How do you introduce yourself to the guests?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I wasn't quite sure how to word the title...

I was thinking about this the other day. I have seen a number of DJ's over the years that do a decent enough job but when it comes to talking on the mic, they seem a bit lost at times. I don't think I have seen many DJ's introduce themselves.

Whenever I do a gig, it doesn't matter what kind of gig it is, I will introduce myself. For example: If it's a wedding and I have been playing background music for a while, at some point I will say something like....

"Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome to [insert venue name here]. My name is Gary and I'll be with you until Midnight. I hope you have all had a brilliant day celebrating with [insert names here] and I hope you have a great evening".

As with all gigs, that may go in one ear and straight out of the other with the guests but I think it's worth letting people know who you are as it makes it more personal. Another reason I mention this is because at last night's gig, at the end they were chanting my name which was really nice.

I know it's a simple thing and I'm guessing loads of people do it but if you don't....why not?

What do YOU do?

[Danno13]

I'll usually introduce myself in my first announcment (or the first one before the party kicks off anyway) if it's a party or corporate. If it's a Wedding I tend to wait until I've done the first dance and a couple of tracks and then go with something along the lines of "Great to see you up on the dance floor, I'm Daniel, your DJ ... etc. requests, dedictaions etc. "

[Jonny Boy]

I do a similiar thing to you Gary, only difference being I usually say "I am your entertainer for the evening" (habitually - even when I'm doing DJ-only gigs)

I tend to do it fairly early as I often kick live entertainment off by 8pm and have found I need to prep the crowd for a live set.
I introduce my DJ separately if he's part of my team, and also introduce any roadie as "my glamourous assistant" when I have one, as (s)he'll field requests/issues when I'm performing. The glamourous jape seems to work well, especially when it's Luke. :-)=)

I then go on to also highlight the order of the things planned for the evening as well as offer guests come forward with any requests. If the clients are happy for people to dance before their first dance (particularly if it's late/after buffet etc) I also encourage this ahead of time.

One very useful thing I picked from a video posted by someone on a forum (might have been YourDJ) is I now make sure to turn the music entirely OFF for these longer announcements, and I will get from behind the booth whenever possible to make sure guests can SEE me speaking. (Whenever possible).
Then start the music again at the top of a great track.

I try to use that "bouncey fader" tecnique only when mid-flow, for when throw-away comments are required "This one's for all the boys from the stag weekend in Benidorm....and for Best Man Gary in particular..... Sticky Vicky says she'll never forget you....." etc etc

[WWDJ]

I tend not to introduce myself by name. I've never really felt the need to.

If it is a wedding I will say 'Good Evening' in preparation for the first dance so that people know it is going to occur and get ready.

Normally for birthdays etc, I will annouce the buffet, I may say 'Good Evening' at that point, but more often than not I normally do the 'Good Evening' bit at the outro of a 'buffet' track and then fire into a good track to get them up dancing.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I tend not to introduce myself by name. I've never really felt the need to.



Funnily enough, nor have I at a wedding.

If I doing something that involves a lot of mic work, then I do.

[STEVE HANLEY]

I'll welcome the guests to whoever's party it is and encourage them to bring their requests to me etc.

However I never introduce myself to them by name or tell them that I'm their dj. Cos quite frankly if they don't know I'm the dj, then they really shouldn't be allowed out:D :D

[katman]

However I never introduce myself to them by name

Hence the origin of the phrase "Hey DJ.... where's the bass?"

.... dont think "Hey Steve.... where's the bass?" has the same ring to it :D

I always tell them my name, whether they choose to use it is up to them :lol:

[Silver]

Hello you lucky lucky people it's MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

http://planetsmilies.net/party-smiley-551.gif

[yourdj]

I do not at the start anymore - and focus on the bride and groom.

