Don’t DIY Your Memories: The Hidden Headaches of Drop-Off & Mail Order Photo Booths

Drop-off photo booths have become increasingly popular because they promise convenience at a lower price. However, many customers discover that the savings come with hidden frustrations. Mail-order booths such as Kruu and similar services ship equipment to your venue and expect you to handle setup, operation, and return — tasks most event hosts never intended to take on during a busy celebration. What sounds simple on the surface quickly becomes one more stressful responsibility on an already full plate.

 

 

One of the biggest downfalls of these drop-off booths is the lack of quality. The cameras, lighting, and printers used in many mail-order setups often pale in comparison to what professional photo booth companies bring on-site. Poor lighting, washed-out photos, glitchy touchscreens, and slow or inconsistent printing can leave guests disappointed. In fact, using your phone to take selfies often provides nearly the same experience as a drop-off booth — a basic photo without the polished results, energy, or interaction that make a true photo booth so special.

Another major concern is the setup process itself. When you rent a drop-off booth, you become the technician. You’re responsible for assembling the equipment, troubleshooting software, adjusting lighting, staging the backdrop, and making sure everything runs smoothly. Instead of enjoying your own event, you risk spending precious time fixing issues — or worse, watching the booth sit unused because something isn’t working properly.

On top of that, many mail-order booth companies place the responsibility for their equipment squarely on you. If anything is scratched, dented, cracked, or damaged during shipping, setup, or use, you may be liable for costly repair or replacement fees. That’s an enormous risk to place on a host who simply wanted to provide guests with a fun keepsake.

This is why having a professional photo booth with an experienced attendant, high-quality props, a proper background, and friendly guest guidance makes such a difference. A staffed booth ensures everything runs smoothly, photos look amazing, and guests have an interactive, memorable experience — not a frustrating one.

If you want your event to feel polished, fun, and stress-free, contact The DJ Guy for a fully attended professional photo booth experience at www.thedjguy.info or call 517-404-0418 today. Your guests — and your peace of mind — will thank you.

 

2023 - The Year of the Photo Booth

The last few years have been all about improving the DJ side of the business. Lighting, gear, branding, customer relationship management (CRM), social presence and more, have all been upgraded and taken  to their highest.

This year, it's all about the photo booth side of the business, starting with a complete re-branding. Ecobooth (a name that was chosen without a lot of thought put into it) is no more. The website that I put up 9+ years ago is outdated and inefficient. A new website, brand and identity will be unveiled next week!

We now have a new booth (two to choose from) that features all the top tier features you'd want. Share photos, GIFs, Boomerangs and video with text, email, air drop or QR code. We also have a large selection of luxury backdrops to choose from. Additional options include AI background removal with virtual background options, digital props, ring roamer (roaming photo booth), neon signs, branding for corporate events and data capture to create client databases

We also have some new fun add-ons like our inflatable booth.

And lastly, just take a look at one of our recent events and you can see that our guests absolutely love the experience they had...

Give us a call or visit us online for ALL of your entertainment needs!

517-404-0418   www.thedjguy.info

2020 - The Year That Wasn't and How We Adapted

What a year 2020 has been. Not just for me, but the entire wedding industry and of course, millions of couples who had their dreams ruined by Covid-19.

2020 started out as the best year of my career. In January, I had very few open dates left through out the summer and most had booked larger packages including both DJ, photo booth and in many cases, ceremony and up lighting. I had events in January and February and even the first week of March. Rumors were swirling at that time about this new virus and I had no idea what was to come.

Suddenly, everything closed down and we were told to stay home. I began to wonder how this would affect my clients (starting in May). I went from having the biggest income in years to having nothing to support my family and pay our bills. And while my policy has always been the same (deposits/retainers are non-refundable), I did come up with a specific policy for Covid-19.

