Music Archives - Unity Heart

6 Important Questions To Ask A Wedding DJ

Jordan — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 22:58:39 +0000

To ensure that your wedding is a day to remember, selecting the right wedding DJ in Victoria BC is crucial. With numerous options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your special day. To make your search easier, we’ve gathered a list of questions to ask each DJ during the interview process. Asking the right questions will help you find the perfect DJ who will create a memorable experience for you and your guests.

#1 How Many Wedding’s Have You DJ’d?

When selecting a DJ for your wedding, it’s crucial to know their level of experience. Ask the company about the number of weddings the assigned DJ has completed, as some companies may outsource to freelance DJs. If the company has multiple DJs, make sure to ask who will be handling your event and how many weddings they have performed. Consider the DJ’s experience level, and aim for a DJ with at least 20 weddings under their belt.

#2 Do You Allow People To Make Song Requests?

It’s important to ask about the DJ’s willingness to incorporate song requests from guests during your wedding. This can give insight into the DJ’s versatility and ability to adapt to the needs of the crowd. It’s natural for a DJ to not be able to play every single request, but a willingness to cater to the requests from guests is a good indicator of the type of experience they will provide for your wedding.

#3 May I Ask For References?

It’s always helpful to get a personal referral from someone who has seen the DJ perform. Word-of-mouth is the most reliable way to gauge a DJ’s skill level. If you don’t have a personal referral, you can ask the company if they can put you in touch with any past clients who can provide a first-hand account of their experience. This will give you a clearer idea of the DJ’s performance and ensure that they will be able to provide the type of experience you’re looking for on your special day.

#4 Do You Require A Deposit?

While a deposit is usually required to secure the DJ’s services, it’s important to not pay too much upfront. A standard deposit for a wedding DJ typically ranges 30% – 50% of the total cost. Be wary of companies that ask for 80-100% upfront, as this could indicate a potential scam. Ensure that you fully understand the terms and conditions of the deposit payment before making any financial commitment.

#5 Do You Have Sample Playlists or Mixes I can Hear?

Assessing the DJ’s musical preferences is crucial in determining if they are the right fit for your wedding. Request to see some sample playlists or setlists to get an idea of the type of music they play. A DJ who has a good understanding of your favourite songs is more likely to create a memorable experience on your big day.

We work with you to build a wedding reception playlist.

#6 May I See Your Contract?

Finally, ask to see a copy of their standard contract before making your final decision. Look for any hidden fees such as travel, parking, setup, or breakdown costs which could add up and exceed your budget. If everything looks good and in order, then go ahead and sign the contract.

We hope this list of 6 questions will help you when you are interviewing wedding DJ’s.

The post 6 Important Questions To Ask A Wedding DJ appeared first on Unity Heart.

Building a Wedding Reception Playlist

Jordan — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 18:48:29 +0000

One of the most memorable parts of your wedding reception for you and your guests can easily be the music. From your first dance as a couple, to the father-daughter and mother-son dances, to all of the moments in between when you’ll get to let loose with your friends and family, your music playlist will play a huge part in setting the mood for the reception and keeping your guests and you and your partner entertained all night. There is no one way to build a great playlist, but you should keep these few tips in mind so the music is memorable for the right reasons.

Our last blog post talked about the top 10 wedding music mistakes to avoid. You might want to read that before you did into the tips of this post.

Create a theme or try to smartly appeal to everyone

If your wedding has an overarching theme, choosing music that matches with the theme will take you far. If you’re going for a classic ballroom feel, for instance, have all or most of your songs have a classical sound, including by adding modern music that uses string instruments. Even if this isn’t the type of music your friends and family usually dance to, they’ll likely love the effort you’ve put into developing a theme and have just as much fun as they would otherwise.

For weddings that don’t have a theme, one key part of developing a great playlist is to appeal to everyone in a smart way. This means including music from every decade and including different genres. Put in some Frank Sinatra for your parents and grandparents and some Adele for your friends–and don’t group each decade separately, but instead mix it up so everyone can feel involved throughout the night. Don’t have three 70s dance songs in a row, in other words.

Keep in mind that a lot of old and modern music alike can appeal to more than one generation. Bryan Adams’ tunes from the 80s and Michael Buble’s modern crooning are good examples.

Make sure the flow is right

You want your music to help the party transition in and out of different parts of the reception smoothly. You can make separate playlists for each section, like one for before dinner is served and another for in between separate speeches. Hiring a professional DJ can help if you feel lost on what should go where. They’ll ask you the right questions and make great song suggestions that will fit with everything else going on during the night.

In each separate section of music, make sure to give your guests a break from high-energy dance songs and slower ones. If your guests are mainly the type to want to dance the night away, for instance, put in a slow tune every five songs or so to give everyone a chance to rest.

