Weddings Wedding traditions which should be dumped..

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
Hogwash

Come back in 20 yrs and see how many times I have satisfied the customer in playing the chicken dance, money dance etc.cause though I might not enjoy it like them they would not know the better. My opinion is only offered and taken as suggestion. My past wedding the bride and groom wanted their guests to begin eating before their grand entrance I mentioned how that could upset the apple kart or timing causing the flow to have to back up and start again. However I made it work as it is my job to do so.:sqwink:
Esoteric said:
Yeah, to each their own. Which is why we don't want those things. I have done the chicken dance too many times for one persons lifetime.

sidenote: the mass Canadians dont use a money dance and its perfectly fine by me.

Mike
Click to expand...
 
Sounds To Go said:
Totally, that's you as a client and that's fine - it's our job to facilitate what you want - but so many dj's approach it as-if the CLIENT is interviewing for the event the DJ WANTS! :sqlaugh:

Talk about @$$-backwards!
Click to expand...

What is wrong with that? The client / DJ relationship has to work BOTH ways for it to be optimized. I don't WANT a lot of clients that want to do what I don't enjoy doing.


I read a book not too long ago about a guy who only works with / for people he likes. It is called "Book Yourself Solid". In it, the author talks about how his business has improved since he took this approach.

You can choose to look at it any way you choose to, and I won't care, but I think it is eqaully ass backward to expect that every prospect is the client you want.

Too each their own, and I'll keep on NOT accepting clients I don't want. :)
 
It's all about find a balance my friend... a BALANCE. :sqwink:

Not being able to work with somebody on a personality level and not meshing in that way is a legitimate cause for turning down a gig, as would be something like unreasonable expectations on their part that you cant overcome. - but (for example) turning down someone because they want the chix dance? There are dj's who do that... and it is ridiculous at best and beyond absurd at worst.
 
Having said what I did above I tend to direct my client to that balance with simple strategy making them make the RIGHT choice to become my client.
 
Jon Tuck said:
Having said what I did above I tend to direct my client to that balance with simple strategy making them make the RIGHT choice to become my client.
Click to expand...


Just my opinion and interpretation, Jon, but based on your posts, there is almost nothing you are unwilling to do if a client requests it. That is a 100% valid way to work if you choose to, but I'm not playing Crank Dat for any amount of money.... also a valid way to work.

Your way is easier, IMO, because once you sign the contract you are willing to do just about anything and feel great about doing it for the client. Not at all a slam, but when you're done, you would leave in good conscience for having fulfilled a client's wishes. I would leave feeling "dirty".

I'm not judging anybody. There is a DJ for everybody. And there are clients for everybody.
 
I totally agree with you Papa but for example if most businesses used that way for instance a Grocery store that refused Blondes service cause they consider them fake people allows for limitation. This analogy loosely chosen to stay away from race creed or color or sexual orientation or type of cheese they might buy or want. I havent found the need to in most cases alienate potentials as Im pretty liberal and also love to see folks enjoy themselves. Honestly I love most all music and though some songs annoy the crap out of me.

One other point. You are part time by choice. I believe if it were your bread and butter like your most recent event you too would loosen your view of dirty. No offense to how you choose to do it these days and honestly I love a client telling me oh gee the guy we just met said we cant do the Chicken Dance and he wont take requests.
 
Jon Tuck said:
.....

One other point. You are part time by choice. I believe if it were your bread and butter like your most recent event you too would loosen your view of dirty. No offense to how you choose to do it these days and honestly I love a client telling me oh gee the guy we just met said we cant do the Chicken Dance and he wont take requests.
Click to expand...


No doubt. I have admitted as much, but I still would turn down gigs. I actually enjoy 2 Live Crew, but no way am I playing their real dirty stuff in public.
 
Good points, it's ultimately what the client wants. What I took from the article that in some cases it's ok to break tradition if that's what works for you.

The way we approach it is to let the prospective client know that it's their call on what they have us do and that it's up to them to decide what to do or not to do.

Not everyone is cut out for certain "rituals" and it's my/our job to let them know that it's ok to do what they feel is comfortable.

