!
 
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I recall you explicitly saying you "wouldn't play any of that tack-head music" !
I would never tell a potential client I will not play the type of music they want at their event. I would let them know that I'm not good at that style of music and encourage them to look elsewhere for a DJ.
 
The mic issue may be due to an increase in the popularity of "mic drops"....
Not playing country music makes me think he simply HATES it.

But....if he feels he has enough work that he can be picky....
all the power to him.
 
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