Monthly Archives: February 2012

ADJA helps with Phoenix DJ’s training – never stop learning

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In the mobile entertainment world you can classify DJ’s into two groups; professionals and hobbyists.  They both can look similar from the outside.  Both have websites, dj equipment, business cards and will charge for their services, but they are not the same.

Don’t get me wrong, being a hobbiest is nothing to be ashamed of.  Hobbyist normally have a love for music and being a part time dj is their way of sharing their passion.  Some hobbyist may even be a good choice for your wedding, but you need to understand their limitations.  I recommend reading this post to help discover what those may be, and to learn what questions you should ask a dj.

When I became a DJ in 2001 I had no idea about this division.  I used to look at DJs as the guy who plays the music (the hobbyist).  To some respects I was right, but I was missing the bigger picture.  Actually I was missing the crucial part of the bigger picture.  I was grouping all DJs into that hobbyist group and didn’t even know it.

My awakening came very quickly though.  Before my first solo event I started my training.  I worked under a veteran DJ named Tim Chisam.  Hi showed me what I was missing, and why we had to go beyond the music in order to call ourselves professionals.  He also made it clear that we always need to strive to be better or we are doomed to fall back into being a hobbyist.

I’ve taken that to heart over the years, and even after I struck out on my own I continued to look for ways to become better.  I’ve gone to conferences, I’ve watched countless videos, and most recently I’ve joined the American Disc Jockey Association.  Not only has this group of djs treated me warmly and with open arms, but they’ve also begun to help me understand how I can be better.

This group can quickly be the easiest way to determine what kind of DJ you’re interviewing.  Everyone of the DJs I’ve met through the association has a passion for being an entertainer and strives to learn more.  We’re actively seeking ways to improve what we do and exceed the expectations of our clients.

If you don’t have the time to research a ton of djs and interview each one, then start your search at adja.org first.  You’ll be happy you did.

Thank you for reading, and please visit my site below to learn more about Black Tie DJ Phx.

Phoenix DJ.

phoenix dj adja.org

 

Winning big at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards

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Winning a Grammy is a huge deal for artists and producers.  Winning 5 in one night is epic and the Foo Fighters did just that.  Winning 6 in a night is beyond epic and before last night Beyonce was the only woman to have done it.  Adele tied that record and for good reason.

Adele has launched into the American music scene in a big way.  Her album “21″ is an amazing look at her emotional roller coaster, and I’m sure something that most of us can relate to.  She shows how vulnerable she can be and at the same time demonstrates her strength and compassion.  Her voice is powerful and takes you on a journey that touches your soul.  Tender in one moment and overwhelming in the next.  Winning at the Grammys seemed inevitable.

Adele won for Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Short Form Music Video, and Best Pop Solo Performance.  ”Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone like you” were the two songs from her Album “21″ that stood out for the night.  She Performed “Rolling in the Deep” live, which was the first live performance since her vocal cord surgery.

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Foo Fighters performed their hit “Walk” which they won Best Rock Performance for.  They also took home Grammys for Best Rock Album (Wasting Time) and 3 others.  Dave Grohl (Frontman) pointed out that the “human element of making music is what’s most important, (it’s) not about sounding perfect, but what goes on in here,” pointing to his heart.

Kanye West also took home four, and Skrillet three.

Over all it was an amazing night for Adele and so many other artists.  I’m sure I’ll be bumping a lot more requests for these artists in the near future.

Thank you for reading this Phoenix DJ‘s blog.

 

Remembering Whitney Houston and her Music

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Being a Phoenix DJ, I have the distinct opportunity to hear requests every weekend.  One thing is certain, Whitney gets her fair share of them.  Her music can be fun or serious and Whitney had the talent (and the voice) to make you believe every performance was coming from her heart.

Here are a few of the songs that show us why Whitney will never be forgotten.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody

This song is a great dance song.  It even has dance in it’s name; how could it not be great?  I’ve played this at more singles dances and parties then I can remember.  It just sends such an up-beat outlook on why we dance. Don’t forget the big hair in the video.

 

Greatest Love of All
This song was a big part of my early childhood.  My sisters and I used to sit in our play room and listen to certain songs.  We would belt them out as loud as possible, and we didn’t care if we sounded good or in my case not so good.  This was one of those that we went for broke with.  I think of that time in my life every time I here it, and I’m reminded of how important music is for all of us.

 

It’s Not Right but it’s Okay
Whitney was still relevant until the end.  In the last few years she was releasing great music.   This one was back in 2007 and she had another album with great music in 2009.  She never quit doing what she loved, and I’m thankful of that.

 

I Will Always Love You
This may be one of the most remembered songs of her career.  She belted this out will the power and grace that only Whitney can produce.  Even Jennifer Hudson singing “I will Always Love You” at the Grammys was only a shadow of how Whitney shined.  Dolly Parton may have written this but Whitney made it a legend.

 

We will miss Whitney, but her voice will live on through our speakers.

Thank you Whitney for everything you gave us.

