The Bridge Lemont Wedding Podcast
Conversations to provide value to brides and grooms planning their wedding to make sure their wedding day is the best it can be!
The Bridge Lemont Wedding Podcast
E4 - Exploring the Essential Role of DJs at Weddings: An Insightful Conversation with DJ Shaun
Ever wonder what’s really going on in the DJ booth at a wedding? In this episode, we chat with DJ Shaun, who started spinning records at 15 and has done it all—from Atlanta clubs to cruise ships and now weddings. He’s got stories, insider tips, and some eye-opening truths about what it takes to create those epic wedding dance floors.
DJ Shaun explains how a great DJ does way more than just play music—they set the vibe and keep the party going. And we also give a shoutout to wedding coordinators, the behind-the-scenes heroes who make sure everything runs smoothly, from keeping speeches short to sticking to timelines.
Plus, we talk about how a DJ’s job goes beyond hitting play on Spotify. They use their skills to turn your love story into a one-of-a-kind celebration. Oh, and a heads-up for wedding guests: It’s not about your favorite songs—it’s about the couple! We wrap up with some advice on what to look for when hiring a DJ for your big day. Don’t miss this fun and helpful chat with DJ Shaun!
Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of the Bridge LeMont wedding podcast, where we talk about all things wedding related, to provide knowledge and valuable information to couples planning their wedding, to help make their wedding day the best it can be. So we are here with DJ Sean. So, dj Sean, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, how you got into the wedding industry, your overall work?
Speaker 2:history. Yeah well, let's start at the beginning, which was when I was 15 years old. I basically begged my way into my first job at a row. I'm going to take these headphones off.
Speaker 3:It's fine whatever is comfortable for you.
Speaker 2:You know how to talk into a microphone right, so yeah, so it was such a good ball. So I actually got my first job behind the turntables when I was 15 years old. When I grew up in Atlanta and where I grew up, basically the thing to do, the thing that everybody did on like a Friday and Saturday night, was go hang out the local skating rink. And I found myself being more interested in like what the DJ was doing rather than hanging out with my friends, probably when I was 12 or 13,. And this went on for several years and finally, when I was 15, they're like okay, leave us alone, you can have a job. And so I got to be the DJ on like the special, like school nights, like you know, thursday, friday nights and sometimes Sundays, and I did that until I was 18. And then, when I was 18, a guy came up to me when I was, when I was DJing in a school event at the skating rink, and he's like you're, how old, are you really good DJ? You know I'd already had three years experience and watched the guy that was also a DJ there for several years before, and you know he he's like you know, I own a club in downtown Atlanta and we're we're we're just getting started and we're actually looking for like a weekday DJ and, and you know, you kind of fit the ideal, you have got really good technique and we can kind of teach you the rest of it. You know, and you know I'm 18, I just graduated high school and I'm like, oh, here's my big break, you know the heck with college. And so I actually did that. I went to work in this, in this club, and I share this, this story, with everyone that that inquires with booking with me, because that was kind of the beginning of, like this, the style of DJ that I am today, you know. So this place, let me explain this club this guy owned these huge clubs down in like the beach, the beach towns in Florida, and he was he's opening up this club in downtown Atlanta, where I'm from, from Atlanta originally, and this is basically an old Kmart that they turned into this like imagine, panama City Beach, florida, at spring break. It was a giant S show. It was like, you know, 3000, it was massive, 3000 college kids, four nights a week, all the time, all the time. And I'm like this is the life I've made it, you know. And so I went to work. It was called belly hoos. I worked at belly hoos before I could even legally drink, and I did that for three years and the same exact situation happened. This guy walks up to me. He's like hey, you're a really good DJ. You know my name's Craig and we're still friends today.
Speaker 2:I work in the cruise industry. You ever thought about like working on a cruise ship? I'm like Nope, but tell me more. You know, he gave me his card and and this is okay, I'm going to sound real old saying this I had a Motorola razor at the time, so I ain't that old folks. But I mean, come on, I've been at it a while, remember? Remember I started at 15. Okay, let's just be fair. So I put his number in my phone, we connected. The next week he sent a plane ticket and I went to Florida and I auditioned and I worked on Royal Caribbean cruise lines for two years.
Speaker 2:I did four tours, two in the Caribbean, and then I did two tours in the Mediterranean, which was like the most amazing experience in the world, and it was time for me to start, for me to make a decision if I was going to do a fifth tour and where. And you know you, it's kind of like a seniority thing. I kind of had my pick at that. You know that point where I wanted to go, and I just it kind of hit me as, like you know I've been, I've been a DJ since I left literally a week after high school and that wasn't the plan all along. You know, I was going to go to college, it's going to do. You know, I was going to work in, like you know, either marketing or graphic design or or maybe radio, and so I kind of made the decision that I was like, you know, I don't know if I want to do this anymore, and I was like DJing at all, not not just the cruise ship thing, but like I think I was done, you know.
Speaker 2:So I mean, and the reality was I would basically sleep all day, get up at like to go eat and I would DJ from like four to nine on Lido deck, you know, for the families, and then I would do the nightclub stuff at night. I'd get in bed at like four am and do it all over again. And it was. And let me tell you about that bed you can, you could barely turn around but and it was cool at the time, but I just like you know, and let me say this to unlimited access to alcohol and food 24 seven you know it's party lifestyle till it wasn't fun anymore, you know. And so I got off that boat and I went to broadcasting school, so, and I ended up working in radio. After that I worked in Atlanta radio, so this with the microphone and stuff feels very comfortable and familiar to me right now. It's like old times man.