Clients began to call and I offered them the option to reschedule anytime within the next 2 years. Fortunately, most picked a date in 2021, similar to the date the had in 2020. A few opted to move to the late summer and some, fall. Of all the weddings I had scheduled, just two decided to continue without a large gathering and without entertainment. Both of them were offered credit (their original deposit) towards any future event within 3 years.

Of the few weddings that did move forward, all of them enjoyed an amazing day with those that chose to attend and zero issues that I am aware of.

As a licensed Michigan health worker, I am well-versed in the procedures and protocols to prevent the spread of this virus. We took great precaution to make our events safe, utilizing touch-free photo stations, song requests by text message, sanitizing microphones between use and limiting direct interaction with guests.

Moving forward to 2021, I'm starting the year off with a somewhat full calendar because of all the rescheduled weddings from 2020. My suggestion for those planning any event this year is to first check the policy with your vendors regarding deposits/retainers. You won't find anyone offering refunds, but they should be offering you the option to reschedule or use that money towards a future event. Keep in mind that many of us do not qualify for any sort of compensation for our lost income and if we do, it's not even a fraction of our normal income.

All this being said, I truly hope that those who have put their dreams on hold and those who have struggled to stay afloat during these times can move forward in 2021.

The DJ Guy would love to be a part of making your dream wedding a reality. Call or request a quote online and we'll be happy to video conference or meet in person if you prefer.

517-404-0418     https://www.thedjguy.info

A new year and a new career - PLUS, weddings in 2019

Things are changing - just a little...

For the last 19 years, I've worked as a professional DJ. The first 10 years were part time and jobs were few and far between. Since then, I've turned this into a full time business, providing DJ, photo booth and lighting services for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, school functions and more.

Now after 19 years, I'm going to be scaling back (just a little) and focusing on my new career as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I'll still be available for events on Friday and Saturday, but events taking place Sunday through Thursday will now be booked only if my associate, DJ Travis, is available for that date. 2019 will be the last year I offer slide show services as it seems to be on a down trend, having only had 3 requests for it in 2018 and the entire process is very time consuming.

I do not have any plans to retire from DJing as of yet, but when I do, it will be a 3 year exit strategy and everyone will be aware of it when I make that decision. I don't foresee this happening until at least 2023 (I have a school loan to pay back) and I enjoy what I do.

Enough about me, let's talk about weddings in 2019...

One of the things I need to address (for newlyweds) is the large amount of amateur DJs out there that put a price tag ahead of anything else. I know cost is a huge factor when you're booking vendors and I know you have a budget. But did you know that entertainment is ALWAYS in the top three most remembered things about a wedding? Take a look at this discussion:
https://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/as-a-guest-what-do-you-remember-most-about-weddings/

Knowing that, do you really want to spend the least amount on the entertainment?

Here's a recent price list of what the average (mid-range, meaning reliable and decent) cost of each wedding vendor is in the USA. https://www.theknot.com/content/average-wedding-vendor-costs?fbclid=IwAR2lEpH-MziXYBSF6k8OEP2tBwRdB9-NuuOgFFc2vlKmCD6B64AdDSODIjk

If you didn't read it, the average cost of a DJ is $1231. That's far more than I charge for my entry level package.

I even found out recently that someone was using MY business name with a dollar amount in front of it to lure in couples who were looking based solely on price (please never do that, you won't be happy). He ended up raising his price (and changing the dollar amount on the name) because you CANNOT run a business for those prices. Shortly after, he stopped showing up for weddings with no warning. NEVER EVER choose a vendor based on a low price because it WILL end up ruining your wedding day.

There's another trend I'm seeing of DJs grouping themselves together (sometimes in different states too) so that they can split inquiries coming in. They generally charge more under this "made up company" to cover their additional expenses. Chances are, you can find those same DJs through their own individual companies for a lower price. Nothing wrong with that, but just be aware that you might be paying more for the same exact service and DJ.

