Beyond the DJ Booth

Ep. 7: Spicy Weddings and Fiery Mixes: From Tent Saunas to TikTok Tracks

• Joe Bunn and Brian B • Season 1 • Episode 7

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Ever wondered how to keep the party alive in a tent that feels more like a sauna? Join us as we recount our wild weekend DJing experiences, where the Florida heat was nothing compared to the fire on the dance floor. We weave through tales of creative chaos, like how a TikTok-inspired ceremony track set us back $60. Plus, who would have guessed a SoundCloud remix of "Unwritten" with an unexpected rap twist could become the crowd's anthem? From managing spontaneous song requests to creating unforgettable moments, our episode is packed with stories that highlight the unpredictable magic of DJing at weddings.

In a fast-paced Q&A session, we tackle burning DJ questions from a listener in the Netherlands, dissecting everything from mic etiquette to the art of mixing by ear. We lay down the golden rule of wedding gigs: let the music do the talking, while balancing the couple's playlist with guest requests. It's all about striking the right chord without turning every track into a remix marathon. Tune in for a conversation that's equal parts informative and entertaining.

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Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/
To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/
To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/
Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn
Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial
DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php
Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

Brian B:

hey, everybody, welcome back to beyond the d Booth. I'm Brian B.

Joe Bunn:

I'm Joseph Bunn. I almost gave my whole birth name, joseph Eagles Bunn Jr.

Brian B:

Did you get that Matter Daddy? What Did you get the Matter Daddy? I don't know. You didn't get the Matter.

Joe Bunn:

Daddy, I'll fall for the joke. What's Matter, daddy? What's Matter? What's the Matter, daddy? Not much. What's the matter, daddy? Not much.

Brian B:

What's the matter with you. I had to go with it, dude, it was there.

Joe Bunn:

It was there, I think diddy's the only person that calls grown men daddy. What do you think? Saquon the diddler?

Brian B:

you'll be using it.

Joe Bunn:

You'll be using that no, I won't, randy might. Randy's the king of the shitty dad jokes. What's up, dude this?

Brian B:

weekend was nutty. I had a gig in Florida on Saturday. It was awesome. It was a great gig, but a lot of things.

Brian B:

Yeah, so I brought my phone because literally these are the things that happened. Door number one was fake fall wedding, so I could talk to you a little bit about that. Door number two is the $60 single wedding track purchase. Door number three a SoundCloud track. Door number four new opening dance track. Door number five wife and kids going to a wedding gig with me. Or door number six firing one of my DJs. All happened from this weekend and I'm supposed to pick one of these, Any of them, or you want a little bit of a smidge of each I'll take a smidge of each.

Joe Bunn:

Pick one of these, any of them, or you want a little bit of a smidge of each? I'll take a smidge of each, but like, don't, don't eat up the entire 30 minute podcast no it's nonsense. No, no, so fake fall weddings. I don't know what that means it's fall technically, yes, two days not fall bro it's not fall.

Brian B:

It's like if you go out there you're sweating. You're in north carolina. Yes, and florida same way, worse are you seeing a trend of clear tents? Yeah, they're the worst.

Joe Bunn:

It's like magnifying glass on your dome Cooked, absolutely baked bald head. Why are people?

Brian B:

doing this, I don't know. Premature, I mean it's fine Late.

Joe Bunn:

Late, yes, not early, no, and like it's just not time, it's actually Just like when you used to take a magnifying glass and like burn ants and shit when you were a kid. The worst dude Stop doing it, Please stop.

Brian B:

And also just for like guest experience too they don't typically have fans in there. I'm like, if you're going to do a clear tent, got to put some fans in there.

Joe Bunn:

AC or AC. If you're super rich, you got AC in your tent.

Brian B:

It's just tough from, like a DJ perspective, because it's all about pacing, because if you go in too heavy with it, feeling like it's like a million degrees in there, like it's a greenhouse effect, bro, that's what it is.

Joe Bunn:

That's what it is. I hate it my god.

Brian B:

So they did this clear tent no and I was like I gotta figure out how to get these people out here and keep them for a couple hours. Yeah, and it was all about pace. Psa, please stop with the clear tents. Premature clear tent pct go ahead so door two. Yes, lady sees a song on TikTok and she's like bride, sorry, okay. She goes. I need the song, for I want to walk down the aisle to it.

Joe Bunn:

It's.

Brian B:

Canon and D with a trap beat or something. No, it was like some string thing, trappy. Coming down to the aisle. So it lists on the TikTok caption by bespoke strings. I go looking everywhere. It's on their website bro.

Joe Bunn:

And they really charge $60 for one track and you paid it.

Brian B:

I mean Did you bill?

