Jon and I just spent the weekend with some wonderful DJs from the Our DJ Chat online forum. We met up right here in West Lafayette and activities included shopping at J L Records, enjoying peanut butter burgers and root beer at the Triple XXX, an afternon at the Christina & Company salon for the ladies...and LOTS of gear talk! We enjoyed hosting this Meet-N-Greet and hope to attend more in the future.
Thanks to all who attended!
Kirby & Coreen - Ball Photography and DJ Service
Randy & Carmen - Party Tunes DJ Service
Rob & Tracy - Total Impact DJ Service
Keith - Hired Power Entertainment
Scott & Hope - WHHR
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Friend in Need...
My good friend, Crystal, is tying the knot this August and I have the honor of being one of her bridesmaids. As a part of that role (and just being a pal in general), I offered to help her out with her wedding plans if needed. The email asking for help came just this past Thursday.
To put a long story short, Crystal had a DJ lined up for the date and he backed out, leaving a bride out of the entertainment for her wedding. I spent the rest of that day checking out DJ websites and phoning DJs, weeding them out to give Crystal some options. Since I am a DJ, I was able to cut through the sales pitches and right to the chase with a whole slew of questions. Besides, I felt like I was a pro about this from having done the exact same thing for my own wedding last year.
I found for her some DJs that are available, do written contracts, have decent gear, and should come in around the high end of her budget. In addition, I attended a bridal show this past weekend that is near her venue, and I was able to find a couple more DJs, a florist, and some wedding cake vendors. Phew!
It was interesting to learn about the DJ scene in a different market. Last year, I learned about vendors in eastern Massachusetts. This time around, I learned about a different region of Indiana. It's amazing what a 2-hour drive can reveal, whether it's "lake effect" snow or a very different wedding market.
I've mulled over the question of what I can take from this experience and one thing comes to mind: Price
Brides here in central Indiana don't realize how lucky they are, how much money they are saving!
To put a long story short, Crystal had a DJ lined up for the date and he backed out, leaving a bride out of the entertainment for her wedding. I spent the rest of that day checking out DJ websites and phoning DJs, weeding them out to give Crystal some options. Since I am a DJ, I was able to cut through the sales pitches and right to the chase with a whole slew of questions. Besides, I felt like I was a pro about this from having done the exact same thing for my own wedding last year.
I found for her some DJs that are available, do written contracts, have decent gear, and should come in around the high end of her budget. In addition, I attended a bridal show this past weekend that is near her venue, and I was able to find a couple more DJs, a florist, and some wedding cake vendors. Phew!
It was interesting to learn about the DJ scene in a different market. Last year, I learned about vendors in eastern Massachusetts. This time around, I learned about a different region of Indiana. It's amazing what a 2-hour drive can reveal, whether it's "lake effect" snow or a very different wedding market.
I've mulled over the question of what I can take from this experience and one thing comes to mind: Price
Brides here in central Indiana don't realize how lucky they are, how much money they are saving!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Note on Professionalism
I recently booked a wedding reception where we met up to discuss the reception details and contract on the day that our new clients were to attend a friend's wedding. A few days after their friend's wedding, my new client discussed in an email about the DJ from that night, that he plugged his services 3 or 4 times throughout the evening. According to my client, "he announced that he was available for weddings, graduations, parties in general, his phone number, and that he was cheap." What? WHAT?!
I didn't realize that there were vendors out there who did that, especially DJs. I think that those who bill themselves as professionals should know that! This is worse than The Banner Syndrome, which I think is already bad enough.
I assured my client - as I am assuring you all now - that we never plug ourselves on the mic. That is tacky and unnecessary. We set a few business cards in a holder by the request binder, so if people like our services, they can take a card and contact us later. Besides, it's easier than fishing around through a bag for a card. But that's all - no banners, no mic announcements, nothing else. It's your event, not ours.
I didn't realize that there were vendors out there who did that, especially DJs. I think that those who bill themselves as professionals should know that! This is worse than The Banner Syndrome, which I think is already bad enough.
I assured my client - as I am assuring you all now - that we never plug ourselves on the mic. That is tacky and unnecessary. We set a few business cards in a holder by the request binder, so if people like our services, they can take a card and contact us later. Besides, it's easier than fishing around through a bag for a card. But that's all - no banners, no mic announcements, nothing else. It's your event, not ours.
Thanks for visiting!
Thanks to all who visited us at the Classic Elegance Bridal Expo last Sunday at the PMU! We had a great time meeting new couples and talking to folks who decided to take a second look at us from the week before. It was also nice to network again with different vendors before bridal season comes along in full swing. We're looking forward to working with these vendors again this year.
To the many couples who visited our booth inquiring about our DJ services: We look forward to meeting with you soon!
To the many couples who visited our booth inquiring about our DJ services: We look forward to meeting with you soon!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
FCC Bans Use of Mics in the 700 MHz Band
"Under a new FCC rule, anyone who uses a wireless microphone that operates in the 700 MHz Band will have to stop operating their wireless microphone by June 12, 2010."
See article here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/
The 700 MHz band was reserved last year for public safety usage and I think that it was a matter of time before that frequency was completely banned from other users. Besides, who really wants to listen to an ambulance radio call in the middle of the best man's toast?
Fortunately, our wireless microphone is still FCC compliant because it does not operate in that range. We have a high-quality wireless mic that operates in the 500 MHz range, strong enough and with multiple channels to avoid other interference.
See article here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/
The 700 MHz band was reserved last year for public safety usage and I think that it was a matter of time before that frequency was completely banned from other users. Besides, who really wants to listen to an ambulance radio call in the middle of the best man's toast?
Fortunately, our wireless microphone is still FCC compliant because it does not operate in that range. We have a high-quality wireless mic that operates in the 500 MHz range, strong enough and with multiple channels to avoid other interference.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Bridal Show at PMU this Sunday!
Join us this Sunday at the 2010 Classic Elegance Bridal Expo to benefit Family Services, Inc.
When: Sunday, Jan. 13th from Noon-4pm
Where: Purdue Memorial Union, North & South Ballrooms
Admission: $3 donation to Family Services, Inc.
Website: http://thebridalaffair.com/
Free parking is available in the Grant Street Parking Garage, across the street from the PMU.
When: Sunday, Jan. 13th from Noon-4pm
Where: Purdue Memorial Union, North & South Ballrooms
Admission: $3 donation to Family Services, Inc.
Website: http://thebridalaffair.com/
Free parking is available in the Grant Street Parking Garage, across the street from the PMU.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Fun Time at the Show!
Thanks to all those who visited our booth at the Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair this past weekend! We had a lot of fun meeting recently engaged couples and networking with local vendors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)