Venue Review: YOUR OWN BACKYARD (everything you need to know about outdoor events)

This week's review is more of a guide to outdoor weddings and a list of what works and what doesn't.  With that being said, I do about 20 outdoor events each year.  Some are big elaborate weddings and some are just small school functions.  The pictures are from various events.

Things to keep in mind...

A wedding reception is really a party for your guests.  While you certainly the focus of the event, you want your guests to enjoy themselves and leave saying that was one of the best events they've ever attended.

You'll want to keep weather in mind since you'll be outdoors.  If you've selected a summer date, chances are you're safe without the need for heaters.  You'll definitely want to provide cover for everyone so a tent is pretty much a requirement.  Even if it doesn't rain, it will provide a shaded area for your guests.  If you know the temperature is going to be in the 90's or hotter, you may want to consider renting some industrial sized fans to keep your guests cool. 

Remember, if you're guests don't feel comfortable, that may give them reason to leave.

A good bathroom is a necessity.  If you don't want 100+ people trampling through your home, you may want to rent a porta-potty or a bathroom on wheels.  If you choose the porta-potty, be sure to get one with a sink and soap dispenser (and also a led light for night time use).

Lighting...

The sun will go down eventually and while there will be plenty of lights on the dance floor, those that aren't dancing won't want to sit in the dark.  There are many options for lighting.  Many guests line the edge of the tent with white Christmas lights (which provides a nice soft ambience, but not much brightness).  Most tents are white because it doesn't attract heat and looks clean.  That giant white canvas inside the tent is just begging for a splash of color.  That's where I can help out with up lighting.  I've even done logos and monograms, which adds a nice touch.  If you're interested in having this for your event, just ask me.  Here's some of the recent events I've done...

Power...

One of the most important things to remember is to keep your DJ on a separate circuit from heaters, air conditioner, coffee pots or anything that has a heavy power draw.  I tell this to all my outdoor clients and I cannot stress this enough.  Don't assume that it will be OK to have the DJ and the coffee pot on the same circuit.  I had an issue recently.  We knew it was an issue before the night even started because the circuit breaker kept switching off and it wasn't corrected the way I advised.  The power went out during the first dance and there was nothing I could do.

Other things to consider...

There are several types of dance floors you can rent.  Steer clear of the plastic or rubber 1x1 squares.  They aren't made for grass and don't stay together very well.  You're better off getting the 3x3 wood squares that are heavier and less likely to move.  Be sure to leave enough room for your DJ to setup inside the tent (about 4-5 feet from the edge of the tent).  The dance floor also works best in the center of the tent as opposed to being at one end and having to project sound long distance.  The image on the left is the 1x1 plastic floor, the right is the 3x3 wood floor.

  

Be prepared to hold the ceremony in the tent if weather related circumstances require it.  If you should need ceremony music and/or microphones, I can help with that, just ask.

Make sure you've got somewhere for all your guests to park.  Many of my outdoor weddings have been in the country so parking hasn't been a big issue.
If you have questions about anything, it's best to ask someone.  Whether it's your caterer about food related things or myself when it comes to lighting, sound and placement.  I've been doing this for 14 years and I've done a LOT of outdoor weddings in that time.  I hope this post helps you out a bit! 

I'll leave you with some pictures from the grad party I did just last night.  There was a zero chance of rain so we opted to setup in the most most ideal spot for sound projection and usability of the photo booth.  This was a beautiful home in Brighton and most of the guests stayed close to the house even though they had a tent further out in the yard.

Until Next Sunday - Happy Wedding Planning!

Venue Review: Coyote Preserve & Golf Club

Coyote Preserve & Golf Club is tucked away off of the US23 service drive between Center Rd and White Lake Rd.  You can see the entrance from US23.  The entrance winds back a few miles through a nice private subdivision and leads to the clubhouse.  The building is very nice and even the chairs are elegant enough that covers might actually detract from the look of the venue.  The room was decorated beautifully in splashes of yellow and grey.  I had never been here before this event, but Anthony and Renae picked a beautiful location for their reception.

 

We also provided a photo booth for this wedding, which was a huge hit.  The bridal party was so excited, they used it before their grand entrance!

 

 

 

 

The food was excellent and gets a big thumbs up for presentation!  I haven't seen a fruit display this nice, since I was on a cruise ten years ago.

 

 

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate prior to dinner and it was pouring down for about an hour.  On the bright side (pun intended), the sun came out afterwards and the photographer was able to get them out quickly and get all their photos done in just 30 minutes!  The golf course has numerous photo-perfect areas for pictures.  I saw a few of the pictures that were taken and they were amazing!

 

 

The Dipzinski's had a wonderful day and were a pleasure to work for!  The guests were all very polite and really enjoyed dancing the night away.

 

Here's some video from the last song of the night.  Feel free to add my page on Facebook!

Post by The DJ Guy.

Due to next week being the 4th of July, there will be no venue review.

Have a great holiday and stay safe!

The Truth Behind Wedding Articles Like This One...