Speaker 2:And then, you know, I worked my way up in Atlanta radio and got recruited to move to Green Bay to work in management, take the leap into management and lived in Green Bay for eight years and when I was in Green Bay I started volunteering my time with the Boys and Girls Club. I grew up in the boys club. It was segregated at the time, so it was just the boys club, spent several summers there and I started volunteering for them. And then one day they're like hey, we heard you used to be like a DJ, dj, like, you used to tour the world. I'm like kind of, was it? It's not as, it's not as glam as it sounds.
Speaker 2:But yeah, you know, they're like hey, we need a DJ for our, you know, our, our, our, our winter gala, our fundraiser. And so I'm like Sure, why not? You know, let's find the equipment to do it. And so I did that event. And that was the first time I DJed in like, like like 10 years, first time I did anything behind turntables. And the event planner at that at that, at that event, walked up and goes who are you Like? You're mixing like music, like one song to another. You're mixing live on turntables. We don't have those kind of DJs up here.
Speaker 2:You know, let's just be honest. I mean Green Bay. Say what you want about the football team, but Green Bay as like a town, it's like it's podunk, it's you know. I think more people live here in Lamont than they do in all of Green Bay. So that event planner was like you know, you should really do weddings. I'm like oh hell, no, I'm not that kind of DJ, I am not the chicken dance and the YMCA.
Speaker 2:And she's like I know, I know that's why you need to do weddings. She's like I'm I'm shipping DJs in from Chicago all the time because nobody up here does what you're doing right now. My clients you know, my clients that I work with they've maybe they grew up here but they live in Minneapolis, chicago, detroit, you know, and Milwaukee and Madison, but they don't live in Green Bay. But they want that kind of DJ and so I'm like, okay, let's give it a shot. That year I did five weddings and it just kind of grew from there. And you know, last year I did 70 weddings. So that's kind of the short of the story. I ended up down here from Green Bay because I, as you guys know, I got married last year, I got engaged and I'm actually moved down here six years ago. But I commuted for four of those six years back and forth 228 miles each way. Oh my.
Speaker 3:God four years.
Speaker 2:So yeah, could never. That's the story, I guess.
Speaker 3:How many weddings have you done today?
Speaker 2:You know what? I just added one. I haven't added this weekend, so I think it's there. I actually keep a tally on my website 1,128. Oh, as of last weekend. That's awesome.
Speaker 3:I remember, I remember last it was it last year you hit 1,000. I was like oh my God, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's. That's wild, that's crazy, that's wild. And Sean actually DJed Kevin in my wedding.
Speaker 2:Full disclosure, full disclosure.
Speaker 1:We're kind of friends, so even we've been working with him for a long time.
Speaker 2:I was just thinking about you the other day because I was at elements, so yeah, that's where.
Speaker 1:that's where Kevin, I had our, we had her ceremony, and then we had a reception at elements. Our ceremony was here and then, yeah, yeah, it was it was here, but it wasn't here.
Speaker 3:I mean, it was in this building but it wasn't anything like it is today.
Speaker 2:It was. It was pretty cool though, yeah, but the reception was. I just was thinking about Kevin the other day. I will never forget, like like, let's just be honest, I smashed the hell out of your dance. Oh my God we had so much fun, but I remember I was at elements last week and I remember looking up and I was like I just have this, these flashes, and I remember you just staring there, staring at me for a minute.
Speaker 1:I'm like what is he thinking about? I'll never forget that. What were you?
Speaker 2:thinking.
Speaker 3:I don't know. It was probably one of those things where he was. He was talking about like the whole roller skating rink where it's just like you're paying attention to the DJ, because I just remember like man, people are having a blast right now. I just remember like our wedding was so much fun.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. Anytime we mentioned our wedding to anybody like people were just like that was so much fun. It was needed to, but yeah, it was like kind of after slash in the middle of slash.
Speaker 1:Kind of part of Well it was.
Speaker 2:It was great, though, you know what's interesting you kind of mentioned, you mentioned the wretched sea and, yeah, you guys are having your wedding right there. Like, as we were kind of trying, I think I don't want to go down this rabbit hole, but I will say this kind of going back to what you said about the experience people have. You know, from an entertainer standpoint, especially DJ in the wedding space, you know what I experienced was and the reason why you guys get to own that moment in time with your wedding.
Speaker 2:We were so I think we all realized how important it was for us to be together and celebrate 100 percent people had it taken away and now that they had a chance for it to come back, it just made such an impact on the experiences. Definitely. I know this sounds super weird, but I look back until I look back in that, like you know, 2021, in the beginning of 2022. And so don't get me wrong I I I don't say this from like an I don't want to come out like an ego thing but I, I love the weddings I do and I work really hard and I cherish everyone and I make a pretty good judgment call if I'm going to be a right fit for for someone. But but that period is probably going to be my, my favorite period and, like you know, the retrospect of my DJ career, because people were so just hungry to be together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 100 percent parties just like they, just you know, they just went so hard.
Speaker 3:They were, they went hard and not that they don't today.
Speaker 2:I mean, you've witnessed we go hard, but there were those period. There was just this like moment where, like you couldn't play a bad record, I could play the chicken dance to be like hell yeah, let's go.
