A wedding is meant to be one of life’s most important and memorable events. That’s a lot of responsibility for the wedding entertainer to take on, which makes detailed preparation absolutely essential. Booking and planning a wedding gig isn’t an easy task, but with the following simple tips, you can make the process as smooth as possible for yourself and your clients.
1. Keep up appearances
Most people put a tremendous amount of thought into every detail of their wedding day, and that includes themes, colors and other design choices. Showing up with an equipment setup that clashes with these choices is a surefire recipe for unhappy newlyweds, so take some time to talk with each customer about the style they have planned for their wedding.
Remember, too, that unsightly exposed cabling, messy and disorganized equipment and large advertisements have no place at such events. To ensure that you’re on the same page, consider providing customers with photos or video from past events.
2. Engage the crowd
For wedding entertainers, there is no higher goal than ensuring that everyone in attendance has the time of their lives. Achieving this goal requires the ability to read and respond to the energy of the crowd and engage them with your performance. This is particularly important for DJs, who are generally expected to handle the traditional hosting role of the M.C. as well.
An effective host can guide the crowd through a range of energies and emotions, from upbeat, freewheeling celebration to intimate slow dancing and everything in between. Your ability to handle these duties effectively can also be a boon to your business; those in attendance are far more likely to reach out to you for their next big event if you’re able to make their night memorable.
3. The price is right – or is it?
No newly married couple wants to fuss over paying their entertainment on their big night, so it’s important to make the proper arrangements well beforehand. Everyone loves cash, but that’s often impractical. Checks were once a common method of payment, but these days, you can add more choice and convenience by accepting credit card payments. Credit card payments make it easy to manage your financials, and the funds are delivered to you right away. (Tip: With GigSalad’s booking platform, clients pay your full booking price in one easy credit card payment, and you’re protected against last-minute client cancellations.)
In addition to working out a suitable payment method, make sure the price you’re charging is appropriate as well. Check your competitors to get an idea of the average rates, but take your own business into consideration as well. If you offer special services or use better equipment, don’t be afraid to charge higher rates.
4. Hit the right notes
No two weddings are the same, and the ability to customize your musical approach is often the biggest factor in making an event successful. The desires of the bride and groom take precedence here, but your own experience and instincts are valuable as well.
Work together with your customers to establish how song requests should be handled, what musical styles and themes they have in mind and what preferences they have – if any – for each phase of the event. After that, it’s up to you to use your skill and knowledge to blend these choices into a cohesive musical experience that flows smoothly and caters to the tastes of a typically diverse crowd.
5. Expand beyond music
Playing great music may be your most important job, but offering additional features is an excellent way to attract more business and create memorable experiences as well. Intelligent lighting is a highly popular amenity that really adds to a performance without requiring much direct control. Video displays are often a big hit at weddings as well, whether it’s showing a slideshow of the happy couple as they take their first dance or playing music videos to get the crowd amped up. Whatever you have to offer, make sure you explain each option to your customers and allow them to customize exactly the experience they want.
Few life experiences are as significant and memorable as a wedding, and as an entertainer, you have a unique opportunity to make the event even more special. You also have a chance to make an indelible impression on everyone in attendance, potentially earning new customers and generating invaluable word-of-mouth buzz. By working closely with each couple and customizing your approach to reflect their vision, you can make the booking process – and the event itself – as easy and hassle-free as possible.
Author info: Maricel Tabalba is a freelance contributor for Credit.com who is interested in writing about personal finance advice for Millennials and college students. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Number One should be, put everything in writing, in a contract, include all the contingencies (which you have learned make a difference, such as for outdoor weddings, is the client responsible for weather delays?).
If it’s not in writing in advance, how things get handled on a very emotion-charged day, could wind up being a total disaster with the client holding the performer “responsible” for things which are truly beyond the performer’s control.
This article is great, the detail are very good thanks
Thanks for the wonderful advice!!!