To talk or not to talk?

[rob1963]

I'm wondering how much you chat on the mic at an average wedding, and why.

In my case, not much.

Apart from the obvious announcements for the first dance, cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet, last orders, time, bride & groom leaving etc I say very little on the mic...apart from asking for requests, asking people to get on the dancefloor (if it's empty or quiet), occasional song dedications & the odd quip.

I've always preferred to let the music do the talking.

If you are too chatty, I think it breaks up the music too much...and may also give the impression that you're "full of yourself" and love the sound of your own voice.

Thoughts?

[CRAZY K]

I'm wondering how much you chat on the mic at an average wedding, and why.

In my case, not much.

Apart from the obvious announcements for the first dance, cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet, last orders, time, bride & groom leaving etc I say very little on the mic...apart from asking for requests, asking people to get on the dancefloor (if it's empty or quiet), occasional song dedications & the odd quip.

I've always preferred to let the music do the talking.

If you are too chatty, I think it breaks up the music too much...and may also give the impression that you're "full of yourself" and love the sound of your own voice.

Thoughts?

When I was doing Disco 100% back in the mid 70s you HAD to be that kind of over the top DJ--otherwise you were labelled as some sort of introverted nerd who just played recorded music--anyone could do that of course:D

Think of Dragonflys big flashing i pod jukebox example nowadays--so have things changed really:D If you dont know about that--Dave please explain
:D

There was also a lot of DJs on the Radio who were "personality entertainers"
so you had to compete.

Things appear to have changed a lot-- I know nothing about Club DJ work which looks to be a speciality market--but from what I can see from doing some Wedding and Party Work recently theres still a place for timely announcements, special requests, getting the mums and dads up for the Twist, even the Locomotion last week which all ages joined in-- playing the Macarena for the kids and the big kids--:D

At Weddings and Fun Parties personally I wouldnt worry about the possible disruption between tracks at certain times--after all--your there to get them joining in and enjoying themselves--being paid to make sure they have a great time--perhaps they need a bit of cajoling and encouragement--get them out of the comfort zone. Your in charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Otherwise they might as well hire Dragonflys flashing i pod jukebox for £50:D

This is only at Weddings and Fun Parties--I appreciate different rules will apply outside that.


CRAZY K

[Vectis]

For weddings I always ask the B+G as part of the fact finding before the event.

If they don't know, or for parties other than weddings, I use the amount of cheese on the request list as a guide, otherwise just read the floor.

[Steve 'B']

I think its very important to communicate with the crowd. Anyone can play music. Generally speaking, people book PTE because of the fact I talk on the mic. Its when you start rabbiting that it annoys people. Say what needs to be siad with the occasional joke thrown in (you have to be sure your joke is going to work mind you). Me and all DJ's I know have a radio background so we are very vocal. As I said some love talking, others hate it.

[Penfold42]

Just slightly off the beaten track - So if it gets moved don't worry..:o

Have a gig at the weekend not a wedding.
Have spoken to the organizer asking how many people....only 40 people will be attending in a venue for 120 people....:eek:

I suspect that this would call for a lot of mic work to interact with the guests....or it could be a very interesting night..

[sleah]

When I was doing Disco 100% back in the mid 70s CRAZY K

Well, I remember when this was all open fields.........:D

I think Rob has got it pretty spot on - for a starting point anyway. I tend to go to a gig with that in mind to begin with, then just see how it goes. Some events you can be more of a personality, others it's better to be more low key, depends on the crowd.

[Dragonfly]

Just slightly off the beaten track - So if it gets moved don't worry..:o

Have a gig at the weekend not a wedding.
Have spoken to the organizer asking how many people....only 40 people will be attending in a venue for 120 people....:eek:

I suspect that this would call for a lot of mic work to interact with the guests....or it could be a very interesting night..

again totaly dependant on the crowd I did a gig where 19 of the 120 invited turned up and had a great night oh and not forgetting pride park stadium with the 8 person party .........yes they stayed till midnight.

but then done weddings with 200 people and you need a crobar to get them up??

when i worked in lincolnshire penmare i hated it funny bunch of people them in the town where i lived it was on a friday night same people same pubs same seats same conversations job if you did anything different they hated it.

