Replace Your DJ with an I-Pod? by Mike Staff

We've all read them, those well-written articles by well-intentioned authors extolling the virtues of using the latest gadget, now an iPod, for do-it-yourself wedding reception music. In theory, it sounds great -- but when was the last time those writers, or you, attended a reception that relied on entertainment shortcuts to create or enhance a party's mood?

If you've attended one or more of these "automated music" receptions, with an unmanned tape or CD player blaring in the background, you know what I'm about to describe. If you've never experienced the monotony of pre-programmed music, count yourself lucky - and know that there are other excellent reasons why well-informed Brides and Grooms choose a DJ instead of a device to entertain guests on their Big Day. Read on!

Gotta love those gadgets

When cassette tape players were first introduced, everyone thought they could put their favorite music on several cassettes, take them to a party, and let the good times roll. Next came digital recording devices, CD burners for putting favorite tunes on disc and CD players to broadcast them. Trouble was, someone had to be designated, (usually a family member or member of the bridal party), to change cassettes or CDs, and to stop and start the player during announcements, special dances and traditional bridal party activities. This inconvenience to the person responsible was nothing compared to the silence that stopped a filled reception hall when a song ended, batteries died, electric cords shorted, speakers blew, and cassette players ate their tapes.

And guests with special music requests? They were out of luck, as compilations contained only the music favorites of the person recording them - usually the bride and/or groom.

So, while the latest and greatest of music gadgets, your nifty, personal iPod, may be able to store and play all of your favorites tunes, is it really a better choice than burning your own CDs? More importantly, is it a better choice than a DJ for your wedding reception?

Would you set up a video camera on a tripod in the corner and trust it to capture all of the moments, traditional and spontaneous, that make your party special?

As one bride who tried an iPod at her wedding puts it, "Better to hire a bad DJ than use an iPod." Still not convinced? Keep reading!

Here's what a DJ can do that an iPod cannot:

1) A DJ plays just the right song at just the right time. The goal of any good DJ is to play the very best song next - anticipating what will happen by reading the mood of the crowd. As the evening progresses, unplanned events occur. The crowd's mood or the dance floor's energy level may change moment-by-moment. If your guests spontaneously begin doing the hustle, for example, a savvy DJ will roll right into Stevie Wonder's "My Eyes Don't Cry" (The Detroit Hustle). Appropriate selections like this capture the mood of your guests and ride on the energy they've created. Playing the right song is a matter of observing and reacting to moments the DJ knows are memorable. An iPod filled with downloaded music won't respond to the moment and create a memory.

2) A DJ plays requests. As Bride and Groom, you will be sure to please only two people at your reception if you play all your favorite songs, one after another, on your iPod. The party is yours, of course, but honoring music requests can help make it everyone's. Allowing guests to hear their favorites can raise your party to the next energy level. A reluctant dancer, the kind that must be repeatedly prodded to step onto the dance floor, may "trip the light fantastic" when his or her song is played. Guests made numb by song after unfamiliar song may brighten when they recognize their tunes. By generously sharing some of your music time with them, your guests can join the excitement and create their own memories of your Big Day.

3) A DJ knows the best songs from any genre. The music coming out of your iPod is only as good as the music downloaded into it. The appropriateness of what is being downloaded depends on who is selecting the songs. A great DJ has the experience to make him the master of all music favorites. The type of music doesn't matter. The experienced DJ knows the best songs from any genre that will make people dance -- from hip-hop to bebop, Motwon to swing -- and can be the difference between having a great soundtrack or a having a great party.

4) A great DJ is also a professional Master of Ceremonies. You've never met an iPod that can serve as Master of Ceremonies during your reception and party, and certain qualities are essential for the humans who try to fill this important role. We've observed during our 20 years in the wedding entertainment business, that the top prerequisites for a great Master of Ceremonies are experience and confidence. Why impose on a shy or reluctant friend because he's the Best Man or she's the Maid/Matron of Honor? A gregarious friend will not do the job justice, either. Remember, your Master of Ceremonies is your spokesman for the night, and is a direct reflection upon you. Someone with poise and experience, who can command the room with his or her presence, is your best choice for making important announcements. By choosing a professional, instead of a friend or relative for this task, you allow your guests to enjoy the party, and put the responsibility on an experienced MC. 5) A great DJ is also an experienced coordinator. Who is in charge when the photographers, videographers, and other wedding professionals arrive at your reception hall? Once the party is going, who makes things happen according to schedule? If no one is designated in advance, the bride may find herself taking a reluctant leadership role. Professional DJs arrives early to the party to set up and test equipment. Often the first on the scene, he greets other vendors as they enter the hall. With countless hours of past reception parties as his guide, your DJ knows how to anticipate and recognize important moments, and who needs to be present in order to make the most of them. He coordinate the Bride and Groom, according to wishes expressed during planning meetings, and lets the Bridal Party know when and where they're expected. He'll prep those giving toasts and speeches, teach them how to handle a microphone, and how to gracefully step away once they've conveyed their message. He'll prompt your picture-takers, letting them know when to capture an important image.

6) A DJ gets people at your party involved. An iPod won't interact with guests -- entertaining them, engaging them, or celebrating a perfect moment with a song. A great DJ, without "stealing the show", does all of these things.

7) A DJ not only supplies the music, but is also responsible for sound equipment and lighting. If you're planning on using an iPod or CD player for musical entertainment during your wedding reception, you are also going to need a sound system and microphone. Sound equipment rents anywhere from $300 to $500 in the metro Detroit area, and you can expect to see the same amount of wear and tear as you would find with other rental items, such as tools or moving vans. As sound equipment is more delicate than these items, it requires special care and handling. Who is going to pick up the system from the rental center, set it up, check it for sound quality, adjust volume levels, and tear it down? Will you trust your friends to do the latter after several hours of partying? Who will operate it during your reception? What will you do if a speaker blows or the microphone dies? What will light up your dance floor, and who will run the lights that make the party sizzle?

A professional DJ arrives early to set up the sound and lighting, has back-up equipment on hand "just in case," adjusts volume levels which please guests seated 20 to 200 feet away, and stays well beyond the end of the party to break down gear and haul it away.

Hiring an experienced DJ saves you time, frustration, disappointment and, in the long run, protects every reception dollar you've spent by ensuring a great party.