<![CDATA[banffcanmoredj.com - Blog]]>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:48:57 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[DJs, Apples and Sport Cars]]>Thu, 06 Dec 2018 18:23:57 GMThttps://www.banffcanmoredj.com/blog1/djs-apples-and-sport-cars Thanks for dropping in!

If you're here it's either because my rates are higher then you want to spend on a DJ, or simply looking for some helpful insight.

For some music programming isn't that important, and that's fine. They'll be content with whatever comes of it.
For others it's a big deal. They want a DJ with experience, a proven track record, who reads the floor well, is amiable to song requests, professional in presentation, appearance and more. They're looking for a DJ who will help make their celebration the best it can be so all have a great and memorable experience.

No doubt you're investing quite a bit to host your wedding. And as such you figure a good place to save a few dollars is with your DJ. Well if you can see your way to meeting my rates the return will only complement your celebration and that one-time investment (and biggest party you'll be hosting for quite some time).

Your Guests.
And what of your many invited guests. Folks who have made time, spent good money and possibly traveled great distances to help you celebrate here in Banff, Canmore and area. Over and above a good meal and the opportunity to wish you well what's the next thing you can offer them for their time and effort made.... ?

And this brings us to DJs, Apples and Sports Cars.
To buy a sports car and go with used tires to save a few dollars reduces the performance of that sports car, and thus the full potential of the experience (see where I'm going with this?).

Having fielded hundreds of inquiries over the years I've come to find many couples look at DJs' like a basket of apples in that they're all the same on top, so why pay more for a different basket. 

Well the apples on top (on the surface) may look good, but what about the apples you can't see or choose not to have a closer look at. Fortunately you can always return a basket of apples, not so with your wedding day.

Or how about this, and I know we've all been there.
You're at a big chain store looking for a hose nozzle. You have choices, one that sells for $9.99, another for $14.99 and the last for $19.99. Hey it's only a hose nozzle so you go with the $9.99. Only to discover when you get home and go to use it that there are deficiencies which prove annoying. For a few more dollars you could of saved yourself time and grief.

And so it is with DJ's
We're not all equal. There are good DJ's and there are not so good DJs, there are DJ's in it to make a few extra dollars on the weekend and there are DJ's who subscribe to offering a great and multi-tiered product. DJ's who genuinely want to deliver the goods to the best of their abilities. Who maintain their equipment and seek to improve with time. Chances are these folks have put a value on what they provide.

So if you're planning to find and hire a DJ for under a $1000 , be sure to look a little deeper to ensure you know what you are, and are not getting. (this value is based on a full event reception or 6 to 8 hour performance time)

Or to put it another way.
You don't know what you don't know until it's too late, and at that point you've entered the realm of hindsight. 

Do your research, learn what the important questions are for you . And in so doing you, and your many guests can look forward to super tasty apples while ripping about in that sports car with the high performance tires.

Livin' & Dancin' with DJ Ben offers clients a premium service at competitive rates in helping you make the most of your wedding day. 

Thanks for your time.

DJ Ben]]><![CDATA[Doing it Right When it Counts]]>Sat, 21 Oct 2017 18:54:04 GMThttps://www.banffcanmoredj.com/blog1/doing-it-right-when-it-counts

The Sound of Music... and Voice at your Wedding Ceremony

Music and Voice to Move Mountains
Audio entails music and voice, an officiant reciting your vows, reading personally prepared vows, a family member presenting a poem,  music for  the processional, signing of the register and recessional.  Maybe pre ceremony music to set the mood before your ceremony begins.
 
Ambient noise can rob your guests of what’s being said, or maybe a reader is soft spoken and not accustomed to speaking before a large gathering.  For the officiant, a mic allows for vocal inflections and tonal gesturing. Imagine your officiant SPEAKING LOUDILY SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR… NOT VERY ROMANTIC, nor moving. 
And what of your music? Ceremonies are an emotional time and rightly so. You’ve spent time and energy deciding which songs to best represent your joy on this day, but when the music plays on that 15 watt Bose Home Music System from  your cousin’s apartment front room, or a house ceiling speaker sound system that sounds more like a tin can…. the moment arrives and nothing magical happens…. no bang, no heart strings resonating with joy and heart felt emotions, O.K.   I’m working it a bit, but you get the gist.
 
When the music plays it should be full and exciting, a fanfare, an announcement that you’ve arrived and are ready to walk down the aisle. To accomplish this you’re going to need a PA with some power. 
Having audio support allows your many guests to hear, appreciate, and most importantly be connected with each moment of your ceremony.
 