Ron, like others I can't imagine what your daughter, you and your family are feeling at this turn of events. Just be there for your girl and in time, the wounds shall heal.
 
Rick's right. It's simple.

Ask the B&G what they want and when do they want it. If there's no set in stone itinerary, we're on site anyway. Let us know. :)

If they want the Chicken Dance or whatever, okFine. It's their wedding and they're paying us to play the music they want played. Do that and we've earned our paycheck.

Honestly, I'd rather play Chicken Dance and Electric Boogie by request and see 'em have fun... than to be told "You're the DJ, you figure it out" and play something they don't like.
 
I would love to be part of a great oldies, blues, R&B band to play at every wedding. So in this case I would dump the DJ!
(but until then.....;)

JK

The BEST parties I have done everytime were the ones that had no formalities, dances, etc. Just partying. Introduce B&G and they go into 1st dance, eat, do toast during dinner, then open dance for the whole night.
i love it when people get up and dance during dinner.


Now that I think of it.. I remember being in a GOOD band was a lot of work.
I do not think I am willing to commit to this again.

DJ ALL THE WAY!
 
Papa,

Hi! I love Michael Port and also firmly believe in the "red velvet rope policy". I had the pleasure of hearing Michael speak at the Northern DJ Conference in Minneapolis back in 2006 and he was an outstanding presenter. To me, if a client wants Greek depke's (sp?) all night and I'm not that familiar with them, I shouldn't take the event. I'd be doing that client a disservice by accepting the job and they should find someone more qualified for their event. Just my .02.
 
cuttingedgedjs said:
Hey! I think I know the guy who wrote that second blog... Don't pay him any mind, he's a big blowhard.
Click to expand...

Glad your here - welcome to the nuthouse :)

and your blogs are great by the way gets people thinking :)

ok back to the regular program :sqlaugh:
 
Thanks Mitch

I just picked up Michael Ports- Book Yourself Solid and will follow it with his second offering.:sqwink:
Mitch Taylor said:
Papa,

Hi! I love Michael Port and also firmly believe in the "red velvet rope policy". I had the pleasure of hearing Michael speak at the Northern DJ Conference in Minneapolis back in 2006 and he was an outstanding presenter. To me, if a client wants Greek depke's (sp?) all night and I'm not that familiar with them, I shouldn't take the event. I'd be doing that client a disservice by accepting the job and they should find someone more qualified for their event. Just my .02.
Click to expand...
 
Fred Wright said:
Honestly, I'd rather play Chicken Dance and Electric Boogie by request and see 'em have fun... than to be told "You're the DJ, you figure it out" and play something they don't like.
Click to expand...

You're all too right there! I hate it when I have to prod them for more interaction and involvement in musical selection and planning before the event.

Of course I don't have them program sets or pick every song to be played, but I try to get the must-plays, play-if-possibles, no-plays, and just some general guidelines to get me out of the gate until the requests start rolling in.

I'm working on one like that now that isn't providing me much to go on despite much prodding.

Granted though, he is a referral from a previous client and was at that clients wedding when I did it - so maybe they are banking on the fact that I "know what I'm doing" because he saw me there.

Of course I'm not predicting any kind of DISASTER or anything, but to assume the same results automatically with a different crowd is silly. I would think you'd want to do a LITTLE more planning and get in stuff you know you, your friends, and your family actually like.

Or maybe he's right - nevermind - I AM the shiznittle! For that matter, I think I'll surprise them with their First Dance song... I DO know what I'm doing after all!

That's it... effective immediately I'm changing my tagline from "Building memories... One song at a time" to "Trust me... I'm a pro!" :sqwink::sqlaugh:
 
Hey, there ain't nothing wrong with that. :)

Most recent wedding, the bride emailed 4 pages of tunes she had on her iPod with the ones she wanted played highlighted in red. So I got it all together, marked the ones I had and got the few I didn't.

Come the wedding and the list is practically useless. I played some stuff from it but the guests wanted older, uptempo Country. Bride's cool with it, play whatever they like. :)

I have found that, when doing upscale shows like weddings, one's professional attitude toward the event carries a great deal of weight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back