Wedding DJ Tips: Cocktail Hour & Dinner Vibes

Curated Cocktail Hour & Dinner Vibes

After the Formal Part of a wedding, the Dancing part is definitely the highlight of the night. Why? because it is. When I talk to a couple, one of the first question I ask is: What kind of vibe are you looking for at your wedding.? As a DJ / Band or any type of live performer, our job is to  to curate an atmosphere and controlling the vibe and flow of the the couples special day.

Couples and their guests expect to have a great time and create lifetime memories. So Curating the right energy during cocktail hour and dinner to set up the dancing part is very important. As a DJ, it is my job to build up the energy as we get closer and closer to dancing. Playing the right music at the right time is important for the ambience. When consulting your couple, be sure to inquire what kind of energy they would like. For both their cocktail hour and dinner music, work with them. Learn about their style, what they want and also tell them what you can bring to the table to elevate the ambiance. Even though the music might at a lower volume during that time, you must set the mood right because it’s all part of the experience. So curate a playlist that will create a mood and subtly speak to the guests.  

This will set the party to a great start leading to an amazing dancing part of the night.

I am a Professional DJ / Vibe Curator located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah Jazz DJ, My service includes: Private event, corporate event, wedding. If you have any questions about this process I would love to help. Feel free to contact me.

I also have a post about the “10 questions to ask your DJ before Signing that contract”

Vive Curator

5 Tips to Have a Super Cool Cocktail Hour - Corporate Event or Wedding Planning Ideas - DJ Joune

From doing countless of event this year like Big Corporate event for companies like Jetblue or Small intimate Weddings up at Log Haven Utah, what I learned is people will remember your event when you take time to plan it and come up with new innovative ideas to entertain the guest and take the experience to a whole different level. So here’s 5 Ideas or tips I think you could use for your next event.

• Tip 1 : Incorporate live music. Whether you have someone playing the Guitar, playing the Harp or even a DJ, it will definitely help elevate the mood of the event. They will add an extra vibe that you won’t be able by just playing “ Background music”

• Tip 2 : Phototainment. This a good way to keep your guest entertainment with branded content that they can instantly share on their socials. My favorite right now is a Time machine video by Slow Time Machine. This is very cool I used it and I could tell other people enjoyed it as well.

• Tip 3 Make it yours. Instead of having one person take care of the whole music playlist, have your guest involve in curating the playing, so when their song comes on, they will get excited and feel like they belong in the event. I have a special app that I use that allow my client to do that and the feedback I got from this feature is amazing.

• Tip 4 Incorporate lighting. Whether you choose to go with uplight, a projector canopy lighting, all those different lights can help you enhance the overall palette of your event and make it even more unique. People love to feel special so those special details can make a huge difference.

• Tips 5 Make it interesting, fun and memorable. Find a way to incorporate different activities like corn hole, painting class, having a magician, different but interesting food, special drinks, something interesting for your guests to do while they are there.

Those are my 5 tips to take your event to the next level, remember the goal is to keep your guests engage and entertain throughout your event. My goal is always to bring a fresh new perspective or experience.

Let me help you plan your next event. Contact I would love to hear about your ideas. DJ Joune.com

DJ Joune, Utah Jazz DJ

Accept yourself, Love yourself and Celebrate yourself!

When Fuse weddings and Events contacted me for this wedding, they wanted to make sure I was comfortable with same sex marriage, and my answer was Hell Yes. This is something I wanted to do and Alec and Blake were the right couple for my first time. Alec is full of energy and confident. At our consultation meeting we became friends and were able to talk about their special day in details and what exactly they were looking for from me. I couldn’t be happier to be the one they chose. After the wedding he told me he was just going to have a friend DJ, but after some thoughts and some advice for the experts at Fuse Wedding and Event, he decided to go with me. We stayed in touch every other week to make sure we were always on the same page as the date got closer.

The day of the wedding we were all ready to celebrate. The ceremony happened at the Alpine Meadow in Park City Mountain Resort. One of the best wedding venue in Utah. We had to take the chair lift to get up there, quite an experience. The set up was great and the weather was on our side. I was amaze myself by the diversity of the crowd and the special performance Alec had lined up for Blake.

After everyone was done eating so I started playing some sing-a-long songs that got everyone (I mean everyone) on the floor singing with their arms around each other! The crowd was great and wanted to dance all night. The kind of people I love to DJ for. They were even screaming one more song after the last song. Such a great way to end a wedding celebration reception party.

I had such an amazing time playing for this group!  Thank you so much Alec and Blake. If you are looking for a Utah Wedding DJ, Contact me by Email or by Phone.

Let’s Plan your event!

10 Questions to Ask Your Wedding DJ Before Signing that Contract

What better way to celebrate your special Day than by having everyone you know and love on the dance floor. Help! I’m Getting Married, “I need a Good DJ for my wedding” is what I hear from clients looking to book a DJ for the first time ever in their life. We all know how important it is to find the right entertainment for your wedding, which is why I am here to help you.

Great recommendations for wedding DJs – can be incredibly helpful for couples looking for wedding day entertainment that suits their style. To make sure you’ve found a wedding DJ that ticks all the boxes, here is a list of 10 questions you should ask a wedding DJ before signing that contract.

How long have you been a DJ and have you experience in DJing at weddings?

This is a really important question because a good wedding DJ is one that has experience DJing at weddings specifically. No two weddings are the same, but there are some significant differences between a wedding and a milestone birthday celebration.

Have you any testimonials to back this up?

Nothing beats word of mouth! Have a look at testimonials from real couples who had your wedding DJ at their wedding and you’ll know if you’ve got a winner.

