In case you missed it in my last blog post, I am in the process of consolidating my audio production portfolio and my existing wedding DJ website into one entity. Consolidation of these two entities will not only save valuable resources, but it will also allow me to get more content up online in a more timely manner. During my radio career, I learned how to produce audio, and as is the case when learning how to ride a bike, you never forget how to do it. I will be sharing some of the audio production I've produced over the years, as well as projects I've put together in the past year. It is my belief that when searching for a wedding DJ, you'll want to hire someone with exceptional production skills. Being a wedding DJ is so much more than loading a bunch of expensive equipment into a venue and playing music. Over the years, I've been tasked with creating special edits to songs, as well as mashups for songs. that were used for some of the most special moments on my clients wedding day.  In addition to some of the projects I've put together over the past several months and years, I will also be sharing some of the reasons why you need to hire a professional wedding DJ who has the attention to detail to design and produce audio.

For those of you who are landing on my blog looking for the best wedding DJ for their most special day, you are in for a treat today. It's funny. If you talk to my web designer, he'll tell you that the "About" page might be one of the lesser travelled pages on anyone's website. Imagine this. You are looking for the person who is going to make or break your wedding day and you don't want to know about them? You are getting ready to invest your own hard-earned money into your wedding and still don't want to learn who it is you are going to be working with?  I don't think I've updated my "About" page in several years, but the reason I have decided to talk about my radio experience leading me into becoming a successful wedding DJ is because those experiences shaped a lot of how I see music today. Also, in the coming months, I will be taking down my audio production website and moving some of that portfolio and blog over to my main wedding DJ blog. Since I am a one-man shop, I no longer have time to dedicate to "trying" to maintain a presence and content-creation on two blogs. Since my wedding DJ blog is one of the most travelled by brides and grooms and music lovers, I felt it was a good fit to put some of this content up for you. 

Since the beginning of my journey as a wedding DJ, I've always put my focus on the music. I've always consulted with my clients and let them know that the music they should choose for their wedding day should be based on their musical preferences. That being said, even in the second half of 2024, I still get clients inquiring about having a classic or vintage vibe at some point during their wedding day. Back in 2019, I recall one of my clients putting their trust in me in creating a playlist for their cocktail hour that highlighted some of the best 60s and 70s soul music. I've actually had a screenshot reminder in my phone for many months to put this blog post together for you.  Hiring a wedding DJ who is truly passionate about the music is the best investment you could make for the most special day of your life. No one will remember the lighting, the photobooth, or even the food for that matter,  but they will remember all of the music that made you and your fiance and friends stay out on the dance floor all night long. Enjoy this trip back to an era of amazing 60s and 70s soul music. 

Back in the summer of 2017, I had a client have me put together a cocktail hour playlist for their wedding that was mostly "yacht rock".  Shortly after I performed at that wedding, I put together a blog post and accompanying Spotify playlist that has seen thousands of views from all over the world.  If you've spent any time on the other portions of my blog, you know that as a professional wedding DJ, I will always look at a client's wedding day as a classy, sophisticated affair.  If you do a lot of searching on Google about yacht rock, the word "sophisticated" will show up quite frequently. Yacht rock is perfect for a cocktail hour at your wedding. Most of the artists you'll see on a yacht rock playlist are some of the most outstanding musicians. The musicians you tend to see on a yacht rock playlist are masters of their craft, and ones that you'll want the best headphones on the planet or stereo system to listen to for their perfect sounds and composition.  Now, I will put a link to the first yacht rock playlist that I published on my blog down below, but I felt that due to it's popularity it was time to create Volume 2. In the time since I created Volume 1, my experience and knowledge with the genre has expanded.  For a truly classy and sophistiicated sound during the cocktail hour at your wedding, you should let your wedding DJ know you are very interested in having that yacht rock sound.

The day you finally get to marry the man or woman or your dreams will become one of the best days of your life. For some couples, the journey to find their soulmate may not have been easy. Your journey may have been met with many curves or forks in the road, but those days are in the past and you just got engaged. Things just got "real" between the both of you. You are going to be spending the rest of your lives with each other.  You are both so giddy right now. You haven't even told your parents, but I bet "he" already spoke with your dad and got his permission to propose to you. :) Such a classy guy, eh? In all seriousness, you are engaged now. Are you still pinching each other right now? Stop it! You both are going to be sore. Instead of pinching each other, why not just go have this amazing makeout session, sort of like you did when you first met.  I know you've got a flood of thoughts going through your mind. Like "I can't wait to see him in that black tux", or "is she gonna be wearing one of those really hot, modern wedding dresses that shows how beautiful her legs are?" Whoa whoa. :) Take a deep breath. Before we get into the minutiae of your wedding day, you really need to ask yourself in a serious way what your expectations are for this most special day. 

