Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast #172: Why Your Wedding DJ Should Be On Or Near the Dance Floor
The dance floor isn’t just for dancing! Find out how placing your DJ next to it can lead to clearer announcements, better sound, and an unforgettable wedding experience.
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Meet Sal and Sam, your hosts for The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast. Additionally, this podcast is for engaged couples who feel overwhelmed with wedding planning and family expectations but want a memorable and fun wedding day.
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Sal and Sam are your hosts, two professional DJs with over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and thousands of happy couples. Furthermore, they’ll guide you through planning your wedding. As a result, taking you from concern and being overwhelmed, to a memorable, fun, and stress-free wedding.
Also, listen for engaging interviews from event professionals and insightful topics.
In This Edition
This week’s edition, Sal and Sam explore the top reasons your DJ should be on or near the dance floor.
We reveal how a DJ’s spot can transform your entire day!
Furthermore, you’ll get practical tips for discussing DJ placement with venues, as well as the benefits of optimal DJ positioning for sound quality and event flow.
Finally, learn about the importance of clear announcements, balanced sound, and how the right DJ setup can keep your guests dancing all night long.
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Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast #172: Why Your Wedding DJ Should Be On Or Near the Dance Floor
Host: Sal & Sam
Music: “Sam’s Tune” by Rick Anthony
Join our community for free tips and suggestions – Stress-free Wedding Planning Community
Produced by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England
Transcript
Why Your Wedding DJ Should Be On Or Near the Dance Floor
DJ Sal: Today’s edition is all about why your DJ sets up on or next to the dance floor for your reception and how it transforms your wedding. From a DJ’s perspective, is being close to the dance floor about ego or is there something more important going on?
DJ Sam: What difference does it make if guests can clearly see the person making the announcements versus just hearing a voice from somewhere in the room? Too often reception layouts default to “what’s always being done”.
Thanks for joining us. Hi, I’m Sal from After Hours Events of New England. That’s After Hours Events Of N.E. dot com.
And I’m Sam from Atmosphere Productions. All the W’s atmosphere hyphen productions dot com.
DJ Sal: We’ll answer these questions in more in today’s edition of the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast.
Speaker: Welcome to Stress-Free Wedding Planning, the podcast that will transform your wedding planning journey from chaotic to enchanting. [00:01:00] Sal and Sam bring over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and exclusive insider information to the table. If you’re recently engaged, feeling the pressure of wedding planning.
Struggling with family expectations, but still dreaming of a joy-filled wedding. You’ve come to the right place. Get ready to unveil the best-kept wedding secrets. Discover practical tips and strategies and learn life-changing lessons for a stress-free wedding. Your unforgettable wedding day awaits.
We’re here to take you on a transformative journey of love, laughter, and memories, so don’t miss out on the podcast. That just might change your life. This is the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam.
DJ Sal: Learn more about our experience and the journey to help you with stress-free wedding planning in the trailer or pilot of this podcast.
DJ Sam: There are specific considerations for determining the location of the DJ at your wedding. One. the sound works better from the dance floor, not against a wall or a guest. Number [00:02:00] two. DJs thrive on the energy, so does the crowd! Number three. More engaging announcements. That means everything sounds clearer. Number four. Better sound for every moment, not just for dancing.
DJ Sal: The right placement means clear announcements, better sound, and a smoother celebration for you and your guests. Let’s explain. But first, thanks to Lisa who recently subscribed to our channel on YouTube. You can do the same and get the special shout out by going to YouTube and subscribing to the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. Thanks again, Lisa, and thanks for listening to the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast.
DJ Sam: The layout of the entertainment is more than just a logistical choice. It directly affects the energy, the sound, and how guests experience the night. As a DJ and Master of Ceremony, I’ve seen firsthand how simply placing the DJ right [00:03:00] next to the dance floor can actually transform the entire atmosphere of the wedding.
