Chatting with some Youngin's about Marriage

I had cause the other night to be meeting with a large number of what I would call people at "The Age of Matrimony", whatever that is.........

They confirmed what we as DJ's have been seeing....

1. Weddings are down.....The response I got was they didn't feel the pressure from their families to marry...(Parents are far more liberal in these area's today, then in my day,no "shotgun Weddings")

2. A majority of the guys said they didn't like dancing, and it didn't matter what the music was.....what several said was they would just as soon watch the girls dance as anything else.....

And lastly...

3. Those that were in favor of marriage wanted to spend money on "things they could remember" I said what about the music, dancing with your Husband, your father, mother etc...the music, and how much fun they had, no they said, it was pictures of their day, and remembering the ceremony, pictures of family members,
etc....

I didn't even bring the subject up, they asked me why I DJ, and what I DJ for..??

I Thought the response was interesting, there were probably 30 young adults ranging from 22 to 28 years of age............

I hear the same thing from my customers as well. BUT, there is hope...

The increase in the population, makes it NULL and void, as far as I can see.

Dude could probably whip up a chart on this (maybe already did), because given the numbers, even though weddings are down, the available market is still up, because the population is growing so quickly.

Most of the folks I talk to (my customers, as it were), are wedding DJs, and most are booked solid for at least a year out. I'd love to say it's my software, but I suspect it's more than that -- people that know and research their market well, and know how to entertain.

If somebody is to remember the entertainment, then you need to entertain ;)

Rick:

Interesting. I believe this chart illustrates your point:

That's my sales chart for the last 5 years John :sqbiggrin:


I don't have to edumacate my customers -- I entertain them ;)


Damn, I knew their was some vanity left in me somewhere...

Another consideration: Young people today are not young people when we were young.

30, 40 years ago, young people appreciated music and dancing because there was music and dancing. It was a part of our culture. Our parents went out dancing while we were at home with a sitter. We wanted to go out dancing, too.

And in some cultures, we were taught to appreciate music and dancing in school. Believe it or not, waltzes were very popular on radio at the time. Danceable music was the norm. Everyone danced at weddings.

I haven't seen anything come close since the line dancing craze of the '90s.

What have ya got on the Top 40 now? A bunch of senseless racket, that's what. It's all dark and pointless... scratchy vocals and no melodies. Add to that the loss of appreciation for dancing and danceable music, the cheapening of music availability and you have a generation of younger folks who see no need to pay for professional musical entertainment.

Of course they wish to spend on things memorable. What is memorable about today's mainstream pop?

Yes, wedding photos and videos are indeed memorable for a generation that has come of age with computers, PhotoShop and digital cameras. These are tangible things. :)

I agree with you Fred, some of todays music is just, well let's just say it junk. Yes there where songs in the past (A lot of them) that revolved around sex, drugs (& Rock & Roll ;) ), suicide, etc. but at least they where not as blunt and had rhythm. Today all you hear is screaming, cursing, sexually explicit (No hiding it at all).

I Believe these make people uncomfortable, and in a wedding you have different generations. Since the respect we used to have for our parents and elders has gone down the toilet with a huge percentage of todays population.

This I believe is a big factor in the decrease in weddings and the celebration that follows. I'm having a party next weekend at my place and while organizing it colleagues and friends we've basically eliminated some of the new songs and are sticking to "nice" older music and some of the new stuff that's acceptable.

The ages of my guests range from early 20's to late 60's. So it's going to be interesting. :D

Another consideration: Young people today are not young people when we were young.

30, 40 years ago, young people appreciated music and dancing because there was music and dancing. It was a part of our culture. Our parents went out dancing while we were at home with a sitter. We wanted to go out dancing, too.

And in some cultures, we were taught to appreciate music and dancing in school. Believe it or not, waltzes were very popular on radio at the time. Dance able music was the norm. Everyone danced at weddings.

I haven't seen anything come close since the line dancing craze of the '90s.