Speaker 1:People at West, oh, I'd have been the best song ever.
Speaker 2:So anyway, I just wanted to share that because you know, as weird as it sounds, I'm going to cherish that period. I mean, I, anybody who's in the event world we were all traumatized by that period. But, like I really honestly think the folks in the event space, whether it's weddings or like live music I have a good friend who works at the House of Blues downtown Chicago, it's all. It was very traumatic at the same time. But the period after that, you know, you get to look back and you're like wow.
Speaker 3:I think it's something where for a while I mean and unfortunately I feel like we've gotten back to it where you kind of take that experience and moments together for granted and then all of a sudden, when you get thrown back into it, it's like wow, this is like we have to do this like as people, like we had. I don't know, I just Well.
Speaker 2:I think it's so much fun. We're in our nature.
Speaker 3:We're tribalistic, like we need to be with people.
Speaker 2:We are a species that are connected. And some of these DJ conferences that I go to or I speak at, you know, when I speak at DJ conferences it's typically about relationships. I'm a very real, so I'm someone. I don't want to say I'm very relatable. I feel like the real. I think I feel like you serve people best when you have a relationship with them. Yeah, relational is the right word.
Speaker 2:So, but you know, at the core of it we talk about this there is a psychology of why do people dance? I mean, if you really think about it, why do people get out there and just let loose and let their body do what they do? We're programmed to do that, you know. We're programmed, just it's in our DNA. So if you take away that like societal level, you know some people will say you'll take away, cut this out, because I don't think it should be. I was going to say moral level, but you take away the societal level and, like you know, a cultural level. Our bodies are made to respond that way. So anyway, that's a rabbit hole, probably for like, when you guys get to like episode 100 and you have like our 100th episode retrospect.
Speaker 2:Let's go down that rabbit hole. But yeah, you know, so you know there. I don't even know how we ended up here, but I've worn these two by the way.
Speaker 1:This conversation. I just went in front of me and it's just going to go.
Speaker 2:But, but you know, even today and I know you probably going to have a lot of people who are planning weddings or working the wedding industry to listen to this, and you know and it's my hope that you know people who don't even live in this area or even considering your venue get to listen to this and learn something too. You know the reason why, in this day and age and we might touch on this some more you know, even today, even though we have music at our fingertips, I mean, I, I, I subscribed to everything Apple Musics, spotify, even have title which nobody's ever heard of.
Speaker 3:but Literally never heard of. No idea.
Speaker 2:Titles awesome but because the music, the music quality is lossless. But but you know, even today we still have those communal dance experiences and if you're thinking about a wedding, you know, a lot of times people walk away and they'll say that wedding was amazing and I danced all night. Yeah, you know, not, that wedding was amazing, the food was great and I ate every bit. I mean, you know, I mean, and, granted, we all work with great educators, but, like, people want to have that collective, tribalistic experience and then you can put the societal and cultural layers on it, if you will.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah. So Sean mentioned like you've, you've seen it when it's not a packed dance floor and and it's been a hot minute, but I'm not Sean's wedding.
Speaker 3:No not Sean's wedding but yeah and it's. It's one of those things where we don't want to bash any sort of wedding or whatnot and we're never going to name anybody's wedding by name. But if it, if it does come up, we apologize, it's for the greater good. But I was texting Sean this past weekend like I feel so bad for the DJ because he, like the dance floor is just like it. Just I don't know if it wasn't the crowd, he also wasn't the greatest. Um, it was just one of those things where it it wasn't the experience we were just talking about for the last little bit and I felt really bad. Um, so we kind of wanted to get in with Sean, like what do you think makes a good DJ? Like why is it so important to have it at your wedding?
Speaker 2:Well, you know, the first thing I'll say, and I'm I I know that there's got to be people who, who are listening to this, that have booked me in the past and it's probably looking forward to me DJing their wedding here in the future, so, um, so they would be able to kind of understand where I'm coming from this. So I think, I think um not talking directly about the experience that you had this past weekend, which will be hey, you guys, never, you don't know what day it is I mean, it could be 80 degrees outside right now or it could be snowing, but anyway the reality is is kind of using the example you just shared, you know, number one not every, not every couple expects it to be a crazy party.
Speaker 2:Number one I've met with people and they have straight up said, well, we're not really a dancing family, or, you know, we don't really, we really don't see a bunch of people dancing and that's okay, that's not what we want. I've even I've even met with people that said we really don't want a big dance party. I'm like, well, are you meeting with me? You know, because here's the reality, you can actually save some money and and put that money towards something that's even more important. And that's my advice to people who I do meet with, you know, with those kind of desires. You know, hey, don't spend a couple thousand dollars on a DJ. Why don't you like find someone?
Speaker 2:maybe and that's what this kid was someone who's just getting started you, know, that's what it seemed like to me, maybe someone who's like I really want to do this and I want to touch on like what, what I call no barrier to entry here in a minute. But you know, there are young people that are interested in this, you know, and they've got technology on their side and they've got the equipment, but maybe that couple of this weekend kind of already knew that. I don't know. You know, yeah, but one thing that I look for, one thing that I look for is when I'm meeting with people. You know, what I'm kind of looking for is a little bit of an enthusiasm behind me, explaining what I do in the process and the philosophy behind it, because I just don't get up there and play records. You know, the music for me is a tool, right, the music is a tool and you use it to create an experience. What you're, what I'm trying to do, is create a reaction. You know, when people go, oh, this doesn't sound like my Spotify or Apple music, but I know what he's playing, like. I know this music but like the transitions and the blends and it just keeps going and there's momentum and people are into it.
