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Helpful Articles from Professional Minneapolis DJs

Viewing a DJ at a live wedding? Wedding How To / Instructional

When choosing your wedding DJ, typically we get asked so many times if a couple can come watch one of our DJ’s perform at a live wedding. Unfortunately, the answer is usually no for almost all DJ companies.
Here’s why. Virtually all weddings are private events. If DJ companies had everyone that wanted to come watch their DJ's perform, there would be dozens of unknown guests at every wedding. Virtually any Bride & Groom wouldn't want that and neither would you. BUT, there is a way to check a company’s performance. Since all DJ companies will not post or give you those "sketchy" or negative references and videos, only the positive ones, how do you figure it out? Well, the answer is simple, Google! What to Google and research? I'll list them below.
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Things to Google:
1. The company name, URL, and phone number. This is a big one. If anything has been written negatively, it will show up! Positive things don't get written about a whole lot, but the bad things usually do. This can tell you a lot about a company. If a company hasn't had the history or experience in the industry, you will know because you won't find much about that DJ Company.
2. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) www.bbb.org. The BBB does a basic research of companies that have been established. It's a good indicator about a company’s structure as well as fields complaints from consumers. It does research the State Departments information on company start-up and the principle officers. If a DJ company claims to have 20+ years in business, and the BBB states they started 2 years ago, this might be a red flag.
But be aware of the BBB’s “Accredited Program” though. Why? It’s a PAID ADVERTISING spot. The BBB DOES NOT do any extra extensive research or do and special “investigation” of any Company just because it’s “accredited”. ANY company can call up, pay the fees, and become “accredited”. They call us up regularly asking for money for their “accredited” status. When asked if they actually “accrediate” a company, they tell us that they don’t “endorse” or “back” any one company and it’s just a means of arbitration if a complaint arises. So ultimately, a Company pays for an arbitrator from the BBB if needed.
3. Ask for any web sites where there are reviews by past customers. If there are reviews written about a DJ company, that company would know about it. If they have NO reviews written, it's not necessarily a bad thing, but you know that maybe they don't have the volume of DJ business. Keep this in mind, about 1 customer out of every 50 events write a good review, but it takes 1 out of every 2 bad events to write a bad review.
4. Ask for a company resume. Ask each DJ Company if there is anything special about their DJ's. For example, have they done any major events, are they decorated, a basic resume of the DJ's they have. Ask about any special events that the DJ Company has performed. Are they a part of the community. Have they provided any DJ services for local establishments or artists. Being a part of the community, either by donating services to nonprofits or charity events also helps to let you know that a company has a presence in the business community.
In the end, there is no easy way, or one single web site that does all your research for you. You have to take the initiative to make sure that the company you’re hiring is legit, established, and offer exactly what they state. Make sure any guarantee is written INTO THE CONTRACTS and not just a posting on their site. Your wedding is a once in a life time event. Your OWN research on the best Minnesota Wedding DJ will pay off in the end!

Written by DJ Sound Productions & Entertainment of Minneapolis, MN

Song Editing- Trim the Fat! Wedding General Party Tips

There are too many "must play" songs and too little time. You can have your DJ play shorter versions of songs in order to fit more action into the dance. Most wedding crowds enjoy the parts of songs with words that they can react to by acting them out, singing along, or shouting out responses. We don't want the sections of songs to be too brief, as in the "Evolution" and "Revolution" of dance routines and in cheerleader dance team mixes. Tell your DJ to cut out the boring parts of songs, mainly by starting a minute or so into a song, and sometimes by cutting ending short. Many songs keep dancers happier if predictable, over-played-yet-must-play-for-the-relatives when you start them on the second verse or refrain. The Birdie Dance may be best if it is just the last time through, when it starts slow and gets faster (the Emeralds popular version) The YMCA could start on the second verse, "Sweet Caroline" benefits from starting on the second verse, the Cha Cha Slide could benefit from starting 1 minute into it, unless the crowd really wants to do it- in which case a DJ should loop back into it and make it 8-10 minutes, adding reverb to the "Cha Cha Real Smooth" instrumental parts to make it more interesting. Go over your playlist and trim the fat!

Written by DJ Paul Young of Minneapolis, MN