Weddings Wedding DJ Help

invididual said:

I was asked by my wife's best friend to operate a tablet with music on it at her wedding/reception. I told her that I would "DJ" the wedding/reception, but not with a tablet, I would be using my laptop (I'm told the venue already has a compatible sound system).

Now assuming that I was informed correctly about the equipment, what I'm asking here is:

1: Is there a specific piece of software I should get, or will WinAmp do the trick?
2: What is a typical wedding timeline?
3: What type of music should be played at what times?
4: Do I act as an MC as well (1st Dance, Cake Cutting, Garter Toss, etc)?
5: If I am the reception MC as well, how would I go about announcing events?

Please be gentle, I am truly green at this and need pointers.

Thanks in Advance

Click to expand...

I am not going to be gentle, but not trying to be mean either. I just want you to be realistic...

You are asking for trouble and the possibilty of ruining your friend's wedding and jeopordizing your friendship. If she is so confident that you could just operate the tablet with their music on it, why on earth do they need you?

The venue has a compatible sound system...you were TOLD this? When will you find out if it truly is? How will it sound? If anything goes wrong with their system, who is liable? Do you have liability insurance?

Typical wedding timeline? Nothing typical about a wedding - they are all different. It is all how you handle it and how much time you have to do it.

What type of music and at what times? Ask your wife's friend - it seems she has it all on her tablet.

Yes, you would act as M.C.! That is what a DJ does at a wedding (among other things). What do you mean how do you go about announcing events? Use your experience and make it happen...sorry - couldn't resist. But seriously, it took me many many years to get all this stuff right. I posted this in another thread, but it is very frustrating to see brides hiring folks like yourself. I know you are probably a very nice guy, but right now you would not serve your friend well. You should tell your friend that there are no "do-overs" and for her wedding she should hire a professional. The bad taste of a bad reception all in the name to save some money will last her a lifetime.