First wedding of the season

Is tonight just getting ready to leave. Ill try to post a playlist tomorrow

Mine is May 17th....butterflies are starting already.....New trailer, new set up (no rack pc...laptop) and new lighting/speaker configuration (speakers mounted on lighting stands)...

Then it's full out to October

Mine was last weekend......went great! What a way to start this year! GL tonight!!

I had a gig tonight, but it got cancelled due to weather! It was a birthday party...might reschedule til next weekend...who knows! We got a foot of snow, and its starting to melt a bit, its windy, and by the time it freezes tonight.....the roads will be miserable! =( I am glad it cancelled...the roads are already horrible....I rather be safe at home tonight!:sqbiggrin:

The season? What are you talking about?
No one has weddings in Feb March or early April?

In Minnesota...only the stupid ones........:sqerr:

Me and my wife married on March 31 2007. It was rainy...and 45 degrees...nice day! The next morning my wife was like....theres snow on the ground....I am like....yea right...April Fools...only to see she was right! I hate Minnesota!

You cant really plan to have a wedding from Jan-April! You never know what kind of nasty weather you will get. It sure makes for a miserable day when it is a high of -10F! I am not saying there arent any weddings.......but there sure arent alot of them in this time frame. My real wedding season is crazy from June to September! Pure CRAZY! Then it really slows down again....in time for another Minnesota WINTER!

I bet if I lived somewhere warmer, this wouldnt be such an issue! Oh.....and the economy sucks, and we even have bars only opened for three days a week....or a total of 24 hours..just to save money! They dont know if they should sell or not! Which definitely puts a strain on our dj market! However I am seeing signs of bars battling back and doing more and more bookings! Definitely a good sign!

The season? What are you talking about?
No one has weddings in Feb March or early April?

Around these parts Bill it is rare to see weddings before April mostly for the reasons Adam mentioned above. Today was a decent day but all in all I dont think it topped 6 Celcius (40 farenheit). There were even a few flurries at one point

The odd time you might get a wedding around Valentines day. The last one I did 2 years ago we almost got stormstayed in the hall

Did my 12th wedding of the year last night (Our dead months are July & August)

Our fourth one this year is in 3 weeks. I have to admit its been a little dead around here. And every one looking for wedding DJ's in my local area is looking for peeps about 250 dollars cheaper than me.

I have not booked nothing this month but booked 4 events last month. Strange how that works. I've actually thought about lowering my price down 50 dollars its those hundred dollar marks that peeps don't like.

As with Jeff...our season is usually mid may to mid October...yet another reason wht it is difficult to be a full timer here....

As with Jeff...our season is usually mid may to mid October...yet another reason wht it is difficult to be a full timer here....

To be a full timer here you would have to have alot of Irons in the fire and be very good with your money because the irons all get cold in January

Combine that with low market average prices....

Well it went very well they were great people to deal with all along. I provided dinner music from 7 to 9 and dancing from 9 to 1.. They were friends of a family I have done about a dozen weddings for in the last 3 or 4 years

The upside: everything went perfect from intros to the last waltz. the Bride and Groom were estatic and the parents of the bride were impressed with the dinner music and how I kept changing the floor during dancing. As of right now I have recieved 3 phone calls for future weddings from this booking with two confirmed and contracts sent out

I also recieved a $100 tip for hitting the intro's right. There were a few hard pronounciations there and I only recieved the list a couple of hours before

The downside: I thought my setup looked very frumpy last night. I had very little room to work with and it just seemed to me like I couldn't neaten it up the way I like to

I also had a woman trip over a speaker stand. Fortunatly she wasn't hurt but she freaked about it. Several times during the evening I mentioned that the door I was by was a do not enter zone and I warned this woman in particular at least 3 times about using the door and to be careful of the stands. There were do not enter signs on the door also.

All in all it was an awesome night. As a funny side note one of the bridesmaids came up at the end of the night and said "this was the best wedding reception EVER". I just snickered to myself

I've always worried about those speaker stand legs.....I'd like to find an inexpensive strip light that could be fastened to the leg that wouldn't be too bright ....

