New York DJ

 
On July 24th, New York State’s law allowing same-sex marriages went into effect. Throughout the state, and in New York City, a huge number of couples waited to take their vows in the early morning hours at various marriage bureaus. From the start of the day it seemed every news report on television, the internet, and in newspapers that you came across all remarked strongly on the intense feeling of thrill, giddy disbelief, and often the joyful release of emotions long-held inside.

We feel great that same-sex couples have finally won these new rights, but also, for a company like us that loves to plan and spin at all kinds of unique weddings – be  it same-sex marriages or those “other” kind – and has been doing it for years, this is also exciting for us professionally as well. Recently, Dan and I were interviewed for UK radio, on BBC Radio 1 (and featured in their on-line article), in which we talk about our enthusiasm for same sex weddings. The interview is below, and you can read the article here.

We anticipate there will be a huge increase in same-sex couples wanting to marry, and just like the other couples who tend to be attracted to our approach, gay and lesbian couples are going to want it to be a wedding personalized to them, and not some generic, cookie-cutter party with tired music and over-long or obnoxious MC announcements. We’re excited to what the future will bring, and to get to know what each of these couples see as their vision or vibe for their special day. Whether a couple envisions a celebration that’s more traditional, or wants a large-scale bash at a huge space, or prefers an eccentric, low-key lounge vibe, or desires a cozy gathering at an old converted brownstone – whatever the case, this kind of customization is what has been our specialty for a long time. We’re looking forward to working with more same-sex couples in this way – while also looking forward to integrating new ceremony or reception moments for these couples that may emerge as being popular crowd-pleasers at same-sex weddings

As a DJ company that is already experienced in planning and spinning at same-sex weddings, it’s really going to be fun and special for us to take that experience and match it with the joy and enthusiasm that we know so many gay and lesbian couples will have for planning their wedding, now that they are, after a long wait, official.

BBC Radio 1 Interview with djnyc

When we meet to talk with clients about music for their event, often the first thing we notice is that they've already dejectedly decided the music they really like and want to hear won't be able to be played at their event.

It may be a designer in a fashion show thinking that the music she wants to use for her fashion line will be too ethereal a sound to keep the audience interested. Or a couple who loves moody acoustic indie pop but thinks it would be too much of a downer to play a little at their wedding Or an organizer of a corporate party who worries that the employees won’t dance because they tend to like raw Southern hip-hop and their bosses wouldn’t. Whatever the case, whatever the event, it seems this kind of unfortunate premature musical censorship is everywhere.

It often comes from a good place of common sense or consideration, like an organizer at a art opening knowing that prospective buyers might not want to hear his beloved deep cuts of ‘70s classic rock all night long. But some of our clients’ decisions that their favorite songs or genres won’t work comes not from a good place at all, but instead from having met with conventional, unimaginative DJs that tend to work for bigger, more cookie-cutter DJ companies. We’ve heard from these clients that some of these DJs have told them straight up that the only way to get a party movin’ is to play disco all night.

Whatever the reason for clients' doubts in the music they love, one of the first things we tell them – no matter what their event –  is to open up their mind, revisit their CD collection or iPod, and make their “dream list” of songs they want to hear, with no censoring allowed. Put anything in you would love to hear. Not only does it make the process of selecting music easier, but also more fun. It will get you excited about the possibilities of hearing this music, as opposed to nixing songs right away and feeling frustrated that the soundtrack to the event is already not what you would like.

Now, will all these "dream songs" end up making the cut when the event arrives? Sometimes many of them do, sometimes they don't. But what always happens is that when we see these “dream lists” and talk a bit with the client to see what music is most important to them, we can then use our experience in knowing what of these songs will work given the mood that is wanted at the event, as well as what kind of guests will be there, and what kind of structure the event will have. Then we can suggest which songs to keep, which to think about not using. For example, a pair of melancholy indie songs at the more sedate moments in a wedding can feel absolutely right and even moving. So can a set of obscure hardcore punk during the more boisterous moments of a corporate party. And even a little experimental progressive rock can enhance the feeling of an art opening, if played at the right time.

By far, many more of the songs you really want at your event then you ever think you can play are actually able to be fit in, but not only that, they can be made to add to the atmosphere of the event. But to do it, you have to begin by letting the DJ know what you really want to hear. And if that DJ looks at your list, smirks, and says something about how you can't have a party without having "the Y" on your list, well, you know the time has come to find a different DJ.

