Why the dollar dance is fading away...

The dollar dance (or money dance as it's sometimes called) is a tradition that originated in Poland. The newlyweds would dance and guests would pin dollars to their clothes while they dance. This tradition has changed quite a bit over the years and now guests can give their dollars to the best man or maid of honor (to collect for the couple) as they get a chance to dance with either the bride or groom for 20-30 seconds.

So, why is the “dollar dance” sometimes considered to be tacky? In cultures where the tradition isn’t a normal wedding reception practice, it can be viewed as a public way of requesting a cash gift. After family and friends have already spent money on wedding gifts, shower gifts, and possible travel costs, some find the dollar dance to be in bad taste – even if it is optional. On the contrary, in some communities the tradition is not only accepted, but it’s also encouraged. Like the majority of social customs or cultural practices, what might seem tacky to one group of people may be incredibly significant to another. (excerpt from Southern Living)

In my experience, the dollar dance is often viewed by guests as a good time to leave for the night. In some cases, the dollar dance can last up to 15 minutes if the lines are long and guests are over-staying their 20-30 second dance time allotment. Playing slow songs for this long can result in a lull for the reception and is often viewed as "the reception is winding down".

Many couples only insist on the dollar dance because they feel they will get rich from a few dances. The fact is, most couples will only give $1 for the dance and even if grandma or grandpa give you $20, the most you'll end up with is about $150-175. Is that enough to risk ending your reception early? Most couples don't want to chance this as they've spent thousands on their special day and would hate to see it end prematurely.

The dollar dance will most likely, never fade away completely, but it is far less common today than it was 15 years ago. Whether a couple decides to do it or not is completely up to them. After all, it's their day and The DJ Guy will make it happen they way they want!

Four reasons you need a photo booth at your wedding

As you're getting ready for your big day, you probably have a few key things at the very top of your to-do list: venue, photographer, catering, etc. But what you might not have considered yet is something that could add loads of fun to your reception: a photo booth!

If hearing the words “photo booth” make you think of those drab, cramped boxes at the arcade that take blurry, unflattering pictures, think again! Modern photo booths are sleek, open, and hi-tech. It’s like having a mini photo studio at your event, featuring high definition cameras, complete with awesome props.

From a black tie affair to a rustic gathering, a photo booth can fit in with any theme. If you’re debating whether a photo booth is a good fit for your wedding, consider these four reasons why you should spring for one:

1. Capture Unique Memories

Certainly, your professional photographer is going to capture those special moments from your wedding: your first look, first kiss, and first dance. But nothing beats the photos taken when you and your college friends grab a pair of Kanye sunglasses and a mustache-on-a-stick, and jump into a photo booth! The pressure to get into just the right pose comes off when the purpose of the photo is to be whacky and fun. Some of the most amusing and genuine moments of the night will be captured on the little strip that pops out of the printer.

2. Entertainment Variety

Great DJ? Check. Open bar? Check. Sounds like you’re on your way to planning a good time! But chances are, everyone isn’t going to dance for the entire reception. And we all know what happens when someone spends a little too much time at the bar. What else is a guest to do? A photo booth adds variety and makes for a great activity for guests bouncing between the dance floor and the bar. Taking a break after the Cupid Shuffle for a quick photo shoot is sure to entertain!

3. Socialize

Some aspects of a wedding reception can be very structured, particularly seating charts and buffet lines, all of which can cut into the opportunity for guests to socialize with people they haven’t met yet. There’s something about a photo booth that really brings people together! Aunt Janet and Bill from the office might discover a mutual love for 80’s rock while waiting in line for the photo booth, and that’s just priceless, isn’t it?

4.  Easy Favors

We’ve all been to weddings where the thank you gift has been a shot glass, a bag of stale yogurt covered almonds, or something else that soon gets tossed or forgotten about. Thank your guests for coming in a far better way by sending them home with a personalized photograph or two that serves as a constant reminder of how much fun they had at your wedding. Don’t be surprised to see that photo hanging on their fridge when you stop by to visit, even months later! Prints from a photo booth are customizable, and can include your names, wedding date, and can even match your colors and theme, making them the perfect keepsake.

Ready to book some fun?  Why not give us a call or send an email.  We would be happy to help you book a photo booth for your big day!  We even have packages that are all-inclusive with our DJ services.

