Are we adding sound or…?
I can't pass up this long-standing topic related to fellow DJs and sound producers. I deeply
respect the profession of these people who spend hours catering to the incessant demands of
drunken and well-leavened guests at an event who often spill drinks on the counters and
mumble unintelligibly. The DJ I worked with for 15 years takes these events so calmly that I
often wonder if he himself is mentally clocked in and normal. But I realize that it all probably
depends on the routine. But whatever my routine is, with so many events, it is difficult for me to
live through the common occurrence of the guest who has had a little too much to drink and who
does not consider that the equipment is an expensive thing and that it must be taken care of.
The newlyweds want loud music so they can let loose on the dance floor, yet opposite the DJ is
the maddened aunt of the bride, who wants the music turned down drastically because she
"can’t hear herself!!!". What should we do? Increase or decrease? Should we listen to the
newlyweds, or should we listen to the aunt? You're going crazy!
And this is still only the beginning of the celebration. Towards the middle, when the guests are
already a few drinks down, the real communication begins. If that's what we can call the verbal
correspondence from the guests. The newlyweds clearly indicated what kind of music they
wanted and what should be avoided, even if some of the guests also made claims against the
unwanted style. But no! They don't understand! You politely tell them that the newlyweds have
certain requirements for the style of the music, but they continue to stomp in one place. They
threaten to fire the DJ, behave rudely and without restraint or often with lines "Do you know who
I am?" Well, regardless of who the guest is, there are newlyweds who pay for the service and,
accordingly, "order the music".
Suppose there is a way to deal with everything. Patience! Patience! And again...Patience! The
ultimate goal is for the event to pass under the auspices of excellent mood and fun.
The topic of our conversation leads us to another problem that often affects Wedding events.
Namely, the participation of a group or performer in the program of the celebration.
I'm sure that it is clear to everyone that the participation of a group or performer requires a
sound system in order to have a constant clear sound that surrounds the entire venue -
restaurant, hall, terrace, etc. places. Well, this clear sound requires specific knowledge. But in
order to make a proposal for sounding a band, for example, we need to get to know the group’s
technical requirements. These technical requirements are usually obtained in writing from the
group. They must specifically state the following: number of participants in the group; types of
instruments; desire for free space to place the group/instruments; and, of course, technical
requirements – columns, console, inputs/outputs, and other details. Based on the information
provided, the DJ /many DJs can also provide sound for bands and artists if they have the
necessary equipment or can hire it/ or the sound producer can provide an offer to the
newlyweds with a specified value for sounding the band.
And here it begins
"Well, DJ has already made a proposal. Why do we have to pay extra for the sound of the
band?'
"But can't the DJ sound the band with the sound he suggested for the restaurant?
"But we don't have the budget anymore, and the DJ will have to sound the band as best he can,
but without money."
"We are paying for our own wedding and are very careful about what we spend money on. We
don’t have enough for sound!”
"But can't something be done so we don't have to pay for sound?"
…
…
…
etc.
And also…
"Well, the performer will bring his own sound system."
"A performer doesn’t need all that much."
"You guys figure it out when you’re there and let the performer deal with what he has. We’re
paying him, after all!”
…
…
…
etc.
Yes, but no! It doesn't work! It is important to know that a DJ offering his services for a given
Wedding Event has assessed the sound engineering only for the purposes of his particular work
– i.e. playing music / I try to explain in simple terms so as not to delve into technical statements
that will make it difficult for people who do not have knowledge in the field to understand/ The
DJ inspects the location if he is not already familiar with it/ and based on this inspection, during
which the size of the room is estimated; the number of guests who will stay in this room; need
for cables to draw electricity; locations for placing the columns, etc. he submits an offer with a
specified value for certain hours and additional ones /depends on how he creates his offers/.
It is important to know that voicing bands and artists /to do so professionally and without
unnecessary compromises that will disappoint the sound quality and, perhaps, the expectations
of the artists or band members/ requires a lot more technique than is normally provided for
simply sounding the room for the music to be played and the DJ speaking at key
moments/rituals during the event. Any compromise with the sound of bands and artists is a
huge mistake that newlyweds often make, despite the recommendations of the Event Organizer
or the DJs and Sound Engineers themselves, if they are in direct contact with the newlyweds.
Everything seems very easy and simple to them. But this is far from the case!
And here’s one of those scenarios…
"The performer will bring a sound system for his performance. DJ won't care to deal with it, so
let the value of his services be adjusted.'' Said and done! The value is adjusted with the clear
knowledge that the DJ will not have a commitment to the sound.
On the wedding day…
The artist comes with a console that he plugs into the DJ's equipment and leaves the console to
the DJ, of course, as everything goes through the speakers that he provides. Of course, the
DJ's speakers are not enough to produce good sound because he is clearly told that there will
be no commitment from his end. But on the day of the wedding, it turns out there is a
responsibility. The performer does not care that he did not prepare properly, and the DJ takes
full responsibility for everything, struggling with the available equipment to produce a good
sound. Yes, but it's not always that easy, no matter how good the DJ and his knowledge are.
