If either party had pursued this further they may have found it includes:

   -Sound systems for both the ceremony & reception (in two different locations)

   -Complete pre-event planning sessions including contact & distribution of the bride’s    printed, detailed, itinerary to all vendors

   -Personalization of each special moment that fits that specific couples style

   -Ongoing conversations prior to the wedding with all involved -Day of co-ordination of events

   -All travel, set-up, take-down time

            Other things that add value are:

   -The DJ’s years of experience

   -Presentation skills – does the DJ do weddings? Knows traditions?

   -Breadth & depth of music knowledge - incl. suggestions to the couple for specific likes, events or themes

   -Music programming ability (playing the right songs, at the right time, for the right audience)

   -Backup music (if on a computer, a 2nd Hard Drive of music)

   -Ability to address & interact with large groups of people

   -How to react to ‘surprises’. (Ever seen a bouquet get caught in a ceiling fan?)

 

Here’s how a decision based on a price alone – let’s say a $1000.00 - may really cost a bride:

            It’s time to enter the banquet hall, the Bridal Party is lined up and then when the music begins you hear, in a rather monotone voice “Please welcome our Bridal party & your Bride & Groom”. What no names? Well, maybe that detail was lost in the planning. After dinner, it’s time for the first dance. Your MC asks the Bride & Groom (still no names) to come to the dance floor. Your first song begins…but it doesn’t sound right to you. Perhaps because your choice of song has four versions by four different artists – but in the planning it wasn’t specified which version to play – so the DJ played the one he had. The last event the photographer is hired for is the bouquet/garter toss. The reception’s running long due to the cake not arriving on time. The DJ’s so involved in playing dance music that the photographer’s plea to get that event done goes unnoticed by your entertainer. The photographer needs to get to another event, can’t locate the bridal couple and ends up leaving.

 

            Your DJ/MC that’s in charge of the pacing wasn’t focused on the whole event, interaction with guests or vendors and paid little attention to details-costing you an incomplete & unhappy memory of your special events, a lack of personalization in front of your family/friends and unintended consequences because of poor planning. Detailed planning, proper questions and open communications could have solved all these issues. Maybe this entertainer isn’t used to sorting these details out – which is why (s)he never had more than a 10 min. consultation over the phone with you and you couldn’t get calls or emails returned in a timely fashion. Perhaps it’s why you got “such a great deal” in the first place.

            Think about this the next time you’re looking for a service – ANY service. Get informed, dig deeper, ask questions to determine the real value / benefit for you. It’s important to ask questions – it’s even more important to ask the right questions.

Next month, we’ll explore which ones to ask – and some reasons why.

            If you know of someone searching for value in their entertainment – please pass this newsletter along - or give us a call to today!