As we’ve said before on this blog, one of the best things about being a DJ in New York City and the surrounding area is that often we spin for clients who, for a number of reasons – cultural or religious background, personal style, their guests’ music tastes, or a combination of these – want a mix of music at their events that’s very unique and personalized to them. Not that this doesn’t happen to DJs in other cities; it’s just that because of the sheer number of people and cultures and attitudes living here, the new and different in New York is a asked for and expected a lot more.

You may think that these fresh and creative approaches would be expected at events we perform at, like fashion shows, cultural events for city agencies, entertainment industry “wrap” parties, and the like. But you may not think they apply to weddings as much. To many, when they think of music at a wedding, they think of the same old stale combination of songs that often boil down to a mixture of overplayed oldies, disco and a steady dose of often vapid current Top 40 hits. But we’ve found that the opposite is mostly true – the couples that we DJ for always come to us with a unique and fresh vision of the music mix they want. And while this often, yes, includes some accessible “crowd pleasers,” the overall feel of the weddings that our clients demand is one that is highly unique. This can be due to a very specific vibe that the music needs to accentuate, or a component of ethnic songs and dances, or the couple’s insistence on a dance set of more obscure, less “wedding-friendly” genres that they know their friends will love, like hardcore punk or moody indie pop.

This more personalized approach to weddings even applies to what is often the most delicate part of  a wedding – the ceremony processional. Many times couples who meet with us initially think they have to use classical songs here, as that’s what they’ve seen at weddings both in real life and on TV and in the movies. Classical for the ceremony is the default that most all tend to accept – it’s just a matter of which composer or symphony you want to choose from, right? Well, not quite. Over the years, more and more couples are coming to us – and we’re also suggesting to them – music for processionals that in different ways offer a newer, more adventurous take on this moment in the ceremony. (For more on how to add some freshness to your ceremony music in general, and not just the processional, go to our blog post on that topic here.)

These options usually either are classical versions of pop songs, or a pop or ambient electronic song itself. Now, if you are a couple who this appeals to, be careful – you still have remember that the processional songs or song is indeed a delicate and sensitive moment and the music should feel right. The couples we’ve seen use pop songs don’t just throw in any pop song – yes, they make sure it is one they like, but also that it has the correct atmosphere for the processional. And this atmosphere, regardless of the wedding, tends to generally be, not surprisingly, one of calmness and beauty. That doesn’t necessarily mean the song you choose has to be a meek, quiet song, but let’s just say the feedback and dissonance should be held to a minimum, unless it can somehow sound pretty. (Which is rare, but it can be done – current indie bands like The Raveonettes, and ones before them like My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain and the Velvet Underground all accomplished it.)

Below are three examples of songs that can freshen up the processional but still keep it friendly and even make things surprisingly pleasant for those like the grandparents who might not appreciate such non-classical sounds. The first tune, “You Are Beautiful and Amazing,” is by a new-ish group from Austin, TX called  The Candlepark Stars. From their second album Shimmer and Gold, this instrumental is comprised of not much more than piano and a shimmering, U2-ish sounding guitar playing a simple melody line and some slight variations on it. But the melody line is a such a gorgeous one that it quickly draws you into its calm, reflective mood. The repetition of the basic melody also lends itself perfectly to the rhythm of a processional. We’ve got a bride-to-be using this song as her processional for her bridal party and for herself in July, and, like me, both she and her sister were quite moved by the song. The mood of “You Are Beautiful and Amazing” elicits so much more than the sum of its parts – the song sounds dreamy, cinematic, lush, tender, and, most impressively, slightly melancholic but always uplifting.

An example of a more mainstream vocal pop song that we’ve used before for the processional moment and has felt very natural is Bjork’s “All is Full of Love.” This song begins quiet and ethereally, and then gradually and beautifully builds to a more orchestral, sweeping middle and finish, and the calm but intense repetition of the song’s title is ideal for creating a mood of dreaminess and drama that both young and older guests can appreciate.

Finally, if you want a classical feel to your processional but are in search of an original take on it, a group out of L.A. called the Vitamin String Quartet is a perfect fit for you. This group creates classical arrangements to famous pop songs, old and new. One example we especially like and have used at processionals before is their “classicalized” version of Coldplay’s “The Scientist” from their second album of tribute to the band. In addition to being a great choice for a classical arrangement since “The Scientist” has both a reflective atmosphere and an orchestral feel at its core, the great thing about this version is that for the first several seconds, before the melody comes in, guests think it’s just a pretty classical song. Then, when they recognize it, they’re pleasantly surprised that they know it as a pop song, and you can feel them wondering where in the world the couple were able to find it.

