When I hear that someone is forgoing a DJ to let their Ipod do the job, I always ask why. It’s usually because either they want to save money or they have been to parties with a really cheesy DJ that have either: played the same five songs all night, played everything from the do not play list, didn’t take requests, dressed up and danced on the table… and they don’t want that happening to them.  A DJ can make or break your event, so make sure to do your homework, check references and know what style of entertainment you want for your event! Forgoing a DJ all together and letting your Ipod do the job will often leave your guests wondering what’s happening next and your Ipod can’t read the crowd to play music that will get everyone on the dance floor. Moral of the story, hire a DJ, but make sure you find someone that fits your style! When I worked with True Love Sound last year I was impressed by their professionalism, interactive style and ability to get the crowd on the dance floor. Get to know Jeffrey and Layla…

Champagne: Why do you feel having a good DJ is so important?

Jeffrey: I actually have two answers for that question, a simple one and a not so simple one.

The simple answer is:
You really only get one chance at making your wedding reception a shining success.

The not so simple answer is:
If you were getting married and I asked you, “Do you want your wedding reception to be fun, emotional, meaningful and engaging?” what would your answer be? If you answered yes I would follow that question up with another important question: “Who is responsible for making all of that happen?”
There is unfortunately a very common perception out there that all DJs are the same therefore it does not really matter which one you choose. Often people will go with the cheapest option without doing any research or checking references. The logic behind this is simple… “All I need is someone to push play on a CD player, how hard can that be?”
What most brides and grooms fail to take into consideration is that the DJ / MC is the one who will be representing them and their wedding party on one of the most important days of their lives.  This person is also responsible for directing the flow of the reception,  making sure everyone is engaged, having fun and kept informed about the upcoming activities. If all your DJ knows how to do is push play and knows very little about you, chances are your wedding reception will not be very fun, meaningful, or engaging. Music is an important part of wedding receptions but is just one of many aspects that go into creating a successful event. Having someone who is genuinely interested in who you are, who is a skilled director of events and Master of Ceremonies, and a good music programmer makes all the difference.

 

Champagne:  How do you get people involved in the event?

Jeffrey: The first step of this process begins early on in the planning phase. We interview our clients and try to gather as much meaningful information about them as we can, this includes their background, love story, relationships to the members of their wedding party.  Having this information is priceless as we can now reveal it to the guests in various creative ways throughout the duration of the reception. Involving the guests is something we take a tremendous amount of joy in, whether it be trivia games, asking the guests to sing for their supper, getting them on the dance floor or showing media presentations that tell the couple’s story, we make sure everyone feels included and reminded of why they are there to celebrate.

Champagne How can I know you’re not going to dress up in costumes or dance on the table? Do you have video of you in action?

Jeffrey:  We have heard of this kind of thing happening with a few other DJ companies in Oregon. Many of these same companies also proudly display their company logos on or above their DJ stations, litter the dinner tables with their business cards and talk too much over the music! In our opinion these companies have it backwards. Weddings are about the people who are getting married, not the DJ! Yes you can see video of us in action by visiting our video web page. 

 

Photo by JFAB

Champagne: What is your favorite part about your job?

Jeffrey:  That is easy. Because we take the extra step of getting to know our clients and creatively telling their stories at their receptions, we are helping to create an elevated sense of meaning and context for everyone involved. At the end of the night we are receiving hugs of appreciation from our clients and their family members.  And if that wasn’t enough, our clients are staying in touch with us in various ways, sending us holiday cards, inviting us to their homes for drinks and dinner and emailing us to inform us that their friends and family are still talking about their wedding! It is very humbling and is probably the most rewarding aspect of our job!

Photo by JFAB

Champagne: What do you do when you’re not doing what you do?

Jeffrey:  During the wedding off season Layla and I enjoy traveling quite a bit. We love bike riding, nature hikes, spending time with family and friends, netflix and playing with our cats Boo Boo and Cinco.

Champagne:  What do you feel plays the biggest part in the success of an event?

Jeffrey:  That is a rich question! I would have to say for us it is the planning process and the time spent getting to know our clients that is paramount. It has been our experience that the more personalized the event is the more unforgettable it is. Of course having a great team of vendors that work well together is also very important.

Photo by JFAB

Champagne: Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Jeffrey:  I had asked a photographer [who refers us every chance she gets] at a recent wedding what percentage of bad DJs she has seen throughout her career. Her reply was shocking! She said “easily 95%”  I would say to all of the engaged couples out there: Do your homework, get references and ask for video clips!

Champagne: Thank you, Jeffrey, for taking the time to tell us more about True Love Sound! We look forward to working with you again soon! Make sure to check out True Love Sound’s website! 

Check out previous posts from our 30 days of vendors:
Day 10 of 30: Blum Floral Desgin
Day 9 of 30: Becerra Photography
Day 8 of 30: Black Butte Ranchy
Day 7 of 30: Cupcake Jones
Day 6 of 30: Mosca Photo
Day 5 of 30: Vibrant Table Flowers
Day 4 of 30: Premiere Catering
Day 3 of 30: Paul Rich Studio
Day 2 of 30: Bon Moment Inivitations
Day 1 of 30: Bryan Hoybook Photography
See what the 30 days of vendors is all about!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

Make sure you don’t miss our current promotion! Book your wedding or event coordination before January 30th, 2010 and receive 5% off your package!* Dates are booking quickly!

Don’t forget, we offer free consultations so you can learn if hiring a wedding planner would benefit you and if we’re the right match! We’d love to learn more about you, your fiance and your upcoming wedding plans!

*Not valid on previously booked packages. Contract and deposit must be returned by January 30th, 2010.