Creating a Great Party for you and your Guests – Tips on picking the right songs

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Have you ever been to a wedding where the DJ had the dance floor rocking, or where the DJ was playing horrible music?  Creating the right feel for you and your guests all starts in the planning with the DJ company you hire.  You as the host, are planning an event and want this to be a huge success?  Working with a Professional DJ like DJ MasterMix, we make sure we work with you and customize your music for you and your guests.   


Here are some tips to look at.


Picking your playlist


Everyone has a must play song like that one song you belt out to in the car or kitchen, or that one do not play song that makes you cringe, your DJ will listen to your selections.  We always suggest having a few songs and allowing your guests to make requests before or at the event.  The best DJ can read a crowd, but a little guidance always helps.  We always say reading the room is the Key to the success of your event, I believe that in the first 8 songs played the DJ should be able to find out what music will work best for your guests.

 

Please click here to see a list of the top 200 most requested songs

 

Selecting Special songs


It’s customary to choose songs for your first dance as newlyweds, father daughter dance, mother son dance and any other special dances your DJ will offer / suggest.  Song Dedications can also show appreciation for other family members and groups of friends, or even as a tribute to loved ones no longer with you.  Song choices have monumental meaning through lyrics, melody, as well as rhythm. 

 

Please click here to see a list of Special Songs

 

Cultural or religious beliefs


Part of the preparation planning please make sure you inform your DJ services of any cultural or religious music requests that you require at your wedding.  The key to success is communication.   We would hate to play music that is inappropriate for your event.  Traditionally at Cultural weddings certain songs are required to be played.  Just a couple of the common cultural music requests we see are the Pig Dance - Greek, Horas – Jewish, and Italian or Polish music.

 

Professional wedding entertainment will work with you to make your celebration the event of the year as we at DJ MasterMix offer a quality and high standard with our DJ company.  Therefore, we are the only DJ service in Canada that has been awarded with 5 Customer Excellence Awards from the Canadian Professional DJ Association (C.P.D.J.A). 

 

Let's get started with your planning your event by clicking here


Michael - DJ MasterMix

Making Music Memories Last a Lifetime

Wedding Traditions – History of the First Dance

When you hear the phase “First Dance” what do you think?  What comes to my mind is when a bride and groom as a newly wedded couple have, one their most awaited moments, and hit the dance floor to share in a memory with their guests. 


Did you know that the First Dance is a popular tradition in modern European and American wedding celebrations?  This comes from a custom in old-fashioned balls in France, which date back into the 17th century.  The guest of honor, who was usually the person with the highest social status, or a member of the royal family did the first dance. This was a way of inviting all the other guests to dance. The dance was a way of opening the ball. As these were generally long country dances, the guests of honor would be the first people to go down the set, not the only two people dancing for the entirety of the first piece of music.


Exactly like an old-fashioned ball, the idea is that the married couple, as the guest of honor, open the dancing. The style of dance is a personal choice. Some couples opt for a pre-rehearsed choreographed dance, whereas some sources feel that performing a choreographed duet for spectators is inappropriate. Because they are intended to open the dance for all guests, first dances are inappropriate and therefore omitted when there is no other dancing planned for the guests. Sometimes, to further the traditional gender roles of father-daughter relationships in weddings (similar to ‘giving away’) the bride may share a dance with her father.


In the past, the first dance was usually a waltz and ballroom were a widespread skill. However, in the current times, ballroom dance is not a skill that is common within society. Therefore, modern couples either ‘slow dance’ or learn a dance, whether it be a ballroom dance style or a choreographed dance routine. This past decade we at DJ MasterMix have seen a rise in popularity of the newly wed couple hit the dance floor to a choreographed dance!


Today we are seeing many new traditions and first dances do not always happen at the beginning of the dance floor opening.  Many couples will break the formal dances through out the celebration, most common we see a first dance done at two different times.  Many couples will hit the dance floor for the first dance just after they have been introduced into the wedding reception, or the couple will hold off to after all speeches and then take the floor to open the dance floor.   

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Photos provided by Frances Morency Photography & Maranda Elysse Photography

How to find a DJ

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How to find a DJ?