Joe Bunn:

it back. I did, no, I didn't.

Brian B:

No, if it would have been like a typical client for our B-Boy brand. I would have but you're a bill back king, this one I couldn't. I was like well, I got to take this one on the chin like what can you? Send it to me.

Brian B:

You know somebody gonna ask for it 60 bucks and this thing had a lot of views, so I think it's gonna be worth the purchase, I guess, but still so I'll tie away robbery. Bro, you don't need many sales to do well with that track crazy. So I'm like I hope this isn't the norm, like these people like making these one-offs and it's just like me either, or like some father-daughter dance that pops off.

Joe Bunn:

I've definitely paid like a absurd amount for a track, but it wasn't 60, 60s larceny yeah, it's crazy.

Brian B:

so number three was this soundcloud track grooms like hey, you gotta play a song for us. It's same event, same event, okay, unwritten, okay, okay. So the remix Okay, and I listened to it. It actually was, I think, a guy who snagged the Scooter Blend, and I think Digital Dave did one too with Happier and Unwritten together. Yeah.

Joe Bunn:

But then they added some little rap component to it. Oh no, I play that Happier Blend all the time. Okay, there's no rap in it this dj or producer put something out on soundcloud right.

Brian B:

He's like our crowd's gonna go hype on it. I'm listening to it. Does it have an intro? I'm just like I think this is gonna suck. This is not gonna go over and so they're like play it to start the last hour. If you can fit in and dude, I played it.

Joe Bunn:

Yeah, have it crazy I do love that song and I love that edit. Let's play a little bit of the video you want, of the video this is the groom, all right.

Brian B:

Who's out here singing here? There's you rocking okay, shirt on and we have, and we just go mental white tea, all gents just out there, like it's mr bright side, and we're doing it to unwritten what we're happier I'm like I do love natasha beddingfield though I had no idea this was gonna be. I'll be honest, saquon will back me. I play that song on this every week. That version of it I do love Natasha.

Joe Bunn:

Bedingfield, though I had no idea this was going to be the better of the night. I'll be honest, saquon will back me. I play that song almost every weekend, that version of it, yeah, that with Happier.

Brian B:

It's such a weird the intro into it because it's kind of more mellow, yeah, that.

Joe Bunn:

But it just goes off. Interesting. It goes off every weekend. Guys, girls doesn't matter Like people just love that Feel the rain on your Whatever it is.

Brian B:

It's timeless, bro. That tone's a little off.

Joe Bunn:

Yeah, I know, my key is not.

Brian B:

Robbie hates a bad key, so door five took my wife and kiddo. They weren't in the room, though Not to this wedding. I had my goddaughter had a wedding in. Columbus on Friday I went to that. I was already booked on a wedding by the time I found out this wedding date Correct, so I didn't get any intel on this wedding outside?

Brian B:

of knowing that it was this time. Show up at this address. Yeah, yeah, Bring our four-year-old. And my wife texts me from the ceremony goes. Did you know this is a one hour Catholic mass?

Joe Bunn:

I'm like no, in a church Like at a.

Brian B:

Catholic church.

Joe Bunn:

Yeah, I'm like no, she's like, I'm going to kill you.

Brian B:

And then they go to the reception. It's open seating. Everybody takes up the primo seats. Wife is with the kids table and she's just like I hate you right now and she's like this is the worst night of my life and I'm like I'm so sorry, man, is the worst night of my life and I'm like I'm so sorry, man, but where are you?

Joe Bunn:

I'm in florida that wedding I just showed. Oh, she stayed, she stayed. No, you went to the friday night thing, then you left. You go to your gig saturday, florida. She stays for the wedding. Yeah, and she's and they're my friends, it's like my god. No, I understand which is not.

Brian B:

She had to represent for your family. She had to. But, boy, she took one on the chin.

Joe Bunn:

She did bro you over big.

Brian B:

So yeah, that was number uh five, and the last one was firing one of my djs I can't wait to hear this.

Joe Bunn:

You know I love a good firing.

Brian B:

This is brutal so this is anybody I know. No, no, and actually it wasn't really one of my djs, so I had a planner. All of our guys were booked. This is september 21st. Yeah, huge wedding day because of the date. Yeah, earth, wind and fire song right, that was on everybody's playlist.

Brian B:

Of course it was my couple did it for their grand entrance. They didn't even use it for the dance that they wanted to use it for that. But anyway, a planner calls goes, we have somebody that we need to take care of. Can you help me? All of our guys are booked but. I felt like this is a plan I like to work with.