[Penfold42]

when i worked in lincolnshire penmare i hated it funny bunch of people them in the town where i lived it was on a friday night same people same pubs same seats same conversations job if you did anything different they hated it.

I know what your saying.....I actually come from Sussex..took me a long time to even get accepted..let alone get an answer. So when you give it some on the mic they look really gone out....LOL

[Dragonfly]

its true mate to this day ive never seen anything like it ......you try and get a bit of motivation going and fun and its like youve asked to date their granny ...... and seriously ive only ever come across it in Lincolnshire.

[Vectis]

its true mate to this day ive never seen anything like it ......you try and get a bit of motivation going and fun and its like youve asked to date their granny ...... and seriously ive only ever come across it in Lincolnshire.

... where they DO date their grannies :p (or so I've been led to believe...) ;)

[Penfold42]

... where they DO date their grannies :p


Are you after a date then....I can arrange....:p

[wensleydale]

we've covered this before and i got don't talk too much.
i disagree with a lot of the comments about if you don't talk you become a mobile jukebox.
i think the key to good dj'ing is to choose the music that gets people up.
many people my age see djd who talk as old fashioned and cheesy (in a bad way).
they are used to going to bars and clubs where the dj doesn't even own a mic let alone use it.
in regards to what people pay for- they pay for the equipment and my knowledge of music.

However if they want chat I can chat. Shabba.

[CRAZY K]

we've covered this before and i got don't talk too much.
i disagree with a lot of the comments about if you don't talk you become a mobile jukebox.
i think the key to good dj'ing is to choose the music that gets people up.
many people my age see djd who talk as old fashioned and cheesy (in a bad way).
they are used to going to bars and clubs where the dj doesn't even own a mic let alone use it.
in regards to what people pay for- they pay for the equipment and my knowledge of music.

However if they want chat I can chat. Shabba.

I can only say looking at some of the playlists submitted to me for the last few Weddings theres a heck lot of people out there who know exactly what gets people up !

I suppose it depends on the type of function, as I said I only do Weddings and Fun Parties so a bit of chat goes with the territory.

I have no idea because ive never been asked-- but I would imagine people who just want non stop music without any DJ interaction dont expect to pay much????

If I was them I wouldnt either, I would hire Daves Dragonfly Flashing Jukebox :D how much is that these days?

Just my view,

CRAZY K

[BeerFunk]

I only use the mic when appropriate, and I agree that over-use makes for a very stereotyped cheesy DJ! The right music and mixing skills are far more important, I would say.

[rob1963]

I only use the mic when appropriate, and I agree that over-use makes for a very stereotyped cheesy DJ! The right music and mixing skills are far more important, I would say.

Not so sure about the mixing skills (unless you're working in a club)...

...but if you play the right music, you're more than 90% of the way there.

:)

[Corabar Steve]

I find that people by & large tend to ignore what a mobile DJ says on the mic anyway.

How many times have you had somebody come up & say "Do you take requests?" only moments after you've been on the mic encouraging requests?
Or a member of staff come & ask you to call last orders, seconds after you've called them at the time that the venue mamager asked you to?

I even had one on Friday night..... "Do you have a mic?"

"No my voice is always that loud"

[Ricesnaps]

I have to say that generall y I talk a lot less than I used to. Not sure exactrly why that is. I've always considered myself somewhat of a personality DJ. The cheeky chatty guy who picks up of what's going on around him involves the audience.

Somehow though, that doesn't seem to be apropriate any more. I do still make comment from time to time, but not nearly as much as I did. I guess I do feel it 's a shame that it's gone that way, but maybe it's about changing with the times.

Still I did some great mixing last night - little teasers dropped into the playing track (for example, used the vocal intro from Dub be good to me over MC Hammer). They absolutely loved it!

[CRAZY K]

I have to say that generall y I talk a lot less than I used to. Not sure exactrly why that is. I've always considered myself somewhat of a personality DJ. The cheeky chatty guy who picks up of what's going on around him involves the audience.

Somehow though, that doesn't seem to be apropriate any more. I do still make comment from time to time, but not nearly as much as I did. I guess I do feel it 's a shame that it's gone that way, but maybe it's about changing with the times.

