Bridal Buds WeddingWire Blog

Meet the WeddingAces: Chris the DJ

2 Comments

Why should you read my posts? You shouldn’t. You shouldn’t JUST read my posts… you should tell me your thoughts. I invite you to contribute to the many topics that will be discussed here. I want your opinions… no, I need your opinions. I may have 15 years experience with weddings, but I will never claim to know it all. As a matter of fact, I am always discovering new ideas and ways of doing things. As I start this Blog, I am excited about the many ideas that will be introduced by readers and colleagues alike. I am looking forward to the discussions about new and traditional wedding concepts.

My opinion doesn’t matter as much as the opinions of those of you taking the time to read and comment about these posts. Don’t get me wrong… I have opinions. But I know that you do too. Let’s have ‘em.

So who am I? I am a professional wedding entertainment coordinator. What does this mean? Most people refer to my profession as Disc Jockey or DJ. That is true… well, it used to be true. There was a time when I used to Jockey records, which are in the shape of a disc. Then my collection of music was stored on that old media format called Compact Discs. Ahhh, a true “Disc” Jockey I was. But now what am I? An mp3J? Well… yes I am. Missing in this title, though, is just about everything that I do.

I help create a desired atmosphere by developing musical accompaniment for each event. I spend many hours with and without couples preparing for what will be a unique soundtrack to a one-of-a-kind wedding. If that means violins for a ceremony or steel pan drums for a cocktail hour… I help couples formulate the perfect vibe for their wedding day. Furthermore, I act as the master of ceremonies for each event. It is my job to lead people through the event, either verbally or musically. I help create emotions at just the right time. This requires a thorough understanding of all that is wedding. Understanding doesn’t mean I know it all or have all of the answers… it simply means, I need to be aware or make myself aware of all the many aspects of a wedding day. Additionally, my responsibilities often stretch into the visual entertainment for events. Often this involves lighting, TV screens, or having professional ballroom dancers perform. As the “DJ”, I have my hands in it all. So call me what you will… DJ is fine, but please keep in mind that a true wedding entertainment specialist can make the difference between an everyday wedding and an unforgettable wedding.

Me with four clients... each wedding different from the other

Me with four clients... each wedding different from the other

So on with this modern day discussion about weddings. Thank you in advance for reading and participating.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

2 Comments

  1. Jacki

    Jacki

    1/8/09

    Hi Chris,
    What are your thoughts on music for a mix of generations?

  2. Chris Garrow

    Chris Garrow

    1/10/09

    Jacki – the best weddings are those that include music for most generations. To be clear, I believe that there is a place for any and all types of music at a wedding. I can squeeze in the most obscure songs at any event. The challenge is playing songs at the right time. If the time is for dancing, I’m gonna have to say that there is a pretty large span of music that is inappropriate. For dancing, music should be somewhat familiar and danceable. The familiar quality in songs is the tough part. For music to be familiar to a mix of generations, the song selections should be from classics and that means (dare I say it) top 40. The top forty from all the decades are songs that work on the dance floor. Brides shouldn’t worry though, this narrows the optimal dance floor favorites to approximately 3,500 songs to choose from. Considering that only about 50-60 songs are played for dancing (in a 4 hour reception), it’s really not that limiting.