EFRco.com

No longer in a local market - even when you are local

Planning an event of any size when the budget in the main concern is daunting. The question on everyone's mind is "well how much is that going to cost?" is as nagging as "What's for dinner?".

You have gone over the lists and now you are picking vendors you will need to make this event happen.

Advise: Look for vendors that have a hometown level of customer service but have a global presence. A company this is looking at the bigger picture than their own demographic are pushing the envelope and working towards more exposure.

We are no longer in a local market, even if you only work in a local market with local customers you can now, and for some time now, think and work in a much wider world than ever before. Being a local vendor is no longer a reason not to go global. Reaching out into the world bigger than our own as a consultant or resource for people all around the world is not out of the realm of possibility.

Search for people and companies to help you with your event that have vision not only for right now, but for the future. Talk to people who will be working for your event and at your event to ensure they understand your needs and choices. Also involve family and friends who have done or been involved in the same type of event you are planning. When you think you are ready, also involve the vendors in a level of planning. They will have insight and ideas, but make sure you have the final say. They are not paying you - you are paying them.

There are several questions that come up when starting to plan an event. When should we start planning? Who do we call for the services that we need? Where on Earth do we start? Depending on the scale of the event, these questions might not be as easy as picking up the Yellow Pages or surfing the internet. Several sites can help when your event is a wedding and/or reception in that they give you a countdown of items to have completed. This is helpful for the busy couple who need more guidance in planning. A wedding planner service is also a good idea to keep you on track. You can start with your married friends - who did they use for their event? Did they get good service? Talk about it together - groom and bride alike have good ideas about the day. If not a wedding -start with what type of event you are doing. Ask the professionals - call around and ask if they have ever done an event like what you have in mind. We always advise our clients to shop around...for everything - even our service. See what works - don't always go cheap. Look for experience and word of mouth advertising. Are they willing to do what you want rather than give you a 'package deal'? As always - and I sound like a broken record - but ask family. Talk about what your plans are - families help each other and be ready to help one another.

August 2009

Joy in Technology

What a time to be alive! To have all the great music of the past and present right at your fingertips. To say that we live in an incredible time would be an understatement. I am old enough to remember 8 track tapes being in car stereos - and it being cool. We have come a long way in a short amount of time...all the way to having no moving parts in order to hear our tunes. I have read a lot about how the DJ might be an element of the scene that is going away and there might be some truth to that. Think with me to a time when you need an event to be timeless and unforgettable. We all have those events that happen in our life that we can't take a chance- and there are no 'do overs'. We give those times to professionals, who have done it before and have a proven track record. The way that we have listened to music over the years has changed, and certainly the music has changed, but the way our songs touch our lives and take us back to a time gone by, or brought hope for the future has not. A timeless tradition of having a Master of Ceremonies at the helm of your event is one that shows that you want it to go smoothly. It shows that you know that times change - but the music is all about harmony.

As families and friends come together for celebrations, and people who have never met before start relationships that last a lifetime - the music and memories that you are making right now can be that harmony. You don't have to worry about how it will all turn out tonight - your Master of Ceremonies has all the details worked out - and you can focus on the music of your lives - and let the harmony bring families and friends together.

Tell them like it is.....

I had a chance to attend a wedding I did not DJ ( a rare occasion, but it happens ) and was impressed with the DJ table's appearance.  I studied the layout, light settings, and music selection.  They had some great ideas!  My first thought was, 'wow I am glad I am in California where these guys are not my competition!' but I should not think that way.  It was not a huge wedding, so the DJ had set out a modest spread of lights and had kept the speakers out of sight.  The mood was set by the soft music playing in the background - again thinking, 'this is what we do for our clients'.  The point to these observations is that we all have our styles in which we do things.  The people that you hire should be asking questions about how 'you' want things - not necessarily their company's way of setting up.  A wedding - or any other type of event should be viewed as unique and a one of a kind night.  We tell our clients that we only have one chance to make the night work - we take it very seriously.  I have to tell you that I was not jealous of the DJ that night - I was proud to be called a DJ right with them.  Talk with your DJ, cater, event planner and tell them your choices.  Watch their reactions closely - and if they wince or shrug - weigh the cost and see if they should be at your event at all.

