Outdoor Wedding Receptions and The Infamous Sound Ordinance

In the last five years I seem to be DJ-ing at a lot more wedding receptions at outdoor venues. It has become way more fashionable to have an outdoor event as opposed to throwing a party in a ballroom at a hotel. There are as many pros and cons to having your wedding day outside as there are to having it indoors but any way you slice it there will always be pros and cons.

One of the possible challenges of having your event outside can be a local noise ordinance to contend with. Every venue is different based on the location and its direct proportion to the surrounding residential area but honestly, noise does not need to be an issue if you do your due diligence in finding the perfect solution to create that outdoor experience that you’ve been dreaming of without it stifling your party. Here are a couple ideas to help you along the way.

Ask Your Venue About the Noise Ordinance

Ask your venue if they have to comply with a noise ordinance. If so, ask them what time the reception music needs to shut down. Usually the most common time is 10:00 PM. This is not bad at all and really quite reasonable. If you start your event at four in the afternoon this will give you six hours to celebrate and plenty of time for your guests to enjoy the party from beginning to end without feeling like it ended too early in the night. One of my favorite outdoor venues that falls into this category and I work at often is Walnut Grove in Moorpark, CA. You just can’t go wrong at this site.

Decibel Requirements

Ask the venue if they have a decibel requirement. If the venue does require the DJ to stay under a certain decibel level, then you will need to get a little more creative and there is a way to do so. Anything under 70 db’s could be an issue during dancing, depending on the floor plan at the venue. You want to make sure the music is loud enough to get your folks out on the dance floor. If your guests can’t hear or feel the music they’ll have a tendency to sit down and chat instead of heading out to the dance floor to cut a rug.

Creative Solutions

You may ask your self “how can I possibly be creative in this situation”. Well the shorthand answer to this is… wireless headphones. Yes, I did say wireless headphones. These headphones are typically passed out during dancing and each person has total control over their own personal volume, allowing an individual to “turn it up “ the music that is, yet be compliant with the noise ordinance in the area because the main sound system can stay under the required db’s.

If I am at a venue that has a decibel requirement there is always a handful of guests who will come up to the DJ booth and ask me to turn up the volume. This is where the wireless headphones come into play. Not only do they solve the problem but they are so very hip that the guests walk away from the event saying that was coolest wedding they’ve ever been to.

If you have already hired your DJ and you realize that headphones are needed for your event, you can absolutely just rent the headphones. We’ve done many events where we weren’t the actual DJ but the client rented our headphones for their party. This is such an easy solution and allows the couple to have the outdoor wedding they truly desire while being freed up from any concerns of their party being shut down prematurely. I highly recommend our wireless headphonese for your upcoming outdoor event.

Lisa Capitanelli Kasberg

Hiring a "Friend" to DJ Your Wedding Reception?

Today I received an email from a potential client thanking me for my time in meeting with her to potentially DJ her wedding reception. She even thanked me for my patience and said that she “loved my fun personality”. As soon as I read that sentence I knew there was trouble ahead.

I have been working with this potential client for about 6 months and as I read on she explained that her fiancé who, by the way, didn’t come to meet me in person and had no connection with me whatsoever had decided to hire his “friend” to DJ their very exclusive wedding reception.

Of course I chuckled as I read on because this isn’t the first time I’ve received an email like this but my first thought was “Oh My, this has disaster written all over it." As I hit the reply button in hopes of trying to explain to this poor bride that she was in for some serious disappointment, I felt slightly defeated and the best way to describe this feeling would be like trying to convince my five year old twins that a 2 hour nap is still part of their daily routine. Yup, that’s not gonna happen. See what I mean?

So for those couples who are thinking about hiring your friend to DJ the most important day of your life, here are a few key questions you should ask them.

Have you DJ’ed at least 50 weddings in your career?

This is an absolute must. There are too many moving parts for your DJ to be trying to figure out what to do next or what to play next at your very important wedding reception.

Will you be willing to MC the event?

This includes the grand entrance, first dance, father/daughter, mother/son, cake cutting and bouquet and garter. Most couples don’t realize that when you are hiring a friend, the friend thinks he will only be playing music and that someone else will be doing all the announcements. Yikes!

Do you have a Wedding Reception Planning form we should fill out?

Every professional Wedding Reception DJ has a planning form. If they don’t they probably haven’t DJ’d many weddings and it will be very clear the day of your event. You and your guests may even see the panic on the DJ’s face as he is trying to figure out what he needs to do next. Usually this comes in the form of not knowing important guests names for introductions and toasts or important songs for the evening like the first dance.

Do you have enough music for all ages?

Most “friend” djs cater to a certain crowd usually in their 20’s and/or 30’s and as a result the rest of the guests are left out of the equation, ending in only a handful of people on the dance floor the whole night.