Consumer Reports published this article and it was brought to my attention recently on a DJ forum that I belong to.  There were dozens of comments, in just the first hour, from DJs all over the country and the consensus is the same... much of this is BAD advice.  That's not just coming from me, but as of this posting, 57 other DJ companies around the country have commented and have requirements similar to mine.

The bullet points Consumer Reports listed are as follows, I've added comments below in red and green.

• Try to use a known provider of wedding-related goods and services. Get recommendations from friends and relatives, if possible.
  
  This is true and a good idea! You should also try to meet with the DJ or the owner if possible. In some cases (companies with multiple DJs) it isn't always possible to meet your DJ, but the owner should be willing to sit down and talk with you.
• Check out the company. Obtain at least three references. Look for a report at the Better Business Bureau, and use a Web search with the company or individual's name and such terms as "reviews" and "complaints."
  
  Bad idea.  Did you know the BBB is a PAID SERVICE?  I didn't either until I received a call from them last year stating that I had a "AAA" rating with them and that they would be happy to publish my info on their site - for $450 A YEAR!  So apparently you CAN buy your way to the top.
  Better advice: look on wedding sites such as The Knot, WeddingWire and more.  Even most of these have a pay-for-placement option so be sure you're getting honest opinions.  One of my clients pointed this out to me and I had no idea it existed.  I was pleasantly surprised to see what my clients had to say.  It's published by The Knot, but is strictly feedback from clients.  The Wedding Channel
• Read contracts thoroughly before signing. Be sure any times and dates are included and are correct. Find out what the cancellation policy is. You never know who might get cold feet.
  
  Good idea!  Always read what your signing.  I do it myself.  Everything in my contract has been generated by situations that have occurred over time that I need to protect myself from.
• When leaving a deposit or making a payment, use a credit card instead of cash, check, or debit card. That way, if there are any shenanigans or a company disappears overnight, you can ask your card issuer for a chargeback. Never pay in full ahead of time.
  
  WRONG!  Out of all the DJs on our forum, almost every one of them requires payment in full two weeks (or more for some of them) in advance.  As business owners, we have all gotten burned by bad checks, failure to pay and in some cases, legal repercussions.  This isn't a hobby for a professional.  It's a business and businesses have expenses like insurance, fuel, vehicle costs, equipment, supplies, advertising, media, taxes and more.
  If you've done as suggested in bullet point one and (green comment below) two, you'll have no problems.
• As an extra precaution, double check with the providers a few days before the wedding that everything is ready to go and that there are no complications. Verify dates and times.
  
  Good idea, but I take it a step further and I call the client a few days prior to make sure there are no last minute changes and to answer any questions.
• If you think you've been scammed or otherwise victimized, file a complaint with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau.
  
  This one isn't bad advice but I'm not sure how much luck you'll have with it.  The CPA may be helpful, but I've had issues with companies before and the BBB does nothing to help.
  Here's the link to the full article: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/06/things-to-watch-out-for-when-planning-a-wedding/index.htm

Venue Review - Indian Springs Metropark, White Lake, MI

Hidden North of M-59 in White Lake, is a modern, elegant, educational and fun location that most would overlook for their wedding.  Indian Springs Metropark offers a lot to see and do in addition to their beautiful hall that seats about 200.

 

 

While there is a lot of glass on two sides of the room, the natural wood ceiling and wall really benefit from up lighting.  I also did the monogram for them.  This is a perfect example of how a little extra lighting can really transform the look of your event! The top picture was taken with my phone (which is why it's darker) and the two under it were taken with my DSLR and are more accurate to the brightness and color.

 The in house caterer is Kosch Catering and they do a great job.  The wedding I did had a time change and dinner was moved up 45 minutes and they easily accommodated it.  The staff was friendly, efficient and very helpful.  The food was well above average and if I had to rate this meal I'd say 4/5 (near perfect).

 

I highly recommend this venue for weddings as your guests will appreciate it as much as you will.

 

 

 

 Venue Reviews by The DJ Guy - EVERY Sunday at noon!

Venue Review - Arnoldo Banquet Hall, Riverview, MI

Today's review is a bit different from the ones I've done in the past.  It's not often that I book photo booth services and not DJ services, but it happens.  When it does, I run the photo booth and give my guys the day off.  On a Friday in May, this was the case, so I headed out to the Arnaldo Banquet Hall in Riverview.

The Hall itself is very "over the top" with a circular ceiling that has twinkling stars and blue lighting to the fountain and faux marble columns that line the lobby area.  They must have spent a fortune on the 12 HDTVs behind the bar, but then decided they would look better if they were behind a waterfall that runs over a plexiglass window, placed in front of them.

On this occasion, I did not get the chance to eat.  But don't worry... this isn't my first time here.  I was here about 5 years ago for my high school reunion and the food was nothing to write home about (I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars).

I was also looking forward to this for one other reason... I can sit back and take in what another DJ is doing.

 

I made a list of all the pros and cons of this particular DJ.  While the setup is clean and professional looking, there isn't much else that I can add to the list of pros!

