The best DJ I’ve met didn’t play music.
At least he didn’t when I met him. I play at lots of weddings and meet a lot of DJs that I’ve enjoyed working with. But at wedding shows, I hope that I am far far away from their booths! All of the vendors give out samples—the bakeries give out cupcakes, I demonstrate harp music, and the DJs blast dance beats from the massive speakers they hoist above their booths. Now, I like DJs. I like electronic dance music (don’t tell any classical musicians!) But blasting it at my head makes it hard to talk to any brides.
So when I was setting up for last week’s wedding show and saw large overhead speakers in the booth next to me, I groaned. I double checked that I had ear plugs with me. I exchanged pleasantries with the DJ hoping he would be kind and not turn it up very loud. But when the wedding show started, he didn’t turn any music on it all. His speakers and gear became his backdrop. Because he didn’t have music blaring, I got to overhear his pitch.
This DJ didn’t talk about the wattage of his amplifiers. Instead, he offered brides and grooms a service. He promised every bride total control over the song selection, the volume, even over what color suit he wore to the wedding. He talked about making sure that the father’s toasts could be clearly heard even though he couldn’t guarantee what the father would say. He explained they can choose their favorite songs and artists or rely on his 20 years of experience if they weren’t sure what they wanted.
He was a servant.
I kept my ears peeled and during the break I finally asked him why he didn’t have a soundtrack playing. He said there were two reasons. The first was that whatever tracklist he put on, someone might dislike that song and therefore subconsciously dislike him. He didn’t want to start off with a bad impression. The second reason was that he wasn’t there to sell music. Nowadays you can get music just about anywhere. He was there to sell a specific service: being a live DJ.
I walked away thinking that was one of the best DJs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I never heard him play a single song. That is the kind of servant I want to be.
When I play harp for a wedding, I am providing more than harp music. I am providing a service. I play prelude and postlude music, helping the bride entertain her guests before the wedding starts. I can customize the length of the processional songs in the moment to account for how fast or how slow every flower girl walks. I enable couples to customize their music playing favorites from Pachelbel’s Canon to Christina Perri. And I invite them to a free consultation to make all of the selection process fun and pain-free.
I am there to help them create those memorable and musical moments during their wedding. Sometimes the best way to introduce that musical service is by not playing any music at all.
Learn more at my Weddings page or contact 574 875 0795 get add live harp music to your wedding or event!