Advice from your DJ/MC
Huge Thanks to Patrick Geho, aka DJ PAT owner of PH Productions for joining us on the blog!
DJ Pat is here to answer your burning questions about hiring a wedding DJ!
Photos: Linsey Huffaker Photography
Venue: Villa Aletta
Couple: Justin & Kiley Lange
How many months before the wedding day should a bride search for a DJ?
I think if a bride wants a quality DJ for her event that she should begin looking at least a year out if possible. Especially if the wedding is on a Saturday. For me personally, as of February 1 I have booked almost 2 dozen weddings for the 2023 wedding season. There are more weddings than there are experienced, professional DJs & lackluster entertainment can ruin the vibe of a wedding.
How many hours is ideal for a reception DJ?
6 hours is the sweet spot for a wedding reception. It is becoming increasingly common over the last few years for ceremonies to take place at the same venue as the reception. A 6 hour reception allows for every aspect to be covered without rushing things or dragging them out. The average ceremony is about 30 minutes. Add in a cocktail/social hour while the couple finishes photos along with an hour for dinner right afterwards and you have utilized almost half the time. Once you do all the spotlight dances and speeches there will be roughly 2 ½ to 3 hours of open dancing available. Plenty of time to let loose, dance, have a drink or two and converse with loved ones before the night ends.
What are your personal favorite songs to play as a DJ?
I am kind of old school when it comes to my favorite songs to play. The list can vary and change depending on the crowd, type of event and wishers of the bride and groom. My top 5 in no particular order:
September by Earth, Wind & Fire
I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
Yeah! By Usher
Dancing Queen by Abba
Bye, Bye, Bye by N’Sync
Can you give me a top 5 favorite or most popular first dance songs?
This is a tough one. Many times this song, more than any others, is unique to the bride and groom and often holds special meaning. So for that reason I am going to go with my favorite ones. It’s too subjective to pick the most popular. Again, in no particular order my Top 5 favorite 1st dance songs are:
A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Speechless by Dan + Shay
My Best Friend by Tim McGraw
Perfect by Ed Sheeran
Forever After All by Luke Combs
What question should a bride ask when interviewing a DJ?
There are many questions a bride should be asking her DJ but for me the most important one is what do you provide as a DJ/MC beyond playing music? For example do they release tables for dinner, greet guests, take requests, join in on line dances and other icebreakers. Anyone can make a playlist and hit play on an iPad. What really makes a DJ exceptional is the ability to grab and hold the crowd’s attention.
Tell me about P-H Productions. When did you start? What makes you excited about being a DJ? Why do you love doing what you do?
P- H Productions was started by my wife & I in July 2020. I started as a DJ for a national company when I was 16 years old and was immediately hooked after my first wedding. The pomp and circumstance had me mesmerized. Everyone was dressed to the nines and looking sharp. The food was excellent and everyone had a great time. I loved being a part of the moment and helping deliver an EPIC party for my bride & groom. Over the next 500 weddings I developed some life-long relationships with people in the industry and my passion continued to grow. In July of 2020 I made the decision to branch out on my own. I wanted the ability to focus more on my clients and their wants and needs as opposed to a corporate bottom line. It was the best decision I ever made and I only regret not having done it sooner. Since we started this little adventure we have booked just shy of 200 weddings. I now have two other DJ/MC’s that do shows for me and my clients. This wedding season we are introducing our new Photo Mirror and look forward to providing even more entertainment options for everyone going forward. As for my favorite part of my job, my wife would say it’s obviously the wedding cake!!!!! But seriously the favorite part of the day is when I do the send-off for my couples at the end of the night. I clear the room of everyone but the bride & groom then start their 1st dance song so they can enjoy the moment one more time to themselves. It’s a great way to wrap up the start to their HAPPILY EVER AFTER!
What’s your number one piece of advice for a bride searching for a DJ?
My number one piece of advice when searching for a bride is to meet their DJ, either in person or over a video call prior to booking them. Every DJ has their own unique personality and not everybody, regardless of the quality of the DJ, is not a good fit for everyone. I don’t mean the sales person or boss of the business, but the actual DJ that will be providing their services the night of your wedding. Some are more outgoing and heavy on mic work. Others focus more on the music and providing a good dance party. Still others focus on the comfort and happiness of the bride and groom over the dance portion of the evening. Every bride, every groom, every DJ and every wedding is unique. Make sure that all your vendors, not just the DJ, are a good fit for you personally as well as a fit for the aesthetic and vibe of the evening.
Do you have any other questions for DJ Patrick? Leave them below in the comment section!