Speaker 2:What tends to happen and what I'm looking for to prevent what you know, I am coming to a point with this. The way that I prevent empty dance floors is I. You know I'm trying to create a collective experience, so you might, I might, go to a wedding. I don't have a. I had a wedding a couple months ago here We've talked about it where I didn't have a, really liked the couple, really liked them, and I met with you know this bride I think three times, you know and I worked really hard to make sure that, like, even though they weren't going to be like crazy party people on a Sunday, that it was a cool experience for them. But what I did do besides that and I think the key to here's the answer you're waiting for, by the way, the key to not having an empty dance floors there is always a couple of party people at a wedding. It could just be two or three, but you have to know how to find them right away and cater to them.
Speaker 2:Now, usually it's women, usually it's women. And the thing is, if it is, then you are in luck because women will go dance. With women it's like a magnet. You have a party, you have a lady who's like let's go. You gave her a cowbell, she would ring it like crazy and walk around the room Like I call them my cowbell ladies, you know. But if you have that kind of person, that's like cheering and screaming every time, like you say something about the bride and groom, you know, or the couple, and you just can, you can vibe it right. Here's another secret too Usually, when you're doing like prearranged seating, those people are sat together. Somehow you can keep a lookout.
Speaker 2:You always have a crazy table right, so you have to know how to identify them and then you just like keep feeding those people and what happens is and this is the secret, and this happened at that wedding it was 10 o'clock, dance floor is packed right. What happens is they get lost. People like want to be a part of that moment. They're not too too critical of music. It's about the moment. The music is tool. If you create the moment, people want to be a part of that. Again, tribalism they want to be a part of that experience. You know, I want to say this too and you can leave it in here if you want. I'm not talking about tribalism from the way that like people politicize it today. I'm talking about literally people wanting to be together and have a collective experience.
Speaker 2:So, but yeah, there's your answer. You really just and here's the thing that intuition, because that's what it comes down to. I didn't have that intuition when I started weddings, it's a struggle for a little.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's just something I learned over time, you know, and to me today it's a gut feeling. Another thing I tell people, you know, because I do, you know I have Frankie on my team, who's amazing, you know. You know he comes from a club more recently a nightlife experience than I did and you know he's been in the wedding space five years and he's finally caught that intuition.
Speaker 3:We've seen Frankie and I don't want. Frankie was never a bad DJ but, like over the last two years, Frankie has gotten really good.
Speaker 2:Like he's gotten a lot better. Really, I think it's just time.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's just. It's just, like you said, an intuition sort of just not even a conscious thing, it's just the feeling and the relationship with the dance floor there's just something that you sink into.
Speaker 2:But when you haven't got there yet and I hope maybe there's some inspiring DJs listening to this that can take something away from this Sometimes you just have to put your head down a mix and say, I've got this, and if I were on that dance floor, where would I be right now? What would I be wanting to do? And you'll look up and you've got a packed dance floor, you know. I think it's like intuition and confidence.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:All right so.
Speaker 2:I forgot to tell you two that there weren't going to be any two. Two word answers to your questions.
Speaker 3:No it's good. I figured that was going to be the case and that's all right. That's the whole point. We need an insight into the mind of a DJ. All right, I think we're on what. The third question Sorry, all right.
Speaker 1:So what are some no no's that you suggest your couples to avoid on their wedding?
Speaker 2:Oh man, this one's going to be good.
Speaker 3:Or suggestions in the other direction, like something that you've seen recently that you're kind of like have been a fan of, with what couples are choosing to do with their weddings.
Speaker 2:You know that's a great question and I love the opportunity to hide behind a microphone and be honest about that. Do it. Let me say this there's not a lot of things that I tried to discourage couples from doing what I have learned in doing this for 12 years now, I lied what I have learned for doing this. Covid still messes me up Two years missing.
Speaker 2:Because, like, I don't count 2020. Yeah, so you know what? This is my 13th year. It would technically be my 14th, but you know, here's what I've learned. There's the traditions. Traditions have really evolved and trends come and go. Right now, the big trend is the bridal bomb. Instead of introducing the wedding party all individually or as couples, or as pairs I should say, not couples everybody just comes in together. That's great, you know. And the trend is I don't know if you guys have had it yet, but we did it a couple weeks ago where, like, someone came out and cut the bride's dress and then they trashed the dress.
Speaker 3:I don't think we've seen that On purpose. Yes, instead of changing, like they just cut it.
Speaker 2:Look TikTok, influence you saw it on TikTok.
Speaker 1:We have had a lot of TikTok requests, where they're, I know someone who cut their hair between ceremony and reception, so she came out with short hair. That freaks me out.
Speaker 2:But, you know, to the spirit of your question, the one thing I will share with couples and this is me being very incandescent is you need to make sure that you're framing your reception in its original spirit. And here's the thing that most couples don't realize is the. This is going to sound so weird. The entire day is a celebration of you, but the reception is a thank you to your guests, receiving your guests, for being a witness to your wedding. What happens? And one thing I work with my couples on, so I share the statistic. When I got married last year, when I started planning our wedding, something that really stuck out to me, that just kind of put me on my rear end and, you know, can I say yes, okay, no, I put that put me on my yeah, I think.
Speaker 3:I think we're okay with this.
