^{The following article appeared in AMOR - The Bride's Journal 2008} 

Steve “the Soulman” spills the beans on how to separate the great DJs from the pretenders and talks about the options that not all DJs provide.   Written by Steve “The Soulman” Morice DJ 0438 121 000 | www.soulmandj.com.au   There are lots of us in Perth and surrounds and we’re all different. So, how do you choose one? It’s a big question and the answers are even bigger.   I was asked to write this article about DJs at weddings and, calling on my 24 years of experience, I thought it would be easy. I was mistaken. To cover all angles of choosing a DJ, I would need to write a small book. I’ve seen the best of them and the worst of them and I’ve heard the stories about the disastrous ones. I have DJed in most states in Australia, had a small career in radio, been trained at the W.A. Academy of Performing Arts and in turn I have trained other DJs. The following is not gospel, but is intended to give you a guide to fi nding the right DJ for your special event.   Remember, that everyone has different tastes and different expectations. That is why there are over 200 DJs in WA all doing their own thing and loving it, and in turn being loved by others. No doubt you’ll find a few names from the inte net, magazines, venues or friends. Check out websites or ask for some info to be sent out to you. Obviously price is important but so is value for money. The right DJ will make your night a great one.

 
^{SOUND AND LIGHTS
What can they offer and will it do the job? i.e. for the
number of guests and the size of the room. Do you want
lighting effects, a smoke machine, low lying fog machine,
etc? Keep in mind that some venues won’t allow smoke
machines. Try to avoid ‘bubble’ machines; they’re messy
and can become a slipping hazard. You’ll need a microphone
for the speeches; either a wireless mike or a
long mike lead. Make sure that any extras you ask for are
included in the initial quote, some companies charge extra
for mikes, smoke and lighting.}

^{A HELPING HAND
You may have been to a handful of weddings in your time
and picked up a few handy tips, but a seasoned wedding
DJ has been to many. It is the DJ’s job to know what happens,
how it goes together and what to advise you to do or
not to do. For the most part every DJ has their own formula
for a successful night but should also be fl exible enough to
incorporate your tastes and ideas into the function.
Most companies have a ‘Wedding Questionnaire’ for you
to fi ll out. It is the basic blueprint for the reception. This
plan formalises all the events on paper so that everyone
is comfortable with the proceedings. It’s usually bad news
to spring surprises on people as it may be totally inappropriate
or offensive. A good wedding is all about good
communication and planning; you only get one shot at
it. Hence, there should always be a meeting with your DJ
before the wedding day.
You should always be able to turn to your DJ for help with
sorting out the entrance, formal songs, speeches, general
music etc.}
 

<sup>SERVICES ON THE NIGHT
If you need the DJ to MC, make sure he or she is comfortable
in doing so and has had appropriate experience.
A good MC will make the reception run smoothly and will
entertain, organise, liaise, guide and control. DJs can also
be found running around on the night, liaising with the
bridal party, the function staff, the photographer and the
MC. It’s not really part of the traditional role of the DJ, but
more of an extended service.
Some DJs will play games throughout the evening. This
can be a good or bad thing, depending upon the type of
guests at your reception and, of course, the type of game.
Depending on the participants, some games can be a lot
of laughs or they can be hard work and intrusive. Remember
that not everyone is comfortable performing in front of
crowds and don’t forget that you’ll have a chance to play
a couple of games for the Garter & Bouquet.

To create an interesting and exciting atmosphere
at a wedding reception a DJ has to openly share
some of his or her personality with the guests. There
are many different levels on which this can be
done. Probably the most successful DJ is the one
seen to be having fun and talking to the crowd in
a friendly and non-intimidating way. If the atmosphere
is right, people won’t need to be bullied onto
the dance floor; not everyone wants to dance
(especially the modern ‘guy’, that is, until his vision
and hearing are well and truly blurred). Some DJs
now also offer a ‘Candid’ photography service.
They run around taking candid photos of the night,
particularly the dancing and games. The quality
of service varies a lot and some charge and some
don’t. They are generally not professional photographers
and shouldn’t interfere with your chosen
photographer. The DJ should always check with
the photographer beforehand to avoid conflict. It’s
nice for the DJ to take music requests at the reception,
but there should also be a limit to the type and
number of requests taken. The DJ is there to try and
cater for everyone, whilst the person requesting a
song is generally considering their own tastes. Set
some boundaries with your DJ if you wish.</sup>
 

^{MUSIC SELECTION
A world of experience goes a long way. All weddings
contain a diverse range of ages and music tastes.
The aim is to shape the atmosphere with the
music as quickly as possible, there isn’t usually
a lot of time to play with. You can never please
everyone, but the aim is to try. The important
outcome from any function is to have people
comment about how much they enjoyed
themselves. Whether they got up and danced,
stayed at the bar and listened to the music they
liked or sat at their table whilst clapping and
singing along with the songs, the most important
thing is that they enjoyed their time with you.
The Wedding DJ must be able to cover all the
decades of music. If you want everyone to enjoy
themselves, have a think about who’s coming
to the reception and what sort of music you
think they’d like to hear and don’t be afraid to
discuss this with your DJ before the wedding.
All good DJs are loaded up with all the classics
across all the decades. However, it’s knowing
what to do with the music that counts.
There is a lot to look out for when choosing the
‘perfect’ DJ (there probably isn’t one). Most
importantly, choose someone you feel
comfortable with. Do your homework,
compare prices and services and don’t be
afraid to ask to meet the DJ before you book.
Work out some standard questions to ask and
try to decide what you want in a DJ. If all else
fails and you’re just not sure, ask the venue. The
function centre sees DJs all the time and there
must be someone they could recommend.}