Peace be with all our members   

'Make No Mistake....You have a lot of work to do'

When choosing the music for an event there are many things to consider.  If a wedding or wedding reception the choices can seem somewhat overwhelming.  As much as we rely on traditions, family or social, wedding music fits the individual or couple.  One of the downsides to this is that you change as you grow older and your wedding day cannot be repeated, so the music choices, as every other choice, should be made with much thought.  If you are not the type of couple who feel comfortable walking down the aisle to the Wedding March, you should take a look at all the options.  Research many mediums, ask people who know, and most important trust yourself.  Wedding receptions are even more exempt from the traditional standards while still maintaining all the charm and romance of yester year.  You will have wonderful memories even if you walk in with the rap tune you listened to when you two first met.  This choice also requires study, but your event planner or DJ should sit down with you and go over the questions that you have.  

The events that are planned out for your wedding and reception should be your choice.  There are certain necessary items that you cannot get around, but the order of these events can be subject to shuffle.  The ceremony itself lends itself to tradition right off the bat.  There is a feeling of safety and commitment on keeping the ceremony solemn, orderly, and reverent.  That is to be respected and supported.  In the same thought process the wedding reception is the party afterward, but remains in the traditional scheme of things in that there are expectations.  The couple's Maid of Honor and Best Man making toasts about who they have just stood up for, the couple's first dance, the cutting of the cake, bouquet and garter toss, among others.  Your guests are not only expecting these events, but looking forward to them.  They are dressed up and by now are ready to have something to eat, something to drink, and at least have a dance with the bride or groom during the dollar dance.  What order you present these events makes this party yours, not anyone else's.   If there are family traditions that were handed down, keep them alive, keeping in mind that your party will have it's own memories. 

As always, rely on your event planner to assist you when you have questions.  Your Maid or Honor and Best Man also are good to talk to and always rely on family.

Let’s talk about acoustics.  In order to have a successful event you need to have key elements

in place and working well. If you have hired an emcee or sound reinforcement agent

(for smaller events this should be your DJ) they need to have the knowledge of how the acoustics

of the room work or don’t work.  To understand why music or spoken word can

be well heard the agent must understand how the sound will perform in that room. 

Equipment is just the start of this exercise as most quality equipment will bring

you the expected result at the source, but what will the room

do with it? Sound travels at wavelengths, not like light which travels at a constant speed (through air).

The sound of a bass drum travels a shorter distance than a female voice before becoming less effective. 

These sounds can be altered by several things in the room environment.  Reflection, absorption,

or refraction to name a few can make for a good or bad room to work in.  We will spare the

definitions and explanation, due to sound professionals that you hire should

already be aware of.  The placement of the sources (speakers or other source) is key in making the sound

effective not only at the source, but also in the back where your best and worst critic just got seated late and

missed dinner.  A sound pro will also know that the sound check is not the finish product as when you

add people; you have added sound altering objects that move.  The common practice of placing the bass

speakers on the bottom and the medium and higher frequency speakers on the top or hanging them is not

just because of the weight or girth.  Lower signals can curve, move around, and penetrate throughout the

room and can be heard (and felt) over the medium and higher signal.  Placement of the source is just as

important, because the source can be the highest price best performing in the market, and if not placed

well won’t do the job.  Your sound agent will not bore you with the mechanics of the placement,

or why they are so absorbed in having the sound just right. 

Does your sound reinforcement agent know all this?

Research:  NatScience.com

Tradition vs Choice

The traditional decisions at wedding receptions are a popular topic with couples.  Bride and grooms ask the question what is the traditional time line, or name of an event?  Most of the time the answer is that their own tailored method or time line is what starts a tradition.  Making an event stand out and not made into a cookie cutter wedding or reception is the tradition.  Special dances, childhood memories, college flashbacks and family traditions make up the better part of how a wedding day is planned and plays out.  The main ideals that seem to be a mainstay are  the bride wears white, but even that is not adhered to all the time.  There is a maid or honor, now sometimes called Matron of honor depending on her martial status, and best man.  These two terms are lumped together and called witnesses in the modern courthouse wedding.  A church setting is still a popular idea and pleases most parents and grandparents.  A growing trend is having ceremony and reception in one location, with reception halls doubling their usefulness and flexibility.  This type of setting opens up a whole new level of service and tradition. 