Speaker 2:Wearing. I mean, I was just saying something that put me on my ass is I was like, holy crap, 80, 80% of this, the stuff we're like planning and paying for, is for the enjoyment of everybody else on our wedding day.
Speaker 2:It would like was a moment where I was just like I had this epiphany about all the couples that I've worked with and it really hit me. This is why they you know you spend so much of your time and your budget on the reception, really, and you only spend 15, 20% of your time and your budget on the thing that's. The most important part of the day is your ceremony. The biggest thing that I would say is a no. No is don't lose. Don't lose focus of that. Keep your eye on the prize you and your to be spouse. That is what the day is all about. And kind of following up on that is you don't have to do every gaming gimmick in the book. And I'm honest with the couples that I meet with. I'm not the DJ that likes to stop the music. You know an hour in to do the bouquet and garter toss. I get it. It's a tradition. Some people, a lot of people, don't do it anymore. I don't think I've ever done a bouquet toss here.
Speaker 1:Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever done one here at the British Railway. We didn't do it for our wedding, we did, we did the bouquet, I did, I did, did you do the garter bouquet. Not the garter. No, we did not do the garter.
Speaker 2:Nobody does the garter. Yeah, when's the last time you?
Speaker 3:did a garter shot.
Speaker 2:I actually did a garter last month and you know side story, you need a jingle Time for a show on side story. I'm full of those. So I'm like you want to do the garter. She's like yes, my mom really wants me to do it. I said so, let's do this. That's interesting. Let's put a stuffed kitty cat next to your dress and like and when you pull out the, when he pulls out the garter, he puts the garter on the cat and tosses the cat. It was so funny. That's pretty funny.
Speaker 1:I like how people do like a funny twist. If you're going to do it just because otherwise it's kind of uncomfortable.
Speaker 3:A little too awkward. It's funny that the mom wanted her to do it. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. That's like a very interesting Her mom's like well played.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's hilarious.
Speaker 2:You know, and here's the thing it's. It's a dance floor, ebb and flows and you need opportunity to reset. But don't feel like you have to do all these things. You know, if your desire is for people to just have a great, crazy dance party and enjoy the bar and enjoy your late night snack and just have that like collective experience, that people walk away and be like holy crap, that was like next level, then there's no need to do all of those. You know bells and I would shouldn't even call them bells and whistles. There's those traditional tricks, you know.
Speaker 2:Another no-no is and you know the people that have worked with me and the people that are going to be working with me. You know trust your DJ. If you're going to invest in a you know in a performance style, you know DJ. You know trust that person. Now, if you're going to hire the beginner, then they might need a little bit more direction, just because that's what they want from you, because they're still learning. But you know, you know trust and I'm going to actually expand on that. You've spent a lot of time, you know, picking your vendors. Trust your vendors.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know, not just your DJ. If you don't trust your vendors, yeah, if you don't trust your vendors, then like you're not going to go into the day secure. And then I think that another huge point to make is I don't want to say the DJ is like another coordinator, but the way that you operate your weddings.
Speaker 3:it's something where you are heavily involved in the flow of the evening and the success of the evening, not just the music, so I think that that's super important to note is that like you need to have someone I mean, you're the loudest person in the room you need to have someone who knows what they're doing, how to make the flow happen.
Speaker 1:I think it's also important to know if your DJ is that experienced or if you need the coordinator to be more involved with the DJ.
Speaker 2:Well, I will say this, you know. So, during COVID, one of the things I did with my time was I became a certified wedding planner. Now it's not something you guys probably even know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I didn't know that. Yeah, it's not something that I'm interested in doing.
Speaker 2:I considered at one time but like I just could never imagine, I've literally had nightmares of being a wedding coordinator instead of a DJ and like the DJ being really bad at me literally having to do some of that. So I know that I'm not ready for it, but what I was going to say is I did that because I knew it would help me better serve my clients. And you know, from a coordination standpoint, what I'm, my goal and my coordination is to really help the couples, and this is very unique to what we do. Right, and if you're another DJ, you should definitely be doing this, the more you can help your couples.
Speaker 2:Envision the day, not from a logistical standpoint, you know, and one of the things I love about the bridge is I always have a great coordinator working with us. You know, of course I'm. I love Liz, you know, and we've become really good friends and we're just like we're two peas in a pod when we work together. No, it's like clockwork, you know, but my coordination is really about the experience, because you know coordination, you know, with a coordinator or most, most, I would even say like from from a, from a photographer's timeline and stuff too, it's all about logistics.
Speaker 2:It's all about logistics, of making sure, even if you do your own timeline, you're all. You're only worried about the logistics of the day. You spend so much of this time and so much of your budget on like the experience you're trying to give people. You know your DJ should have the opportunity to help you envision that ahead of time and make sure that it it meets your. It meets your vision. You know the the thing, like you know what's your vision.
Speaker 2:I know that that's a question a lot of you know vendors ask and I don't ask that question because, unless you've been married already, I rarely work with anybody being remarried. You know so. They've never done this before. They only know what they've experienced. Right, so you know when you can take their information and really kind of walk through it. You're creating their vision with them and then you walk, you walk them through the entire day and they're like, holy crap, this is great, it flows, it makes sense, yeah. And then and I'm going to say this, I'm going to say something that I, that some of my vendor friends, especially in like the, the coordination world and stuff, might not like, but I'm a little selfish with the time. I want to get to the party as fast as possible.