Lastly, today's generation prefers to text. I realize that and I understand it's easier for you. The problem is that today's generation is also very visual. I get that because I'm the same way. I'm always more interested in a product I can see. Texting just doesn't work for this reason. I can send an email that has photos, details, pricing and answers all kinds of questions in just a few minutes, but it's impossible to send all that by text. Over the past two years, I noticed a trend of emails going ignored or ending up in spam folders. I now initially respond with both an email and text stating that I have responded by email. It seems to be working well so far.

One more thing I fogot to mention... I'm putting on the 4th Annual Valentine's Bridal Show at Chemung Hills Golf Club on Sunday, February 10th, 2019 from noon to 3 PM. Admission is free with online registration at www.michiganwedding.info

Making Magical Memories

Well this is something I didn't expect to be blogging about in my business blog. I recently took a family vacation and went to Disney in Florida. I had heard about the guest experience before and how it can seem magical at times, which is part of the appeal to going there. Being in a service industry where guest experience is so important, I decided to see if I could pick up any ideas from the people who have been creating this experience (at least in Florida) since 1971.

We went to Animal Kingdom on our first day and I'm really glad we did. This was a magical experience from beginning to end. Guest service was off the charts. I had made a character dining reservation for lunch and the restaurant was running a bit behind. The hostess asked if we had been to Disney before (I had only been to Magic Kingdom about 40 years prior) so she gave us buttons that allowed other cast members to see this was our first visit and we received some special treatment (mostly my daughter) in the form of free stickers and other items as well as cast members wanting to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Our hostess came back and checked on us several times and assured us it wouldn't be much longer. The food was excellent and the characters gave my daughter lots of attention. A cast member also gave us a great tip to catch the later, end of night show to get a better seat without waiting in line. We ended up get front row!

We experienced a similar situation in Hollywood Studios when my Disney Experience app wasn't working on my phone. This is how you book fast passes and dining (so you don't wait in line). We went up to guest relations and the lady that helped us was AMAZING. She couldn't fix the problem as it was a service issue that affected all users, but she made reservations for us and handled everything in a way that made us feel like we just won the lottery. To top it off, her real name was Ariel and she smiled the whole time like a real princess.

Not all of our experiences were great... Magic Kingdom was the least magical of our experiences and some cast members were just outright rude. We found a lot of them were not educated on the park or in the ways of "Disney guest relations". A simple question of where the nearest bathroom is, would have led us walking halfway down the street, when there was a bathroom no less than 20 feet from where we were standing in a nearby hallway.

We didn't let that ruin our vacation though. I simply took that as learning point for what I can do to make our client experience better. Making sure that you have a magical experience should be the same whether it's from one of our DJs or one of our photo booth attendants.  I'm planning a short training session on this soon, though I think most of our staff already does this.

This was a much needed trip and a revitalizing one as well. Let The DJ Guy make your day magical!

Give us a call at 517-404-0418 or visit us online at www.thedjguy.info to plan your big day!

Lights, Camera - SPEECH!

Giving a good speech can be difficult and stressful. Trust me, I speak in front of large crowds every single week and it isn't something you master quickly. I can tell you that after years of public speaking, it just comes naturally and I barely even think about it these days.

Standing in front of a room full of people, with a photographer and videographer can be very intimidating. Don't let get to you. In fact, don't even look at them! Look past them at various things around the room. If there are lighting fixtures on the wall, look at those and focus on what you're saying and say it clearly.

As for writing your speech, what to include or not include... take a look at this article from Brides magazine:

https://www.brides.com/story/how-to-write-the-perfect-best-man-speech

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

What is the Purpose of a Wedding Planner?

There's are a lot of people "claiming" to be wedding planners, but what exactly IS a wedding planner? I can tell you what a wedding planner isn't. A wedding planner is NOT a venue coordinator. It is NOT a wedding decorator. It is NOT the photographer or the DJ (nor my 4 page PDF, which I call a wedding planner). It's NOT someone who just planned their whole wedding and now they think they can do yours.

