Should you book a DJ or a Live Band for your wedding?

Often times, a couple will decide between going with a live band for their entertainment or booking a DJ. Sometimes it will be a family member or friend pushing for one over the other, but the best answer to this question is... you need both!

A live band is a great choice to keep the dance floor moving - especially if you book the right type of band to match your guests. However the band (in most cases) performs only for the 2-3 hours during the dancing portion of the evening, leaving the remaining 3-5 hours of the wedding unattended!

The band also usually plays 45 minute sets, which means that there will be 15 minutes of silence or generic background music during their breaks (perfect time for the DJ to keep the energy up and dance floor moving!). Working together, the band and the DJ can provide the best of both worlds and keep the dance floor full the whole night. However the main reasons why a DJ is so essential is that the DJ provides so many services beyond just the dance floor music. This is why the best option is the have a DJ as your 'foundation', and the live band as your dance entertainment.

Here are the main reasons why you need to (if it's in the budget) book both a DJ and Live Band for your big day:

• You need the DJ for the ceremony as the DJ will be playing not only the pre-seating music, but the songs (on visual cue!) for the bridal party entrance, bride's processional, as well as the bridal party exit (recessional). The DJ also will be providing sound for the ceremony including wireless lapel and handheld mics so that the guests can hear the vows and officiant. The ceremony is often the most important part of the wedding in terms of couple's memory and of course if it's being video recorded.
• The DJ is the host and emcee of your event, and will not only keep the guests informed about what's coming up next in the night (and the night on schedule!) but will introduce and emcee the grand entrance, the first dance, the parent dances, bouquet and garter toss, money dance, all the games, etc. This is a key factor in keeping everything fun and organized, and keeping the guests engaged.
• The DJ provides sound for not only the ceremony location, but the cocktail hour patio as well as the reception (dinner and dancing). Without the DJ's multiple sound systems, couple's are limited to whatever the venue has on hand (usually not too much!)
• The DJ provides a personalized playlist for both the cocktail hour and dinner, and in most cases these playlists are professionally mixed for smooth transitions and optimal flow.
• The DJ also provides (in most cases) all the lighting and photobooth options which is a big part of the services we provide. Most weddings greatly benefit from uplighting, dance lighting, cake lighting, and monogram lights (as well as open air photobooths). Booking through a separate event or production company is usually much more expensive than going with the DJ.
• The DJ helps plan and coordinate the event, often working hand in hand with the coordinator (or taking the role themselves if their isnt one), which is usually worth the DJ's booking fee by itself.

For all these reasons we recommend booking the DJ in addition to the band for the best in not only entertainment but for a successful and memorable day !

9 Reasons Why Hiring an Amateur Wedding DJ Is a Huge Mistake

9 Reasons Why Hiring an Amateur Wedding DJ Is a Huge Mistake

We were recently contacted by a future bride (who contacted us as well as most of our fellow DJ businesses here in town), trying to find a DJ who could beat a price that a DJ on Craigslist had quoted her. We tried to explain to her the risk of hiring such an inexpensive DJ but it fell on deaf ears. Here is a blog post i found that was very well written. (source: bookmorebrides.com)

1. There’s a high probability that a cheap (or free) DJ won’t be in business by the time your wedding arrives.

Many low-priced DJs aren’t charging enough to support their own businesses for the long term; you’re just financing their hobby.  Meanwhile, your wedding is 6-12 months away or more.

We’ve received those calls from desperate couples who had a “friend of a friend” DJ cancel on them last minute.  It’s not pretty.

Do you want to risk the possibility that the cheapie DJ is bankrupt and out of business before your big day?

2.  Amateurs are less invested in their performance than a wedding professional.

The amateur DJ is doing it “for fun,” and if something goes wrong, it’s not a big deal.  A wedding professional, on the other hand, risks his entire reputation and livelihood with every performance.  One bad review can destroy his business and he knows it.

At one wedding, the DJ brought along his wife and newborn.  Their table was littered with McDonald’s bags and his wife decided to breastfeed the baby during dinner.

Would you rather have an entertainer who is 100% invested in his business and performance on your wedding day or someone who does it as a hobby?

3.  A wedding is a unique event that require the skills and experience of a wedding specialist for a smooth, flawless ceremony and reception.

It’s about more than just playing music.  Your wedding DJ is responsible for coordinating the timeline, orchestrating the introduction and flow of events, working with your other vendors, managing the guests, reading the crowd and making sure the right song is played at just the right time.