Our fourth one this year is in 3 weeks. I have to admit its been a little dead around here. And every one looking for wedding DJ's in my local area is looking for peeps about 250 dollars cheaper than me.

I have not booked nothing this month but booked 4 events last month. Strange how that works. I've actually thought about lowering my price down 50 dollars its those hundred dollar marks that peeps don't like.

Go the $x95 route..... Seems to work for me...

Go the route..... Seems to work for me...

Thats another great idea I stole from Papa I am $xx9 now

Thats another great idea I stole from Papa I am now

Hell, I stole that from someone else.... :sqerr::sqlaugh:

Yep--I can agree wholeheartedly with that line of thought. That's why my prices start at $995. Not $1000. $995, which is close enough to $1000 for me.

On one hand, it looks very retail, which is a strike against me because it makes me seem like a commodity. $999 is VERY retail, and that's why I don't start at $999. It's very easy to think $1000 with that figure.

On the other hand, when I quote $995, people will think $900 instead of $1000. It seems that the majority of clients I talk to won't pay $1000 or more for a DJ, but $900 is palatable.

As I add to my value through Mark Ferrell's Master of Ceremonies workshop(s) (been there, done that, excellent material) and Randy Bartlett's upcoming Mic Technique workshop, I hope that I can start with a price a little higher than where I am now.

As I add to my value through Mark Ferrell's Master of Ceremonies workshop(s) (been there, done that, excellent material) and Randy Bartlett's upcoming Mic Technique workshop, I hope that I can start with a price a little higher than where I am now.


I too attended Mark's MC workshop. It was money well spent. A great investment.
For anyone serious about being an above average wedding DJ, this is a must. I can't begin to tell you what an eye opening experience it was.

Did you enjoy it?

I sure did! The experience was invaluable. But it left me feeling like I've kinda ripped off my past clients because I hadn't done a good bit of what Mark taught us.

It left me with a different approach to performing wedding receptions, that's for sure!

Am I the only one thats been doing a wedding a week since the last weekend in february?

Am I the only one thats been doing a wedding a week since the last weekend in february?

Bragger....:sqwink:

How much snow did you have from November through to March, Kyle?

There's your answer......

For anyone serious about being an above average wedding DJ, this is a must.

Oh...How I am biting my tongue !!!!!!:sqcool:

good point.. my apologies...

Steve..

What's Snow?

i thought you were biting your tongue at my post but then re-read.

we have a slow period too from Jan 1 to Presidents Day but we still do a few jobs a week then.

kyle

we have a slow period too from Jan 1 to Presidents Day but we still do a few jobs a week then.

In my case I do several events from Jan to March but its mostly birthdays etc.




On the other hand, when I quote $995, people will think $900 instead of $1000. It seems that the majority of clients I talk to won't pay $1000 or more for a DJ, but $900 is palatable


I guess I am lucky I don't have to worry about people thinking 900 or 1000 it would be quite a bit less than that :sqrolleyes:

off topic
how do you post two different thread quotes into one post like you (jeff) just did?

In my case I do several events from Jan to March but its mostly birthdays etc.



I guess I am lucky I don't have to worry about people thinking 900 or 1000 it would be quite a bit less than that :sqrolleyes:


Yeah, but Jeff, you're not the MC too! :sqembarrassed::sqwink:

Yeah, but Jeff, you're not the MC too! :sqembarrassed::sqwink:

Yup you are right there Papa it is rare I get to MC. The most I usually do in that department is the grand introductions

off topic
how do you post two different thread quotes into one post like you (jeff) just did?

there is a multiquote button beside the quote button Kyle

bill had a point we're fortunate or unfortunate or just something that it doesnt snow here ever anymore (although id like it to)

bill had a point we're fortunate or unfortunate or just something that it doesnt snow here ever anymore (although id like it to)

I'll drop you off a bunch the next time through :sqwink:

Yup you are right there Papa it is rare I get to MC. The most I usually do in that department is the grand introductions



there is a multiquote button beside the quote button Kyle


bill had a point we're fortunate or unfortunate or just something that it doesnt snow here ever anymore (although id like it to)

A-haaaaa.... so that's how the multi-quote works.... thanks!