The result is of face value when the artist starts with his first set. The sound is terrible, and the
newlyweds race to the DJ table, asking why that is. Well, how can it be? The technical
characteristics dropped by the artist do not match either the equipment of the DJ or the
equipment the artist brought. And the sound is terrible! Something between scratching and...the
roar of a small child! Or it's so quiet that the guests' voices overpower the sound of the
performance. The cacophony is complete and desperately irritating to the ear!
Here's another incident...
"They, the band, are our friends, and they'll sound themselves out to make it cheaper for us."
Good! So be it! None of the group bothers to go to the site and inspect it to assess what will be
needed. On the day of the wedding, a saxophone, bass guitar, lead guitar, pianos, and a singer
appear. So far, so good! All are available. But the equipment brought is so lousy that the sound
that comes out of it is...like a tortured screeching of instruments and the singer's roar. Horror!
I am most happy with the cases in which the person in charge of the group claims that the
equipment provided by the DJ for the event will also support the sound of the group. In this
case, however, the DJ adds a certain sound value, even if he does not add technique, because
it is one thing to be engaged as a DJ at a Wedding event, and another to include the sounding
of a band and artists / earlier going to the location, check-sound with the band, etc. important
activities/. 99% of newlyweds think it's so easy...it's some kind of console with lots of knobs that
you turn left and right, and that's it... If it was so easy, why doesn't the Wedding Agent just take
up this activity ?!? Or the photographer who isn’t taking pictures from time to time anyway?!? Or
the videographer – does he know how to turn knobs?!?
There are strange cases in which the newlyweds hire an artist for BGN 5,000, but are not willing
to pay for good sounding by this artist. The artist comes and makes a fuss about the DJ and
why he doesn't have this or that. How many times have we discussed that sound is important
and that we have technical characteristics that we must comply with? "No problem! We have
spoken with the singer." But it turns out that they haven’t! They simply omitted, in their desire to
save money, to tell her. And the singer comes and... it becomes a mess... And it's completely
understandable! She has her requirements, and it is only right for the newlyweds to comply with
them.
Another case…
"The group will bring everything they need! DJ has no responsibility!'
While this is being communicated, a representative of the group calls the DJ /usually in the
industry everyone knows each other/ and orders equipment. The DJ notifies the Wedding Agent
of this, and we, in turn, continue to communicate this to the bride and groom. "No problem!" they
say. How is there no problem? Are we going to have sound or not? Will the band have sound or
not? Who, in the end, has responsibility for the sound - them or the DJ?
And I like it the most... "Well, look what you can so that the sounding happens without money!"
Wow! So what do I do?!? Do I pretend to be a column, a desk, a sound? This service costs
money! If there is no sound budget, then bands and artists shouldn’t be booked. Or you’re
supposed to look for a set of performance + sound within the budget framework that the
newlyweds have set for themselves. What good is a great singer for BGN 5,000 if she won't be
heard and if her performance is not going to contribute anything to the event?
There are quite a few cases where the DJ, just so that they can get away from his head, agrees
to anything. Just leave him alone! And that's acceptable, but for how long?!? DJ equipment is by
no means a cheap pleasure – speakers, consoles, cables, microphones, batteries, jacks and i
don’t know what else... All this is very expensive! Maintenance is very expensive! Storage must
be very precise and requires funds. No money here, no money there...and tomorrow there is no
money for new equipment. But this is not the most labor-intensive either. It is difficult for me and
my colleagues with whom we have spoken to understand why we should be concerned when
newlyweds say, "Well, we are paying for our own wedding and you need to understand us."
What is there to understand? And who pays the DJ’s bills? Not him!?! And he has bills to settle -
equipment, support team, transport, warehouse rent, purchase of new equipment, etc. Who
pays for the wedding is irrelevant! If you want the relevant service, it must be paid for. In this
way, we can ask the videographer not to charge for his service, as well as the photographer, the
wedding agent, the florist, and... everyone! Because newlyweds "pay for their own wedding"! It
doesn't seem right, acceptable and understandable to me!
All of us, as humans, use given services. Whether for our personal event or in our everyday life.
Does anyone care who pays for the given service or product!?! They shouldn't. If the newlyweds
can't keep up with the budget, then they need to sit down again and think hard about what is
important and what isn't important to the look of their Wedding Day. No one hides that an event,
be it a Wedding or Corporate event, requires compromises.
Of course, in 15 years of experience in the event industry, I have also had clients who respected
every service and rewarded the efforts to provide it. No arguments and long pointless
conversations. And these are not necessarily people with funds. Rather, customers with a clear
appreciation of the trade-offs they have to make with one to get another. And this is where the
Wedding Agent comes to the rescue, who can specifically guide where a compromise can be
made, and where not.
(by wedding agent Adi Tsanova)
http://adiandjoanaeventsecrets.blogspot.com/
