"What is your style?" This is one of the questions I get very often from clients. I've also been told many times that it's important to differentiate yourself from others to survive in business and luckily I am different! See below to learn a little bit about me and what makes me a unique DJ...
1. Minimal and Professional Announcements
Traditionally, wedding DJs would speak like an announcer at a boxing match and pepper their announcements with theatrical sayings like, "Ladies and gentlemen, I must ask for your undivided attention! The buffet is now open!"
DJs used to speak like that and many still do. I did a wedding recently where the couple had hired an MC, (who came wearing a tuxedo) and stood in the middle of the dance floor while speaking (in a very theatrical way). The crowd actually loved it, so I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it.
That's just not my style. I make all the announcements in a natural voice, speaking in the way I normally do. I only make the necessary announcements. I don't make jokes or tell stories. It all depends on the amount of traditions are at the wedding. If you have a lot of the classic traditions, you'll have a lot of announcements and vice versa.
So that's my emceeing style: minimal and professional.
2. Interesting Music Choices (along with classic hits)
One style of DJing is to play all the biggest, most well-known hits from the start of the night to the end. This definitely gets people dancing, and not just at weddings, a lot of club DJs do this too. The only thing I don't love about it is that the music is the same as what is being played at every other wedding and it lacks a personal touch.
No matter what genre my clients like, I make sure I am an expert in it before their wedding. And every genre has those songs that most people know, but didn't top the charts. Those are the types of songs that define a DJ and make the event special.
Now that doesn't mean I don't play big hits - I play all of them. I just don't play only them. I work with my clients to come up with a playlist that doesn't just keep your dance floor packed, but will have your guests saying "oh my god!" when I drop that song they love that they haven't heard since high school.
3. No Cheesy Wedding Songs (unless you want)
I do not play cheesy wedding songs unless you ask for them. Everyone's definition of cheesy is different, but songs like the Macarena and Chicken Dance are not on my playlist. You don't have to put them on your "Do Not Play" list!
Now like I said, there are wedding songs that a lot of people consider cheesy, but I often get asked to play. If you want to hear them, I am more than happy to play them, but I will also dig a little deeper and get your guests dancing with interesting songs (see #2 above).
4. Helpful and Always Available to You
There is a lot of planning and coordination that goes into DJing a wedding and most of it happens before your big day. At the very least I will exchange a half dozen emails and have two meetings or calls with you before your wedding, but usually more. I am always available by phone or email to answer a question or brainstorm something - and that goes for anyone, not just my clients.
I also am in contact with your wedding planner (if you have one) and someone at your venue. I swap notes with your planner to solidify your schedule and answer any questions he or she may have. And I contact your venue to send them my insurance certificate and firm up any logistics to make sure I am on time (early actually) on your big day.
5. Will Pack Your Dance Floor
My past clients can explain this one best:
“All of our guests were on the dance floor the whole night, and all raved about what a great party our wedding was.”
Chelsea-Rae A., Brooklyn, NY
“DJ Ben was a huge hit! He's very responsive and knows what you and your guests like in music. He can really feel the room and he's definitely your guy for getting people off their seats and onto the dance floor.”
Jamie L., East Hanover, NJ
“He was able to read the crowd and keep the dance floor packed the entire night! After our wedding, we went to three other weddings where Ben was the DJ and at each wedding, the dance floor was jamming all night long.”
Lindsey W., Jericho, NY
So besides being different than many other DJs, my goal is that my clients have a great wedding. I achieve that by playing the right music, making announcements in a minimal way and carefully preparing beforehand. Please email me, or text/call me at 917.586.6753 if you have any questions about your upcoming wedding or just want to chat about DJing. I'm happy to talk to anyone about it. Thanks for reading!
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