Brian B:

Yeah if I can get anybody sure. So I call one of my nightlife people and he can do both. He can do nightlife and this. He's like I can't do it, but one of my nightlife guys can. Okay, he's solid. Okay, he gets on the phone call with the client. It's great, it's well spoken. But I've never seen them dj outside of the club I've seen him do it in the club.

Brian B:

And he gets there and he goes hey, where are my speakers? I'm like, bro, what do you mean? Where am I? I like where are you? You're at your show. I'm at my show setting up. Oh shit, it's an hour from his house, this venue, and it's crazy traffic because it's still kind of fall, so we're just kind of getting a lot beat up. So I'm like you were supposed to bring these, like this is part of the deal, like al didn't tell you. Like you gotta bring your own speakers, your own gear.

Joe Bunn:

It's a mobile DJ.

Brian B:

Yeah, and he's like I don't have any. Now I'm freaking out because it's under my name, right, so I call up my boy. I'm like yo, you didn't tell your boy to bring speakers, so he makes used to. So I think the guy just got stressed Like I would probably too but I don't know how to handle it.

Joe Bunn:

Yes, very badly, yeah. Anyways, homeboy goes to the bar, shit the bed.

Brian B:

Ooh yeah, got some tequila shots back there. So the planner texted me and goes hey, your boy's doing tequila shots back here Pre you got to be joking me, like no way. Then I get an email from the planner during the wedding checking this and she goes hey, your boy's like drinking on their tab. I had to cut him off and I am just like I cannot believe this is happening right now, you know. So the planner tells me later like hey, you know it was a tough crowd. I can see why he would be stressed out. I'm like, yeah, but you don't do that. Like that's no rule one, right, like it's literally rule one.

Brian B:

Yeah, and this is a relationship with both the planner and the venue that is now threatened because of this right. So I have to call them that night you know, after my gig this is like 11 30 at night couple no, the planner and thing and say, hey, I'll take care of it in the morning, like I'm gonna make this right with the client, whatever I gotta do. So I took care of them the client because they raised a little bit of a stink when they saw the tequila shots, apparently, and so had to do a little bit of a refundage on that smooth it over but I had to tell the dj I'm like, listen, we can't ever use that guy again.

Brian B:

He's not allowed here. Like we got to get somebody else, so anyway had to let him go. But I hadn't run into that ever. I don't think I've ever ran into one of our guys drinking ever.

Joe Bunn:

The only thing I recall about that. There was two quick instances. There was an incident where somebody reported it, either from the venue or the wedding planner planner and was like, hey man, your guy was drinking here the other night. This guy had been here a long time, right, I confronted him immediately. I said, hey, dude, what was that about? And he goes, dude, he goes. That is absolute bullshit. And I was like, well, I mean, they said you were drinking, he was getting cokes in the highball glasses.

Brian B:

Oh, it was a real bar with a real bartender and they were serving drinks in eyeball glasses.

Joe Bunn:

Yeah, there was no paper version or plastic cup or whatever for soda. And he was like dude, absolutely not, and I believed him because she didn't say he was fucked up.

Brian B:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Joe Bunn:

She was like your boy was drinking. As soon as I saw his face he was almost crying. He was like dude, absolutely would never do that. And the only other time was I took a shadow out and he kept saying hey, man, you want a drink or anything?

Joe Bunn:

Say come on, it's here dude, no say, come on, would not do this to me. And this dude kept coming back and he was like hey man, do you want a drink or something? I'm going to get a drink. And every time he came back again, this was in a highball glass but it looked like a soda. It was the opposite Dude. This guy was drinking Jack and Coke and like after a couple hours he was like shit-faced and I was like yo man, are you drinking? And he goes yeah, is that a problem? Like he didn't think anything was wrong. And when he was asking me do I want a drink?

Joe Bunn:

He was saying like I'm getting a liquor drink at the bar and I was like, yeah, dude, that's a problem and you can go ahead and get out. I don't know if he drove home, took a cab, uber, whatever I mean. I basically threw him out on the spot. Yeah, I said dude, we just don't do that here, man, like we don't get down, like that, even if a client offers it, I decline every time hard no, because the guests don't know that you've been offered that.

Joe Bunn:

It's almost the same principle for me when they say do you want to walk through the buffet? The guests don't know that. That client or that wedding planner told you to do that and I usually don't do it. It's a bad look, I it's a bad look man.

Brian B:

I have one planner who's like her thing is. She never wants the vendors to think that they're not taken care of. She demands that you, you go through the buffet. I'm like I'm not doing it. I'm not either.

Joe Bunn:

Make me a plate, Bring it back to the conference room A and I'll eat the shit out of it Going through the line. It's not a good look. That's a whole other podcast about the food.