This article covers what a wedding planner is, their purpose and what to look out for. I can offer one excellent suggestion if you need a REAL wedding planner. She is the only person I've every worked with that constantly amazed me at how intuitive she was and how hard she worked. If you decide you need a wedding planner after reading this article, call Ashley Lynch from Festoons & Flourishes (734)546-1487.

Stop Calling Yourself a Wedding Planner by Danielle Rothweiler
"A wedding planner seems to be the easiest job in the world. I mean, it must be for so many people to just throw it on their signature lines. Girl gets married? Instant wedding planner. Recommended peonies to your sister for her wedding? You’re a wedding planner too! To go all Oprah in this article, “You’re a wedding planner, and you’re a wedding planner, everyone’s wedding planner!!” Just add water, and boom: wedding planner.

This stuff is ridiculous now and the industry is saturated enough without these people running around claiming to be a wedding planner. It’s not fair to actual wedding planners, and guess what? It’s really unfair to those couples that are looking to hire a real wedding planner. Why? Because sometimes it’s hard to tell a Prada from a Canal Street Knock-Off. So, I’m going to make it a little easier for everyone right here, right now."

Continue reading at...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle-rothweiler/stop-calling-yourself-a-wedding-planner_b_8958460.html

Five Questions You Should Ask Before Booking Your DJ

It's that time of the year again.  The holidays are over, and maybe you got engaged sometime between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.  Now the task of planning the big day begins.  You have to choose a venue, photographer, cake and of course the entertainment!

Here's a few things I'm commonly asked by clients and a few things you SHOULD be asking as well.

1. What happens if you can't make it to our wedding?

Good question.  I have NEVER missed a wedding.  Unless I'm dead, there's no excuse.  Your wedding is the most important day of your lives!  I know that and I wouldn't be where I am today without the great reviews and referrals of my past clients.  This is what I do for a living and I take it very seriously.  I've had some crazy situations come up in the past (a rollover accident with a deer the night before) and still managed to get to a rental facility and make it to my wedding on time.  It's that important to ME.  If something should happen to me, I have other DJs that would fill in.

2. Are you insured?

Absolutely!  Both DJ and Photo Booth are insured up to 1 mil for liability.  This separates the amateurs from the pros.  Always ask your entertainers if they are insured.  If they say no, it's time to call someone else.

3. Do you have backups in case something fails?

Yes.  While we can't carry a backup of every single item as it would be both expensive and require an enormous box truck, we do carry backups of all the essential items such as laptop, cables and so on.  Most DJs use sound systems with active speakers these days, meaning the amplifier is built in to the speaker.  This means that at no time should the sound ever go completely out.  In most venues, our sound system is rarely turned up past the halfway point, which gives us plenty of extra volume if needed.

4. Can we come hear you at an event?

NO.  I'm not sure who had this great idea, but imagine if I invited clients to your wedding to come "hear me".  Doesn't sound like a good idea anymore, does it?  Most of the events I do are weddings.  When I'm working your wedding, I'm focused on that and not trying to sell to the next client.  I do a few charity events from time to time, but they don't include the same type of announcements (if any) that I would make at your wedding.  A better idea for this is in the next question.

5. Can we sit down and meet with you?

Absolutely!  In fact, I highly recommend it.  This is the best way to get an idea of my personality and hear who will be making those announcements for you.  It also allows me to show you some of the things I can do for you and what some of the services I offer, look like.  Many clients meet with the understanding that if they like who they are meeting, they will book the date at the meeting.  I can easily accommodate this.


Written by Ed Altounian
January 4th, 2016

Ready to book your date?  Visit our website: www.thedjguy.info
Call us today 517-404-0418 or email us at ed@thedjguy.info

Five Wedding Gimmicks That Have Got to Go

Haters gonna hate, sure. But there are some wedding decisions that are so "Why?!" that even the least-judgmental guest can't shake 'em off. Here are five of the worst staid traditions.