Good to Know, Now What?
Great news! Most DJ companies provide wedding ceremony services that should meet your basic needs. Keep in mind though not all companies are equal in this regard. So to help you establish a base line reference point I’ve listed what to look for in meeting a basic criterion:
 
>  Wireless clip mics, at a minimum one for your celebrant or officiant, after that one for you and your fiancée
    (one each or one between you)   
>  A wireless handheld mi, should a family member or other be presenting a poem or verse, (mic stand optional).
>  A PA (two speakers and a mixer) with a enough power (sound output) to provide music at volume without distortion.
>  Speaker stands dressed with nice skirting verses a tripod scratched and dusty from many seasons of use, cables
    neatly managed verses scattered about. (elegance and presentation shouldn’t stop with your audio service provider)
>  If outdoor at a remote location, battery powered system with back-up battery, avoid gas generators  or anything that’s
    going to make noise, or create an odor.
>  Your service provider should be able to provide a pre event planning form to list important songs and their  order.
    He/she should be on hand to manage your audio requirements.
>  Music playback system such as a laptop/iPod and back-up system should the need arise
 
Live Music to Move More Mountains
If planning on live performers discuss with your performers what they may  require, also discuss this with the DJ company as they will need to ensure they have the added equipment to meet any additional needs. Once again sound levels should be such that ALL can hear the music and not just those closest to the performer.
 
A Word about Weather, Mountains and Your Outdoor Ceremony
Have a plan B!
When first I arrived in the mountains I learned this. “If you want to survive while in the back country, be prepared to turn around and accept that you may have to abandon your original plans”. We see many sunny days, but sometimes it rains, this is a good thing or we’d be more like Arizona with many shades of brown. Here in the mountains the weather can sometimes change from sunny to rainy. The last thing you want to do is expose your family and many guests to an afternoon rain shower… especially if your location is removed from immediate shelter.
  
Your guests have traveled far and wide to be with you, recognize and accept plan B if the weather is proving unpredictable, indoor will keep the stress meter at low both for you and your guests.

And… if it’s a sunny, rainy, sunny, rainy kind of day, and your plan is to hit that sunny window, don’t be late because that awesome window of sunshine won’t wait for you before the next rain shower arrives. ​​
]]><![CDATA[Blog - Doing It Right at your Reception]]>Sat, 21 Oct 2017 17:52:17 GMThttps://www.banffcanmoredj.com/blog1/blog-doing-it-right-at-your-reception

The Importance of Sound… Before the Dance!

 When I first started as a mobile disc jockey, I researched the type of equipment I would require. Included of course were two speakers to pump out the dance music. In my mind’s eye I saw two speakers on either side of the DJ table.
 
And so it was that I, as do many, followed the “two speakers beside the dj table” configuration. This worked for a while... until I recognized with a large room and a 100+ guests, two speakers on either side of the dj table was falling short on a few fronts…. I could offer better, thus ensuring my clients got what they really needed.
​Two speakers placed on either side of the DJ table is what many take for granted today, only because that’s the way it all started once upon a time? So what’s wrong with this? Nothing if the room layout has the DJ placed center and in front of the dance floor, and you’re only thinking dance party. Plenty on the other hand if you’ve invited a 100+ chatty and excited guests, have booked a large room with the dance floor at one end and you and your guests at the opposite end. And the dj’s table is not center to the dance floor but in the corner and removed (10+ ft) from the dance floor. Here in the Canadian Rockies it’s rare to be placed center to the dance floor.
 
A Viable and Affordable Solution
How about a second pair of wireless or hardwired speakers at the opposite end of the room.
 
To Zone or Not to Zone
What if you had the two speakers on either corner of the dance floor, (optimizing stereo separation) verses beside the DJ table and a 2nd pair of  wireless speakers placed at the opposite end, now you have what I term zone sound coverage… an even distribution of sound across the whole of the room, certainly better than two at the far end, even Spock would agree with this logic. 

Two speakers at the far end of a large room with 100+ guests does not provide for a balance sound presentation. When a soft spoken or shy person comes up to the mic, things get worse.
 
Sidebar:
We’re not talking a presentation where everyone has paid admission and are quietly and attentively listening to the speaker. Quite the opposite! You and your guests are excited to be present, feeling jovial, having a drink or two or more, couple of restless kids present…. There’s going to be ambient noise.
 
A Half Baked Pie
A reputable dj company should be offering competent audio, and possibly visual management of your event, not just music programming… let me say it again, not just music programming.  And further to this, manage sound levels throughout the evening, not too loud, not inaudible, just right or as best as the room and layout will allow.  When the dance starts then he/she should be turning these additional speakers down to allow non-dancing guests to converse comfortably.
 
Does a wedding planner only dress half the chairs? Does the wedding photographer only take some pictures of the wedding party, should a DJ company only bring two speakers when four would optimize your audio requirements? If it’s a little loud you or a guest should feel at ease in asking the DJ to turn the volume down.
 
“Wow Great Party, When You Going to Throw Another One Like it?”
You’re paying good money to host your biggest party for quite some time. If you’ve booked a large room and expect a 100+ guests, a second pair of speakers further down the room is a valid consideration with dividends that will only make your reception and celebration all the more successful. A small expense to add for a premium result.
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