Well it is a long time since I wrote a blog, I have been busy working and just haven’t found the time as work and keeping my customers happy is my main focus and it is about that subject I would like to talk about in this Blog.
It is all the little things that make the difference to an event. For me as Rob Star Entertainments
I spend a lot of time doing research on the people I am entertaining as every couple , person and crowd is different. and I also research the venue I am working at to make sure I tailor my service exactly to what is needed and the clients are after.
I will take just one event example of what I do, almost two years ago a lady called Jane who I did Colin her boyfriend’s birthday party for previously said she was thinking of getting married after 12 years together.
I said I would be delighted to host their wedding and took a reservation fee for the date, now this is important as many quality DJs can only do one event a day and if the DJ has a good reputation it is likely they will get booked up quickly so once the venue is booked and times all my services are required are worked out, it is important to confirm the booking with the DJ as soon as possible, I take a reservation fee to confirm the date normally £100 with the balance to be paid 7 days before the date of the actual event. I have bookings already for 2015 for example as places run out quickly!
I send out contracts to cover the customer and my terms and conditions are clearly available on my website too, so all done properly and officially, I accept BACs payments, cheques and cash. If your DJ just wants cash on the night be very careful, you have nothing but their word that they will turn up on the day, I often get calls from people who have been let down at the last minute, not a stress you need on a wedding day or Birthday!
So Jane and Colin had been looking through bridal magazines and websites and they were deep into finding out about all the many things involved in a wedding , Jane had joined a number of Facebook groups looking for advice and info and great deals too, I was added as a friend on Facebook and I told her if there was anything I could help with to just give me a PM.
nearer the wedding date I set up a face to face consultation, I went to their lovely home where we went through many things like the arrival time of guests, the colour scheme (as I like to wear clothes appropriate to the event so colour matched ties for example) cake cutting buffet first dance times and any other formal dances and importantly music selection.. we sat down and had a good natter about music choice and genres and special songs , I also found out about other service providers , so I could announce the photo booth service so a good hour of talking about everything I needed to know to make the event run smoothly.
I found the venue required my PAT and PLI documents which I sent both in a hard copy in the post and via email.
I also did a site visit so went to the venue before the event; this meant I knew exactly what equipment I would need for the room. I also asked if it was possible to set up early as the wedding breakfast and the reception were in the same room, so a DJ turning up an hour before they would start to set up would have had to weave around tables and guests to set up, so I arranged to set up in the morning before guests arrived so when i arrived at night suited and booted it was switch on to party! These little things DO make a difference to the look feel and class of an event.
I arrived and the Jane looked absolutely stunning and the groom was beaming from ear to ear, just so happy at how the day had been and both were eager to have a party, So I started and i had dancers right from the off .
it soon got to buffet time ,the buffet was delayed which put all the other timings out too but as an experienced wedding DJ this is not uncommon and i handled the situation so cake cutting and first dance were adjusted accordingly , I mentioned about the signing of the guest book and announced the photo booth was open . I was asked a number of requests and played what Jane and Colin had asked not all the crowd were feeling the choices that they had made , but Jane and Colin at the consultation said we hired you because you have experience and would be happy for me to read the crowd and play what i felt would work, This crowd loved my selections and danced away , the bride was glad to do her first dance then take her shoes off as they were killing her(good tip make sure your bridal shoes are comfy!) as a DJ you know it is going to be a good party when the shoes come off and the ladies are partying away. I played a wide variety of music from frank Sinatra to The Harlem shake!
I had a minor technical issue with a computer BUT I had a backup player on standby so no one noticed but me, and again that is a difference, I take and have on hand backup equipment, so no dramas can be seen or heard to the crowd not a glitch, that's why hiring someone who takes these things into consideration is important, this sort of planing for "what if" is important
Now this event would have been very different if they had chosen a DJ who just turned up at 6:30 and the only communication was what first dance. This is why hiring someone who is passionate and cares and finds out all the details is important.
For every hour of performance time there is equal in preparation and research. My events are a success because i don’t leave things to chance.
Many DJs play music and that is all they do. I offer more, I offer me and my experience and service to make sure your party is one to remember for all the right reasons.
when booking a DJ please take those factors into account.
If your interested in hiring me please fill in this simple form CLICK HERE
