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Finding Your Wedding Reception Music

Author: socalweddingdj
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The entertainment of your reception is a clutch factor in the success of your reception. If your guests leave early, then you've simply had yourself a very expensive dinner party rather than a successful wedding reception. The best way to make sure this doesn't happen to you? Spend some time and pay the extra amount to find the best entertainment in your town.

Finding the Best
Truly word of mouth has always been a key point in finding a great wedding DJ or band. There are many ways in addition to word of mouth like asking around to some professionals like a photographer or catering captain and then lastly there is your Internet search engines. It's best to glance at some peoples website. Most entertainers website will have sample music if they are a band, and if they are DJ's they will have a lot of information and perhaps photos of their past work. Meeting with the band or DJ that is going to be at your wedding is also an important factor in ensuring you have found the best.

Factoring the Size
You must take into consideration the size of the group or band and the size of your room. You don't want a cluttered stage of musicians in a small room -- this could potentially lead to some sound issues also.

How Much?
How much a band or DJ will cost is dependent on your city and state and the competitiveness of the area you live in. San Diego for example has prices ranging from $650 to $2500 for a Wedding DJ and nearly double that for a band. In the Los Angeles area the average price of a wedding DJ is $1500. With almost anything those too good to be true deals usually are!

Book Now
If you are a year ahead of your wedding and are beginning to plan, then you are doing well. Many of the best entertainers and wedding professionals in general will start booking with deposits a year in advance and even further for popular dates.

How Long Should I Book?
The average time period a DJ or band should perform is about 4 to 5 hours. It is best to set up a smaller contract amount and then pay the overage fees once they are set up and playing music. This way if the reception fizzles out a little early, you don't have to worry about paying for entertainment you and your guests didn't even receive. Having entertainment for too long can actually prolong an event that should have ended. It's probably best to have the event come to a nice ending, like a good movie or essay.

Noise Issues
This is always a DJ or band's worst fear. If there are noise restrictions at the location you are having your reception, it could mean lower volumes which means less energy and less dancing. Nothing kills a dance floor more than having someone run over and tell the DJ to turn it down every five minutes. Even worse, the bass is what tends to cause complaints and the bass is what people stay in beat with. It's best, if you want to have a reception where people are focused around the entertainment, to make sure that your reception site has little to no noise restrictions.

Arranging Your Itinerary
There are some things that you and your entertainment should talk about prior to the event:

Talking points: Most DJ's advertise themselves as being an MC or Master of Ceremonies as well as a DJ. This means they will make the appropriate announcements. On the other hand many band leaders will do this as well. You'll want someone who can run your itinerary so your reception doesn't seem like an unorganized train wreck or a five hour keg party.

Special dances: The band or DJ will have to not only be able to play the music or CD of these particular songs, but they'll have to make the right announcement and even notify people of when they are taking place (nothing is worse than a DJ calling the father/daughter dance when the dad is in the restroom).

Overall genre control: Do you want hip hop and R & B played at your wedding reception? Or do you want more of the older dance tunes in the Motown and Disco era? Maybe you want it all, but you want to start with music that the older people will appreciate and then end on some music that the younger crowd can really get their groove on to as the night progresses. You can also talk about cocktail hour and dinner music as this is the best time in the evening to customize your favorite songs. The dance hits take place later to keep the party moving and while they are fun to dance to, they might not be your favorite most heart felt songs.

About the Author

Matt Phipps is a San Diego DJ who specializes as a San Diego Wedding DJ . His company, Choice Entertainment, offers innovative customer service with class and professionalism.