Still I did some great mixing last night - little teasers dropped into the playing track (for example, used the vocal intro from Dub be good to me over MC Hammer). They absolutely loved it!

And you have that brilliant JTS Radio Milke as well to cut through the music--let me know if you want to flog it--:D

Does this mean I should start buying a fleet of Daves ( Dragonfly) Flashing Jukeboxes to hire out fro Weddings and Parties--now theres an idea :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[wensleydale]

don't think a jukebox is quite the same.

to me, the skill is playing music relevant to the event.
this may be the same stuf 99% of the time, but quite often the crowd doesn't know what to choose to get people up.

i think anyone can throw in a few dj cathphrases in when they need to, but theres a lot more to it these days- good rig, quality sound, professional customer service etc.

i think ray vaughan in phoenix nights made a lot of people realise what the general public think a mobile dj is like.....

[Dragonfly]

its horses for courses if you are good with the mic and confident then i personally see no reason not to use it but .......

it is a skill some people are good at it sme arent ..... yes if you are not confident or feel you are that good with a mic then its best not to use it .... i do quite a bit of mic work in my show and it has been probably the first reason that people who have seen me give when booking ( oh you did this and this and created an atmosphere which really impressed me instead of just playing music and standing there) please note i say first reason and not main ........ would hate to think people thought i played kak music at my gigs.

Of course if im asked to just play music then that is what will happen as well pointed out we offer a service and as such should provide as closely as possible what the client wants.

still stand by the juke box quote though ........ only difference is that not many jukeboxes have x thousand tracks on them so it may not be a case of people not knowing what gets people up but not having the choice and yes where our professionalism comes in .... what order to play them..... from a purely personal point of view i would feel very much like id short changed a client if i just turned up set up , played 80 songs then went home.

unless it had been asked for.

again ive had sooooooo many calls from people who saw a dj at a wedding last week and there was no atmosphere they didnt say anything and it was boring...... in contrast i personally have had one where the client was worried about over mic use that was because for their engagement party they had a dj that worked with them in their day jobs and all the way through he made work related jokes that only a handfull of people there got and inappropriate comments about the store cupboard etc.

as said my summing up is it is a skill to use a mic effectively , sensitively and without causing annoyance or offence if you can do it i see no reason not to if you cant dont.

[CRAZY K]

its horses for courses if you are good with the mic and confident then i personally see no reason not to use it but .......

it is a skill some people are good at it sme arent ..... yes if you are not confident or feel you are that good with a mic then its best not to use it .... i do quite a bit of mic work in my show and it has been probably the first reason that people who have seen me give when booking ( oh you did this and this and created an atmosphere which really impressed me instead of just playing music and standing there) please note i say first reason and not main ........ would hate to think people thought i played kak music at my gigs.

Of course if im asked to just play music then that is what will happen as well pointed out we offer a service and as such should provide as closely as possible what the client wants.

still stand by the juke box quote though ........ only difference is that not many jukeboxes have x thousand tracks on them so it may not be a case of people not knowing what gets people up but not having the choice and yes where our professionalism comes in .... what order to play them..... from a purely personal point of view i would feel very much like id short changed a client if i just turned up set up , played 80 songs then went home.

unless it had been asked for.

again ive had sooooooo many calls from people who saw a dj at a wedding last week and there was no atmosphere they didnt say anything and it was boring...... in contrast i personally have had one where the client was worried about over mic use that was because for their engagement party they had a dj that worked with them in their day jobs and all the way through he made work related jokes that only a handfull of people there got and inappropriate comments about the store cupboard etc.

as said my summing up is it is a skill to use a mic effectively , sensitively and without causing annoyance or offence if you can do it i see no reason not to if you cant dont.

Agreed the playing order is the key to it--

Having said that its very easy to to run up a perfect playlist for something like a party which will keep people up dancing--I did one years ago for NYE at a party I was invited to attend----started it an hour before Midnight and just let it run through--worked perfectly with Auld Lang Syne and Youll never walk alone at Midnight-- :D No DJ necessary :eek:

Probably one of the first DFJB gigs--Dragonfly Flashing Juke Box :D

CRAZY K

[wensleydale]

just out of interest- what things do you say at gigs that you think create atmosphere or gets people up?

