It’s not just playing music
Being a professional wedding DJ is more than just playing music— here’s 4 jobs I have been called upon to do (mostly with very short notice). Links are to some pictures to illustrate….
1) Sound tech—invariably when there is an issue with either your venue’s sound system, everyone looks to me to figure it out, because the hall doesn’t include a sound/computer tech in their services…so either I try and make sense of the venue’s 40 year old PA in 5 minutes or end up setting up a spare mic to save the day.
2) Wedding coordinator—if the couple does not have a wedding coordinator, often I step up to keep the night moving along smoothly, checking in constantly with the videographer, photographer, venue supervisor, while continuing to find and play good song choices.
3) Referee—sometimes there is competing interests for the music requests (older/younger, one family vs the other family), and I’m the one to make sure everyone continues to get along….
4) Musical Encyclopedia —some music requests are made, but without the artist or song title, with only a snippet of a lyric is given—I have to name that tune.
A lot of being a great wedding DJ is to be a listener and observer. Every audience is different and there is multiple group dynamics that can occur. The most important thing I remember is that this is the couple’s biggest day of their life, and I have to help make it one they have great memories forever.