Karaoke Forums

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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Having done a lot of weddings and private and corporate functions, I'll make some suggestions about what made my life easier with these things.

First off, are you doing just DJ'ing or is there karaoke, too? Are you computerized? Good if you are.

If you are doing any DJ'ing at all, the important part of that is having a broad spectrum of music available. If you are using CDs, make yourself a few 'playlists' by creating compilation CDs that you can set and forget - you can put 16 to 18 songs on a CD depending on the collective length of the songs. If you make compilations, do make yourself a good index and label the CDs well. Create several different types of comps: One or two with quieter music while people mingle and chat. One or two with 'warm up' dance music, including a few slow numbers; one or two with the usual favorites (Brick House, Save a Horse, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, etc.), then one or two that are "calming" music - familiar tunes but when it's time for people to go home, you want to set that mood with the music without coming right out and telling them it's time to go home!

Is your music on a laptop? If you can, that is better yet - rip your music to your laptop or computer. Shuffling CDs around can get really confusing and aggravating after a while, particularly if people are running up and asking if you have "such-and-such a song."  

Have the usual silly dance songs available: Chicken Dance, which I guarantee you'll have to play 2-3 times by the time everybody gets up the nerve to jump up; electric slide - most people will recognize a song suitable for it and just jump up and do it. No need to have the actual recorded "Electric Slide" - some people now do the Chocolate Slide, others are doing Cupid SHuffle. Someone may want to do the macarena. Hokey Pokey is good one for youngest and oldest in the crowd (the second group for the recognition of it).  Bunny hop is always fun. I have a limbo rod that I take, too, complete with the music, but don't use that one often.

Music suggestions for bouquet toss & garter - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "Let's Get it On." Those are the most popular here for some reason.

Have your first dances on a separate CD, cue'd so someone else can start and stop the tunes at the right times. Have them labeled so you can go from once song to the next without making a mistake - nothing worse than cueing up the WRONG song when everyone is paying such close attention. If using CDs, TEST YOUR CDs, too - if you have made them on a different machine, make sure they play in any machine.  (Laptop solves this problem for sure.)

If you are the mother of the bride, you don't want to saddle yourself with too much responsibility for the music - you'll be busy doing other things. Make sure someone you trust is instructed in the basics so if you can't get there to change a CD or whatever, they'll know how to do it.

Have cordless mics available but not within reach of party revelers. A headset mic is nice at these types of events because you can make announcements from wherever you are in the room....but a big expense to get a good one if you don't already have it.

If you are providing mics for the actual ceremony (a lot of people do wedding and reception in the same facilities here), have the officiant mic'd and make sure bride & groom understand to speak loudly enough so their voices come through the speakers. Of course in a church, that is different.

Have a basic timeline on a sheet of paper so you know what's coming next - saves a lot of time running around trying to find the right people or organize for a specific feature of the reception.

Wow, that's a lot, didn't mean for it to be so long! Glean what you can from this and what applies to the type of wedding you're having.  Best of luck, MOB! (Mother of the Bride)

k

first off congrats on the upcoming wedding
I am not a kj or a dj but I am a singer who uses discs as backing (well actually I am now computerised)
All our gigs are private functions so weddings are plentiful.  The first thing I do when approached is make it perfectly clear that I want to work with the couple to ensure everything is perfect. To that end I have been known to go and set up at the ceremony (church or wherever) so as the right music is played at the right time during the service, or so as guest singers had a pa system.
I also ask what their first dance will be...quite often couples have "their song"
if it is in my vocal range to learn I will do so then give them the option of either me singing it or playing the orig. Some are so finicky that they prefer the original CD played and thats fine too.
from then on its business as usual playing a solid mix of songs that basically will suit everyone but is slanted more toward the 30+

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

As good of an intention it is, it's a bad idea for several reasons.  As the mother of the bride you are going to be required for the wedding, photos, dances, receoption lineetc, etc, etc.  Your best option, if you're using your own system is to have another KJ or friend to do the reception.  As the mother of the bride, you will be way to busy attending your daughter's needs, mingling with the guests, etc to be able to properly run a show.  Do yourself a favour and not attempt to do this.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

[font=verdana] Thanks, I was wondering if I was going to get any help on this one. From what I understand, it is going to be a mix of DJ and karaoke.  The more people that want to sing, the more karaoke.  No, unfortunately I am not computerized yet, hope to be in the future.  My daughter has a copy of my song book and is putting together what songs she wants played.  I will pass your advice along to her, especially about mixing it up a bit, as she may not have thought of that.  They are both very religious, so I don’t think I have to worry about any hip hop or rap songs being played…LOL   I am hoping my son can run the show at least for awhile, but he has a gig Friday night so has to make it back here, about a 2 ½  hour drive. I plan on making up some CD’s as Karen K suggested, that I can just start and be away from the table when needed. [/font]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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Your son won't be there for his sisters' wedding?  Wow.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

