Is it About You or the DJ?                                                                                                    October 26, 2016

I’m sure anyone reading this has been to at least one event with an awesome DJ, and one event with a DJ that made you shake your head in disbelief. Think about the differences between these two DJs. What made the good one good? What made the other sub-par?

What it all comes down to is this: A good DJ will adhere to the wishes and hopes of the client and never forgo the plan just to score other bookings or feed their personal ego.

When you call a DJ to book an event, you’ll know within the first few minutes of your conversation whether that DJ is going to deliver what you’re looking for at your event or not. There are a few red flags to watch out for when engaging in that initial conversation.

First, did the DJ ask you about your event - not just where and when, but the actual scope of the event? Did the DJ ask what the event is for, what kind of music you want played, or even the demographic of attendees that will be present? It’s important that you hear these questions during that first conversation because it means the DJ is interested and is making sure they can deliver what you’re wanting. It’s not very helpful if the DJ says, “Yep. I’m free that day. That’ll be a $500.00 deposit. See you in a few months.” Wait a minute – What about the fact that you want it to be a country-only wedding reception, or a disco themed Christmas party? If the DJ doesn’t care what’s happening during that first phone call, you can’t expect them to care at your event either.

Partnered with the above, did the DJ do more talking or listening? Did the DJ rave about how awesome they are for 20 minutes, or was the conversation about you? A good DJ should be willing to adapt to the needs of the client but can’t do that if they doesn’t ask questions - plain and simple. It only takes 10 – 15 minutes to talk to clients to get a good understanding of the services they are looking for. If a DJ doesn’t do that - it illustrates laziness and a lack of interest.

We’ve talked before about making sure you research your vendors before reaching out to them. Judging by the photos is the DJ going to hang up a 20 foot business card at your event? Make sure you read the reviews and make sure you know your event is going to be about you, not the DJ.

The administrative staff at Sounds Unlimited Inc. takes the time to get the scope of the event from every person that calls. We have the means to adapt to your needs, and have a great team of DJs to help deliver the entertainment you’re looking for.

With so many options out there, planning an event can be overwhelming. Keep following our blog and we’ll be sure to offer tips and insight into the planning process. Don’t let your wishes fall through the cracks! Check out our website and see how we can help you plan the event you’ve been dreaming of.

Sincerely,

Your DJs at Sounds Unlimited Inc. 

Get to know your DJs                                                                                                                                          September 8, 2016

As you plan your wedding, you’re going to encounter all sorts of vendors that make promises and grandiose gestures of what they are going to be able to deliver on your big day. We’ve used the term “slick-talking salesman” before in reference to those who do all the talking, all the “planning” without asking for your input. More specifically, you will encounter DJs who will book without asking some of the most important questions. Bottom line: it’s your night. Your ideas should be front and centre of the conversation. So what do you do?

Get to know your DJs of course!

The entertainment you want at your wedding should be the entertainment you get. From one DJ to the next, they are going to have different ideas about what makes a wedding successful. It’s a DJ’s job to read the crowd, but just because 90s hip hop went over really well last weekend, does not mean your guests are going to appreciate it when they are predominantly a classic rock loving group – that’s just one example. Maybe you’re looking for jazz standards and aiming for elegance as opposed to a loud party. Your DJs won’t know that if you don’t sit and talk with them.

Your DJs should be willing to sit with you in the weeks/months leading up to the wedding not only to learn what you want, but also help you plan some of the minute details you don’t want to be worried about on the day of. Will there be a grand entrance? What song will you want for that? What music do you want for your bouquet toss? First dance? Do you want to avoid the chicken dance at all costs? It’s requested at nearly every wedding we do, but if you hate that song, the DJs shouldn’t play it – period.

The DJs should know your timeline so they can cue the songs at the perfect moment. It is their job to set the atmosphere that you have planned for and want at your wedding.

Getting back to the slick-talking salesman who promised you everything – is he even one of the DJs who is showing up? We’ve heard from so many people that the person they spoke with and made plans with, wasn’t the one who showed up the day of the wedding. What if you don’t like this new DJ and how can you trust this new mystery person will know all the details? At Sounds Unlimited Inc. our administrative staff gets to know the bride and groom first. We have a team of more than 20 DJs, men and women with unique personalities, styles, and tastes in music. We talk to you and get your ideas and find the two DJs who best compliment your vision – kind of like a matchmaker. It’s these DJs who sit with you and help plan your entertainment well before the big day. If you don’t agree that these DJs are absolutely perfect for you, we rematch until everyone clicks.

Just because a company provides a service, doesn’t mean they make the decisions for you. The mark of a good DJ is someone who puts their ego aside in order to get to the bottom of your desires, and then finds a way make that happen. Give us a call or check out the rest of the website to see how we can provide the perfect entertainment catered to you.   

As always we’ll be here to offer tips and insight into the planning process to help you get the wedding of your dreams!

Sincerely,

Your DJs at Sounds Unlimited Inc.

Why a DJ's Backup Plan is Crucial                                                                                                                  July 11, 2016

While it might be a fact that nearly everything these days is run by computers, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to work all the time. I’m sure anyone reading this had a situation earlier this week where it took every last ounce of strength not to take a baseball bat to the laptop sitting on your desk because it decided to go to sleep for absolutely no reason at all.

 When hiring a DJ for your wedding or corporate event it is important to remember this fact.