[rob1963]

just out of interest- what things do you say at gigs that you think create atmosphere or gets people up?

I just try to be friendly & also attempt to be amusing at the same time...

...so if the dance floor is empty, I might wait until the song ends and then back announce it & say "It was great to see so many people dancing to that one!"

...or "We're not charging rent to use the dancefloor, so you can get up if you want to!"

...or "If I find out who's put glue on all your seats..."

Whatever I think of at the time, really.

:)

[CRAZY K]

just out of interest- what things do you say at gigs that you think create atmosphere or gets people up?

QUOTE=get that limbo rope lower--we want to have some fun here :D

Im going to leave Dragonfly (as a proper full time DJ) to answer this properly as my show is a mixture of Barn Dance with non stop instructions and general rabble rousing together with DJ ing through Party and Disco.

CRAZY K

[Dragonfly]

totally depends on the gig dont turn up with a tacky little black book of dj catchphrases usually just positive encouragement to get up and dance , come and say hello and ask for requests to set a friendly approachable atmosphere, get one or two singing along ...... as said there is no set dappy catchphrases for me its just being aware of surroundings and being spontaneous.

have to say im not the type to extract the michael out of people i try to be positive and just put some of the enrgy i have for the job into the audience.

[Ricesnaps]

just out of interest- what things do you say at gigs that you think create atmosphere or gets people up?

For me, it's about banter and a relationship with the punters. I have always (and still do when I can), like to pick out particular individuals who are a little quirky, or who seem to be doing something worth note. Then I generally tend to make the odd comment. Say for example there is a particularly scantily clad lady deliberately dancing in front of the booth, I might comment.

Then there's the general stuff you would normally say - the introductions for first dances, routinely inviting requests, Maybe making comments about a FULL dance floor, or a particularly good response to a track you weren't expecting to get one and so on....

Maybe I do talk a little still!

The only thing I have never done (I think someone made a comment or recomended that I didn't in my early days - it's stuck with me!), is make anouncements (however tongue in cheek or sarcastic) about an empty dancefloor - always felt that this is not the thing to do! (Sorry Rob, sure you completely dissagree with me - but hey, maybe I need to see an empty dance floor so I remember what it looks like! lol!)

[wensleydale]

still not convinced that this isn't a little ray vaugahn like....

[rob1963]

The only thing I have never done (I think someone made a comment or recomended that I didn't in my early days - it's stuck with me!), is make anouncements (however tongue in cheek or sarcastic) about an empty dancefloor - always felt that this is not the thing to do! (Sorry Rob, sure you completely dissagree with me - but hey, maybe I need to see an empty dance floor so I remember what it looks like! lol!)

Ricesnaps....of COURSE I completely disagree with you...no change there then! :p

I think that ignoring an empty dance floor & not saying anything to try & get people up just gives the impression that you don't care.

Hopefully I'll agree with something you say one day...or vice versa!

:D

[PropellerHeadCase]

Well, I disagree with both of you :p

[Ricesnaps]

Ricesnaps....of COURSE I completely disagree with you...no change there then! :p

I think that ignoring an empty dance floor & not saying anything to try & get people up just gives the impression that you don't care.

Hopefully I'll agree with something you say one day...or vice versa!

:D

Or maybe it just smacks of desperation?

It's important to remember the old saying - "just because they're not dancing doesn't mean they're not enjoying themselves".

There are plently of things you can say to encorage people. "Get on the bloody dance floor you lazy boring Bast*****" is probably not one of them!

[rob1963]

Well, I disagree with both of you :p

:lol:

[rob1963]

There are plently of things you can say to encorage people. "Get on the bloody dance floor you lazy boring Bast*****" is probably not one of them!

Ricesnaps,

I need you to sit down, as I'm about to say something you won't understand.....

.....I completely agree with the above comment :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Dragonfly]

still not convinced that this isn't a little ray vaugahn like....

its a fine line yes .