Speaker 3:So I want to have a controlling interest in that.
Speaker 2:I'm not going to lie, you know. So when I can say, hey, why don't we have your? I'll give you an example. I'm a big fan of like those speeches overlapping dinner not coming after dinner. Yes, you know not going before dinner either, because once people sit down they want to eat, but as soon as that last table has received their entree or they've gone through that buffet, let's get into. You're ready to go.
Speaker 2:Let's earn a half hour of time back because we can dance for another half hour. I'm a little selfish in getting to the dance as fast as possible.
Speaker 3:Yeah, there's some weddings where I felt bad, that like it's just I don't want to say poorly coordinated, but it's something where you end up an hour past and you like pass your timeline and then you don't have as much dance time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I vividly remember sitting down with you. I think it was over zoom. We had met. We did not meet you until, I think, the day before or the day. Did you come today before?
Speaker 2:No, you were there the day of the day of, the day of we met, day of.
Speaker 1:Um, yeah, I remember sitting down going over our timeline and like I remember you just explaining okay, this is the best way to do it and I was like, oh, that makes so much sense. Like you really did talk us through and I was able to envision it.
Speaker 2:Great coordinators are so worth the investment brides. I cannot stress to you how important it is to have a great coordinator, and I know you guys have gotten to the point where you require a coordinator here, and because you know how important it is.
Speaker 2:Yes, a wedding is not a do it yourself thing. You can do your decor and stuff. We just worked with an amazing bride here at the bridge who, like, was the best DIY I've ever seen, and now she's turning into a business. She does not mind if we say her name, morgan. She's amazing.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2:But and she, she, she like um, tick talk and Instagram the whole story. But it's great to do that yourself, but the day of you cannot be your own coordinator and planner. Um, and I'm going to say this too Ooh, I'm about to, I'm about to throw a little shade here we go, go for it. I'm going to say this in a profession. If we had bourbon, this would have been really bad, but let me say this this is something I've learned.
Speaker 2:you might have really good friends standing up in your bridal party especially brides but when it comes to your wedding day, and they've had the first drink or two, don't count on them to do anything 100%. They are in celebration mode and they should be you shouldn't ask one of your bridesmaids to help coordinate things. No, because all you're gonna do is set yourself up for disappointment or worse with the relationship with that person on your wedding day.
Speaker 1:Well, we require like that None of your vendors can be guests at your wedding. Maybe you're florist if they're not doing any cleanup or whatever, like a family friend did all your bouquets but yeah, any vendor cannot be a guest at the wedding. We are pretty strict with that because you lose sight on the work then, and that's what makes the day for the bride and groom.
Speaker 2:It goes the cliche that it goes by so fast it goes by so fast and I it does. It doesn't for us but Right.
Speaker 3:Hey, we're being honest on this podcast.
Speaker 2:It doesn't go by slow, it doesn't drag, but it doesn't go by as fast as it does for you guys. Having someone on your team, not just your DJ and your photographer and your cinematographer if you're working with one of those but having someone who can really hold all of that together. And weddings are such a visual thing for the brides too. Like you have a decor vision, you know, and the thing I will say about the bridges it doesn't take a lot to make this place. This place is already beautiful. I mean, you can. I'm just being honest. Look, I was just a high, I won't name it, but I was just at a high hotel on Saturday. You needed a lot in that space, but, gosh, high is going to be bad.
Speaker 1:You've got to hide the carpet somehow, right?
Speaker 2:Oh, it looks like the last time it was updated was like the nineties, but we had, we went hard and we had a great time. But you do, brides, you do think a lot about the decor and the flowers. Even if you're not going to do a lot of floral, you think about centerpieces and stuff. Don't be the one to have to worry about making sure it's right. Trust someone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, for sure yeah.
Speaker 3:Do you want to wrap up the last question or do you want me to?
Speaker 1:I have an off question from I don't know whether.
Speaker 3:There you go. I'll take the last one. I love questions. This is fun.
Speaker 1:What do you do when someone's giving a speech and it's lasting way past the time?
Speaker 2:that it's supposed to. Oh boy.
Speaker 1:Because I find that that often would cause a lot of problems with the timelines.
Speaker 2:So I can't speak for other people, but let me tell you how we hedge against this. Now the day, I'll answer the obvious. If someone's got the microphone and they have been giving that honorary opportunity, then I'm not going to be the one to take it away from them. But the way that I hedge against that is number one. On my planning forms, our couples will enter their made of honor best man anybody given a speech, father of the bride. When they put that information in, I use this software that sends them a pre-done email.
Speaker 2:Hey, john, we're really looking forward to celebrating Suzy and Dan's wedding coming up in a couple of weeks. I know you're giving a speech. I've included a tip sheet to help you with your speech. Also, here's a couple of videos on YouTube that can help you with giving the perfect speech at a wedding In bold. The ideal length for a speech at a wedding is about five minutes. If you go a few minutes over, that's okay, but you're going to start to lose people eight minutes plus, so be very, very cautious of that. Blah, blah, blah. Here's my contact information. If you would like to get together and chat on Zoom about your speech, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's really.
Speaker 2:Don't remember the last time I had a long speech.
Speaker 3:There's not going to be many DJs that are that.
