This past weekend I attended the Canadian DJ Show which was held at the Doubletree in Toronto. This was a 2 day event that included of some excellent seminars from industry leaders all across North America as well as a trade show, sales and DJ performances.

I had the opportunity to talk with some excellent industry leaders and ask them each a couple of questions that I could share on my blog.

Tom Haibeck, Vancouver, BC
Author of Wedding Toasts Made Easy & The Wedding MC

1) Aside from reading your book, what would be a couple of key suggestions to wedding couples in planning their time line for speeches and time limits on speeches?
One of the key mistakes couples make with regard to the planning of their wedding toasts is to simply not give it enough thought. They need to think carefully about who they will ask to speak at their wedding, as some people shine and others simply don’t have the public speaking experience and confidence required to address what could be 200+ guests.  Couples also need to give their “toasters” plenty of time to prepare. That often gets left to the last minute (sometimes on the actual day of the wedding) and that can result in total disaster.

2) Why do you consider it important to have a professional or experienced MC at a wedding or any formal event?
Any time a gathering begins to number more than about 25 people, it becomes a “special event.” When that happens, it’s necessary for someone to lead people through that event – and the more guests involved, the greater the need for that kind of leadership and direction. In the same way that a business meeting typically requires someone to chair it, a special event needs someone to emcee it.
And again, wedding couples need to give careful consideration to who they ask to be their emcee. In some cases, a close friend or family member will be the perfect choice to “host” the wedding on their behalf. But if no one seems to be a fit for that role, then it’s probably best to hire a professional emcee.

Chris Jaeger, Massachusetts, USA
Marketing to Brides Online

1) For a newly wed couple that is researching wedding DJ’s, what would you suggest be a couple of key things to look for on their websites?
I think an engaged couple planning a wedding should look at a DJ’s website and expect it to be a very professional presentation. The look and feel of a website is probably a good indication of the type of service they will get. It’s a pretty good “first impression” of who they will be working with. In addition to being a professional presentation, it should also have some “personality” to it. Brides and grooms are not buying a car battery, they’re hiring someone who is going to be working with them to plan their wedding and who will be entertaining them, their family, and guests. I don’t want to come across as an alarmist, but brides and grooms should be very careful about hiring the wrong DJ and avoid the “new kid on the block” just because they offer a low price. This mistake is almost always the reason you hear about horror stories at wedding receptions. Hiring a seasoned professional with plenty of experience will make all the difference!

2) Did you see or learn anything cool while attending the CDJ show in Toronto? I saw a purple disco light that would look GREAT in my living room, oops – sorry, my mind slipped back into the 70′s there for a minute! I met some very seriously dedicated business owners who are actively trying to take their business to the next level, to extend their professional experience and education, for the benefit of their customers. This is very refreshing to see and it’s nice to meet business owners who are thinking this way. The Best of the Best always attend these type of conferences, and that was confirmed to me at the Canadian DJ Show in Toronto.

Ben Stowe, Minnesota, USA
NLFX Professional

1) What lighting effect would you consider to have the most impact to a wedding reception to create a ‘Wow Factor’? It’s hard to pinpoint it down to one effect.  Each has their purpose, and it’s a cumulative effect.  Many people look at the effect generated by a Blisslight with a “wow” response, while others are taken in by a monogram, and yet the effect that probably creates the biggest single room transformation is carefully placed washes on and up walls.  When used together you really have an impact.  Sprinkle in some low lying fog, some pin spotting and maybe some break-up patterns and you really have a winner in my book.  It’s important to note that it all depends on the client’s vision and wishes for the event though.

2) Do you see any new trends in lighting for weddings or events aside from up-lighting and wedding monogram projection?
Essentially the trends are driven by 2 things in my opinion.  The first being innovation and adaptation.  A lighting provider either innovates a technique or effect, or borrows and adapts one from theater to a wedding setting.  The second being culture and popular influence.  People see things elsewhere and want it and the trend grows.  Obviously technology drives innovation.  Up-lighting was around long before LED, but LED’s efficiency and low heat makes it much more practical for wedding venues.  I’m hesitant to say what I think the “next big thing” is, but we are seeing more and more pin-spotting, low lying fog with spotlighting, and certainly more DMX control of the fixtures to achieve control over the entire room’s “feel”.   DMX control allows the room to change with the flow of the night.

Thanks very much to Tom, Chris & Ben for contributing to this blog. I had a great time at the CDJ Show, learned some great things and bought a couple more lighting fixtures to add to our inventory.

Terry Holdershaw, Entertainment & Audio-Visual Director
Scotia Entertainment provides Professional DJ, Live Entertainment & Audio-Visual Services for Weddings, Corporate & Social Events throughout the Toronto & surrounding areas.