"leeeeeeeeeeeeets get ready to ruuuuuuuuumble"

and

"whoooo whooo wave your hands in the air like you just dont care"

are definately things that are naff but being yourself and putting your personal mark on a gig for me works well and has for years.

[Ricesnaps]

Ricesnaps,

I need you to sit down, as I'm about to say something you won't understand.....

.....I completely agree with the above comment :eek: :eek: :eek:

Well, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and realise that I'm right, takes a strong man to do that!

[rob1963]

Well, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and realise that I'm right, takes a strong man to do that!

:lol:

[PropellerHeadCase]

Jeez, guys, get a room ;)

[rob1963]

Jeez, guys, get a room ;)

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[Dragonfly]

or get a ...... "toilet" :D :D :D :D

[rob1963]

or get a ...... "toilet" :D :D :D :D

:lol:

[Corabar Steve]

Well, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and realise that I'm right, takes a strong man to do that!

Largely on account of the fact it's such a rairity :P :sj:

[Steve 'B']

Personally to sum up my opinion. I would like to think I have a nice balance between DJ and entertainer. DJ plays music and the entertainer is the stage type guy!! A DJ with a presence.

I did a gig last week (Sunday) during the day and because it was a BBQ type thing I was there and no one really danced. Daylight and constant food meant I stood more in the background. Anyway, got them going with the banter on the mic. I got the lady who booked me up and she was in tears of laughter. Her husband got involved and was telling me I had better take her home as I make her laugh more than he did. They all (everyone) turned around at 7 when I was packing up and siad 'that was the best party they had ever been to'. I almost turned totally from a DJ to a showman. I had the whole crowd eating from my hand. It was just what the party needed.

Point being, no chat would have meant, no party and no 'that was the best party they had ever been to' comment.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Personally to sum up my opinion. I would like to think I have a nice balance between DJ and entertainer. DJ plays music and the entertainer is the stage type guy!! A DJ with a presence.



Well said that man!

I also think the phrase 'I let the music do the talking' is very overused and also complete rubbish.

[Dragonfly]

i would agree with both the 2 previous comments totally

thats what i was trying to get at but you two made it crystal clear. nicely put.

[theoloyla]

Have just read all the posts on this thread. I have done a little radio work over the years and the standard advice I was always given was "be yourself when talking on the microphone. Be natural. Use conversation not lingo." The same is true of disco work. Catch phrases and inane comments make you sound like Ray Vaughn or Dave Doubledecks. If the dancefloor is full and they are dancing their socks off then there really isnt need to say too much in that situation the music does do the work BUT as has been pointed out when the audience are not being physical then you need to talk to them - and yes I agree cajoling people onto the dancefloor does sound desparate; so I seldom do it. DJ's who think they are god's gift and come accross on the mike that way are probably not going to be that popular (they are probably that way in a crowd whether they are dj'ing or not). As for cheese. I have more cheese than Sainsbury's and my audiences usually love me for it but my cheese is fresh and not mouldy or corny. As has been said it is really a judgement thing and part of the skill of being a dj - knowing when to shut up! As for those announcements - they always hear me! I make sure that my mike is loud and clear above the music. When I first started dj'ing in small pubs I didnt own a mike - but they heard all my announcements!!! Finally a good dj should be able to talkover music effectively so there is no need to stop the music.

[Shaun]

Personally to sum up my opinion. I would like to think I have a nice balance between DJ and entertainer. DJ plays music and the entertainer is the stage type guy!! A DJ with a presence.



That pretty much sums it up nicely.





How much interaction really all depends on the event and the crowd. Prior to the event it's always best to find out from the client what type of DJ they would like. Ask them about events they've been to before where there's been a DJ. Find out what they liked and didn't like about the DJ's they've seen. Some clients want a DJ that has a high level of interaction, whilst others want a more laid back and not too "in your face" type of entertainer. Different strokes for different folks!.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Different strokes for different folks!.

What you talkin' about Willis...:D

[Shaun]

I used to watch that show as a kid. Am I showing my age now? :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I used to watch that show as a kid. Am I showing my age now? :D

Yeah, just under your location, to the left.:p

[Steve 'B']

Yeah, just under your location, to the left.:p

very good:D