In a bit less than 2 years, I did my son's and my daughter's. Both times, I had someone to announce the wedding party(and at my daughters, the Father and Daughter dance), but once the dancing started, it was packed dance floors, and the managers finally making me stop, about 10 or 15 minutes past the time we we're suppose to be out.... ....anyway, it's work, managing lights, deciding what song, slow or fast would be best next. Songs are recorded at different levels, and you're always messing with the volume...friends and family members trying to talk to you while you try to keep the evening as seemless as possible. You are in charge of keeping all the events moving along, because everyone else is having such a good time, they lose track of time. People asking for requests, but you have to explain, the music list is already set. You won't even get all the songs your daughter picked played, but it is a good thing, not to take requests at a wedding. I've seen requests clear a crowded dance floor, and then it can take a few songs to bring it back.
I did karaoke at the beginning of my daughter's, and in about 20 minutes, I had a couple dozen song slips in hand, and people asking about songs, because they didn't seem to want to look them up in the books(not your usual experienced karaoke people).....most weddings, most people come to dance(just a few short of 400 at this one, and they were no exception)......let's just say, most people didn't get a chance to sing.
After seeing the 1 hour video of my son's wedding for which he paid 2000 bucks, I bought a fantastic camera corder(60 gig hard drive) for a third of that, and gave my daughter 5 or 6  hours of unedited video, of which she would never think of editing a single second out of ... ....it was work, I put pressure on myself to make it one of the best weddings possible, the night flew by, in both cases, and though I enjoy a few drinks, I did not drink.
To this day, they still thank me for it, when weddings come up in the conversation, and that alone made it worth while endevors for me....ps...cocktail, and dinner music are the easy part, though you still will be messing with the volume, and people that say they will help you, will be either hard to track down, or will be having such a good time, you'll hate to bother them....sometimes pretty drunk too... .......good luck, and bring "back up"......no music...bummer wedding....

Definitely the advantage of laptop music - I am using a program that will set all the levels the same when they're recorded so I have no surprises. I can also fade in and out.  

You probably have some young, mature kid in your family who can be trusted, BR? When I did the music for my daughter's wedding a few years back, my nephew was young but took it very seriously when I asked him if he could man the board for a few minutes at a time.  

I seriously hope no one expects you to do BOTH - be the MOB and the DJ? Man...I've heard of high achievers ...  Call in your markers - has to be someone who can help you.

Best of luck!

k

BEST ADVICE so far.  I couldn't agree more!!!!!

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Definitely the advantage of laptop music - I am using a program that will set all the levels the same when they're....

Actually, I use two laptops, a dual cd player, and two 20 gig dell juke boxes...I'm paranoid... , I've used laptops for several years. I've had people look at my cd players, and say they really like the way the music sounds on my system, and they attribute it to my using cds and not mp3s.... actually I am using mp3s, so it's all in their mind....but now to my point....never let the computer be the DJ(unless you have to take a dump or something like that)....no computer can tell what to set the volume at, because all songs are different, and require different volume, and ambience, so making them all the same doesn't work. Also the changing number and location of people in the room, require volume and other adjustments. Plus the people with hearing aids always sit right in front of a speaker, and then come up to you, and ask you to turn down the music. Also, the computer can't look at the ages of the crowd, or whether they're responding to slow or fast songs.....at this time, no computer program can take the place of even a mediocre DJ or KJ......there are some advantages of computers....they make it a bit easier, and allow you more in less space.....but don't ever think you can just sit back, and enjoy the evening, while the computer does all the work.......

Certainly not suggesting that you can just turn it on and leave it.  Lordy...that would be disastrous. My main point would be that it just helps immensely to have everything in one place, not digging into a case for a CD, can't find it, etc. etc. I've done a lot of weddings and understand exactly what you're saying..in fact, have one on the 3rd that I'm preparing set lists for.

The level setting is a nice function because, for example, in karaoke playing Pioneer CDGs, it's always necessary to crank the volume way the heck up; then you put on the next one and have to remember to drop the volume. Not saying everything should be the same volume. All music is recorded differently, and some requires a little more attention.  Just making a comment about that function. I didn't know it existed and was happy to find it. Simple mind I am, I guess.

I did my son's reception and I highly recommend against it.  It you want to save them some money I would let them use your equipment and get someone to run the system for you.  I was so exhausted after my son's wedding I pretty much colapsed.  And everything was such a blur because I was so darn busy doing mom things and Dj things, I had no time to actually enjoy the day.   Consequently the next night I went to Lonman's show and let my hair down (they tell me I had a very good time).

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!