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Alex & Jeremy ~ Thursday 28th June 2012

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THIS is the reason I came back to DJ’ing!

I stopped DJ’ing in about 2000 when I opened another business that needed all my focus and if I had continued DJ’ing I”d have had no time left to spend with the family. Our new enterprise was a fabulous experience and was initially very successful but as time went on things got harder the pressure sucked out any enjoyment we gained. About 4 years ago Ce, my wife, suggested that I consider returning to DJ’ing because I was always passionate about it. I had been asked to play at a number of events in the interim and had to decline because I had no equipment and my music library wasn’t totally up to date – we often attended these events as guests and I frequently regretted the fact I couldn’t help. This wedding really confirmed to me that I made the right decision to come back.

I’ve known Jez for around eight years, he actually worked for us for at least five years and is a really lovely guy, so when he contacted me and asked if I’d be available to DJ for his wedding to Alex I was absolutely delighted.

The wedding was held at the Langtry Manor Hotel in Bournemouth and was my first outdoor ceremony. The whole day was full of beautiful touches reflecting Axy and Jez’s characters. The Bridal Party entered to “All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar, their ceremony featured a lovely poem about two dinosaurs, their family and friends sang “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” accompanied by a friend on the ukulele, and there was a lovely rendition of the Etta James classic “At Last” sung by a member of the family. The new Mr and Mrs Hood and their wedding party came back down the aisle to “One Day Like This” by Elbow.

Their were numerous special moments throughout the day and their evening reception really rocked, but for me it was all about doing what I really love for people who, five years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to help.

Axy and Jez, thank you so much for allowing me to take part in your very special day. I wish you all the happiness in the World! To the Blatchford’s, the Hood’s and all their extended family and friends, thanks for making me so welcome and for making my role so easy.

Here’s a video I’ve cobbled together from my snaps – you can see why I’m a DJ and not a photographer or a videographer!

Brides magazine

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An interesting article on the Brides magazine website about wedding entertainment.

Here are the questions they ask …
How Do I Find A Good DJ?
How much should we budget for a DJ?
How does this compare to a live band?
Our tastes cross over hip-hop, country & pop. Will the DJ have a back catalogue that covers all music types?
What makes a good first dance song? Also, are there any classic pick an exit songs you can request?
When should we have our first dance?
Will the DJ be offended if we list every single song we want played?
I want the DJ’s equipment to blend in with the setting. What are the options?
How can we find out about noise restrictions?
Do we need a dance floor? How much do they cost?

To find their answers CLICK HERE to see the article

The solution is HERE 😉

Master Of Ceremonies and Wedding Etiquette course

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Yesterday I had a fantastic day with a group of colleagues learning all about the role of a Master of Ceremonies and Wedding Etiquette with Brian Wroe.

Brian is a very experienced public speaker and Toastmaster from the Northeast. He made the day really interesting and challenging as he took us out of our comfort zone and guided us through the various responsibilities of the Wedding Master of Ceremonies.

I thoroughly recommend Brian to anyone who is looking for a Wedding Toastmaster, Master of Ceremonies, After Dinner Speaker, Motivational Speaker or Public Speaking Coach.

CLICK HERE to find out more about Brian Public Speaker

CLICK HERE to find out more about Toastmaster Brian Wroe

The event was actually put together by Toby from Bogfrog who are committed to raising standards in the disco and entertainment industry, and this workshop certainly was very well received by everyone who took part.


This was the first of a series of events I’m taking part in this Spring to help me to deliver the best possible service to my clients. In April I will be taking two workshops with top American trainer Mark Ferrell – more about that soon.

Finally I would like to thank Brian for a really informative and fun day …
I love my job 😉

Newsflash … Groom’s Workshop Update!

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Today I confirmed the date for my first Groom’s workshop – I’m so excited! 😉

The idea comes from a DJ in Hawaii who has been doing these for a few years now.

It’s just a chance for Bridegrooms to get together over a drink and find out what they can do to help make your day special. There is no-obligation to book me as your DJ – it’s just something I want to do. As I’ve been to hundreds of weddings I’ve seen lot’s of things that many people don’t know about, so the idea is to share them and see what else we can come up with. CLICK HERE for some more information.