Speaker 2:Thoreau, yeah and full-fledged disclosure and I tell my couples this, like it's the software that I use, that I've invested in. I had custom design for us and it makes all the difference in the world. Every vendor gets an email from me too just say hey, we're going to be working together. Liz has this, liz from Liza Laurette. She has this running joke when she gets an email from me Hi, liz, my name is Sean. If we've not worked together before, we're looking forward to working with you. And so it's like and the thing is like you would be surprised how many like, especially venues. When they went off, venues like the Hyatt Blank that I was at this weekend, like today, I got a response because it sends a post email hey, it was great working with you, she replies. She says, hey, it was great having you here.
Speaker 2:I heard nothing but good things from the bartenders. Hope to see you again soon. That connection matters and if you can use technology to help you with that. So I know that's a broader part of the answer. That were the question you asked, but that's what I do. But I will tell you day of if dad's up there and he's given a 20 minute speech. Well, you know, chance has already paid for some of this. He's given a 20 minute speech. I'm not gonna be the one to cut his mic off, I won't do that but if I get an eye from the bride or groom, you know then I will just be like like tug on his pants or something like that you know.
Speaker 2:But not my place to cut off his speech. That makes sense, yeah for sure.
Speaker 3:So last question as we wrap up here. I wanted to make it a good one at the end, just to kind of all encompass everything.
Speaker 2:I'm nervous.
Speaker 3:What is one thing that you wish every guest at your weddings knew about your job and your role in a wedding?
Speaker 2:I wanna say this right, we live in. I wanna get a little deep here for just a second. I gave you a warning we would go here.
Speaker 3:Here's the place to go.
Speaker 2:But you know the fact that we have every song ever created at our fingertips. It's just insane. If you went back 15 years ago and you said hey, you know what, in about 15 years, you know that new thing that just came out the iPhone. Well, we're all gonna have one of those or something like it in the future and you're gonna have this thing called Spotify or Apple Music, et cetera, and you're gonna have access to any song ever made in the history of recorded music at your fingertips. It would play at any time. All you have to do is tell your device to play it. It would think you're insane.
Speaker 3:Yeah, cause it used to be. You're paying for a DJ with a library of songs.
Speaker 2:That was the value proposition of a wedding DJ for the longest time was they had a huge music library and they had a sound system to play that library right. So I am gonna answer the question. But this is where I'm going. I want people to understand that, like, yes, music is super accessible, but a DJ at least in my, what I do is that music is a tool to create an experience. I'm not a jukebox and just because you wanna hear some obscure song and you wanna show it to me this is my biggest pet peeve is when someone shoves their phone in my face. You guys, psa, please don't shove a phone in a DJ's face. Just say, hey, can you play song, not just shove it in your face. Okay, I'm gonna show site story. This is gonna be your longest podcast ever.
Speaker 2:Someone did that to me, like last week, and I grabbed the phone and I took a selfie and handed it back to them. So I grabbed it, I took a selfie with it. I was like, oh, no, no, no, no, no, play this. I was like, what song do you wanna hear? And he was trying to find. I was like I speak English, you can tell me I got you. But yeah, just understand that we're really trying, like, okay, I'm gonna speak for me and me only. I'm really really trying to create something that is like for me, for what I do, next level, like different than any kind of wedding experience this couple's had before, you know, and the guest as well. So, you know, DJs are not chew boxes, you know. And the other thing to remember is I got told recently by a drunk guest I was the worst wedding DJ they ever heard, which I rubbed it off. Okay, we get abused a lot. I mean you I believe that was here, was it not?
Speaker 3:You said it.
Speaker 2:I wasn't gonna say it, but look, alcohol makes people do, can, can, can make people act very Poorly, but anyway, isn't the first time, won't be the last time. But what you have to understand is the every vendor that that is at a wedding was picked by the couple that you are there celebrating. Yeah, they are reflection of that couple. So if you say you're the West DJ, worst wedding DJ I've ever heard, then you're just basically telling the couple, the bride or the groom, that's the worst DJ that you've ever you could have booked. You suck, you know we?
Speaker 3:yeah, we've had that route, like the other week someone reviewed, reviewed our food and it was just kind of like you did it during the wedding and we had to respond like well, like we Don't do the food. Yeah, but it was just one of those things where it's like you're sitting at a wedding that someone paid for and you're complaining about the food. Yeah, that was just wild, it's, it's.
Speaker 2:It's a weird world we live in. I mean, I remember last year I was at a doing a wedding and a Guy, a lady, came up and and the man had I turned this song off right now, and it was. It definitely wasn't a dancing song, it was a special song that was a tribute to the groom's dad who passed away. It was his special song and his family's out there they're having a great time, wow. And she's just like turn this off. This is horrible, this is not fun music. And I kindly explained what was going on and she goes I don't care, turn it off. And I said look, you're at so-and-so's wedding, let's be a little respectful. Because then she was getting loud. Well, her husband went on. Google left me a one-star review at the wedding, in the middle of the wedding, just like you just had, because they, they just didn't give a shit.
Speaker 2:And I just, I just sit back and I go and, and of course you know, and thank God Frankie was with me at that wedding I had, I it got into my head real fast and I looked up and that dance floor was packed. You know, but I had never received less than a five-star review on anything, and it was my first one. Not only that, he went in and he created a separate profile, left me to one star.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:He wasn't smart enough to use a different name. So I don't know. I mean the. The back end of that story is when people found out that my people who I've worked with in the past and like Social media, they came in and they like packed my Google Profile full of reviews, right?