What have ya got on the Top 40 now? A bunch of senseless racket, that's what. It's all dark and pointless... scratchy vocals and no melodies. Add to that the loss of appreciation for dancing and danceable music, the cheapening of music availability and you have a generation of younger folks who see no need to pay for professional musical entertainment.

Of course they wish to spend on things memorable. What is memorable about today's mainstream pop?

Yes, wedding photos and videos are indeed memorable for a generation that has come of age with computers, PhotoShop and digital cameras. These are tangible things. :)

That's well said...part of it I think is that when we were young, dancing was the best way to get close to the ladies, something called...."courting", today it's called "Hooking Up".....who needs to dance with the ladies today to get up close and personal......:c1:

If you stop and think about it Dancing was an acceptable method of getting close to your girl friend, without being sent to the Asst. Deans office for detention.......I know only too well that scenario, :dsorry: since that sophomore in High School was/is my wife of 42 years....:dbiggrin:

Interesting a couple of the fella's in this discussion group said they had taken "Ballroom" dancing lessons during junior high school, at their parents insistence, neither has ever used it, neither will dance....

That's one of the main reasons I like doing my 50th, 40th, 35th Wedding Anniversary Parties, these people like to dance. Fox trots, Waltz's, a little Cha-Cha.......:dbiggrin:

Of course they wish to spend on things memorable. What is memorable about today's mainstream pop?

I can't say I disagree with you on the music end Fred but mabye its time to learn waysto make it memorable for them outside the music itself

In 9 out of 10 cases everything looks the same. If we start feeding them with some new ideas we might get further

That's well said...part of it I think is that when we were young, dancing was the best way to get close to the ladies, something called...."courting", today it's called "Hooking Up".....who needs to dance with the ladies today to get up close and personal......:c1:

If you stop and think about it Dancing was an acceptable method of getting close to your girl friend, without being sent to the Asst. Deans office for detention.......I know only too well that scenario, :dsorry: since that sophomore in High School was/is my wife of 42 years....:dbiggrin:

Interesting a couple of the fella's in this discussion group said they had taken "Ballroom" dancing lessons during junior high school, at their parents insistence, neither has ever used it, neither will dance....

That's one of the main reasons I like doing my 50th, 40th, 35th Wedding Anniversary Parties, these people like to dance. Fox trots, Waltz's, a little Cha-Cha.......:dbiggrin:

Gosh... that's sweet, Jim. 42 years. I am speechless. :)

weddings might be down overall....but in my area there are a lot of people getting married and having receptions. I don't recall ever seeing a study saying the cleveland area is not experiencing the same economic pressures that most places face.
we are not the most expensive dj company in Cleveland, but I know we are not the cheapest, but business is booming! I attribute it to a few things:
1)good people
2)good training
3)listening to good advice(from this forum and others)
4)good marketing
5) referrals from satisfied customers
6)hard work.

weddings might be down overall....but in my area there are a lot of people getting married and having receptions. I don't recall ever seeing a study saying the cleveland area is not experiencing the same economic pressures that most places face.
we are not the most expensive dj company in Cleveland, but I know we are not the cheapest, but business is booming! I attribute it to a few things:
1)good people
2)good training
3)listening to good advice(from this forum and others)
4)good marketing
5) referrals from satisfied customers
6)hard work.

These are all excellent points......

What I was speaking to was in the "Macro" being in the aggregate across the country, the world.... in general.

What you are speaking to is in the "Micro", meaning business specific. You are absolutely right, all of these things will garnish you a bigger piece of a shrinking pie.

What I was eluding to was the "Institution of Marriage", in general is not as popular today as in years past, for in part, the reasons I stated.

What should be of more concern to those in this profession is the dwindling interest in "Dancing". And I will qualify that by saying....."Dancing as I have come to know, that is Men with ladies, boy's with girls; rather the increasing trend of Girls with Girls. Simply because the fellas do not want to dance.