I’ve just scheduled the first one for the evening of Tuesday 7th February, and it’s going to be at The Bell Inn in Bramshaw just off Junction 1 of the M27. It’s just a couple of hours and it’s totally FREE – all you have to do is buy your own drinks. Here are directions to The Bell

It’s a MEN ONLY event, open only to Bridegrooms. If these take off I have some ideas for other workshops, but you know if there is anything I can help you with all you have to do is ask.

Please let me know if you would like to attend, email paul@thepartydj.co.uk

Father Daughter Dance

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So, how about a father daughter dance. I’ve done a few really nice ones – but never one like this (yet) 😉

Groom Workshop

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January, February and March Wedding Fairs

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Here are the current dates for our Spring 2012 tour – maybe I should get t-shirts printed with the dates on the back 😉

Click on any venue for a link to the organisers website

Thursday 12th January Southampton Guildhall (see previous post below for FREE entry)

Sunday 22nd January Winchester Guildhall

Sunday 29th January Salisbury Racecourse

Sunday 26th February Botleigh Grange

Sunday 4th March Fleming Park Eastleigh

Sunday 11th March New Place, Shirrell Heath ~ to be confirmed

Any questions just give me a call or an email.

Getting Married in 2012?

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Well you’re in the right place if you are looking for an entertainer who really cares. Weddings are what I do!

Here’s a link that popped up in my inbox today from Brides Magazine

CLICK HERE for 100 things you should know before you get married!

I have a couple of PDF’s on wedding planning that you are welcome to, just send me an email request to paul@thepartydj.co.uk

Things I hear at Wedding Fairs ~ Number 1 in a series

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As regular readers will know, I’ve done quite a few wedding fairs over recent months and will be doing more in the New Year. I’ve decided to do a couple of blog posts on some of the things couples say as they make their way past my table – please don’t take this as sour grapes, I’m just trying to help couples make sure their reception is everything they want it to be.

So, I frequently hear “We’ve got a DJ in our package” and/ or “We’re using the resident D.J.”

First please let me point out that there is nothing wrong with DJ’s that work with/for venues – I’ve done it in the past myself. Obviously if you are working on a strict budget this can seem very appealing and many resident DJ’s are excellent. However I’d recommend that you ask to meet the DJ before you confirm you want that part of the package. Find out if there is actually a resident DJ or are they just using anyone of several DJ’s that an agent might supply?

If you are booking with a hotel in the previous calendar year perhaps they will supply you with a discounted table at one of their Christmas functions so that you can have a look at their recommended entertainer and check out the food and service. If you don’t want to use their DJ they should be able to reduce the cost of the package or substitute something else, for example soft drinks on the tables, to balance the price of the package. Getting to know the team at your chosen venue can only be a good thing and, if it is a hotel and open to the public, I’d always recommend having at least a couple of meals in the restaurant to get a real feel for what you can expect on your big day.

I feel awkward about writing this next bit but I really need to share this with you, some venues will charge you, or allocate from their package price, £400 or £500 to the entertainment and actually only pay the DJ between £200 and £250. That is not to say that every venue does this, or that the DJ they are supplying isn’t worth the full fee they are charging, but I do believe it’s not an uncommon practice.

If you are booking direct with the venue it will also mean you will have to pay V.A.T. on the fee, resulting in an additional 20% to your total.

In conclusion, a DJ supplied by a venue may well be excellent but you really need to be happy that he’s the right person for the job. The DJ at your wedding is the last piece in the production of your greatest day, you need to be really comfortable that he understands exactly what you want so that you can relax and enjoy it. Please remember a DJ is a service not a product, not all DJ’s are the same and it’s worth taking time to find the right one for you and not just accepting what’s offered.

Tuesday 6th ~ Don’t Tell The Bride

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If your not watching the football, or like me out for a meeting tonight, you may be interested to know the new series of Don’t Tell The Bride starts at 9pm on BBC3.

This is the series in which the groom must choose every detail of his wedding, from venue to cake to wedding dress… seriously ladies, would you really let your man plan it all?

CLICK HERE for a link to the BBC website for more information about John & Jackie’s wedding.

There are numerous repeats (details at the bottom of the page linked above) and the show will also be available on the iPlayer.