Thank You, The Wedding Vendor.com

Thanks to TheWeddingVendor.com for posting the summary of my article on the risks of an iPod wedding.
From their site, see “Wedding Ideas”, see posts “Music and Dancing”, or search : Ed Mullen

It was originally published nationally in the top trade magazine for DJ’s, Mobile Beat [issue #119]. www.mobilebeat.com/ipod-weddings-by-ed-mullen

- from The Wedding Vendor post, March 2011:
“With many wedding details and budget constraints, many brides & grooms are tempted to use and iPod to answer their wedding music wishes. However, the DJ category encompasses more than your personal play list. Here is a summary of risky problems with an iPod Wedding and why you should hire a professional disc jockey.”

“The I Do’s and I Don’ts with iPods.”

The iPod Wedding. A Summary Of Risky Problems.
“The I do’s and I don’ts with iPods.”
DJ Mr. Ed Mullen
{www.DJMrEdHQ.com}

RECEPTION COORDINATOR.
In many cases, the venue director is not involved with any event details, because the caterer or wedding planner covers the schedule. The disc jockey, although ready, responds and coordinates details, as they happen, with the caterer. The other professionals like video and photography seek the DJ’s information.
In many cases, the caterer controls the event schedule and the DJ cooperates with the catering manager.
Without the professional DJ, many timeline issues are left to chance.

HUMAN TOUCH.
You (groom or bride) must attend to songs during the reception or
a friend must attend to music, instead of being a guest.

RECEPTION PLANNING.
The song list and the event timeline.
Without a DJ, the songlist is inflexible. The problem is that not just the titles are inflexible, but the order of songs is random or decided weeks before the reception.
The event timeline, again, is coordinated with the DJ for a smooth flow during the reception.

SONG SELECTION.
Random mix is a party stopper. The iPod can’t read the crowd. The bride or groom can’t take requests. They should not worry about music selection during their reception.

SOUND EQUIPMENT – SPEAKERS.
You have to rent ($) pro speakers. Time wasted before / after. My pro model speakers are better than your or your friend’s home speakers.
SOUND EQUIPMENT – MICROPHONE.
Rental ($) needed. Time wasted before / after.

PRO vs. JOE?
There is no substitute for experience. Event scheduling changes. Practical options. Good judgment. Back-up equipment.
All of these things are available with a pro DJ ….and absent without.

COST.
Good entertainment isn’t cheap and cheap entertainment isn’t good.

MAGAZINE. Mobile Beat #119
Summary of article, written by veteran Disc Jockey Ed Mullen, published in nationally-published Mobile Beat magazine in Jan. 2009.

An iPod Weddings? Are You Kidding? Also known as, the “cold hard facts” for the DIY Groom.

“ iPod Weddings”  by Ed Mullen

Getting married, mister? Congratulations.                                               

Are you handling the details with your fiancée? Great.                         

Your job is to arrange the music? Brilliant.                                               

You are doing it yourself? How so?  

Your iPod! You’re kidding, right?    

How much are you spending on your wedding?            

Oh, it’s a control issue? You want your favorites played?                                                         

Have you really thought this through? Didn’t think so.

Although an iPod is a very efficient personal music system, there are several problems that arise when depending on your iPod to handle your wedding reception. Your risk vs. reward is not as clear cut as you might think. So, here comes the “tough love.” I’ve been a mobile disc jockey since 1979. I have some frank advice for you, since you get only one chance to handle this wedding music issue…

To put it as simply as possible: Get a pro. A experienced professional disc jockey solves many reception issues in the planning. Your preferences and song list should be completely explored months before the ceremony and delivered by someone who has been there before. The well-prepared DJ also has professional grade sound equipment and back-up gear that is dependable.

Technical Difficulties

Got some home speakers? What are you using for your amplifier? Briefly, my professional DJ speakers are better than your home speakers. I use powered JBL EON-15 G2 speakers, some of the best portable speakers available. A mobile disc jockey depends on durable, high-performance equipment gig after gig after gig.

Thinking of renting PA gear? Rental equipment costs money. Rental equipment also costs time. Pick-up and drop-off does not include your shopping time spent finding the right sound rental company. Got time? In the week prior to your wedding, time is your most precious commodity. Does the money-back guarantee give you any comfort if it fails at your wedding reception?