The order of the service can play a special role in making the day memorable and as stress free for all the coordinators.  A newer addition to the wedding experience is a pre-ception.  The wedding guests gather and can use this time to maybe freshen up from a long drive, to visit or meet new family.  It is a growing trend that is quickly becoming tradition.  The ceremony can be just as varied as the many types of wedding affiants there are.  Each church, aside from the religious traditions, might have congregational and family methods.  This topic can be discussed in great detail with your affiant.  With the ceremony behind you, your plans can go just about anywhere you desire.  Planning ahead is crucial in the entire day, however in order to fit all the events you want to experience your planning and sticking to it come in handy now.  Larger weddings with multiple events find it easier to hire a wedding planner; others who ask for help from their Maid/Matron of Honor or Best Man find it a fun way to plan the day together.  There are many places to get ideas and help for the plan and flow of your day.  The wedding planner of course is a very personal way to plan the entire day.  You can also break out the planning sessions between the different people you hire for each part of your day.  The photographer, caterer, and of course a well seasoned DJ will have great ideas for the ceremony and reception.  Use their planning and experience, but remember to not have a hired service dictate too much into your plans.  Keep the day and event yours- both of yours.  If you have questions you need to have trust in the companies you have hired and people that serve to ask.   

You said 'Yes' - Now what.....

Well when the mist and mystery of the moment fade (hold on to it as long as possible) you have a thousand things to decide.  We will not list all the things in this article – that would take all the fun out of it.  We will touch on some first basics to get you started.  Most of what we cover in this small introductory exercise can be done by the two of you.  The most important word I will use in this article is ‘delegate’.  When you assemble your inner core of friends and let them know about the big day have your list of things ready when they ask the question, “Is there anything you need me to do?”  You will be ready.  But to include your fiance's opinion on these things will help the feeling of a union rather that just ‘your wedding’.  When doing this it is a good idea to not expect him to have common knowledge of color schemes and frosting flavors.  He won’t.  Choosing the 30,000 foot view choices might ease the way.  The location of reception and rehearsal dinner and the rental of tents, or tables are great to do together.  When choosing your DJ or band it is a good idea to be together.  When meeting with Sound Association Mobile DJ we stress meeting together with both of you. 

The color scheme is another thing that you two can brainstorm about.  More than likely he will not be as stressed as you and the ‘inner core’.  Don’t worry, he loves you.  Let him know that his ideas count, and also let her know that her ideas have merit.  She has been planning this her whole life.  Online research is also something that you can do together.  You can compare locations and prices on so many levels. 

The real effect of all this will come as the date gets closer and it will not all come together overnight.  Just like the marriage it will take work, but it is all worth it.  Although you have the ‘inner core’ – you are not marrying them.  Keep the important things just between the two of you.  The ‘inner core’ can give ideas, but they need to know that the choices ultimately are yours (plural).  If they deserve to be included in the circle, they will understand.  Another thing is to not make this your second job, especially nearing the end of the process.  Escape with one another doing something fun, it will remind you both of the love that started this whole roller coaster ride.  It is a lot of work – and it is easy to say – but relax enjoy the ride the reward is priceless.

Research - Blake Kritzberg - Wedding Planning: Involve your Fiancé

Games People Play..or Not

There can be many fun and memorable games played at events.  The old saying 'the more the merrier' rings true in this setting.  It seems that with more people at your event the more people want to participate.  This is ever so true at wedding receptions.  The day has been long and the most anyone who attends has done is sit and wait.  After all that waiting they have had a chance to eat a little something, and if there is an open bar the chances double that the pent up energy will come out.  It is the mood of a wedding reception that you can really tune with how the entertainment is set up.  If you have a string quartet scheduled you can put your money on a safe and toned down reception.  If you hire a DJ with a master of ceremony package you have more of a say about how your reception will go.  You can start out with a quiet music backdrop while dinner is served and move to the dance level at a nice smooth pace until the older generation has gone to bed and the volume turns up.  What do you do for that middle area where everyone is together?  It can be a tricky spot.  Some say that playing a game or having your wedding party play a balloon popping game might be a bit childish, and it might be for some.  Remember the first few sentences of this article, the more people who are at your event, the more diverse.