Brian B:

We've already given a little bit of value so far. Yeah, we have.

Joe Bunn:

We got questions. We got a question. This is going speed round. This is like a three-parter. This is the janna's. Janna hates a multi-part question. Yeah, but this guy did lay it out properly with numbers from the netherlands. From the netherlands, we're already global. How do you feel about that?

Brian B:

I love that you want me to read this one, yeah this is from bart van halder love a three. I feel like it would sound much better with a dutch accent I like the three-part name, though, when you got a double last name.

Joe Bunn:

How about Brian Von Bonacici? That's pretty hard. Number one how do you handle the mic apart from presentation? Do you use it often or not to hype up the crowd? My opinion in this matter is not to do it too much. The music should matter the most. Speed round, agree or disagree?

Brian B:

Less more than more.

Joe Bunn:

I agree, and is that because you're a better dj than an mc?

Brian B:

I think that's the case, same for me, but I also don't feel like you shouldn't say nothing once you start same for me you gotta be a little bit yeah, because I've seen some game footage what I would call game footage of some of my djs.

Joe Bunn:

I'm like bro, you gotta you gotta grab that mic you gotta get that mic a little bit, especially if you need like, if they need a prompt or right, they need a hands up in the air or whatever it is Good.

Brian B:

programming can mask bad or non-existent mic work if it's done well.

Joe Bunn:

Yes, 100% agree, but I think less is more for me on this instead of just chattering on the mic the whole time. Part two how do you handle requests from the guests, apart from the couple you go first? The couple's list is always Bible. To me, that's priority. It's always going to take priority If they have a huge list. I'm pretty much telling the guests, or even showing them, like on my iPad or if I printed it out hey, like these people picked a lot of music, I need to get through these before I get to your little.

Brian B:

Wayne request or whatever it is. I'm the same, but I think he's asking more or less do you not take guest requests? I do. I mean, I have no problem if they come up, as long as it's within what you do not take them. No, I do take them me too you know we're in peak hour and they're asking for stairway to heaven or something that would be a no, I get it twice a night.

Joe Bunn:

Hey, do you take requests? And I always go sure, or, of course, like I feel like that's part of the job, yeah, now am I necessarily going to play it? Yeah, no, especially if it doesn't go or if I've got a million things to get through for the couple. Yeah, it might not get played. Yeah, but I usually say yes, I take requests. I just think that's part of the job as a mobile private event DJ. And question three I am a 100% mixer by ear, so I try to mix everything if possible. What is your opinion about this? I know a lot of other DJs that just talk and echo out the song into the next one.

Brian B:

I think that that can also be a hindrance If you're always mixing everything it can be just like echoing out everything At some point. That gets boring. Yeah, Like for the listener.

Joe Bunn:

But you would say once you're playing the dance set, it's 90% mixed. Yeah, but I mean.

Brian B:

I'm using, like hot cues, what I call hot cues, but like to kind of do different things. I'm trying to come up with interesting transitions that make sense. I don't think you should just do crazy transitions just to do crazy transitions either. It's got to make sense.

Joe Bunn:

But you would prefer clean over 1000% or, like you know, totally just offbeat scratching yeah right, but he said a hundred percent mixer by ear.

Brian B:

So he tries to mix everything. I mean, yeah, I guess, if you want to mix a good portion of it, but I just wouldn't mix everything. I think that would get boring.

Joe Bunn:

Well, I mean, I think if I'm trying to drop BPM, sometimes even instead of going, you know, even if I have a transition edit from 130 BPM to 70 BPM, I'm not necessarily going to use it. I'll just echo out of the 130 and then basically restart the set at the 70 beat per minute.

Brian B:

And there's certain songs that slam ins work. Great, that's what I'm saying, right Like one, two step would be one. Yep, crank that Another one you know like there's certain songs like that intro is everything. That is the song.

Joe Bunn:

That song. Like that's the part people go crazy off of. So just the straight standard radio version right. No intro, no outro on it, so to mix that doesn't make sense for sure.

Brian B:

Songs agreed agreed 100 good stuff. Great question.

Joe Bunn:

Good good question maybe you can fly us out. We can do a podcast over there.

Brian B:

What do you think?

Joe Bunn:

I haven't been there in forever, I've never been there actually is amsterdam, the netherlands yeah, I went there one time. It's a special place, I'm special place.

Brian B:

I'm sure it is. I'm sure it is 54. We can do it for birthday 54. There we go, there we go. Oh, let's wrap it. Man, sounds good.

Joe Bunn:

Thanks, guys, everybody for listening. This has been Beyond the DJ Booth podcast. And keep listening, because we're going to drop this every week. Thank you, see, ya, see ya.