Speaker 1:So Now you. Now you're the DJ with the most five-star reviews ever.
Speaker 2:I don't know about that, but here's what I will say. When you were a guest at a wedding, this is the answer it isn't. It isn't even 1% about you.
Speaker 2:Yeah and that's what it comes down to, whether it's the food, the DJ, the bartenders, the decor, the favors, the transportation, it isn't about you. It is about the couple you are celebrating. And if you don't like the DJ, then don't hire that DJ when you get married, yeah, yeah, if you don't like that caterer, don't hire that caterer, but don't make it about you, because the worst thing that can happen and god, this is I don't want to end it this way Ask me a fun question after this, but this is this is true the worst thing that can happen is you mistreat a vendor or you say something poor about the experience and it gets back to that couple and you have put a tarnish on their once-in-a-lifetime experience. Yeah, and we just had that experience, that, that we just had that happen. And they don't get to your sorry's, doesn't take it away.
Speaker 2:Yeah you were selfish. And when you go to a wedding, you're gonna get your. You're invited for a reason Just sharing the experience and then, when you get married or you have the opportunity to have feedback, do something different and be cautious on if you're bringing a plus one, I'm sweating.
Speaker 1:But okay, so I guess a fun question what is, what is the coolest thing you've seen at a wedding or something that's really put that wedding Above all others? What is something they've done?
Speaker 2:or and um. That's a good question. I've seen a lot of cool things. Can I answer that just a little differently? Yeah, yeah, for sure the best thing I see at weddings is when the couple we are celebrating are so in love and they're making it obvious.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Brides and grooms listening. The one thing that you can do and you don't do it on purpose, but I see it all the time is you're so nervous about the show that you kind of lose perspective on the day.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:It is such a freaking production and there's no way around that and you should enjoy planning it and having that day. But the best thing is when you've got a couple that just you feel, you sense that magnetism and, as cheesy as that sounds, that's one of the reasons I still do this.
Speaker 2:Yeah you know, as you guys know, I'm, you know I'm a father. Now, the one thing that I'm not gonna negatively frame this game, but one thing a lot of people don't realize, is in this industry you give every Friday and Saturday to someone else. Yeah, oh yeah, some Sundays, you know and so and don't get me wrong, I love doing it, but like that's the reward. Mm-hmm you know, so I know that wasn't the answer.
Speaker 1:That's a perfect answer. Question did you feel that from Kevin and me? Yes, yes, absolutely make sure I remember wake like going to sleep in the night before and just like I didn't really care about the Day anymore, like we did all the back end stuff. Yeah, it was about us at that point yeah, and that is like so important. Let like, let go, let go and let be and just enjoy your day. Don't be the one decorating your everything.
Speaker 1:No, don't be the one trying to call this person, call that person, make sure they're showing up, just and don't worry about everybody else day of don't worry about the that's.
Speaker 2:That's kind of the core of like one of the reasons we do the timeline and the experience outline and stuff is because Don't worry about everybody else. Today of you know, you know exactly. When you work with me I can only speak from my perspective. But when you work for me, we've talked about what that experience is gonna be like. Don't worry, Don't worry about the experience. What else is having day of? Are they having a good time? Oh my gosh, are we going over time?
Speaker 2:Trust your people and just take it all in don't care one bit about yeah and you know, keep you know, you just got married you know, right yeah and it's it's fair to feel overwhelmed about that. But Again, the answer is just the magnetism when you know the couple, they just they, they, they know. I Shouldn't say they know, but they sense. They sense what just happened and they're so happy it happened.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:That's a much better note to end on so I hope.
Speaker 2:Thanks for thanks for coming on with us, dude Thank you.
Speaker 1:We appreciate it and we'll definitely have to.
Speaker 3:We'll have to like I was put on the spot.
Speaker 1:We'll have to have some more Confidant things or whatever.
Speaker 3:I think we could definitely do an entire episode just on music theory with Sean. I would love to talk about that, you know.
Speaker 2:I mean you need a whole snip off on like things for new DJs I feel like you've got so much to add, you should do your own podcast, I will tell you.
Speaker 2:I mean, there and there there's plenty of DJ podcasts for new DJs out there. But you know, let me say this to like, you know if the reason, I just feel like, I feel the spirit when it's me to say this, so I'm gonna say it. Okay, you know, if you are a DJ listening to this or you're interested in it, you know there is a place for you because we need good DJs in the wedding space. The one thing I didn't really get to talk on is the barrier to entry just doesn't exist anymore. You can play the.
Speaker 2:We hear horror stories all the time is DJs playing Spotify at wedding and like a commercial plays in the middle of a wedding ceremony and stuff like that, and it's like that's not acceptable. There's no barrier to entry. There's. There's no. There's no like Qualification. You still have to go buy a bunch of music at least you, you invested in that right. So but at the same time, there are a lot of people that have grown up with the technology side of this, which I didn't have. That would make great DJs. You know technology is one thing. You know the talent and the skills the other part. But you can only learn. You know, grow that skill and build that talent if you get that experience. So you know, and if you're a couple that, like you know you want to, you want to put your budget towards something else, don't be afraid to hire new DJs. Just spend a lot of time with them and really help them curate the music, because that's how they're gonna learn their intuition.
Speaker 1:Cool, cool right, yeah, thanks.
Speaker 2:I can't wait to talk shit with you again.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this was fun, thank you, bye everybody.
Speaker 2:Bye y'all.