This room has the unfortunate layout that forces the DJ to the far corner of the room, with tables placed directly between the DJ and the dance floor.  I've stated in the past how this is completely inappropriate and creates an impossible situation for any DJ to overcome.  Guests should NEVER be seated in front of speakers and lighting the dance also becomes a challenge.

Lucky for this DJ, she only had one light to begin with.  That's right - ONE LIGHT for the entire dance floor!  You'll notice it's sitting on the table instead of being up in the air, where it can be angled down, over the tables and actually hit the dance floor.  I've seen DJs that only use a few lights in the past and for some reason, they think that putting them on the table is acceptable (it's not, it's quite amateur).

She has a lovely twinkling LED backdrop that sells for no less than $400.  Aren't you glad she spent money on a backdrop instead of lighting the dance floor?  She's obviously trying to draw attention to herself.  But if that's the case, she should be standing and not sitting the entire night.  There's a reason for that too...

After hearing her dinner music, which was a compilation of "weddings greatest hits" (including Love Shack, Old Time Rock & Roll, White Wedding, Baby Got Back and MORE!), I was curious to take a closer look.  She was using a desktop computer with WINDOWS "FREAKING" MEDIA PLAYER!!!!  No DJ software, no controller, just a keyboard and mouse.  This explains why NONE of the songs were ever mixed together, why sometimes there was 5-6 seconds of silence between songs and why some songs seemed to suddenly get cut off and another one started abruptly.

"DJ Trainwreck" also managed to fumble through introductions without welcoming guests and getting them seated and forgot to cue the song for the bride & groom's intro!

THIS is what the fabulously low price of $499 will get you for your wedding!  If that's what you want, you could probably just hire a friend to do it with their ipod and they might even do a better job.  People like this give professional DJs a bad reputation and I just want to let everyone know that there ARE professionals like myself that will exceed your expectations - EVERY TIME!

At least one thing went right for this couple... they had a great photo booth that everyone enjoyed and memory scrapbook they can look through for years to come.

(end)

 

The PINK PARTY is this Thursday (June 12th)

Come on out to downtown Howell from 5-9 to celebrate a great cause.  This is one of the few public events I do through out the year and it's a great chance to see what I do.  Unfortunately, I don't MC this event as they have a separate MC, but I'll be playing music right next to the courthouse on the stage between various events.  I also light the historical courthouse up in Pink at 9 PM!

The Pink Party is a town wide fund-raiser to raise funds for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Livingston for supportive care and breast cancer research. the Pink Party is an after hours adult, town-wide ticketed event for retail shops to help raise funds for a great cause, invigorate a small downtown and strengthen our sense of community. Proceeds will be donated to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Livingston. Tickets can be purchased in advanced for $25 at participating businesses.

The Pink Party is a ticketed  event for adults. You must have a passport (ticket) in order to receive giveaways, specials, etc. from businesses. Items are limited and on a first come, first serve basis. Remember, this is for a great cause and will help so many!

Your ticket includes:

• A generous discount at participating retail stores
• Food & Wine Tasting
• Massage Stations
• Queen of the Night Awards for Most Creative Pink Outfit
• The parade of men
• Groups purchasing 8 tickets or more at one time will be escorted by a tuxedo wearing, handsome James Bond type. He will be with your group to open doors, carry shopping bags and umbrellas, fetch coffee and remind you of just how fabulous you are!
• Festive Party-like atmosphere throughout town
• Roaming entertainment
• Belly dancing
• The DJ Guy
• Zumba
• Live music and entertainment on the main stage
• Special handouts on the courthouse lawn

Look for another Venue Review next week!

Venue Review - Whispering Pines Golf Club in Pinckney, MI

On May 17th, Sarah and Brandon tied the knot at Whispering Pines (the couple at the top of their page got married there in October of 2013... I did their wedding) in Pinckney, MI.  While the weather was warm, it was misting on and off through out the afternoon and instead of chancing rain during the ceremony, they opted to move it indoors.  I provided music for the ceremony, utilizing a new mini mixer which allowed perfect fading from song to song, to fade out.

 

The cocktail hour took place in another room downstairs, while the reception room was prepared for dinner (they had a golf luncheon that was finishing up while the ceremony was going on). This made juggling sound equipment a bit challenging, but that's what I do - I specialize in unique situations and needs for weddings... a true DJ is much more than just the guy who plays music.  I also provided up lighting and a photo booth for this event.  The photographer for this event (Gary) works for Bak Photography, whom I've worked with from time to time over the last ten years or so.  Gary is a super nice guy and does a great job of making sure that the couple gets every shot they want.  Bak photographers, like myself, come prepared to handle any curve ball and bring the right equipment to capture the moment perfectly!  Gary's on the right in this first shot...

 

I also have to say that not only are the staff at Whispering Pines top notch, the food is excellent!  This is definitely a contender for top picks this year.  With great food and service, a beautiful location for photos and a nice looking venue, you can't do much better.

The bridal party had a blast during their dance.  I got some video and I'll try to post more video footage this year in the blog.

Don't forget...
New blog posts and venue reviews right here every Sunday at noon!