This weekend Touch the Sky DJs had three weddings. Three different DJs went out; I was one of them. Great memories were made but each had their challenges. None of the weddings were in the same city in which the DJs or I live. Why does that make a difference?…you might ask. There are specific things that cross a DJs mind when they are getting prepared for a gig. Some of those are…what gear they’ll need AND how long will it take to get there. Seems minuscule but it weighs heavily on our minds. Familiarity with a venue and how easy is it to get there is very important. Not only does a DJ need to know how long it will take to get there, but they also need an idea of where they will park, unload, are there any steps…all this to answer one question; how long will it take for me to complete my setup?

Touch the Sky DJs practice is to be at our locations 1.5 hours before needing to play music. That gives us enough time to setup, change clothes, and communicate with other vendors to make sure we’re all on the same page. Spoiler alert…show up early to everything. It just gives you peace of mind. Weather was the main factor at two of the three weddings on Saturday. When the weather is great everything for the most part goes as planned. But in the instance that the weather doesn’t cooperate the DJ has to be experienced enough to pivot and execute a new plan. Often times one they need to create or adapt to on the spot. The key to it is being considerate to the couple AND the vendor team. The couple is already stressed, the photographer/videographer already has an idea of what they want/need to capture for the night, and the venue is trying to keep everything rolling as close to the original timeline as possible. A change of weather doesn’t mean the night is doomed. It presents and opportunity for professionals to draw from all of their experience and move in a new direction as a unit. The couple, if they hired great vendors will be forever thankful for those that went above and beyond to give them and their guests a great experience.

I didn’t forget about the third DJ and event we did this weekend. I know you didn’t either, because you’re still reading to see what happened with the last guy. Well, when I (the owner) spoke with the couple early in the week of their wedding to go over the details of the day and get things dialed in on the planning form, I specifically asked “how far is the ceremony space from where the cocktail hour is happening”, and where is the reception happening in respect to the cocktail hour. They told us 50 ft, max. Turns out it was 200 feet. This is why you show up early bring extra cords and equipment. When the ‘I didn’t see that coming’ happens, and I promise it will happen, you can spend less time stressed and more time executing how you navigate a challenge.

Come back here from time to time. You don’t want to miss this. All of these stories are real and happen all the time. We can’t wait to share more. –The DJ Log-