The DJ / Photographer Relationship

After 11 years of DJing, I can't think of one instance that a photographer wasn't present at the reception.  Not all photographers are alike.   I have always made a point of, at the start of the reception, introducing myself to the photographer(s) working that event.  It is important for DJ and Photographer to work together...especially with regard to timing and lighting.

Sometimes, the itinerary that the DJ has is different than what the photographer was given.  I like to compare notes to make sure we are all on the same page concerning the timing of all aspects of the reception.  During an event, I constantly update the photographer as to what is coming up next so that no shots are missed.  During a one-time event, it is not good to miss important photographic moments.  Explain to the bride why the tossing of the bouquet was missed.

Lighting is important to a photographer, as it is to a DJ.  As a DJ who likes to add lighting effects to the dance floor and event room, I try to make sure that my lighting won't interfere with the photographic preferences of the photographer.  Some will request that I cut back on certain lighting types and other suggest to do what I would normally do and work with it.  Night lighting can be tricky, but not to one photographer I just recently worked with at Fricano's Event Center in Muskegon, MI.  Kristyn LaPres Photography (www.kristynlapres.com) and her associate husband did a fantastic job at the Fricano/DeJarnette wedding on Oct. 8, 2011.  They were very in-tune to what was going on all evening.  Their equipment, experience and talent permitted them to take many great shots in a dimly lit room of dancing with a flood of DJ lighting, to get awesome resulting pictures.

Never underestimate the importance of the DJ/Photographer relationship.  It can make a significant difference on the outcome of your memory book.

Beware of the MP3 DJ

One of the aspects of DJing that I have a difficult time with is seeing a DJ set up a playlist of music on their computer software and walk away without the song to song interaction that makes a DJ connect with their audience.  Playlists are fine as long as the DJ mans the station while dancing is taking place.  The objective of a good DJ is to keep the dance floor hopping.   If I put on a song and the dance crowd begins to exit the dance floor because it is not what they wanted to hear, immediately I switch out the song to regain the interest of the dancers and draw them back out.  There is nothing worse than playing music to an empty floor.  If a DJ isn't paying attention to the dance floor and crowd's interaction to the music, they are going to hurt their reputation.

In my opinion, technology with MP3 and WAV music files has enhanced the ability of DJs to mix their music effectively and to quickly find specific songs on the fly.  This is great to fulfill immediate song requests.  Tons of music can be stored on a tiny hard drive and run on a lap top computer.  The day of hauling vinyl records fron gig to gig is gone...thank goodness.  Call me "old school:, but I believe in always bringing my CD library to every event I DJ at, along with a computer that supports my electronic formatted music.  There is nothing like cueing up disks from song to song and transitioning and matching song beats with a proper volume transition.

The next time you are in the market for a DJ, ask them about this subject matter.  Do they like to set up playlist that run without abandon, or do they make every effort to connect with their audience through the music they play?

How a DJ should handle the unexpected

DJs are hired to entertain at many different venues and for many types of events.  As much as we would like to believe, not every event goes as planned. Sometimes there are glitches - mostly relatively small timing issues that require attention.  It might be that the bridal party doesn't show up on time or that the champagne didn't get poured before the toasts are made. Small issues such as these require a DJ to respond to and negotiate around.  Some issues, on the other hand, can be significantly more profound and will necessitate a professional and creative approach to deal with.

Identifying a really good DJ is to see how that person deals with adversity and emergencies and doing it in a way that the guests don't realize that anything is even amiss. That is one of the essences of a great DJ.  When seeking out a DJ to hire, there are many questions you should not be afraid to ask. One of them should be how that person deals with potential issues during an event.  Have that person give a couple of examples.  If they can't, you might want to question their experience.  Any DJ that has been in the profession for a considerable length of time will have stories to share.

Have any of you experienced an occasion that called for a tactful, creative, quick-thinking DJ?
Please share.

Sincerely,

Scott Ptak