How I Spin It

By Duane Allen - For Bridal Fantasy Magazine 2024 - 40th Anniversary Edition

How I Spin It

With over 30 years of experience in night life, music production and professional mixing I have seen many changes in the DJ business. Specializing in weddings, I've discovered an exciting shift in the bride mindset towards their wedding day. To create an outstanding, unique and most of all memorable wedding day isn't the new theme of wedding planning, but a re-imagined one. The traditional wedding events are becoming cliché, our brides are approaching us with some brilliant and best of all, attainable ideas. I welcome this approach to wedding planning. It takes everyone out of the comfort zone and makes reaching for new ways to achieve our brides dreams. Plus, it helps my career to stop becoming mundane. As a private event DJ, I'm continually looking for the perfect balance of my clients needs and creating spectacular memories of songs momentarily lost. Seeing the crowd reaction gives me a powerful sense of enjoyment and gratitude. I feel a hope that my outlook is a widely shared vision of how private event DJs approach the wedding industry. Adopting new strategies to assist our modern Brides in creating the perfect soundtrack to their Wedding ceremony and reception. When the ideas are presented, I get goosebumps as those ideas are executed to showcase our couples love perfectly for them. Collaborating with a couple is energizing, which carries into their event.

So, when it comes down to hiring the right DJ for your Ceremony and or Reception, I tend to look at it like this.

Passion and Customer Appreciation

DJs who love what they do are dedicated to their work and are constantly trying to improve and expand their skills of the craft. Always try to meet with your DJ in person for a consultation prior to booking; this will allow you to see their personalities and passion for what they do in a way that phone calls and emails are unable to do. The manner, in which your DJ communicates with you matters as well. If they are taking 2-3 days to respond to your initial inquiry it may show that their correspondence with their clients isn’t a priority to them. The lack of quick response time may become frustrating for you as your wedding day approaches and you need answers quickly.

How they will approach “Your Wedding” and make it about you

Entertainment is one of the big four as I like to call it when it comes to a successful wedding. The big four in my eyes is Venue, Dress, Food/Drink, and saving the best for last, the DJ entertainment. When you have a DJ who cares and knows details about the couple they are working for, it gives them the ability to add little touches to the reception. From remembering that the groom was a part of a Barbershop quartet group and playing Hello my Baby so he can perform an old dance routine, to playing the first dance song from the brides’ parents wedding 30 years ago. These small details can help personalize your wedding day even more!While DJs are professionals, we are here to guide and suggest not to dictate! No DJ or any other vendor should be telling you how things should go. This is your big day, and you should have a say in every aspect of it. A spectacular DJ will be there to help and to accommodate your specific needs and personalize aspects to suit your wedding.

Extras

A DJ company that offers a photo booth would be able to customize a design template to match your theme and colour scheme. They can also create a custom playlist for your cocktail hour and dinner to match your theme or to represent your cultural background. If you are considering a DJ company, but they are unwilling or unable to accommodate your ideas is, a red flag and is time to look elsewhere.

Duane Allen, Allenhouse DJs