 A great DJ will have a backup.  Likely an extra computer/laptop/tablet at the venue for those just-in-case moments.  

When in the initial planning stages of your big day, be sure to ask your DJs if they have more than one set of equipment – not just multiple computers. If something as simple as the soldering of a wire comes loose with a speaker or mixer connection are they going to be able to keep the show going?

Two of our DJs shared this anecdote:

“We had just finished setting up the Ultimate Package for a wedding reception. About 15 minutes before we were to start playing music, one of the clamps holding a lighting effect gave out and the light crashed down on top of the laptop which was sitting under the lighting truss! The computer was toast instantly. Good thing we always have two computers, we were able to switch the laptops out right away and still started on time! Then the other DJ ran back to the office to get yet another backup laptop.”

 Which brings me to the next backup must: More than one DJ.

Let’s face it - things happen. People get sick. Generally, if a DJ is working alone, he/she will spin through the sickness, but what if that means leaving the music unattended for breaks?  And do you really want the person in charge of your entertainment to be “pushing through a sickness” when they are responsible for keeping the party energized?

 Having two DJs working as a team serves a number of functions:

 • Music is always attended to.

• If the DJ is sick, there is still another on hand to make sure everything goes according to plan.

• Your DJ can MC your event, while the other keeps the musical momentum going!

• If something does go awry, one DJ can run out to grab a backup, while the other keeps playing.

Sounds Unlimited Inc. has a team of 20 DJs always working in pairs at each and every event. It has six systems ready to go for you, and each system has two computers.

 ...So why is all of this so important?

Because it takes mountains of stress off your back when you know that no matter what, your DJs WILL be there on time, ready to go, even if someone gets sick the morning of your big day. It means that if the freakiest, most insane fluke happens to a piece of equipment five minutes before the reception, the music will continue to play. It means entertainment is the one thing you don’t have to worry about when you get up that morning - and that means everything.

We wish you all the best in your planning endeavours. We’ll be here along the way offering tips and insight into the wedding planning and DJ selection processes.

 Sincerely,

 Your DJs at Sounds Unlimited Inc. 

The Right Questions at Your Fingertips                                                                                                              April 18, 2016

Now that you and your fiancé have sat down together, prioritized your desires and decided on your budget, it is time to start booking!

Many vendors list their packaging and pricing on their website. Before you start making calls, be sure to do your research. You’ll be able to evaluate the vendors within your budget and read reviews to see if they provide the services you’re looking for. This will save you a LOT of time!

The important thing to remember once you start calling is which questions to ask to make sure you get the services you want. This is where we come in: Sounds Unlimited knows weddings and we know how to customize. Based on the conversations we’ve had with our clients, listed below are some initial questions to ask your vendors, and more specifically your DJs!

General questions to ask:

1)     Do you have our date available?

2)     How far in advance do we need to book with you?

3)     What is the cost of your service and what does it include?

4)     Do you require a deposit and is it refundable?

5)     *If not on their website* Do you have any references or reviews available?

5 important questions to ask your DJ:

1)     How many weddings will the DJ that works my wedding have DJ’d during their career? Are you sitting with a slick talking salesman who plans on sending an inexperienced DJ to your wedding?  You need to ask!  It is important that you ask the number of weddings experience your DJ has as opposed to years of experience. You could be sitting with a 20 year veteran who has never DJ’d a wedding in his life, or a DJ with two years of experience and 100 weddings under his belt. You want a DJ who has experience with lots of weddings so he/she can offer suggestions for the big day, as well as ways to help it run smoothly the day of.

2)     Have you DJ’d a wedding at our venue before? If not, are you willing to make a trip there before hand? If your DJ has not been to the venue before, he/she should be willing to visit the location to evaluate and make suggestions regarding location of equipment set-up as well further materials that may be required.  

3)     Do you offer customized music based on our likes and dislikes? What other customized options do you offer and how do you handle requests?  This is one of the most important questions you can ask. If you and your fiancé hate a certain genre of music and you do NOT want it played, then it should never be played. Simple as that. If you only want country music played all night because you guys love to two-step, then that is all the DJ should play. It’s YOUR day. We can’t stress that enough. Your DJ should be willing to sit down with the two of you, ask you questions about your day and get to know you. Sounds Unlimited matches the personalities of its clients with its DJs to ensure this.

4)     Do you have more than 1 set of equipment? Essentially you are asking if the DJ has back-up. We all know that technology can have its tantrums; if your DJ has more than one set of equipment you can rest easy knowing you won’t find yourself without entertainment due to a technical malfunction 2 hours before the wedding. For example, Sounds Unlimited always brings 2 computers to the event ensuring that if one decides to act up, the other is right there with all of your custom music ready to go.

What other services do you offer?  Very often you will find DJs willing to help with the structure of your evening, acting as MCs the night of, or event planners leading up to the big day. Your DJ should be able to provide suggestions for the flow of the ceremony/ reception and should be able to MC if so desired. Sounds Unlimited even offers MC training if you have someone who is nervous about taking the task on!

We know that planning your wedding can be overwhelming at times! But don’t forget that part of the excitement lies in the planning process. Have fun with it! We’ll be here to help along the way offering tips and tricks to help the day run smoothly.

Contact us to see how we can help you leading up to your wedding.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Your DJs at Sounds Unlimited Inc.