I went to my best friend’s wedding a couple of weekends back. I get excited about going to weddings where I’m not working. It gives me a chance to relax, knock back a couple and check out other DJs at work. It came as a shock to me that as I arrived at the reception in Long Island City, the groom was pacing out front, with a befuddled look on his face.
He walked up to the wife and me and blurted–
“Would you do me a favor? Would you introduce the wedding party for us?”
Instantly and naturally I agreed! I was quite touched at the prospect he respected my
craft enough and recognized my professionalism. He would be honored for me to
introduce him, his bride and both of their families to the throngs of guests
and well-wishers!
Of course, I insisted on asking the DJ permission first. I didn’t want to just commandeer the man’s microphone. That’s when my friend explained to me that their would be no problem with me introducing the wedding party because the DJ… DIDN’T DO INTRODUCTIONS!
What?
Come again?
Que?
A Wedding DJ that doesn’t introduce the wedding party?
When I began my career as a mobile DJ over ten years ago, I was trained by the MC,
or the Master of Ceremonies. He was a good guy, I learned a lot from him as far
as showmanship, interacting with the party guests and the newlyweds in a
cordial and professional manner. As I worked with him I realized that I wanted
to be an MC as well as a DJ! Dazzle the crowd on the microphone, choose the
best music and utilize different tricks and games to entertain people!
Within a year, the MC made ME an MC. I learned the fine points of weddings, bar and
bas mitzvahs, holiday parties and kid’s parties. I had my own DJ working for
me, playing the music I chose. I had the mic in my hand and total control of
the night’s festivities. I had found something I was good at.
On the other side of the coin, here’s a guy that charged a considerable amount of
money to DJ a wedding and he’s refusing to announce the party. When I asked him why, out of courteous curiosity, he wouldn’t announce the party, he simply replied,
“They didn’t hire an MC; DJing is hard enough to do alone.”
I won’t harp on his lack of confidence on the mic or the specifics of his DJ equipment,
but judging by his laptop, with his playlists already programmed and ready to
go, I’m sure he could have found time to pick up the microphone and read a few
names. The whole situation prompted me to think of a couple of questions:
“Is it necessary to hire an MC AND a DJ?” and
“How hard is it to introduce a wedding party?”
If I were thinking these questions, maybe a CT BRIDE TO BE is thinking the EXACT same questions!
Here’s my answer to both: Hire a DJ with MC skills and experience with weddings.
Hiring a DJ who spends most of his gigs in da club mixing techno for drunken dancers might not be the best pick for a wedding. As far as announcing it is time for
dinner or reminding you to tip your bartender, they could probably handle it.
But, for introducing a wedding party with more than ten people or families of
certain heritages where the names are more difficult to pronounce, hire a
professional. My last name is Brichaux, not an easy name to pronounce. I want
to make sure my DJ asks me how to pronounce everyone’s names, not a DJ who
refuses to do it, or insists on your hiring an MC.
Mind you, hiring an MC is a MUST for bigger weddings and bar and bas mitzvahs.
Parties over two hundred guests, and especially parties with kids, NEED an MC
to entertain while the DJ has control of the music. Together as a team, the MC
and DJ, when working properly, can make your party even more spectacular, the
best ever. However, if your guest list is smaller than 200, hire a CT DJ with
experience in hosting, as well as DJing…simultaneously 
Contracting a DJ who can also MC is hiring someone with experience, someone with the know-how and courage to speak over the microphone CLEARLY, pronouncing the wedding party’s names CORRECTLY, and projecting CONFIDENTLY while truly becoming the MASTER OF CEREMONIES: welcoming your guests, announcing the parent’s dances, the bouquet and garter, the cake cutting, and of course the INTRODUCTION. These are moments you want to watch in your wedding video years from now, a wedding video made here by Big Pop Productions!
Shameless plugging aside, I introduced the wedding party with a raucous intro reminiscent of a great heavyweight prize fight or a WWE Pay Per View. I could have gone elegant and well-spoken, but since the newlyweds chose “Eruption” by Van Halen as their intro song, I chose the HIGH ENERGY INTRO. I got the crowd to its feet, cheering and making noise as we welcomed the newlyweds, for the very first time, as husband and wife. Family and friends snapped pictures and basked in the good vibes, everyone smiling in earnest. The happy couple segued from the Introduction into their first dance seamlessly (courtesy of DJ Silence) and I made my way off the dance floor, happy I could help, glad I pronounced Hua-Lin correctly and thrilled for my friends on their special wedding day.
Your special CT wedding deserves someone who knows how to MC AND can DJ at the same time. Why spend more? Everything you need for a DJ/MC can be found here at Elite CT DJ!