Cortina School Jog-a-Thon

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Last November I was the disc jockey at an amazing back yard wedding for Kim Betancourt,  which was a lot of fun.  When she called me to DJ an event for her son’s school, I was thrilled.

Cortina Tigers Banner

Cortina Elementary School was putting on their annual jog-a-thon.  Cortina has over 1,200 kids K-8, so I had my work cut out for me.  Six hours of kids rushing the DJ booth can be all lot to take, but the students at Cortina were great.  They were there to have a fun time and treated me (and my equipment) with respect.  Clearly the Cortina teachers are having a positive effect on these kids.

Phoenix DJ at Cortina Jog-a-Thon

Phoenix DJ Budd at Cortina Jog-a-Thon

Watching them compete in this fund raiser was extremely entertaining.  The kindergardners were very cute as their little legs took them around and around the field.  Even the older kids were having a good time.

Through out the day kids were swarming my booth but Ricky Drinkwater(PTO president’s husband) was there quizzing each kid before they could make a song request or shout out.  As a new parent I really appreciated the focus on learning.  Ricky also stepped in to cheer on the kids as they continued their laps.  It was nice to see the teachers and school staff getting into the spirit of the event.  Even the assistant principal put in six miles worth of laps.

Cortina Principal and Assistant Principal with Kim

Cortina Principal and Assistant Principal with Kim

Overall the day was a huge success and I plan on being a big part of events to come.  The kids in this school are incredible and I enjoyed every minute of the jog-a-thon.

Cortina is having a carnival on April 20th of this year which should also be fun.  You will see me there bumping the music and hanging out with the kids.  Feel free to come by and say hi.

As always, thank you for reading and if you’re looking for a Phoenix DJ please check out Black Tie DJ PHX.

How to Interview a Wedding DJ

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Why you should be asking the questions

DJs are in a service profession where the first contact comes in the form of sales. They have to sell their ability (or their company’s ability) to you. This means they put their best foot forward and omit any facts that might tarnish their pitch. Don’t get me wrong, this is the same for any service provider, and the majority are good people that will bend over backwards to make your wedding special. This doesn’t change that fact that it’s your job to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting when booking your DJ. This is also your time to weed out any inexperienced DJ that should be practicing their trade under a veteran, and not at your wedding. For this reason I want to give you the tools that will help you find the great DJs in the sea of amateurs.

Qualification Questions

  1. Are you available for my wedding?
  2. What is your starting price and what does it include?
  3. Am I guaranteed to have the DJ I meet with?
  4. What insurance do you carry?

 

Detailed Questions

  1. Tell me about your training/experience. (Where did they learn to DJ?, what got them started?, how long have they been a DJ?, What types of events do they DJ the most?)
  2. Tell me about a typical wedding reception for you.
  3. When was the last wedding you preformed at? Can I call them as a reference?
  4. Do you bring back-up equipment? (This is a must. Equipment fails from time to time)
  5. Is your music “radio edit’?
  6. Do you take requests?
  7. How early do you arrive on site?
  8. Will you have an assistant? (this doesn’t mean an assistant makes a better DJ, but you will want to know if you are feeding the DJ(s))
  9. What is your standard attire? (if the standard attire doesn’t fit your theme ask if they can wear something more appropriate. i.e. cowboy wear instead of a tux)

 

Additional info about the questions

Professionals are happy to answer any question you think of. It gives us a chance to reassure you that you are making the right choice, so ask away.

Most of these questions have a straight forward answer to them. Always ask for guarantees in writing and make sure the contract mirrors what was agreed upon. This includes what equipment they are bringing (you don’t need the exact brand, just the general terms i.e wireless handheld mic, lighting setup).

Insurance is a question that should always be looked into. Many amateur “DJs” I’ve met say they’re insured, but all they have is a home or auto policy that covers there equipment from theft or damage. True event insurance will allow for the venue to be covered for your event date. Make sure that the DJ you choose can add that venue to his policy for your wedding day. This is standard practice and a professional will not mind.

The detailed questions will help you feel out how comfortable the DJ is with preforming at a wedding. The more experienced they are the easier the answers will come. There isn’t an exact answer you should hear but you should feel comfortable after the Q&A is done. Some questions will be less important to you, but this will help get you thinking about what type of DJ you want.

I purposely omitted “Can I attend an upcoming wedding to see you DJ?”. As a DJ I do not think it’s professional to invite future brides to a wedding I’m DJing. If I’m working then I want 100% of my focus on the event I’m at, and I can’t do that if I’m trying to coordinate with a new bride at the same time. In addition to that, would you want a stranger at your wedding? This is not the feeling of every DJ so you’ll have to use your own judgement on this.

Closing thoughts and self promotion

I hope this helps with your search for a DJ. There are a lot of great people out there that want to make your wedding as special as it can be. DJs play a big part in letting your guests have a memorable time. If you ever need a Phoenix DJ I would love for you to ask me these questions.

Thanks for reading and congratulations.