Releasing Doves
A photo opp that even Instagram can't make look cool, releasing two doves is considered a symbol of unity. For the sake of not diving too deep into PETA territory, let's assume you hire a company that respects the animals' safety. Even after taking proper precautions, there are still only two thoughts your guests will have: 1.) "Those poor birds. How long were they stuffed in that basket?" and 2.) "Am I going to get pooped on?" In a matter of seconds, people are now thinking about animal rights and poop. Not very bridal.

Wedding Favors with Your Name on the Front
We'll get right to it: Put your name on the back or the bottom of whatever it is you're giving out. It's as simple as that. Your guests love you, but no one wants your names front and center in the middle of their home. This is included but not limited to: coasters, candles, ornaments, mini photo frames, luggage tags, and itty bitty boxes. Exceptions to this rule are shot or drinking glasses and photo booth strips.

Dollar Dance
If you've never heard of this, it's a dance during the reception in which guests can pay $1 for a few seconds to dance with the bride or groom. Even if you think this is a sweet tradition, consider the guests who have already spent money on travel and gifts — and how awkward it is that you're asking for an extra buck.

Tiaras
You're the princess for the day. We get it. But must you have a literal crown atop your coiffed hair? Instead opt for something more modest (and stylish) like a headband or flower crown.

Prison Sentences for the Groom
The cake toppers with the bride dragging the groom. The groom's shoes marked "Help" and "Me." A ring bearer carrying a sign that says, "Uncle [Groom], Last chance to run!" It might be funny to a guest in a miserable marriage or your single friend who has never had a serious relationship, but it's otherwise a lame way to demonstrate the bride's authority in the relationship. A confident bride happily in love and having a good time is the very best way to say, "Yep, I'm getting what I want!"

Original Story from Brides Magazine:
http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2015/03/cheesy-wedding-trends-traditions.html?mbid=social_facebook

5 Reasons It's Still Cool to Have a Photo Booth at Your Wedding

It seems like every time a fun new trend hits weddings, someone is already declaring it "over." The photo booth is one of those trends; it's gone from a fun novelty to a common occurrence at every wedding. Now many couples are worried it's played-out. But before you put away the funny props and fake mustaches, here are five reasons it's still worth it to have a photo booth. 

1. It's a good source of entertainment. Having a few activities besides dancing at your reception is a good way to make sure all your guests have fun. Sometimes people just want a break from busting a move, and the photo booth provides a nice escape. It's also a good place for people to gather and socialize.

2. It creates a wedding keepsake -- for you and your guests. A lot of guests will appreciate having a photo of themselves with their friends, their kids, or their date. But even if they don't care about that, you will love having fun pictures of your wedding guests. If you think of it like a modern guest book, it seems silly to skip it just because it's been done before. 

3. Your guests don't spend hours looking at online inspiration. While your also-engaged maid of honor might think photo booths have become a wedding cliche, that's probably because she's got wedding planning (and attending!) fatigue. But your older relatives and guests who don't attend many weddings will likely still find the photo booth totally delightful and fun. 

4. Just because a wedding trend is popular doesn't mean it has to be abandoned. If think your photo booth is going to be the coolest thing ever that none of your guests have ever seen before, you may need a reality check. But if it's just a new wedding tradition that you happen to like, who cares if it's been done before? Some elements of your wedding will be personalized and unique, but many others will be part of bigger traditions that started out as hip trends before becoming ubiquitous. 

5. Every photo booth is different.  The vibe at every wedding is so different, thanks to everything from the time of day and the venue to how strong the bartender is mixing drinks. That means every photo booth will be different too. Even if people are over taking pictures with their dates, they might love a chance to take silly pics with old friends or relatives whom they haven't seen in a while. Also, it's 2015...we're pretty sure no one is over taking pictures of themselves.

(article by Rachel W. Miller)

It's been a while and it's been a busy summer!

Some of you may be wondering... what happened to the blog posts and the venue reviews?

Well, to be honest... I've been focused on my clients and improving my offerings.  This summer has been quite busy.  Many of the venues I've done this past summer are either repeat locations that I've already reviewed or private backyard events that wouldn't really help you too much in your planning.

