DJs Drowning in their Own Equipment

You’ve seen them at events across the country, from corporate parties to wedding receptions: DJs drowning in their own equipment.

They hide behind colossal amounts of equipment on stage and pray that the auto-mixing software on their laptops tells them what to track to play next. Yes, they are the equipment-obsessed DJs and they’ve got a terrible secret.

They don’t like to tell you—their clients—but they’re out of their depth. They have their laptops at the ready and often hire masses of extra equipment that they don’t even know how to use from third party companies.

Less Is More 

There are bedroom DJs out there masquerading as experts and they’ll talk your ear off about why the latest in audio and lighting equipment is essential for your event. But when it comes down to it, they forget the golden rule that only the professional DJs know: less is always more.

A DJ who knows what he’s doing will match the equipment to the venue and the size of the audience in order to get the result, as well as providing an expert performance. With Manjy B, you could spend £450 and book the right DJ, one who dares to play songs that aren’t dictated by auto-mixing software—or spend triple that and get amateurs who rely on their equipment to auto-mixing software to decide their playlists for them!

Industry Secrets 

We’re going to tell you something that these DJs and events companies don’t want you to know: more equipment does not mean a better show. They’re just trying to impress you. Equipment in the entertainment industry has become a game of aesthetics; the bigger, shinier and more expensive looking the better.

But this just isn’t true! You could have professional grade audio equipment and a laser show that rivals the MTV Awards, but none of it matters if you haven’t got someone qualified to back it up with a great performance.

So if you see a DJ floundering in a sea of his own equipment, toss him a lifeline and look like you’re enjoying yourself. But when it comes to your own special day, make sure you hire the best talent and not just the best looking equipment.

Cultures Colliding on the Dance Floor

Imagine this scene: it’s your big day. Despite your fears, your mixed-marriage ceremony went smoothly and you’ve managed to get everyone to the reception venue without any major problems. Your guests are suitably impressed by the décor and are enjoying the food and the ambience. You have your first dance with your husband and smile, pleased at what you’ve managed to accomplish. So far, so good.

Then the evening’s entertainment begins. The DJ you hired from the first website you found has started doing his thing (the first DJ you hired isn’t up to scratch), playing some carefully pre-selected tracks that won’t cause offence to either side…

…twenty minutes later, no one is dancing. Every guest is glued to their chair, politely nodding their heads to the music. And that’s when you realise—your wedding reception has died before it’s even begun, with all the awkwardness of a pre-teen school disco.

With two completely different cultures thrown together, everyone’s unsure how to act and there’s no one to bridge the gap and show them the way.

Mixed Messages

The world’s attitude to mixed marriages has changed a lot over the years. Nowadays, mixed marriages are not uncommon, and most are more or less accepted by an enlightened generation who see no harm in free love for all.

Yet couples within mixed marriages often tell a different story. It can be hard getting approval from family members that adhere to traditional values. And even with your family’s support, trying to arrange a mixed marriage within the Asian community is like re-watching When Worlds Collide in super high-definition 3D.

Planning a wedding is stressful enough without there being a gaping cultural divide—you just want everyone to enjoy themselves.

“The talent that brings them together”

A wedding reception is the perfect place to introduce two completely different cultures and help them shake off their reservations and get to know one another.

But it’s got to be done right. A mixed wedding involves much more than just playing music from each of their cultures— it’s about having a DJ who has the experience and the persona to make them feel like one new family.

So how do you make it work?

A professional DJ helps of course, but it’s so much more than just experience. It’s all about the persona, someone who really gets both cultures and will get everyone moving.

After all, there’s no substitute for a winning personality.