Here’s why. The sound works for the dance floor, not against the guests. What does that really mean. By putting the DJ on or next to the dance floor, the music and the sound is propelled onto the dance floor. That way, it’s concentrated where people are going to be. But also for announcements as well, you’re guest will hear clearer announcements because the sound is flowing, unobstructed. Imagine this, you have a box. At the top of the box is the DJ. In the middle of the box is the dance floor, and at the bottom of the box is the guest. That’s the ideal way. But if you put the guest in between the DJ and the dance floor, you are going to get the music too loud for the guests, and the [00:04:00] sound will be obstructed as it flows to the dance floor. Having the guests in between the dance floor and the DJ creates loud music for your guests. And of course your guests are not going to appreciate that. So the volume feels balanced if you have the dance floor in between the guests and the DJ.
DJ Sal: Look, many facilities don’t understand placement. Huh! Some of them don’t even care. It is just so vital that you don’t have tables in front of your DJ, ’cause to get to the dance floor, we have to make it louder, so, when dance time comes, those tables are getting blown out and the sound is just horrible. But there’s also other reasons for being placed a specific way. I’ve had facilities that do you kitty corner, and it’s the worst thing they could do for their uh, facility because they have these ceilings that are curved and the sound is getting caught in the ceiling and creating this chaos. Flat ceilings are best and this what we, we strive [00:05:00] for is to get to the best spot on the dance floor to give the best sound to get throughout the room. And again, as Sam said, concentrating the uh, music for the dance portion to be on the dance floor is just gonna give you so much more clarity and we can control the sound and it won’t be too loud for everyone else at the tables, so they could have normal discussions.
DJ Sam: No doubt. Let, let’s discuss something that’s secondary on the list and that’s DJ’s thriving with the energy and with the crowd. Explain that for us.
DJ Sal: You know, if you really have a great DJ, he is someone or he or she’s someone that’s going to be reading the vibe of the room. Reading the, the body language of your guest. It’s someone who’s gonna bob and weave when needed to be. What I mean by that is, is going to change up the music to keep the energy in the room.
And if you are in a corner, you, you just don’t have that connection with the guest. You need to be on that dance floor so they can see each other and feed [00:06:00] off each other. I know I’m always dancing behind the booth and I know Sam does the same thing and that creates energy on the dance floor and the guests feed off that and we feed off the guest.
DJ Sam: Really important for your guests to see the DJ because great DJs don’t just play songs. They read the energy and being close to the action is so important. I feed off that when I see the guests. I can react, I can play a different song. I can set up three or four songs in a row so that I can keep that flow going.
We feel the energy directly and we can build from that. Keeping the dance floor packed. That’s what our job is. So get us near the dance floor or on the dance floor?
DJ Sal: Do you have a question or concern? Go now to Facebook and join us on the Stress-Free Wedding Planning community, and now in the Connecticut Wedding Advice Community. You can also join us on our YouTube channel. Just search for Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. Like, comment, subscribe, [00:07:00] and get it first.
DJ Sam: We’d like to thank you for sharing your ears with us and because of you, we are now ranked at number 15 in the Top 60 Wedding Planning podcasts by million podcast dot com.
JR: This is the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. A podcast for engaged couples concerned about wedding planning and family expectations, but who want a stress-free, fun and unforgettable wedding.
Adam: Wedding Tip Wednesday is available on the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Facebook group page every Wednesday. Join the group for free.
DJ Sal: Are you ready for Wedding Tip Wednesday?
DJ Sam: Yes, I am. Sir. Here’s your Wedding Tip Wednesday for today. Write letters to each other. That is the couple, on your wedding day. Write letters only to be opened in the morning of your wedding. Penning a nice private love letter to each other on your big day is sweet and intimate and is a kind of a reminder of your love.
After all the hectic wedding planning and organization, you can sit down, [00:08:00] read these letters and get married. It provides you, the couple, with a nice quick escape from the chaos of the day to reflect on your love and commitment to each other.
DJ Sal: And that’s another wedding Tip from Sal and Sam.
Adam: Wedding Tip Wednesday is available on the Stress-free Wedding Planning Facebook group page every Wednesday. Join the group for free.
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JR: This is the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam.
DJ Sam: Here’s some reasons why your wedding DJ should be on or near the dance floor for your wedding reception and how it transforms your wedding. I’m Sam from Atmosphere Productions.
DJ Sal: And I’m Sal from after hours events of New England.