Ecobooth by The DJ Guy • http://photobooth.thedjguy.info/ • 517-404-0418

Don't fall for gimmicks and dishonesty!

We've all seen offers that seem too good to be true.  Well, as the saying goes, it probably IS too good to be true.  Recently, offers are popping up for "free this or that" for your wedding.  A good example is this facebook ad recently pointed out in a forum of photo booth professionals I'm a part of.

Let's be honest... no one is giving away a free photo booth.  How do they get away with saying this? Simple - by raising their DJ pricing and lowering the amenities offered with the photo booth in order to get you to add things in order to bring it back to the original price.

For example: They could cut the hours down, not offer printing, no scrapbook, no graphic design on the photo strips, no props and no digital copy of the images.  This diminishes the "wow factor" of the photo booth.  It's supposed to be fun and enjoyable for your guests, not tacky and cheap.

Another dishonest tactic is... 

Groupon is great for restaurants as they have a lot of room to work with on their pricing (in most cases).  $10 for $20 worth of food at a Mexican restaurant is still a profit for them.  If Taco Bell can do it for $5 and make a profit, so can they.

The big scam on Groupon is when you buy a discount photo booth service and the company doesn't even OWN a photo booth!  That's right, they subcontract EVERYTHING!  You never know who is going to be at your event or if they'll even show up.  This has happened countless times and I've seen a lot of articles about this.  I've even been contacted by some of these people, desperately trying to find someone to fill a date (usually within a week's time) and offering considerably less than what our cost is.  You can't get into a business if you don't understand it and know the costs involved.  On an average four hour booking, we're spending more than they charge!  We have employee costs, travel, media for the printer, insurance and much more.  I've even heard of companies that tried subcontracting for these people and then not getting paid!

How can they possible offer this for $199?  Simple.  Cut corners.  Which ones?  ALL OF THEM!
You'll get a subpar product that won't look good and will leave guests disappointed (if someone even shows up).

DON'T fall for these gimmicks and dishonest marketing!  The DJ Guy is ALWAYS honest about pricing and what's included.  We don't even offer a package that doesn't include basics like: props, custom graphic design, prints and flash drive copy of all images. Why?  Because we believe the experience is important.

Give us a call to book your event today!  517-404-0418 www.thedjguy.info

Cheap DJs aren't good and good DJs aren't cheap...

There are plenty of amateurs DJs out there. If you're paying under $100/hr, you might have one. Here's an article on the costs involved and this doesn't even begin to detail everything. I chose not to use any of the ones from actual DJ sites (there are plenty of them) because part of our job is to educate clients so they don't end up without a DJ at their reception or one that does a poor job. I don't want to sound like I'm selling something, it just bothers me when I hear about some amateur giving our profession a bad reputation. This is why I chose an article from an unrelated source. Take a look at that list and the final amount and just tell me how you would pay bills and cover costs charging $50 an hour. It cannot be done without cutting a LOT of corners and possibly resorting to illegal activity.

Here's a few examples of some minor issues with amateur DJs. This is the least of your concerns, but it may affect the image your had in mind for your reception.

Problem: lights on the table instead of being mounted, wires exposed and sloppy This DJ wouldn't even have a properly skirted table if the venue hadn't provided one for him!

Problem: no table skirt, wires running everywhere, everything exposed and sloppy Is this your home office or a wedding? No one wants to see all your junk piled up on the table, hide it!

Here's how things SHOULD look. Clean, no exposed wires and appealing to the guests.

The saying you get what you pay for is true. I get calls all the time from frantic brides and moms because their cheap DJ (or photo booth) cancelled or didn't show up.

PRIME EXAMPLE: Last week I got a call and the photo booth company they hired, cancelled on them the week before their wedding. Fortunately, I had the date open and was easily able to exceed their expectations (they actually got a much better package from me).

While the article below talks about startup costs, it doesn't mention annual costs and one very important cost - investing in your business. When we don't stay up to date with the latest trends and looks, we become irrelevant. Take a look at Kmart. When was the last time you were in one? The store hasn't been updated since the early 80's. They didn't invest in their business and soon they will be gone and out of business.

Here's the article...

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/201652