I got a roasting from Derek Pengaly and Alan Marshall from the video below.
They basically said I was focusing the attention on me and not what the guests are there for - ie the bride and groom!!
This was from about 3 years ago - Skip the first bit to 20 seconds

Your DJ - East Close Wedding Disco.m4v - YouTube


I now do it after the first dance / father daughter and say:

hello everybody, my name is Toby and I am your DJ tonight. We are on until 12 so if you have any requests please come up to me and ask"

Short and sweet.

Check this one from last week:

forward through to 1.46.

BALMER LAWN - YOUR DJ MOBILE DISCO - CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT CABARET THE NEW FOREST - YouTube

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

As I said elsewhere, I think you need to get some emotion and excitement into your presentation Toby. I think it's very wooden.

[yourdj]

As I said elsewhere, I think you need to get some emotion and excitement into your presentation Toby. I think it's very wooden.

Yes I will make a point of bringing that up on the monday workshop.

I would benefit from a days toastmaster course or something??

I do not really do the whole HEY EVERYBODY thing but improvements in body language and client perception can definitely be made.

[CRAZY K]

I wasn't quite sure how to word the title...

I was thinking about this the other day. I have seen a number of DJ's over the years that do a decent enough job but when it comes to talking on the mic, they seem a bit lost at times. I don't think I have seen many DJ's introduce themselves.

Whenever I do a gig, it doesn't matter what kind of gig it is, I will introduce myself. For example: If it's a wedding and I have been playing background music for a while, at some point I will say something like....

"Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome to [insert venue name here]. My name is Gary and I'll be with you until Midnight. I hope you have all had a brilliant day celebrating with [insert names here] and I hope you have a great evening".

As with all gigs, that may go in one ear and straight out of the other with the guests but I think it's worth letting people know who you are as it makes it more personal. Another reason I mention this is because at last night's gig, at the end they were chanting my name which was really nice.

I know it's a simple thing and I'm guessing loads of people do it but if you don't....why not?

What do YOU do?

Unless its NOT a specific celebration always start by saying GOOD EVENING we are celebrating xxxxxxxxx -Wedding, Birthday , Retirement etc - and immediately getting a cheer/round of applause/happy birthday/congratulations etc for the Bride/ birthday person etc.

I make them the centre of attention from the start--which always seems to go down well---after all they know the people concerned not me--after that I will introduce myself.

If its not specific just say hello I am xxxxx( various names) your Caller/DJ for the evening and get yourself/partner on the dancing area etc.whilst revving up the volume:D

I dont often worry a lot about the end--sometimes if theres a big round of applause --Portsmouths John Lloyd 10th Birthday extravaganza-

Good night form the UKs No1 Caller--probably iinfringing some law or the other in the process:beer1:

[WWDJ]

They basically said I was focusing the attention on me and not what the guests are there for - ie the bride and groom!!]

Surely not!!!! Lol :D :D :D


As I said elsewhere, I think you need to get some emotion and excitement into your presentation Toby. I think it's very wooden.

I've heard tons worse and I mean a lot worse. It's a fine line between speaking confidently and clearly and 'Smashie and Nicey'. For the time of the evening I thought they were both ok to be honest

.... You are a hard man to please though Darren :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yes I will make a point of bringing that up on the monday workshop.

I would benefit from a days toastmaster course or something??

I do not really do the whole HEY EVERYBODY thing but improvements in body language and client perception can definitely be made.

It doesn't need to be louder, you just need a little more emotion and tone in your voice. At the moment it sounded like you are reading from a script if you see what I mean?




.... You are a hard man to please though Darren :D

I know, but it is constructive though.

You're right, it is clear, but lacks excitement, especially when introducing the tribute act. You need to be exciting and get the crowd ready to party when working with acts IMO.

I am proud of my mic technique and probably a little too critical of others, but it's always been very important to me.

[Javlingames]

It doesn't need to be louder, you just need a little more emotion and tone in your voice. At the moment it sounded like you are reading from a script if you see what I mean?



I know, but it is constructive though.

You're right, it is clear, but lacks excitement, especially when introducing the tribute act. You need to be exciting and get the crowd ready to party when working with acts IMO.

