Ceremony set up....back or front?

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djcrazychris

djcrazychris

DJ Extraordinaire
Jun 12, 2018
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I know some folks do not like setting up ceremony rig at the back of the wedding area... but i heard a dj (i think it was Brian Redd...but i could be mistaken) make a solid point... that being.... the people up front...like the bride...groom...and first 4 or 5 rows can hear the officiant quite well without any P.A. ....so when you set up in the back...you fill in the missing dead zone...

For years i always tried to be set up towards the front ... and would later see myself in wedding photos cluttering up the area...when i really didnt need to be

... so i think my new spot of choice will be the back...

Do you have a preference?

cc
 
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I’ve only done two wedding ceremonies, so my experience is limited, but in both instances I was set up in the back. I wasn’t given a choice. That’s where they wanted me. I could have gone either way, but the back seems to be the right place for a sound tech, which is basically all you are at a wedding ceremony. You’re not there as an entertainer. Now if I was gonna SING, that would be different.[emoji1]
 
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I now do them from the back.
In addition to the already-mentioned reasons...
I find it easier to be able to SEE the participants,
so I can coordinate when to start the songs.

Also, from the back...
you have a better grip on the volume level.
 
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I guess with long cables or wireless-to-speakers, you can set up in the back or rear side .. and STILL have speakers in a place where it's easier for a listener to localize voices. People might be able to hear OK, but when the sound doesn't seem to come from the source (the B/G/officiant), it can be tough to engage as well as when it does.

I agree that speakers shouldn't be prominent in photos, but usually there is some way to minimize the obtrusiveness and still have them in a proper position for the listener.
 
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djcrazychris said:
Ceremony set up....back of front?

...Do you have a preference?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Me & my crew and music source equipment: Completely out of frame and out congregation sight lines. Preferably in back with clear sight line to ceremony stage.

Speakers: In front of congregation but hidden/spread to be out of frame and as invisible as possible. Some sites are better for this than other...but we do the best with what we are provided & allowed.

Unless required by client or officiant, no mic stands utilized.

I typically send the signal to the Bose compact(s) over a wireless feed. So far have not needed to provide electricity/remote power source to the speakers and associated gear...
1568042860640.png
 
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A362D9E9-EA7B-443A-A418-5F03D2423D6D.jpeg
Here was a recent ceremony. No power available. 2 s1 pro's. Had singers too. Speakers not easy to see and out of most pictures,which is the way I like it
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
S1 Pro will be my go to Ceremony speaker for the next 40 years or until DJs are replaced by Robots. Whatever comes first.
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It's really the only thing on my short term "want to buy list" other than maybe a mover or 2. I've decided not to buy a larger system than the EVOX 8 as I don't see much larger crowds than it can handle in the near future.
 
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steve149 said:
... I've decided not to buy a larger system than the EVOX 8 as I don't see much larger crowds than it can handle in the near future.
Click to expand...

I’ve come to the same conclusion. I was gonna buy a set of RCF EVOX-J8’s, but decided a pair of Bose S1’s makes more sense. While I don’t do wedding ceremonies, I’m planning to do more house parties and smaller corporate events, and see a place for the S1’s. I have a third RCF EVOX-8, so I can add it to my other two if I need a little more power, or I’d be able to add the two S1’s as fill. I’m not planning to seek larger events that require much more (or larger and heavier) gear, ‘cause I’m just getting too old.[emoji4]
 
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steve149 said:
It's really the only thing on my short term "want to buy list" other than maybe a mover or 2. I've decided not to buy a larger system than the EVOX 8 as I don't see much larger crowds than it can handle in the near future.
Click to expand...

The wedding that I am doing this Friday was suppose to have 100 guests. Well, they only have 60 guests. It's in a big Tent that looks like a Carnival Tent (Hsa a real high ceiling in center) outside behind a mansion. 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on a Friday. That might be why so many guests couldn't make it.

80% of my weddings seem to be between like 50 guests and 90 guests over the last couple of years. MOST of The other 20% have between 90 and 150 guests. Maybe one wedding every 18 months that has over 150 guests these days. I see no reason to buy more fire power for the events I do.
 
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DJ Bobcat said:
I’ve come to the same conclusion. I was gonna buy a set of RCF EVOX-J8’s, but decided a pair of Bose S1’s makes more sense. While I don’t do wedding ceremonies, I’m planning to do more house parties and smaller corporate events, and see a place for the S1’s. I have a third RCF EVOX-8, so I can add it to my other two if I need a little more power, or I’d be able to add the two S1’s as fill. I’m not planning to seek larger events that require much more (or larger and heavier) gear, ‘cause I’m just getting too old.[emoji4]
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Bob,

If the "house parties" and "corp. events" will involve any dance music programming, the S1s may leave you wanting...that isn't their forte'.

The S1 is a quality kit but with clear limitations.

I've test driven the S1.

IMnotsoHO, for ceremonies, as depicted by Scott, presentation support or low level volume use, they are stellar. No house party I've ever DJ'd for or been to where a DJ was hired would have been well served by the S1.

Good Luck with your purchase.
 
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I often set myself up at the back - on the side that the bride is not entering from to keep myself out of photos entirely. I try to get the speakers more forward than that, but I normally opt for left and right of the audience. It looks like this:


If I have no option to get a speaker up the side or near the front, I will place it in the back as an alternative.

This was an example where there was no room to the left or right of guests, so I did take the speakers all the way to the front, but I kept myself way back. I have to point out to people that there are speakers in the photo...

 
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Albatross said:
I often set myself up at the back - on the side that the bride is not entering from to keep myself out of photos entirely. I try to get the speakers more forward than that, but I normally opt for left and right of the audience. It looks like this:


If I have no option to get a speaker up the side or near the front, I will place it in the back as an alternative.

This was an example where there was no room to the left or right of guests, so I did take the speakers all the way to the front, but I kept myself way back. I have to point out to people that there are speakers in the photo...

Click to expand...
I don't care how nice your set ups always are, and they are, whenever I see one of your posts, I cannot resist hearing John Cleese yell, "ALBATROSS!" (Monty Python sketch)...sorry! LOL

P.S. Where is the battery in the first image?
 
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Albatross said:
I normally stash it under the table I have my mixer on. There was a second speaker on the other side, and that one was tucked right behind the base of the Bose.
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So you run a power cable to the Compact.

I mis-guessed that the battery was near the base.
 
wifedj said:
So you run a power cable to the Compact.

I mis-guessed that the battery was near the base.
Click to expand...

Yeah - I was already running a signal cable to it, so it was easy enough to do both. If I'm running a wireless box on them, I'm more likely to put a battery at the base.
 
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wifedj said:
Bob,

If the "house parties" and "corp. events" will involve any dance music programming, the S1s may leave you wanting...that isn't their forte'.

The S1 is a quality kit but with clear limitations.

I've test driven the S1.

IMnotsoHO, for ceremonies, as depicted by Scott, presentation support or low level volume use, they are stellar. No house party I've ever DJ'd for or been to where a DJ was hired would have been well served by the S1.

Good Luck with your purchase.
Click to expand...

I agree that the s1's have clear limitations. However, I do believe 2 s1's would be fine for many House parties. Not Hall events. Certainly, it depends on the size of the house/yard and how many people.

I'll be willing to bet 2 s1 pro's will sound better in a park in NJ for an event with not many people attending than a wall of oversized mismatched speakers will.

Not louder.....but BETTER. Certainly clearer😄

Best part is Bob can find out for himself with their gauruntee. I wish all speaker companies were that confident.
 
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