Even a DJ who is quite experienced in the club setting will be at a loss because she simply isn’t familiar with the flow of events and how to prevent disasters when something goes awry.

One inexperienced DJ mistakenly announced a special dance with the bride and her grandfather because he forgot to update his notes.  The entire family started crying because Grandpa had passed away two weeks earlier.

Are you willing to place the outcome of your wedding in the hands of someone who doesn’t “do” weddings for a living?

4.  Your guests won’t dance without an experienced entertainer who can read the crowd and keep the momentum going.

You have to play the right songs at the right time and in the right order to maintain dancing.  Oftentimes, the mood changes and your entertainer needs to change the program to maximize the dancing along the way.  

If she can’t mix from one song to another, you’ll have gaps of “dead air” or awkward rhythms that will frustrate your guests and clear the floor.

Many couples think that providing an amateur with a set list of songs they love will be enough to make a fun wedding.  It’s not.  You need someone with experience to work with your requests and what your guests are responding to in order to avoid an empty dance floor.

One bride regrets hiring her DJ because he played “Unforgettable” five times during the wedding because he didn’t know any other slow songs.

Are you willing to sacrifice the fun at your wedding to save money on a cheaper DJ?

5.  The MC (the guy or girl on the microphone) has a huge impact on the mood and outcome of your party, for better or worse.

An obnoxious DJ with an abrasive voice will irritate your guests and dampen the mood of the entire party.  Professional DJs invest in vocal training and practice to optimize their performance.

I personally witnessed one DJ and embarrass everyone by making suggestive comments to the bride over the microphone.

Do you want just anyone acting as your wedding host or do you want a professional speaker you can trust?

6.  Your special events may not happen if you don’t hire a specialist who’s experienced in channeling the flow of events.

Who will direct your bridal party and guests at the ceremony?  Who’s going to line them up for introductions?  Who’s in charge of making sure the toasts, special dances and dedications go without a hitch?

Just having the equipment and knowing how to push play doesn’t guarantee the people wrangling skills you need for a fun, smooth reception.  In most cases, your entertainer is the one who makes sure your special events are executed as you’ve requested.

One inexperienced DJ forgot to bring the couple’s First Dance song; they were forced to dance to Barbra Streisand, who they can’t stand.

Will you risk leaving your special events to chance or do you want to ensure that everything is done according to plan?

7.  An amateur doesn’t have the experience to include your unique requests in a way that truly expresses your personality AND keeps people dancing.

You can’t make your guests dance to the songs you like if they don’t feel the same way.  Your DJ needs to read the crowd and have the experience to build sets of music around your preferences.

An amateur DJ can play the songs you request, but lacks the experience necessary to make it work.

One bride told us her DJ played the unedited version of Sexy Back during dinner and had five minutes of dead air while he queued up the next song.

Do you want your guests on the dance floor all night or is it acceptable to have large chunks of time with no dancing?

8. An amateur DJ has inadequate or non-existent backup equipment, which means that if something fails you have no music at your wedding.

A fully functional backup system on the premises is essential to making sure you have music at your wedding no matter what.  Most amateur DJs won’t have a backup plan if a speaker blows or a laptop crashes.

We were approached at the end of one wedding by a DJ in the next room who asked if he could “borrow our speakers” because his were broken.

Are you willing to takes your chances without a backup on your wedding day?

9.  DJs who charge less invest less into their equipment, which means you have inferior sound and performance at your wedding.

A stereo system that sounds great in your living room doesn’t sound good in a spacious wedding venue.  Professional speakers and equipment are necessary for clear sound that has impact at low volumes, so your guests can speak at the tables even while the dance floor is thumping.

If you want your guests to actually hear your exchange of vows at the ceremony, you’ll need professional equipment and an onsite tech to make sure that happens.

One DJ showed up at a venue for the first time without ANY speakers or mixer because he’s been told that he could, “use the venue’s sound system” and he didn’t call ahead to verify.

Are sound issues like blasting music or impossible to understand audio acceptable on your wedding day?

If you’re not planning to have any formal events at your wedding, and you’d like a cocktail party more than a dance party, it may make sense to save money by hiring a non-professional.  But if you’re investing thousands of dollars on creating the perfect day, please don’t jeopardize it by hiring someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Your wedding day only happens once; make sure you hire a DJ who gets it right.

Uplighting Essentials

Uplighting: Everything you need to know for your next event

People are always asking us questions about uplights (as they should as they are the most popular add-on for events!) so we decided to make a blog post about everything you need to know about uplighting for your next event.. 