Will you keep a flow for the evening?

This is one of the biggest responsibilities of a DJ. If he can’t keep a flow going then most likely the guests will leave right after the cake is cut, which ends up being an early evening and a lot of money down the drain. Not to mention all that time and effort that went into planning a wedding you thought would go on all night long.

In short it’s just too big of a day not to hire a professional. That goes for every aspect of your wedding reception too. Would you hire a friend who likes to tinker with cars to fix your brakes? Probably not. Think twice before you sign the contract. Oh yeah that’s the most important question… does he have a contract?!

By Lisa Capitanelli-Kasberg

Researching and Inquiring about Wedding Reception Entertainment

When you are ready to start the process of hiring entertainment for your wedding reception, what are the things you are looking for? The most popular thoughts that come to mind when your start your inquiry are availability and price.
Little do most couples realize that there is so much more that goes into hiring your reception entertainment than availability and price. Here are some suggested things to keep in mind when you finally start looking for entertainment.

Most couples do their initial research for a DJ or band online and from there they make a list of entertainment companies they want to email. Although email is the most popular form of contact these days, in this instance making a phone call is best. This way there is an open line of communication. We all know that email has a tendency to be very impersonal and when it comes to one of the most important vendors you will hire for your wedding day, having a conversation over the phone is the only way to go.

The most popular first question couples ask is when hiring entertainment for your wedding reception is “What do you charge”? This question is almost impossible to answer right off the bat and the reason is that every wedding reception is different. We have couples who call looking for a DJ for just a four hour wedding reception and other couples who call looking for a DJ for seven hours with a need for both a ceremony and reception sound system. There is quite a difference in price because the later package has 3 more hours added in and an additional sound system. So offer up as much information to your DJ or Entertainer before you ask about price.

Lastly, be mindful of how your conversation goes. Is this someone you connect with? Every company is different and by far the most important element in hiring your DJ or live band is the comfort level you have with the person you are working with. You can tell in a conversation over the phone if this is the company you want representing you on the most important day of your life.

By Lisa Capitanelli-Kasberg

How to Have a Positive Bridal Show Experience

Being in the wedding industry for many years, I’ve thought long and hard about picking and choosing the ways I like to promote my business. After the first year I decided it might be a good idea to be a vendor at a bridal show. I was super excited because I thought it would give me an opportunity to talk with potential brides and grooms about their special day in a comfortable environment. I remember that 1st experience so vividly because I thought “this is just the perfect idea” but when I got home from the show that evening I was thoroughly exhausted from the craziness of it all and vowed to myself that I would never sign up for another bridal show ever again. It was probably 15 years later I decided to try it one more time and surprisingly so it was a much different and more positive experience for me. So let me share with you my thoughts on both the positive and negative.

The "Expo"

There are ultimately two different types of wedding shows that you will attend. The first and most popular one usually has the word EXPO in the title of the event. This type of bridal show has what would seem like several hundred wedding vendors showcasing their services in either a huge ballroom at a well known hotel or at a convention center.

In my opinion it is one of the most overwhelming experiences for both the couples and the vendors. Brides and grooms are quickly moving from table to table trying to figure out what kind of service is being provided at any given moment while they are carving out a technique to avoid talking to the vendor until they are really sure this is a service they will need. The reason these potential couples are so guarded is that every single vendor at one of these showcases is desperately trying to talk to as many couples as they can. It is a frenzy of competition and so unproductive. You will go home from one of these expos feeling like planning a wedding is the hardest thing you will ever do.

The "Boutique Bridal Show'

The second type of bridal show is what I would like to refer to as a “boutique bridal show”. Now this is an event that has some substance. It’s usually hosted by the venue and not a bridal show company. The venue will invite about 15 to 20 vendors to the show and maybe 250 brides and grooms. The reason this kind of showcase works for both potential clients and vendors is that there is plenty of time for each couple to roam the venue and talk with vendors without feeling rushed or more importantly aggressively approached. You will find yourself having a thorough “one on one” conversation with the vendors and leave the show with some really great information that will ultimately help you with your final decisions.

Unfortunately there aren’t as many boutique bridal shows as the big expos but do your due diligence. If you are interested in a particular venue, ask them if they have a bridal show during the year. If you do end up going to a bridal expo, have a plan in place. Decide what three services are most important to you at the time of the event and just focus on going to meet with these types of vendors. It will be less stressful and much more productive. Have fun planning!

By Lisa Capitanelli Kasberg

Let There Be Lighting…Decor Lighting That Is!

