I have been warmly welcomed to participate with the Passion Forward Fundraiser. This year is the 4th year it has operated by its founder Skye Wikjord who volunteers all her time to bring Passion Forward… forward.

The event is May 29 at the Harvard Business park in Springbrook. A location I am extremely familiar with and it is a great location for any event where you are looking for a comfortable intimate setting.

Not to be beaten by Skye’s commitment I have offered my complete regular services for… free. I also challenge the other entertainers to do the same, and the list of entertainment is impressive. There will be a mix of Live Bands, speakers, dancers and soloists to continue to entertain the guests though out the evening.  I have set up a page on my site to help promote this event which is to raise money for a couple of organizations.

The people who will benefit the most are unfortunately abused children. I say unfortunately because fundraisers for this reason should never be needed in the first place. Sadly children are abused and I am more than happy to do my part to help Skye and Passion Forward to raise money to help abused children get the help they need and to help fund prevention programs.

Tickets are $100, which includes a whole bunch of entertainment, multiple shows all in one, dinner more;  so really anyone who attends this semi-formal event is getting a deal. In fact people should feel guilty for getting such a great deal.

The harvest Center can only hold so many people so I highly recommend getting your tickets early.

Call Skye @ 403-396-2931

I hope to be apart of Passion Forward for the years to come and Skye is a wonderful lady and I think any of you business out there should get in touch with her and offer your help with sponsorships and/or silent auction items.

I have from day one wanted to commit myself and my business to helping a handful of charities I think are important. It is my goal to do a monthly youth dance where proceeds can go to various charities and organizations like the food bank, women’s shelter and youth charities.  I hope in the months and years to come to add more feel good blogs like this and encourage all of you reading this to do your part to help the charities that mean something to you.

TJ the DJ

To what lengths would you go to interview for a job, or to what lengths would you expect someone to apply for one?

While many Entertainers feel completely safe behind their phone with their clients is that what is expected to earn the trust from an employer to pay top dollar for their product?

Many entertainers do not command a top dollar for their product.  Who knows exactly why, a professional will spend thousands in training, learning and improving their skills. Those who have not invested that kind of commitment, who more easily willing to work for less.

A professional who is seeking to earn your business will look to meet with you, inform, meet your concerns and questions head on, face to face, like anyone applying to a job would in an interview.

As an employer you should have the ability to meet with your potential employee, ask them all your questions and take the time to be satisfied that they can offer what you are looking for.

To what lengths should someone go to make that interview possible? What is reasonable on the chance that they may not get the job? What expense is acceptable?

If an entertainer is servicing a particular area, they should be willing to set up meetings with potential clients, if possible arrange them to happen on the same day if there is some distance to travel. An entertainer is looking to earn business and what better way than to show you have the commitment to put their clients high on their priority list than by taking the time to meet with them.

What better way to impress upon a potential client an entertainers professionalism than taking the time to meet with them in person. To what lengths would a professional go. To what lengths would you as a client expect someone to go who is looking for employment.

The answer for myself. Is to exceed what a client may expect and clearly demonstrate in that effort when possible that I am a professional and am not satisfied to do my interviews behind a phone, fax or e-mail but to meet in person with those who would employ me for my services.

I am a little mystified (as I open my thesaurus to find multiple different ways to say the same thing) about something that I, as yet have no answer for.  People, perspective clients all seem to love what I offer, but find the price of what I offer to be too much.

I am only on average $400-$600 more than the top price of the average DJ in my areas which many people have admitted in meeting do not offer most of what I do. In most cases I am only charging 1/3 more than the next guy but offering 2 or 3 times the services. Are DJs making them selves so undervalued? Have DJs really created such a negative perception in the quality of work that the most important part of a reception (besides location) is expected to be the cheapest?