Risky business. You will not get a chance to test rental equipment. You can’t even do a venue sound check. Are all the connecting wires included? Are your XLR cables matched with 1/4″ speaker inputs? Too technical? This is just chapter one. Do you plan on any toasts or blessings to be delivered? Did you forget about the microphone? Would you say that all microphones the same?

When you are listening to your iPod, you involuntarily adjust the volume to your comfort. You’ll soon find out that all songs are not recorded at the same volume. Since you are pumping raw iPod sound, you have no volume control or equalizer (bass vs. treble) control. Your iPod is smaller than your keys. Have you ever misplaced your keys? Doesn’t it turn your stomach if your drop your digital camera on the floor or your cell phone on the parking lot? How durable is your iPod? Any back-up plan? What could possibly go wrong?

Musical Magic – or Mayhem?

What about your song selections? With an iPod wedding, you’ll get your songs and your random mix, but, you won’t get pacing, such as breaking up a lengthy, fast-paced set with one or two ballads. This is especially vital for a reception including a variety of ages. Are guests of all age groups attending?

“Got my favorite song?” Who will be asked this question? You will. It seems you forgot about audience requests or what tendencies are occurring on the dance floor. Observation is one of the most important skills of disc jockeying.

A pro disc jockey takes the bride’s and groom’s song preferences and presents them in such a way as to provide the guests with the couple’s very own musical signature. “Reading the crowd” is the disc jockey’s primary skill. Do you really think that “the crowd will dance to anything” anyway? Are you willing to bet your special day on that idea?

Time Keeps on Slippin’…

Should your wedding day responsibilities include troubleshooting power needs like batteries or chargers? Your attention will be directed to many different people during the ceremony and reception. Every person in attendance would like some of your time. Not to mention, your new partner. Your priorities need to be re-examined if your iPod gets as much attention as your new wedding ring. This statement will also be posed to you, by your new spouse. Guaranteed. Remember the difficulty that you two had selecting the names on your guest list? Your time spent with selected family and selected friends is such a memorable part of the wedding reception, so hold it as a gift with great value. Is your attention going to be diverted by sound equipment during the most important day of your life?

Maybe you had the breakthrough idea to ask a wedding party attendant to watch your iPod. So it seems that this friend is no longer a guest, but is now working for you. Maybe you’ll trust a non-guest who will baby sit the iPod. And maybe you’ll want a first-time chef baking your wedding cake too. Speaking of other vendors, are you aware that experienced vendors like the disc jockey, caterer, photographer, venue manager, video-grapher and wedding coordinator together work out the final details and fine-tune the timing…during the event!

Money Well Spent

Is it cheaper? Sure, hiring a professional costs more than a do-it-yourself project. But, is your wedding really a do-it-yourself project? This may not be the best time to show how frugal you are. You are planning the biggest party in your life and you have the opportunity to select experienced, professional vendors-so do the right thing. Although your input and your needs are essential in the planning stage, you must transition to the “guest of honor” stage to fully enjoy your wedding day. Don’t you want to experience it together with your new bride as the happy couple?

You will get a fair representation of what the modern disc jockey does during your personal meeting, months before your event. That’s why I like meeting the wedding couple to get both bride and groom perspectives on what to do and what not to do. The clients supply me with a song list and wedding preference timeline, just like they will tell their needs to the caterer, florist and so on. Your mix of traditional and modern choices makes your wedding unique. The DJ is the one who will weave your choices into a musical tapestry worthy of your most special occasion.

Get Real

You should know, by now, that the modern disc jockey is not so anxious to play line dances. This optional choice is covered in part of the couple’s song-list and is called the “do not play list”. We understand and appreciate that kind of instruction. You should know that the modern disc jockey uses judgment concerning objectionable lyrics. Your iPod does not have that kind of filter. The glut of sunny wedding music advice on the web does not give you the real life pros and cons about the modern disc jockey. There are some major practical limitations when you pre-program the music event, days before your guests see you walk down the aisle.

Every vendor wants a well-planned wedding, just like every client. So, let the chefs cook. Let the florist bring the flowers. Let the photographers shoot. Let the limousine driver drive. Let the professional disc jockey provide the soundtrack for your once-in-a-lifetime reception. Did you ever hear the old line about “making or breaking the reception”? What do you think they were talking about? A smart bride once said, “Good entertainment isn’t cheap and cheap entertainment isn’t good”. So, you want to have an iPod wedding? Are you kidding?