A-haaaaa.... so that's how the multi-quote works.... thanks!


Use it sparingly grasshopper :sqerr::sqbiggrin::sqwink:

So here is the lit and a few pics

Dinner Music
For The First Time Rod Stewart
The Way You Look Tonight Tony Bennett
Saying Something Stupid Frank Sinatra
Crazy Little Thing Called Love Michael Buble
Thats Amore Dean Martin Frank Sinatra
Rylynn Andy McKee
Come Away with Me Norah Jones
New York New York Frank Sinatra
Sailing Christopher Cross
Into The Mystic Van Morrison
Don't Know Why Norah Jones
Lost In Love Air Supply
Fly Me To the Moon George Strait With Frank Sinatra
We Danced Anyway Deana Carter
Sharing The Night Together Dr. Hook
Fare The Well Love Rankin Family
Marry Me Amanda Marshall
Tonight's The Night Rod Stewart
Come Away with Me Norah Jones
A Whole New World Regina Belle And Peabo Bryson
Durham Town Roger Whittaker
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Frank Sinatra


Ordinary Miracle Sarah McLachlan B&G First Waltz
My Wish Rascal Flatts Mother son/ Father Daughter
You Feel the Same way too Rankins Bridal Party all join in after 1 min

Open Dancing
Runaround Sue Leif Garrett
Bop Dan Seals
Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
Party For Two Shania Twain
The Twist Chubby Checker
Bad Moon Rising CCR
Mairi's Wedding The Rankin Family
Heave Away The Fables
When You Say Nothing At All Keith Whitley
What a Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
December 1963 The Four Seasons
Love Shack B-52's
Spirit In The Sky Norman Greenbaum
Billie Jean Michael Jackson
sexy back Justin Timberlake
We Are Family Sister Sledge
Does Your Mother Know Abba
Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton
You're Beautiful James Blunt
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Cindy Lauper Boquet Toss
Dust On The Bottle David Lee Murphy
Mull River Shuffle The Rankin Family
Cotton Eyed Joe Rednex
Chattahoochee Alan Jackson
Boot Scoot Boogie Brooks And Dunn
Dumas Walkers Kentucky Headhunters
MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN SHANIA TWAIN
The Night Pat Murphy Died Great Big Sea
Remember When Alan Jackson
STAND BY ME BEN E. KING
Walk Of Life Dire Straits
Footloose Kenny Loggins
Old Time Rock & Roll Bob Seagar
You Shook Me All Night Long AC DC
Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy Big And Rich
Summer of 69 Bryan Adams
Ice Ice Baby Vanilla Ice
Bust A Move Young MC
The Way You Make Me Feel Michael Jackson
Like A Prayer Madonna
If I Could Turn Back Time Cher
Baby Likes To Rock It The Tractors
Guitar Town Steve Earle
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk Trace Adkins
Does Your Mother Know ABBA GOLD
Please, Dont Stop The Music Rihanna
Low Flo-Rida
The Way I Are Timberland
Wasn't That A Party The Irish Rovers
Have I Told You Lately Rod Stewart
Michael Buble - Save The Last Dance For Me B&G Last Waltz all join in
(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye The Nylons Drinking Up Song

Looks like nice Party.

Great list Jeff......

Congrats, Mr. R. :thumbsup: :clap:

Re: Dinner Music

Sailing - Christopher Cross

Would have never thought about that one, I'll blow the dust off that and give it a whirl the next reception. :)

Thanks,

Kirby

Thanks Kirby

Every time I get the chance to do dinner music I try to change it around and add a few oddballs that I haven't tried before. I almost always get several compliments from the over 40 crowd and the under 40s tolerate it well :sqrolleyes:

My new stock this time were

Marry Me Amanda Marshall
A Whole New World Regina Belle And Peabo Bryson
Durham Town Roger Whittaker
Sailing Christopher Cross