If you’ve ever been to a Manhattan wedding and wondered why the dance floor was packed, chances are that it was because of the DJ. In New York City, there are thousands of DJs who can perform at weddings, but only a few who can truly keep your guests moving the entire night. To be one of the best wedding DJs in New York City, you need to master these top five traits.
In order to stay at the top of the game, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. There's no magic formula to success, but there are five key traits that all successful DJs in NYC share. If you want to be one of them, keep reading! -Passion: Passionate about weddings or music? It doesn't matter - every great DJ needs to love what they do in order to excel. If you're not willing to put in the time and effort for your craft, then don't expect to reap the rewards of this business. -Communication: Communication is important for both client and vendor alike; so if either side isn't talking enough, it could spell disaster for any event. A good NY wedding DJ will also make sure to listen carefully during pre-event meetings with clients, as well as take detailed notes on their likes and dislikes. They'll want to know what song requests were made, how often guests usually request certain songs, when the reception ends, how many people will be attending (including children), how formal or informal the event is (e.g., black tie versus cocktail party), etcetera. And while they may not ask these questions explicitly, the conversation should cover such topics nonetheless. When meeting with vendors (such as caterers and venue coordinators), a wedding DJ should have open lines of communication with them. They should always be present for discussions about set up times, dinner service start times, dance floor placement and size, etcetera. Allowing vendors to go off without coordinating can cause unanticipated headaches come the big day.
A successful DJ needs to understand his/her craft and stay current with the latest trends. He or she should also be able to adapt to any situation, whether it's an outdoor ceremony with thousands in attendance or a black tie affair at one of the city's most exclusive venues. This is why it is essential for DJs to master their art and keep up with current trends in order to provide clients with unforgettable memories that they can cherish forever.
A successful DJ needs to know his equipment inside and out. While some DJs are better at reading the room, it is still important to know how to use your gear if you want to be successful.
- Know how to work the mixer, CD player, sound system, and microphone.
- Use your equipment as part of your act - don't just stand there pushing buttons while everyone looks bored. Bring life into the music with your skills on the turntables, or give a shout-out over the mic!
- Speak clearly: You need to have great vocal projection so people can hear you when they're all over an outdoor space. If people can't hear what you're saying, they won't dance!
Being an NY Wedding DJ is more than just playing music. There are many important traits that make up this art form, including musicality, entertainment skills, and professionalism. As a member of the elite DJs in New York City, I believe that my work as a wedding DJ speaks for itself:
Musicality is the most important trait to have in order to be an NY Wedding DJ because it's what your audience will be paying attention to. In addition to having good taste in music, you must be able to read the crowd and react accordingly by selecting songs with different rhythms or tempos from within your genre of choice. Your goal should always be to keep people on their feet! The only way to do this is by understanding the type of music they want. Not everyone wants fast paced music all night long; they might prefer slower songs during dinner, but then switch it up during dessert time! It all depends on how active the bride and groom want their guests at their event.
To be successful in the competitive New York City wedding scene, it is important to stay positive. Always remember that the bride and groom are relying on you to make their day a success, so put in 100% of your effort. You should also be gracious and grateful for any feedback that is given to you because it will only help you become better at what you do. Lastly, always remember how lucky you are to have found this line of work!