I am really confused. Sometimes I wonder if I am simply trying to provide the services I would expect a professional to have if I was getting married. How would people feel if a surgeon was called in to operate with no real idea why, on what or for what purpose. We have all heard the stories of the Doctor who did the wrong operation or the wrong body part and every time it comes down to the same cause. Lack of proper preparation and planning.

The plumber who uses your front door like it was a barn gate because they don’t have the right tools for the job when they come to your house doesn’t look like a professional, and he is charging by the hour. They should have a good idea what your problem is before they show up, that’s why they are the professional. The tools required should be at the ready when it is time to do the job.

With examples aside I am in stunned wonderment (good one eh!) that people would not expect the same commitment to professional excellence from their Entertainer. people are willing to shell out $25 a plate for chicken, corn, peas and some salad, which in a restraunt would be a $10 meal, but not willing to pay an average of $6-$8 per person at their dance. High school dances charge more, cover fees to bars are as much or more.

Really in the end the price is not the issue. It can’t be because no reasonable person would spend $25 for a chicken Breast and spiced potato’s. Is that the problem? Everyone else is charging so much which may or may not be reasonable, and the entertainment is often left to the last on the list that the wallet has run dry.

I have created something that in the U.S. is 3 to 5 times what I charge. My prices are reasonably generated to provide me with a sound living, based on appropriate services, time investment and above all to create a successful event that meets and I hope exceeds their expectations.

Even offering free meetings are often shot down, why I have no idea. You don’t lose an interested customer because they balk at your price. You lose the customer because you don’t follow up in anyway, you don’t continue to offer superior services despite them going across the street. You keep your door open, you provide opportunity for them to return with their friends and family and show them the value does not change despite their perception that you are not simply the value they are seeking.

My efforts seem to be in vain. I realize I can’t book everyone, but I really and sincerely hope everyone gets the greatest value in their dollar and never have to become a wedding horror story. Shame of it all is that too many become one for no better reason than they placed price before value, quality and service.

Just some things that I suggest you make sure your other DJ has or will do. These are fundamental and I promise you will alleviate many of the potential pitfalls you might face.

Make sure they have a contract. On my site is my contract which CLEARLY states everyone’s responsibilities. The last things you want are surprises or a DJ that takes your money and does not show or is nearly impossible to get in touch with. I had 13 calls last summer from brides that did not have a contract with their entertainment and were left stranded with out entertainment. One of those companies was one I thought was very reputable.

Make sure you meet your entertainer BEFORE you sign a contract. DJ’s come in many forms. You should feel comfortable with your choice and feel confident that they ‘get you’. Most DJ’s are hobbyists which mean they have a regular 9-5 and DJing is something they do on the weekend. Many companies who have multiple DJs often do no know who is going to be your DJ until the day of your event, which means anything you might have talked about with the sales person may not be listed on your contract or notes and the DJ might not know specific details that you out line. It is also a good way to find out about their experience and ask them specific questions about how they handle certain types of events, like conflicts and make sure they are comfortable and knowledgeable about what they will be doing (if they offer up suggestions and ideas is a great show of their knowledge and experience.)

Remember, you are the boss, the DJ works for you and you have the right to pre-view their contract and interview the DJ before you sign. Also make sure the DJ you choose is clearly stated on the contract. You will also want to have contact information for the DJ so you can contact them prior to your event to confirm the details. Most DJ companies will not keep in touch until about a month to a week prior to your event to confirm details, the last few weeks will be your most distracting and having details confirmed should be an ongoing process.

Some questions to ask:

Do they charge you to interview their DJs? If they want your business, they wont, most will try and give you an excuse, like they work though out the week and it is taking time out of their personal life, it’s like having a carpenter remodel your house at 2 am, they are in business to work for you, a sign of quality is the reasonable ability to do what is needed to get the job done correctly..

Do they charge for making changes? Say your venue changes but it is still with in their service area. Will they charge you extra? The only reasonable increases in cost should be in mileage, your venue is moved out of town, you need a larger sound system to accommodate more guests or you add add-on like cocktail music or an extra hour of dance music.