Not everything is old though.  I've worked with a few outstanding vendors this summer and I always want to give credit where credit is due.

I did an amazing wedding at a private campground in Dexter on 8/22/15.  While the scenery was beautiful, there were some issues with zoning and I can't comfortably recommend this location for any event.

The one thing I can say is that the caterer was AMAZING!  If you like grilled food, KING-Q BAR-B-QUE is your guy!  There were so many choices and so many items that could have been done just average, but everything in this arsenal of BBQ barnyard friends was kicked up to an amazing level.

The variety of food isn't reflected in the picture above as I would have needed THREE plates to show everything off.  Pulled pork and chicken, BBQ chicken, ribs, beef brisket, custom sausages, homemade cornbread, homemade coleslaw, mac n' cheese, southwestern veggies, mashed potatoes, grilled veggies, grilled salmon, grilled duck and I'm probably missing a dozen things.  Every bit of it was excellent.

I also had the opportunity to try something new with the lighting.  Tree lighting!

The outdoor bar was themed out very nicely.  An old antique rowboat created the bar shelf to hold bottles.  The background for photos was picture perfect as you can see from this photo (taken with my phone, believe it or not).

I'll try to get a new post up, each coming week over the next month.  While I don't have a lot of new venues to review, there's a few unique ideas and new vendors.

As always, thanks for reading and be sure to visit The DJ Guy on our website and Facebook page.

Nine Tips to Save On Your Wedding

There are a lot of relevant stories in the news from time to time and this is one of them.

I read this article and there are a few points that I disagree with, but most of it is accurate.  I take issue with tip number two, advising brides to negotiate prices with vendors.

Most vendors, including myself, have set prices that are NOT negotiable.  We have to make a living, just like you.  We have bills to pay, in fact, we have more bills to pay.  Insurance, equipment, employees and so on.  Unless you're hiring someone who is NOT a professional, don't expect any negotiation.  You should also expect to get what you pay for.  We have several packages with various prices so that our clients can pick what best suits their needs.  Our DJ services are prices well below the national average of $1150.  In fact, for another $50 ($1200), we're including our photo booth (current special at the time of this article's publication - 4/25/15)

I do appreciate that the article suggests a DJ over a band.  I've worked with bands several times in the past and more often than not, they tend to empty out a full dance floor.

With that being said, here are the tips by PAUL KATZEFF, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY:

• Work the budget. Start by making a list of what you want to include, and then get a price — or a range of prices — for each line item. It's best to ask several vendors what they charge for each product or service. You may want to ask the ones that differ the most why their charges vary.

• Negotiate. Once you have a list of products, services and charges, you can dicker. "Negotiating is a two-way process," said Heather Bandur, of Heather Bandur Events & Designs in the Big Apple. Be prepared to take less of something or downgrade to get a lower price.

• Watch the calendar. Venues and vendors typically cost more during the high season. Consider another time of year.
Ditto for the day of the week. Saturday night is prime time. Switching to a day and time other than Saturday night can save 15% to 20%, Bandur says. That can cut thousands of dollars from your bill. Monday tends to be the least expensive day of the week.

• Use a disc jockey. A DJ can save you up to 90% in music cost vs. a live band. And many guests would rather listen to the original versions of songs than to ersatz covers, Bandur says.

• Cut your guest list. The average number of guests fell to 136 last year from 141 in 2010. If you trim your guest list enough, you can spend more per person and still cut your bottom line, Miles says. Stick with close friends and family.

 View Enlarged Image

• Think a la carte. Compare your venue's prices for items like flowers with an outside vendor's. And rather than order floral table centerpieces for the reception, consider having your event planner reuse the bride and bridesmaids' bouquets from the ceremony as table settings, especially if the reception is at a separate location. Also, do you need a videographer, who averaged fees of $1,794 last year, in addition to a photographer?