The Candlepark Stars – You Are Beautiful and Amazing

Bjork – All Is Full Of Love

Vitamin String Quartet – The Scientist

Trying to determine if your DJ likes music may sound silly – if they’re DJs, a passion for music, or at least for a few styles of music, is a given, right? Well, unfortunately, it’s not. Over the years of being in the mobile DJ business in the New York City metropolitan area, we’ve seen first hand – and heard from many clients – that often DJs and DJ companies don’t seem to put a lot of attention to diversifying their playlists or taking the time to create an original mix of songs that is both accessible and fresh.

You probably know the kind of DJs I’m talking about – the cheeseball who cracks lame one-liners and wears a “cur-razy” silver sequined suit to incite you to getting up to dance to tired disco hits; or the cooler-than-thou hipster behind the turntables that yes, really knows his one genre of music, but, unfortunately, that’s all he knows, and so he plays it to death all night; or the DJ company that comes with a bunch of “party motivators” dressed in sexy or silly costumes and practically rips you out of your chairs after dinner, bullying you into dancing to a generic mix of recent Top 40 singles.

Yes, these are all things we’ve either witnessed or have had clients witness. Perhaps you have as well. And seeing this kind of thing calls into question that very basic assumption that a DJ actually likes music. If more of them did, maybe they’d be able to switch between genres more impressively, or need less gimmicks to cover up the limp quality of their song selections.

You’d think that even if a DJ or DJ company wasn’t that into the songs and instead more into the entertainment or MCing part of an event, at least they’d put a little time in to freshen up their playlist a bit for the events at which they spin. But this takes a bit more effort – to do it, you often need to meet more than once with a client to learn more about their specific musical preferences, or you need to spend time discovering what songs are popular in a newer or vintage genre that you might not be that familiar with. It’s much easier for these DJs or DJ companies to simply stay in their limited musical comfort zone, or to “help out” lame songs by doing something like having party motivators put on plastic dog masks and bark at guests as the DJ spins “Who Let the Dogs Out.” (Unfortunately, that’s a real anecdote about a DJ company that we recently heard from a client.)

So, to help you find someone who’s actually excited about crafting a playlist for your event instead of relying on a tired, limited, or a one-size-fits-all mix of songs, here’s a few questions you can ask when you interview DJs or DJ companies for your event. We welcome these questions from clients, and the good thing about asking these questions is that after you do, you should know from the DJ’s answers rather quickly whether they’re enthusiastic about music or certain genres of it rather quickly – luckily, passion tends to be hard to fake.

1) Ask The DJ What They Like to Listen to On Their Own – You can quickly find out a little information about a DJs personal preferences if you ask them this question. While they may tell you about songs or artists that you haven’t heard of, or ones couldn’t play at your event (the DJ may even be aware of this and mention it to you, just so you don’t get worried), getting an indication of their private tastes can be a window into seeing how unusually deep they are into a few types of music, or be the start of a slightly too detailed but endearing story about their large vintage record collection that’s threatening to take over their apartment. These answers are both good indicators that there’s a real enthusiasm for music going on there. Or, on the other hand, this question could result in an answer from the DJ about how they really dig the newest popular dance songs, like that new one “Tonight’s the Night” by The Black Guy Peas, and you’ll try to not crack your smile or a laugh since they don’t even realize they got the name of the song and the band wrong. You get the idea – either way, whether the answer’s good or bad, after asking this question you’ll probably have a better idea of what the DJ is more familiar with musically, and what they’re not.

2) Ask Them How They Got Started – This is a great way to see where their experience and motivation is coming from. In the answer, you might get a pleasant story about how the DJ was inspired by how his father would sit down by the record player and share his soul 45s with him when he was a kid. Or, again, on the other hand, you might find out that the DJ mostly runs a computer printer replacement cartridge business but DJs because his brother recently left him with the equipment and song library after moving to Arizona, so hey, why not? Now, this kind of answer doesn’t automatically mean a DJ like that doesn’t enjoy music a lot, but it probably also means that his motivation lies more in seeing entrepreneurship opportunities than it does in crafting an original mix of songs for several hours.

3) Ask Them What They Like Best About DJing – By asking this question, you can often see where a DJ’s specific passions are. Some may tell you they love the preparation of listening to the requests of the client and thinking about how they will likely fit these in with the songs that the DJ already feels will work for that client. Others may tell you they really enjoy that they’ve learned to move around organically between genres of music that one might not think would go together automatically, and in doing this, feel they make guests appreciate songs a little more that they might not have before. Or, some might give you a vague and slightly hesitant answer about how they love “just…playin’ the music…for the crowd…and, you know…just playin’…all kinds of great tunes.” In this case, it’s a safe bet that their passion is simply collecting your check at the end of the event.