Do they allow drinking? A drunken DJ is often nothing but problems. Their contract should state clearly no alcohol for the DJ. Now if you bring up a drink as a thank you that is ok. But you don’t want the DJ spending more time at the bar than your guests. (yes this happens, I did some training with another DJ who spent more time in the back with a brides maid than demonstrating his skills to me. At my mothers second wedding the DJ’s Girl friend was a regular fixture at the bar I was only 15 then.)

Do they have backup equipment and do they charge extra for it? Stuff happens. I have had CD players start to skip on every CD with out notice half way though a night. Many DJ’s bring laptops and we all know windows can crash or lock up. Some companies may want to charge you for the extra sound system. Speakers are really the only piece of equipment that doesn’t need a back up. You get two and if one fails, a professional sound system is more than capable in making up that short fall in one speaker.

These are some of the details I cover in a meeting and hopefully your choice in entertainment has also addressed these questions before you need to ask.

I am thinking of adding a series of additions to the site that will, I think, really set me apart from anyone else in this business I can think of.

The standard concept is a flat rate for flat services, because of the flat rate the client thinks they are not going to pay for the little extras. What really happens is the client is paying for more initially, and if the client doesn’t need too much extra assistance then the DJ makes more money for doing less.

It is kind of like working for salary, except as the client, you do not know on how many hours or for how much an hour the salary is estimated for. It almost always favors the employer or in this  case, the company you are hiring.

What I am hoping to do is create a system where the client can log into their contract. What I mean by that is  when I am booked, the client will receive log in information where they can review online their details of the booking. But not just static details. Each communication, each meeting, will be updated on line so the client can see the progression of work. This will allow the client to know not only what information I have about their booking, the notes I keep, but have an idea of how much time is being invested on their behalf.

The other advantage of knowing the billing/work benefit, is the client will know I have the right information, it is easy to make changes and update correctly and will eliminate the chance of mis-communication.  The very basis of my services for my customers.

Many people do not want to pay a big bill upfront. I do require payment in full 10 days before the event. I have heard the objection that the client hasn’t received the product first, also followed by some horror story about someone they knew who was taken by a scam artist posing as a DJ.

The reality is, when I request payment, I have already produced about 70% of the product in preparation and meetings. The on site work, if prepared for properly is a smaller fraction of the over all work. For some companies the on site work accounts for about 95% of the over all work.

The pre-planning is much like a constant dress rehearsal, rather than showing up and putting on an improv show.

The new feature is not only a confidence builder, but still allows the client to be the boss by having the availability to check the work.

Is this a feature worth implementing? Is the cost of development and implementation worth the chance that no one or very few clients will use it?

I was talking with my cousin, who is getting married soon, and the subject of special effects came up. The idea of bubble machines came up and the pro’s and con’s of using them.

Now I myself will not use them, I will explain why later on. But for those who want the bubbles I will first offer some alternative ideas.

The best way to get the bubble effect is to buy the individual hand wands for each of your guests and have them blow the bubbles towards the couple. It helps involve your guests in your celebration. The bad thing is the bubbles do not go very far and it is hard to get the effect on camera.

Bubble machines are able to produce lots of bubbles in a very short time. The machines also do not send the out very far with out some extra assistance from a fan.

It is a nice effect but there are some dangers in using a bubble machine. The main problem is the bubbles when they land leave a residue on the floor. When enough bubbles fall in the same area it can create a slick covering on the floor which even with a mop and bucket is difficult to clean off the floor.

I personally have witnessed an elderly woman slip in the residue on the floor, even after it was mapped over. The result was a broken hip and a serious dampener on the whole celebration. Since I did not supply the machine I was not held liable, however if you are going to request something like a bubble machine make sure you have event insurance or if the DJ supplies, they have liability insurance and are ready to assist in keeping it’s use safe.