Lighting Decor for Indoor and Outdoor Events

Photo by Lesly Hall

As a DJ in the event industry my main focus has always been creating great entertainment for my clients receptions. As the company started to grow and I was adding in additional services I realized how important it was to create an ambience by lighting up a room. When guests walk into a venue to attend a reception the phrase “presentation is everything” definitely comes into play. It’s that WOW factor that your guests see when they arrive. Décor lighting plays a very big part in creating that WOW factor. Here are some things you should consider when deciding on décor lighting for indoor and outdoor events.

Lighting for Indoor Events

For indoor events, the first thing you should do when you walk in the room is look up. There you will see what kind of fixtures are lighting up the room. Are there recessed lighting or the dreaded florescent lights? Not my favorite choices.

The second task is to find out if the lights are on dimmers and how many light switches control the lights in the room. If you have little or no control over the lights it could change your party drastically especially during dancing. You’d be surprised as to how many venues in LA have only recessed or florescent lights with only one or two switches to control and no dimmer capability. As a rule I always ask my clients about the lighting ahead of time so we can avoid any pitfalls due to house lighting issues.

The great thing about décor lighting is that you have way more control over your setting by turning off the house lights altogether and creating a beautiful pallet of color on the walls as well as a soft wash across the room. If you make the decision to use only the house lights it could end up being an all or nothing situation and from a DJ standpoint it’s either going to be too bright for your guests to want to get on the dance floor or too dark that no one can see anything in the room.

Lighting for Outdoor Events

If your event is outdoors, it is best to see the venue lit up at night and most of the time you can make an appointment with the event coordinator at the facility to see the site in the evening. This way you can make a conscious decision on what you will need for your event.

Typically the lighting is minimal with Bistro stringer lights or a wash on the area but will that be enough to light the tables so your guests can see their meal as well as the see the other guests at the table? It’s no fun eating in the dark. Also, take a look around the outer part of the reception area to see if it is lit up as well.

You want to create a space so you don’t feel like your party is in in the middle of nowhere. Lighting up trees around the area will truly make a difference. You can even use your event colors which will tie in with your theme and bring your vision together to make it complete.

These lighting solutions are just the very basics in making your reception space look absolutely beautiful. Keep an eye out for my next blog as I will touch on some other really great décor lighting ideas to add to the WOW factor.

By Lisa Capitanelli Kasberg

The Photobooth Phenomenon

Ah yes it is finally time to talk about the photobooth craze that hit the party industry by storm. This phenomenon has not only been popular at wedding receptions and mitzvah’s but any type of party you attend. It really enhances the reception entertainment by leaps and bounds.

In February of 2009 I purchased my first booth. My original thought was that it would have a good run for about 2 years because I saw it as a novelty item. What I didn’t take into consideration was that the booth was creating memories. Pictures are timeless and even if you’ve seen a photobooth at every event you’ve attended in the last couple of years, there’s no getting around the fun of it all. You will find yourself at the booth at every single event getting your picture taken with a your spouse, children, family members or some really crazy friend. You just keep on coming back for more.

In the last three years the climate has changed quite a bit. The industry got saturated with a photobooth company on every street corner. There are professional companies and what I like to call “mom and pop” companies. And now the big thing are photobooth scammers. Here is a little snippet about each type of photobooth company. This will help you in your decision when hiring a photobooth for your next event.

Photobooth scammers are very much alive and well. They seem to travel from town to town hitting the area until they are noticed as a scam. These companies do everything on line including receiving your payment in full. The only communication you will have with them is via email and then they never show up to your event. I’ve personally had to cover two of these kinds of events. A great way to find out if your photobooth company is a scam is to look on YELP. Most likely there will be some seriously bad reviews.

*Mom and Pop *are companies that build their own booths with sub-standard equipment. The typical things you will notice are that the booths looks home made and most of all, their pictures are not the best quality because of their printer. A key question you should ask the company is how long does it take for the strip to print? It should only take about 15 seconds. If it takes around a minute then they are most likely using an ink jet printer and the photos will fade over time.

Professional photobooth companies are the one you want to go with. They have professional booths with high quality photos because they use a sub dye printer which is an actual photo printer. The company you work with should send a sample of what your photostrip will look like with the name and date of the event for approval. If you have a logo or something from your invitation that you would like to incorporate into the photostrip, most likely the company will be able to do that. Lastly, the really cool photobooths give you the option of being open or enclosed and a choice between black and white or color photos when you are taking your picture. Props are huge. They will enhance your photos exponentially! Ask the company what kind of props they have. We carry a huge assortment and really try to be creative with our props by changing it up each week.

Research your photobooth companies well. An average starting price for a professional is about $800 for four hours. This should absolutely include an attendant and duplicate photostrips. Photobooths are so much fun and will bring lots and lot of joy to your event.

Lisa Capitanelli Kasberg