Planning a wedding or event, you need entertainment. Usually, people will hire a disc jockey, but you can also hire a band or singer. A DJ will not only provide entertainment throughout the evening for your guests but will also play music continuously, while singer or band may take a break through out the night.


A good DJ will play all the music requested by your guests, as well as a special selection by you and your guests. DJ's will come prepared, with all the equipment, you can provide a DJ lighting, Photo Booth, Dry Ice, and party favors and games for your guests upon request at additional costs.

 

There are many DJ's to choose from, so be careful when you make your choice. Some DJ's may be a beginner or have not played at a previous event. Make sure to look for online reviews of the DJ Service, if possible, try to find a previous client, to see if they have performed well in the past.

 

If looking for a wedding DJ, they must have experience with wedding celebrations arrangements. Presentation and appearance is important, you do not want cables running all over the place, and they must have their equipment set to the side, not in the way of one of the guests.

 

Your DJ will play light, pleasant music and the corresponding request from your guests and yourself.  Also, they will come prepared with a microphone for speech, and party favors for you and your guests.

 

Please see below a list of Questions to ask a DJ when hiring

 

1. What about People you know like Friends and Relatives?


Every occasion will happen just once, and it has to be done well. If you are considering this to save money, but it could cost you a friend!

2. How experienced and long has the Disc Jockey been working doing this?


Experience and training is a must if your special occasion is to be a one full of memories.

3. Do they belong to an Association?


An Association allows members to network with other members for support.  When you have a membership to an association, the member has many standards to follow.  DJ MasterMix is a member in good standing with The CanadianProfessional Disc Jockey Association.  When a DJ is a member, you as the client have a place to voice any concerns or complaints about the company.

4. Are you licensed by the Connect Music License?

We uphold the highest standards of business including being fully Connect Music licensed. This gives us legal permission to play music from a digital source. If a prospective DJ company does not have legally licensed music, then they may be operating illegally.  If they must break the law to stay open, then think about what else they may be doing that could potentially harm your event.

5. Does the company have Insurance?


Liability Insurance - This allows your safety at your special occasion, in case any injury or damage occurs from DJ MasterMix.  DJ MasterMix has a 5 Million dollar Liability Insurance Policy


Equipment insurance - Prevents you from being held responsible for any equipment stolen or damaged during your special occasion.


6. What type of equipment do you use?


Professional Audio and lighting equipment should be used for any occasion. There are some Disc Jockey who brings a home stereo. Professional equipment is durable and is made to sound good and be played over a long period.

7. What is your Backup service policy?


What if the equipment fails? What if the Disc Jockey is sick? A Professional Disc Jockey Service has backup equipment readily available and professionally trained people on read until the completion of your function.

8. What is your Dress Code?


No matter if your function is casual or formal, the Disc Jockey will be dressed as to what we have discussed you want for your occasion.

9. How are requests handled?


Yes, Request are wanted, and a professional Disc Jockey will always have a wide variety of music types available.  We even have some clients that like how we have request cards at the tables or that they can also text message there request to the DJ.  DJ MasterMix carries over 50,000 songs to each event.  The music Library is updated weekly from XtendaMix.

10. Getting value for your money, may sometime need to BEWARE.


Ever Hear, `You Pay for what you get`  When Looking for a Disc Jockey look at competitive pricing and see what is offered with that service.  DJ MasterMix will work with you to help make your customized Dream wedding or function at a reasonable cost.  Just to save a few bucks and going for the `Bargain Basement Pricing`may later cause you much stress on your wedding day.

11. Can you call past clients or see a customer testimonials?


A Professional Disc Jockey that has been in business for sometime, will have many client testimonials for you to read or call.  They should also be on many vendors referral lists as well.  Check out DJ MasterMix testimonials.

12. Provide a Written guarantee for the services?
     

Yes, this is a must for you as the client.  This protects you to make sure you get what the DJ has discussed with you in writing.  It will state all the details of payments, date, location and any other terms with your services.  You don't want to say it's your word against his word.  Protect yourself and make sure you have documentation.
 

Finally, when choosing your Disc Jockey, remember to use wisdom and common sense with the services you are choosing for your wedding or function. Make sure that the Disc Jockey service you hire, that you feel comfortable with the services they have promised to deliver you, and that you have complete faith in them with what they are offering you.


Michael - DJ MasterMix