There are a couple ways to lesson the risk involved. The first is to try and dispurse the bubbles as much as possible before they land, so that the pooling is minimized. The machines produce bigger bubbles than the ones your guests could blow which makes them a little heavier. A large fan or several smaller fans can be positioned to move the bubbles away from the machine and out to the dance floor.

You can also hang the machine as high over the dance floor as possible and with the use of fans try and create a rain effect with the bubbles as a way to try and safely disperse the bubbles.

The problem with fans is they make noise, which can be an irritant.

If you don’t want to use fans and leave the machine to do it’s waterfall effect, finding a carpet or floor mat and laying it where the bubbles pool so that you can remove it when it is no longer needed can be an excellent solution.

Also, and this goes for more than just the bubble machine, check your venue contract closely about the care of the facility. In some cases the soap residue from the bubble machine can create a film on the floor wax on the dance floor which can erode the wax. Most venues will have in their contract a clause on fix or repair damages. Floor wax is not a simple fix. The whole area will need to be stripped, then re-waxed. This is a labor intensive effort and very costly. This can happen if the floor is not adequately cleaned after the bubble machine.

Another machine you will have to worry about is the Fog/Hazer machine. If the solution is water base, you should have little to no issues, just make sure the alarm wont go off if there is a little smoke. A venue should know if their system is sensitive to fog machines, if not, try and arrange with your Entertainer to test the system with the venue manager, so they can turn off the alarm.

If the fog/hazer uses an oil base solution it may leave a oily film on glass and lighting, depending on how heavily it is used. This can create a night mare for cleaning as any dust with cling to the residue and be obvious to the venue manager who will charge you for additional cleaning.

Foam Machine, a big hit in the right place, also has two types of output depending on the machine. Some will leave a lot of water behind and others will have little water as a by product. Water damage is something you will want to avoid. Make sure you double or triple layer your floor with heavy duty plastic and canvas and have a way to clean up the water as it pools. Foam parties are a ton of fun and really creative way to have fun.

If your Entertainer is knowledgeable they should be able to help you avoid any problems. With proper use of the machines you can lesson and issued you might face.

TJ the DJ

ENGAGEMENT STATISTICS

• The average American engagement is 16 months.
• During the engagement period, couples buy:
  • $4 billion in furniture
  • $3 billion in house wares
  • $400 million in tableware
• June is the most popular month for weddings, then August, followed by September October and May
• Every year an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S./Canada
• The Wedding Industry is a 50 billion dollar a year industry
• Average age for first-time brides is 25 years, for grooms it’s 27.5
• 175 guests are invited to an average wedding
• One third of engaged couples retain a Wedding Consultant
• An average honeymoon vacation is one week
• The average household income of a newly married couple is $60,000/year
• Couples are waiting longer to get married
• Tuxedos are typically purchased 5-6 months after the wedding gown
• Median age for remarriage is 34 for women and 37 for men
• Bridesmaids’ gowns are generally purchased 3-4 months in advance of the event
• Average size of wedding party: 12
• Most brides (30%) plan their weddings for 7 to 12 months
• Most (about 75%) first-time brides will receive a diamond engagement ring (67% of repeat brides).
• About 15% of weddings include ethnic customs
• 35% of weddings occur in the summer; 29% in the spring; 23% in the fall; 13% in the winter.
• 11% of winter weddings are Christmas weddings

COST STATISTICS

• $22,000 is the average amount spent on a traditional American wedding
• A total of $72 billion is spent on weddings annually in the U.S./Canada
• $19 billion is spent buying presents at wedding gift registries
• The average amount spent on a bridal gown is $800
• David’s Bridal accounts for 20% of all bridal-gown sales, and that percentage is increasing
• The average ring costs $2,000

TOP WEDDING DESTINATIONS:

• Las Vegas (100,000 weddings/year)
• Hawaii (25,000 wedding/year)
• Bahamas (5,000 weddings/year)
• Jamaica (5,000 weddings/year)
• U.S. Virgin Islands (4,000 weddings/year)