Do you interact with the crowd and take requests? 

Some DJs don’t do this, so it’s worth asking if requests are allowed. Your wedding DJ will be there to entertain your guests and make sure they are having an incredible time, so make sure that’s a top priority.

Do you have your own equipment, sound, and lights?

Don’t make any assumptions about who will bring the sound equipment and lights. It’s always good to check with your wedding DJ if the fee you are paying includes the use of all the required equipment.

Are you covered with insurance? 

Most wedding DJs aren’t covered by insurance, but the professional ones should be!

If I book you, will it be you who turns up, or will you send someone else?

Finding the right wedding DJ who just understands you and your taste in music is really important. It’s definitely worth finding out if the person you are corresponding with is the one who will show up at your wedding.

Do you have a set list that you play?

It’s really important to have a wedding DJ who is able to read the crowd and adjust the set list, depending on who is on the dance floor and which songs are generating the most excitement from your guests. Being able to see a list of some of your wedding DJ’s most played songs will give you an idea of the style you can expect on your wedding day.

If you are playing after the band, when will you be ready to start?

Some DJs set up after the band is finished. This often leaves a very large gap of time where there is no music or entertainment taking place.

What happens if you can’t do my wedding? Do you have a backup plan?

The answer to this question should be one that gives you peace of mind. Knowing that no matter what happens, you will have a DJ at your wedding is comforting.

How do I confirm you, and do you need a deposit?

Knowing how to make your booking official is a very practical question, but it’s worth asking.

Let’s Plan your wedding.

Let’s Plan your wedding.

A Beautiful Backyard Wedding in Springville, Utah

The Moment I met Ana and Brandon; I knew they were the couple I wanted to work for. They were full of energy and laidback. At our consultation meeting we became friends and were able to talk about their special day in detail and what exactly they were looking for from me. I couldn’t be happier to be the one they chose. We stayed in touch every other week to make sure we were always on the same page as the date got closer.

The day of the wedding we were all ready to celebrate. It was at a beautiful backyard Wedding. The set up was great and the weather was on our side. I was amaze myself by the diversity of the crowd and the other performance they had lined up. Specially the native Navajo Dance. The food was one of my favorite parts as well.

After Dinner the sun came down and the backyard light got turned on. After everyone was done eating so I started playing some sing-a-long songs that got everyone (I mean everyone) on the floor singing with their arms around each other! The crowd was great and wanted to dance all night. The kind of people I love to DJ for.

Our Bouquet Toss song was “ Single Lady – Beyonce” We had to do it a few times because Ana had someone specific in mind for it 😊

I had such an amazing time playing for this group!  Thank you so much Ana and Brandon!!

How to Hire a Professional DJ

How to Hire a professional DJ

Hire a professional DJ, it will save you a lot of time and money. When you hire a pro, you ensure that you will get the best result possible for your event. Hiring a DJ for your event could seem like a lot of work but actually there is a simple process to it.  First of all, you want to hire a pro, someone with years of experiences and is active in the market.

Step 1. Know the details of your event in advance.

Before you hire anymore, make sure you have as much detail of the event as possible for your DJ. You need to know: the date, location, time, your budget, expected audience size, what kind of vibe are you looking for etc..

Step 2. Do your research

Google, Instagram, Soundcloud and Mixcloud will be your friend when you are looking for a DJ for your next event. With a quick google search you can quickly find a couple DJ’s in your local area. You might find them on website like Thumbtack, Gigsalad, Weddingwire etc. From your list your can start filtering out the ones that fit the type of event that you want to do. For example, if you are looking for a club DJ in Salt Lake City, you do not want to hire a DJ that ONLY does weddings. So, before you decide to just send a random message to hire a DJ, make sure to read their bio. If you are still not sure what kind of DJ they are, you can ask him or her, so you are not wasting your time. 

Step 3. Hire the DJ

Once you have done the steps I mentioned below, you are ready to hire a professional DJ. A professional DJ is more than just loading songs and hitting the play button, he/she is beyond that. They have the extraordinary skills, expertise and the ability to read the mood of crowd. They can transform a boring party into one that is exciting and entertaining.

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS TO HIRE A professional DJ:

#01 // Music Selection

Professional DJs have an extensive library of songs of different genres, countries, and eras. They can also suggest a broad range of songs that are sure to entertain guests, family and friends of almost all age groups.

#02 // Experience and Skills

A good DJ can produce the utmost fun and excitement through their musical tracks. They can read the crowd, use their skills and adjust the music accordingly. They have an abundance of experience and knowledge in executing and managing wedding receptions.

#03 // Equipment

An expert DJ comes with high-quality, advanced and professional musical equipment. They make sure to have all the correct lighting props, backup systems, audio gear and video equipment to ensure that the wedding party remains interesting and entertaining.

 #04 // Planning

Expert planning is what separates a professional DJ from a rookie DJ. They are proficient in overall planning and execution. They consider all possibilities in advanced and take care of minor details. They use the best practices to make the event successful.

#05 // Convenience and complete peace of mind

Hiring an expert DJ makes things convenient. They provide you with a complete peace of mind, and a truly immersive as well as awesome experience that is sure to give you the wedding of your dreams.

CONCLUSION

No doubt, professional DJs are highly cost-effective and ideal for any event. So no matter what you have planned, you can always hire a professional  DJ to make your wedding, private party unforgettable and unique. I am a professional DJ based in Salt lake city, my team and I can help you plan your next event and make sure you have a successful event.

Let’s plan your next event!

Get in touch by DM, Email or Phone!