I am proud of my mic technique and probably a little too critical of others, but it's always been very important to me.
Darren we keep hearing you say how you are an 'entertainer' where are your videos ?? You constantly comment on others. Show us the money. I may get banned for this but I feel it would be beneficial for us mortals to watch the 'god'

[DJ Jules]

I think introducing yourself by name is important at events - but I agree with the above in that it should be done after announcing the hosts of the party so as not to take the focus off the party.

From experience I've found that when you give your name a) people are a lot less likely to give you abuse (because you're a named person not just a DJ) and b) people are more likely to remember you afterwards and look you up as you've given them something to identify you by, you're no longer just a nameless face.

Julian

[SC Events]

Mine's usually along the lines of:

Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome to [Insert names] Wedding Reception here at [Insert venue].

My name's Scott and i'll be your DJ for this evening, so if you do have any requests, please feel free to ask me and i'll do my best to play them for you during the evening.

...Sometimes i'll add:

In the mean time, why not relax, have some fun and come and have a little boogie/dance on the dance floor :D

[Jonny Boy]

I do not at the start anymore - and focus on the bride and groom.

I got a roasting from Derek Pengaly and Alan Marshall ........
They basically said I was focusing the attention on me and not what the guests are there for - ie the bride and groom!!

Can't view the clips on this PC, so going on what I remember from the clip of you I saw a while ago...

And I think one has to tread a fine line. Personally, I don't think attention/spot light being on the artist/DJ (even at a wedding) is a bad thing...providing the real focus of the night is/keeps being re-clarified. If you're hosting/performing I think one has to explain/justify to an audience why you're stood there. Validate why what you say requires their attention. And it does require their attention: because the couple have hired you to act as a prism for their glory.

(God that sounded pretentious!)
Essentially what I'm saying is that i think establishing your role first and then swiftly moving onthe the focus of evening is a useful mechanism...

My mind goes back to the presentation Mark Walsh gave @ ProDJ with the clips from Mike Macintyre @ Royal Variety and a top guy from the NE (Steve Walls?). Both were commanding presences, sucking the audiences attention.... which then enabled them to highlight the reason they/the audience were there.

They were HOSTING rather than just commetating. So it rather depends on the kind of "show" your clients are expecting.
Some entertainers are more comfortable shielded behind a big booth - and therefore need to be more succinct.
I am sure from an audience's p.o.v. announcements like that are just like a voice out of the darkness, however.

Solitaire's criticisms of your style aside, as I remember it Toby, you were hosting...not commentating. :cool:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Darren we keep hearing you say how you are an 'entertainer' where are your videos ?? You constantly comment on others. Show us the money. I may get banned for this but I feel it would be beneficial for us mortals to watch the 'god'

1. I am not going to be baited by you.
2. I don't have to prove anything to you
3. I have never said I am any kind of god or better than anyone else.
4. With comments like that, you will be staying permanently in the sin bin.

[Excalibur]

Darren we keep hearing you say how you are an 'entertainer' where are your videos ?? You constantly comment on others. Show us the money. I may get banned for this but I feel it would be beneficial for us mortals to watch the 'god'

Many of us claim the exact same thing. Some of us wear it as default setting/badge of honour. As yet, I've never been required to prove it personally.

[Silver]

Many of us claim the exact same thing. Some of us wear it as default setting/badge of honour. As yet, I've never been required to prove it personally.

Sitting on the fence with my devil's advocate hat on here. I can see what Javelin is suggesting, however I do think though it could have been done somewhat more tactfully.

If somebody is proud of their equipment set up, they post evidence in the gallery. If somebody is proud of their mixing skills they post evidence (see thread about Alan Nichol in gallery). If somebody is proud of some piece of kit they bought or made they post evidence of it. If somebody is proud of their playlist they post evidence.

So, to me it is not wrong in asking somebody to show how good they are on the mic. We all know it is an extremely important aspect of our job and as we are all trying to improve our performance to see somebody who is good at the using the mic surely can only benefit all?

Now, if that person does not wish to show his/her skills that is totally their prerogative.