OTHER WEDDING STATISTICS

• 80% of traditional weddings are performed in churches or synagogue.
• Four out of five brides are employed.
• There is a 43% chance of a marriage ending in divorce.
• 35% of Brides and Grooms have a valid passport.
• Percentage of couples living together before marriage: 64%
• Percentage of engaged couples who’ve known each other longer than 3 years: 69%
• 166,000: Wedding ceremonies performed annually in Istanbul, Turkey
• Percentage of brides who say they’ll be changing their surnames: 60%
• 93,750: Approximate cost, in dollars, of an average Japanese wedding
• 150,000: Wedding ceremonies conducted in Canada in 2002
• 53% of weddings occur in the afternoon; 31% in the evening; 16% in the morning.
• 30% of receptions are held in churches; 20% in hotels; 20% in country clubs; and 10% each in fraternal halls, private homes, and other locations.
• 38% of weddings have a buffet; 34% have a sit-down dinner; 28% serve only cake and punch.
• 62% of weddings have a flower girl.
• 56% have a ring bearer.
• Brides 18 to 39 receive 85% of all wedding cards.
• More than 4.2 million unmarried couples live together.
• 67% of women continue to wear the same fragrance they wore on their wedding day.

MARRIAGES BY MONTH

• January 4.7%
• February 7.0%
• March 6.1%
• April 7.4%
• May 9.8%
• June 10.8%
• July 9.7%
• August 10.2%
• September 9.6%
• October 9.4%
• November 7.4%
• December 7.8%

WEDDING COSTS BY CATEGORY*

• Reception 28.3%
• Consultant 15.0% (if hired)
• Wedding Rings 11.5%
• Photography/Video 6.6%
• Bridal Gown 6.1%
• Music 5.2%
• Flowers 4.6%
• Bridal attendants’ apparel 4.5%
• Rehearsal dinner 4.2%
• Men’s formal wear 3.2%
• Invitations 2.8%
• Attendants’ gifts 2.1%
• Mother of the bride apparel 1.7%
• Bride’s veil 1.6%
• Clergy and ceremony fees 1.2%
• Limousine 0.9%
• Groom’s attire 0.8%
  Source: Association of Bridal Consultants*

HONEYMOON STATISTICS

• Among couples who choose a traditional wedding, 99 percent take a honeymoon.
• Couples spend an average of $4,000 on their honeymoon. That’s three times as much as the average U.S. adult spends on a vacation.
• The length of an average honeymoon is seven days.
• 45 percent of honeymoon trips are to domestic locations; 55 percent are foreign.
• The Honeymoon Industry is a 12 billion dollar a year industry.

Most Popular Honeymoon Activities:

• Visiting a new place for sightseeing, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife- 75%
• Beaches and lakes – 45%
• Casinos – 20%
• Cruises – 15%
• Golf/sports vacations – 10%
• Skiing trips – 5%

Destinations that are most frequently chosen

• Aruba 8%
• Bahamas 20.2%
• Bermuda 3.1%
• British Virgin Islands 7%
• Caribbean 34%
• Caribbean Islands 6.3%
• The Cayman Islands 10.5%
• Europe 4%
• Hawaii 33%
• Jamaica 17.1%
• Mexico 7%
• Puerto Rico 3.8%
• St. Marten 5.6%
• US Virgin Islands 7%

Places To Stay While On The Honeymoon

• 46.1% Hotel/Motel
• 35.2% Resort
• 20.1% Boat/Ship
• 8.2% Bed and Breakfast/Inn
• 8.9% Other

Transportation Used for Honeymoon

• 76.2% Airplane
• 60% Rent Car
• 16.4% Their Own Car
• 27% Boat/Ship
• 2.7% Railroad

SOURCES

• Association of Bridal Consultants
• Condé Nast Bridal Group
• Mediapost.com National Bridal Service
• National Center for Health Statistics
• Greeting Card Association