It's time to put together a blog post that might become one of the most visited on the internet.  Well, at least that is the goal, as most all of my other 80s content on the blog is constantly being stalked by people from all over the world. Over the past few months, I've put some time into discussing some of the trends I've been seeing in the wedding industry. Sometimes I veer off in those types of directions because I want to provide my point of view on certain things. I may also veer off into those directions because I am trying to help modern brides and grooms find the best wedding DJ for their big day.  While the reception to those types of articles have been positive, I felt it was time to put together a blog post that goes back to my roots as a wedding DJ, and actually even before I was a wedding DJ. After all, if not for the music, I would never have gotten behind the mic on the radio or purchased a high-end DJ equipment rig to entertain hundreds of couples at weddings over the years.  Truth be told, I don't care about anything EXCEPT the music. It's the music that matters during every portion of your wedding day. Today's post has been a long time coming. If you are a modern bride or groom who loves 80s music and who wants some help in adding it your wedding playlist, you'll want to stick around and read on.

Aside from being a wedding DJ business owner who is absolutely passionate about the music, I'm probably one of the most analytical people you'll ever meet. Most savvy business owners constantly are analyzing all types of data to see where their future clients could be originating from. Years ago, I set out to build my online brand in a way that was sure to attract modern brides and grooms who are interested in hiring a top wedding DJ who gives them the best chance of curating the perfect mix of music for their most special day. Putting hours and hours into creating the content you are reading right now is only a fraction of the work to be put in for the development of my business. I find myself constantly analyzing website data to determine which modern brides and grooms are interested in hiring me, and even more importantly, "where" they are coming from.

After listening to some industry-leading wedding professionals speak on their podcast this past week, it was very refreshing to hear about a correction that had occurred after the post-COVID wedding boom of 2022 and into parts of 2023. And actually, I should correct myself in saying that this correction is still in progress and could be lasting for the next few years.  What can I say? I'm a savvy wedding business owner who has spared no expense over the past several years to attempt to attract modern brides and grooms who are looking for the best wedding DJ for their most special day.  I've spent a lot of my time and financial resources putting together a brand for my wedding DJ company and how I'd like to present myself as a wedding DJ.  The focus of my wedding DJ business is easy; it's a complete focus on the music. It is absolutely the music that matters on your wedding day. A lot of the discussion in these podcasts placed an emphasis on refreshing your memory on what it is that separates you from the rest of your competition.  While I navigate this wedding market correction, I've been trying to focus less on how saturated the wedding market truly is, and what it is that has brought hundreds of brides and grooms to my business over the years.  I get a smile on my face when I think about all of my past clients. They love their music just like I do.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I've always been a savvy business owner for close to 14 years. My goal from Day 1 was to portray my business with class. One of the most disturbing things I've done recently is actually "join" a Facebook group. About 4 1/2 years ago, when I launched my wedding DJ podcast, there were some Facebook groups who were run by people who did not want me to advertise my podcast in their group. Perhaps it was because they were jealous of my creation and they felt intimidated that it might actually take business away from them? Silly, Eh? That was 2019 - I have a feeling it's even worse these days. I never got offended that I was kicked out of those groups because to be honest with you, I would prefer my name not ever be tossed around any social media group. If you asked me how I've made all of my revenue since I've been DJing, I would tell you that less than 1/4 percent has been generated on social media. And I might be a little on the generous side in that estimate. You are going to want to read on so I can set you straight about why modern brides and grooms should NEVER book any of their wedding vendors from social media groups.

Somewhere along the way as it pertains to the history of wedding DJ businesses, someone came up with the idea that modern brides and grooms wanted all their services bundled together. Perhaps this person wanted their packages to resemble Happy Meals at McDonalds. Maybe they wanted their company to feel like you were ordering a pizza, so when you called up, you were offered "add-on" services.  The last time I ordered a pizza I got somewhat irritated when the person on the other end of the line kept asking me if I wanted breadsticks, some chicken wings, or even a two liter bottle of Coke. No, I just want a pizza. I mean, that's what a pizza place sells correct? All of those other items on the menu were designed to increase the total amount of money that a customer may spend on their visit to the restaurant. So, your favorite pizza restaurant decided to offer chicken wings. Here's the deal. Do you think those chicken wings will be the best you've ever eaten? Probably not, because remember you called a PIZZA place, so pizza is their specialty, first. Are you beginning to see where I am headed with this? I believe the year was 2019 when I opened up about the fact that I did not offer any add-ons like uplighting or a photo booth. I believe it's time once again to try to illustrate why I am still not interested in giving in to carrying these add-ons. I believe that modern brides and grooms could be thinking more about "convenience" of services, rather than hiring a true professional wedding DJ. Sometimes "convenience" is not the best decision, thus derailing your wedding day.  Remember this. "A jack of all trades is a master of none".