If you imagine a packed dance floor and your guests raving about the party, the essential ingredient is the DJ booth needs to be in the heart of the celebration. Here’s why. Clear announcements make all the difference. When your DJ is visible and central, your guests know where to look. They stay focused and engaged, and every moment flows smoothly. It’s not about the DJ, it’s about making sure you shine at your own wedding.
DJ Sam: So, Sal, what difference then does it make that your guests can [00:10:00] hear you clearly?
DJ Sal: Well, you know, you want to be able to hear you clearly so they know what’s going on and, and understand the flow of the event. You know, we’re making many different announcements and we wanna make sure they’re clear and they understand what we’re about to do so they don’t miss a thing.
DJ Sam: I mean, it sounds pretty simple, but lots of facilities don’t understand that. Sometimes you’ll have a DJ that is not even in the room. He’s in a different room and he’s making announcements that can be heard in the main room, or you have a DJ in the corner, as Sal said earlier, “kitty corner”. You don’t even know where the DJ is. You just hear this voice. It’s so important for your guests to actually hear clearly what’s gonna be happening and your DJ will then lead your guests onto what’s happening next.
Now, the fourth item on our list is better sound for every moment, not just for dancing. Let’s talk about what really matters here. Too often that [00:11:00] layout, the facility says, “Well, we’ve always done it this way, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Listen, you are paying a ton of money to be at this facility. You need to tell your facility this is the best layout for us because we’re paying the money. Yes, I know your facility may have the best arrangements, but if they have a layout where the DJs at the back of the room and the dance floor is at the front of the room, your guests are gonna be blown out. Speak to your vendors, especially your DJ of course, because they’re gonna bring years of experience to the guest experience.
You need to trust their expertise because they understand how audio design works and how floor plans can affect the mood. Your facility is not really caring about that. They care more about serving the food and the aesthetics. Whereas the DJ is more concerned about music and making [00:12:00] sure that the evening flows.
DJ Sal: I just recently had a bride reach out to me, uh, showing me the floor plan for her wedding, and even she knew something was wrong with this floor plan and she wanted my advice. And in a way, it was good sound-wise, but it didn’t for the room where introductions were gonna take place.
They’re gonna come right behind the DJ, and the DJ’s back is wide open to everyone. So it didn’t really make a lot of sense. So we’re actually working together for a better plan, not just for really good sound, but really good aesthetic too. That’s also very important. Not to have the DJ in this wild location that makes absolutely no sense and guests having access to the DJ from all ends, it’s just, oh my goodness, that that would be crazy. So we’re working together to find that perfect spot, to be great for sound, great for announcements, and also for the wedding to flow very nicely.
DJ Sam: You’re absolutely right there, Sal. A wedding [00:13:00] isn’t all about dancing. It’s also about the meaningful words and the emotional moments, and that’s what the DJ can create. Your DJ setup ensures that the speeches, the toasts, vows, and even those small little powerful sounds like the shaky voice in the middle of dad’s, speech or the best man’s toast. All those things can be heard throughout the room. It’s really easy to forget the dj, but your DJ is responsible for more than just playing your favorite songs. They’re managing the entire audio experience for your wedding day.
DJ Sal: So there you have it. If you take one thing away from today, it’s this where your DJ sets up matters. The right placement means clear announcements, better sound, and a smoother celebration for you and your guests. And that’s exactly what a stress-free wedding is all about.
DJ Sam: Now as you spend the next week planning your wedding, [00:14:00] if you want me, Sal, or our community of stress-free engaged couples and wedding experts to answer any wedding-related questions, then join us in the Stress-Free Wedding planning Facebook group.
DJ Sal: Once you’re in, go ahead and share your concerns and worries, and we’ll let you know if you are on the right track or if there are things you need to work on. The link to join us is in the show notes of this edition, or go to Facebook and search for the Stress-Free Wedding Planning community.
DJ Sam: Remember to do something nice for someone today, and if you can’t, then do something nice for yourself. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve just heard, leave a review and share it with a friend or someone who would benefit from this information.
Until next time, it’s. TTFN, Tah-tah For Now!
DJ Sal: thank you for listening to this edition. A new edition is released every Wednesday. Subscribe and get it first. We’ll catch you then, Caio!
Wayne: The Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast is produced and copyrighted by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England.
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