Another thing to keep in mind is whether one song will flow well with the song right after it. You don’t want there to be a long silence between songs, but this can happen as some songs start off very quietly. To fix this, you can actually use iTunes to add about a four-second (or whatever amount of time seems to fit) cross-fade between each song of the playlist.

Get all of the technical details sorted out well ahead of time

Speakers, sound systems, extension cords–there’s a lot to organize and you might not know the first thing about what you need or what your venue will provide. Talk to the managers of the venue to get a clear picture of everything included. If a DJ is not included with the venue package, getting one to manage the music will help you to keep the event running smoothly.

Don’t forget about the important songs

If you and your partner have a few songs that are important to you as a couple (like from your first date, your first kiss, and your engagement) before you get too far ahead in building your playlist you should figure out where those special songs will fit. You should be able to find key moments during the reception to place them.

Leave your guests on a high note

The last song of the night should be upbeat and very danceable–you want to leave your guests with something to remember as you make your departure from your special day.

Whether you have an idea of the type of music you want to include or you feel clueless, our expert Wedding DJ’s in Victoria BC are here to help you with all your planning needs.

The post Building a Wedding Reception Playlist appeared first on Unity Heart.

Top 10 Wedding Music Mistakes

Jordan — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 17:16:22 +0000

Your wedding reception will likely have music playing before, during, and after many of the key moments, so you want to keep in mind everything that could affect how well the music plays out both for you and your partner and for the wedding guests. As Victoria BC Wedding DJ’s, we ensure you don’t have to worry about any of these issues below. But with that in mind, here are the top 10 wedding music mistakes to avoid if you don’t plan on hiring Wedding DJ’s for your special day.

#1: Not meeting with your DJ ahead of time

You don’t have get to know them extensively, but you should find out enough about your DJ to feel confident that they can help to make your night fun in a way that works for you. There’s only so much you can learn through phone calls and emails–meeting with your DJ will give you a better idea of their expertise and whether they’ll interact well with your crowd.

#2: Choosing just one type of music to be played

You may never grow tired of electronic music, and maybe your friends are into it too. But you’re likely going to alienate some guests, especially those from different generations, if you only choose one genre. Luckily, there are endless songs to choose from, and if you’re not familiar with older music your DJ can offer some suggestions that you’ll like, as they’ll ask the right questions to figure out your tastes.

#3: Similarly, choosing only obscure music

Of course you may have a few special songs that are important to you and your partner’s relationship, which you should definitely include in your playlist. But having only obscure songs that just you two and a few others will be familiar with is a bad idea. The vast majority of your music should be familiar to the vast majority of your guests–you want them to get out and dance to songs you all love, after all.

#4: Ignoring or not finding out about municipality and venue noise restrictions

No one wants their reception to get shut down early. Find out now how late you can keep it going, so the event can end as planned and you won’t be stuck with any additional costs.

#5: Leaving out a “do not play” list

This is your special night, and you don’t want an innocent wedding guest requesting a song to your DJ that brings back bad memories. This is one part of your wedding that you can control to a great extent, so take advantage of this.

#6: Letting your special dance songs go on too long

We know that mother-son and father-daughter dances are important to many couples and their families. Sometimes, though, the songs chosen can run on too long for every other guests’ tastes and boredom settles in. Do pick the songs that you love for these dances, but consider shortening them so those guests with dancing feet can get back to it.

#7: Not confirming which DJ at the business you’ve hired is working the event

Many event planning businesses are very busy, so the DJ that is confirmed over the phone may not be the one you’re expecting–and your whole event may play out differently than discussed. To prevent this from happening, ask them upfront and find out what they’ll do if your planned DJ is unable to make it at the last minute.

#8: Small dance floors

Maybe you’re not expecting every guest to want to get up and dance, or you’re wanting to pay less on a smaller reception venue so you can place more attention somewhere else. Whatever reason you have for considering a dance floor that won’t fit everyone, keep in mind that a small space is going to allow more accidents to happen and it’ll discourage your more timid guests from dancing, even though they may have liked to.

#9: Not organizing the reception so guests will still have the energy to dance

Everyone loves a great wedding dinner, and an hour beforehand to mingle with others is well liked, too. A problem arises when cocktail hour goes long and dinner is a two-hour affair. Keep everything well managed, so everyone will actually want to dance at the end of it all.

#10: Taking up too much space in the playlist, leaving limited time for guest requests

Wedding guest song requests are a great part of any wedding (as long as you take our advice and provide a “do not play” list, that is). But in order to allow this to go smoothly, you need to limit how many songs you ask the DJ to play. For a four-hour reception, 60 songs is about the limit that can be played. We suggest giving your DJ 25 must-play songs, so you guests can get their requests in, too.

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