• Say yes to another dress. Plan ahead so that you can take advantage of floor sample sales, which can save you up to 80% off prices that averaged $1,357 last year. Also, if you're aiming for separate dresses for the ceremony, reception and after-party, consider a convertible dress for the ceremony whose train, for example, detaches by zipper so the bride can dance in it.

• Avoid frills. Send save-the-date notices by email. With the subsequent actual invitations, forgo embellishments like raised lettering and die or laser cutting.

• Don't outsmart yourself. Think you can save money by selecting an unconventional venue rather than a full-service hotel or function hall? If that funky venue can't provide everything from tables to chairs, cutlery and kitchen equipment, you may have to pay extra to rent them separately.

Read More At Investor's Business Daily: http://news.investors.com/investing-personal-finance/042415-749540-how-to-cut-your-wedding-costs.htm#ixzz3YLaCR2la
Follow us: @IBDinvestors on Twitter | InvestorsBusinessDaily on Facebook

More than just DJ services...

Fourteen years is a plenty of time to build a business and let people know you're an experienced, professional DJ - BUT... did you know we've been offering Photo Booth services for the last two years?  We've also been doing event lighting for the last 5 years!  How about video services?  Yes, we do that too!

Our photo booth is such a big hit with our customers, that we added a second booth last year and added Red Carpet Photo Station service this year!  There's even an option for our corporate clients to add a custom backdrop to get brand exposure!

  

We'll beat ANYONE when it comes to a side by side comparison of our photo booth services, just take a look at the chart below:

When you think entertainment, think of the DJ Guy!  We'll be happy to provide you with only the best - whether it's DJ, Photo Booth, Lighting, Video or any combination of those!

You can visit our new redesigned Ecobooth Photo Booth website at:
http://photobooth.thedjguy.info

Call us or send us an email:   517-404-0418   ed@thedjguy.info

Valentine's Bridal Show - Sunday, February 15th - 12 to 3 PM

Don't miss our ONLY bridal show of the year, this Sunday (2/2/15) at Chemung Hills in Howell.  Sign up now and save $1 off the door charge and receive a swag bag.

Online sales will end at midnight this Saturday, so don't wait!

2015 - A Great Year To Get Married

Well, it's that time again.  Hopefully you've had a wonderful Christmas and big plans for the new year.  Maybe you got engaged over the holidays.  If so, now is the time to get your planning under way.  2015 is an easy year to remember and it will surely help all the men remember their anniversary year!

With the new year, I've added some great new offerings...

The open-air photo booth will be available starting in March.  This is done red carpet style with red velvet ropes and a shimmering backdrop for photos.  There are many options available with this.  You can choose the traditional photo strips (2x6 with multiple images) or a single 4x6 image with a simple logo super imposed over one corner of the photo.  You can even special order a custom backdrop with logo (or monogram) of your choice!

This will similar to the image below:

Another new feature will be our charging station.  This will be a value-added FREE addition to ALL wedding packages.  Others charge up to $100 for this service - we give it to you FREE!  Your guests will never have to worry about missing a picture of the first dance.

And lastly, I'm putting together a special event.  In the past, I've been harsh on bridal shows, typically because of the high cost to vendors and the fact that someone (usually a production company) is getting rich off of the show.

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I'm pleased to announce that I'm putting together a not-for-profit bridal show with Chemung Hills (Howell, MI) on Sunday, February 15th.  Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.  Cost for vendors is very minimal (just enough to cover a little advertising to get the word out) and cost to guests will also be very low (to cover the venue's expenses: cleaning, staff, ect.).

Bridal consultations are always free and I'm currently setting up meetings for anyone interested.  I have 6 meetings already scheduled in the upcoming weeks, so be sure to contact me soon to reserve your date!

Happy wedding planning and here's to a great year!

The Holidays are coming!

I still have 3 more weddings on my calendar this month,
but the Holidays are coming up soon...

There's still a few dates available. DJ, Photo Booth and Game Show Night available! Put an end to the boring corporate Holiday Party - Call now to reserve your date! 517-404-0418