What is Uplighting?

Uplights are really wash lights (sometimes referred to as 'fixtures') that are placed on the floor and face upwards. This placement of the lights on the floor provides a single color wash that illuminates the wall and the ceiling. When used outside, they are also used to illuminate walls of buildings or the trunks and canopy's of trees. The main purpose of uplights are to add character or ambience to a dead room, or color to an outdoor location. Very often big events are held in large ballrooms in hotels or other venues which are essentially huge rectangles - this makes for a great gathering spot for events - but unfortunately these rooms are so empty and plain that it can make the event feel very 'cold'. Often times uplighting is the most economical way to improve the look and feel of a space (as decorating a large room can cost 10 or 20 times as much). Uplights transform a boring white or brown room into any color you can imagine and provide a soft glowing light as the night progresses. It also looks excellent once the dancing starts as it creates a glowing light 'wall' around the perimeter of the venue. In terms of outdoor events, uplighting can provide soft lighting for guests safety as well as beautifying the space.

What are the differences in Uplights? Which ones are right for my event?

History of wash lights: In the 'old days' (up until about 10 years ago or so) uplights were essentially white par cans (basically white stage or theatre style lights) with a colored gel paper placed over the white light. The drawbacks of these lights were that they were heavy, drew a fair amount of power each, were limited in colors to whichever gel colors the DJ had, and got really hot. Finally LED technology improved to the point were the par cans were replaced and LED uplights became the standard. The differences in LED uplights comes down to amount of LEDs per light (although this is changing now with the latest generation), plus the number of different color LEDs contained in the fixture. The other difference between modern uplights is whether they are battery powered (commonly referred to as 'wireless') or whether they require an outlet (usually referred to as standard uplighting).

Brightness: The more LEDs per light determines the brightness of the light (standard numbers for Chauvet fixtures for example are 38, 56, or 64 LEDs per light). The latest generation of uplighting has moved away from the many small LED designs and now are using 3, 5, 7,or 12 large LEDs to determine brightness. These also usually reflect the amount of brightness (or potential brightness) of a light. These large LEDs are superior to the many small ones as they provide smoother blending of colors to produce the color desired.

Colors Produced: Standard uplights use 3 colors to produce (or try to produce) every color in the color spectrum (Red, Green, and Blue). These uplights are referred to as RGB uplights. The next step up adds an 'a' (for amber) and the best of the newest generation of uplights also adds an 'a' as well as a 'uv' (for white and UV). These are referred to as RGBA or RGBAW+UV uplights. The more colored LEDs an uplight contains the truer colors they can produce. For the standard colors (red, light blue, dark blue, purple, green, yellow) an RGB light produces excellent results. However if you have a custom color you are trying to match, especially if it is a pastel or very soft coloring, you will need an RGBAW to accurately create those colors. For example, if you want a true 'champagne' or 'soft pastel greenish white' then your best bet is to go with a RGBWA fixture.

Battery or Standard Wired?: This is another recent development (last couple years) as prior to this battery packs for uplights were big and bulky and not practical. The latest wireless uplights are still fairly small and light yet can be placed anywhere and are not dependent on outlets. This may not be a concern in a large ballroom, but for outdoor areas it's almost a must. The other benefits of wireless uplights is that they can used in new creative ways, such as placed underneath dinner or cocktail tables (without power cables showing) which produces a beautiful effect. 

Questions to ask your DJ or A/V provider when ordering uplights for your event: Firstly you would want to determine your needs in terms of brightness, availability of outlets at your venue, and color desired. We have had several instances where a client or a wedding planner asks for a very specific soft color but only ordered standard uplighting (to keep costs down) which the light was unable to faithfully produce. Also trying to use standard uplights at an outdoor event means compromises will often be made in terms of placement as more than 25-50 feet of cabling per uplight is quite unreasonable. Conversely, the other thing that sometimes happens is that couples will order premium uplighting even though they are in a venue with plenty of outlets and are are requesting a standard purple or blue wash (which standard uplights would be perfect for). Once you have determined your needs however, don't be afraid to ask if the DJ or A/V company has the right equipment. Some DJs will only have standard RGB moderately bright (38 or 56 led) uplights, or worse will still be using par cans with colored gels. In some cases it may be better to hire a separate production or a/v company to handle your uplighting and monograms as they will have pro level equipment (of course this will usually cost much more).

Whats the differences in pricing typically?: Standard RGB wired LED uplighting usually runs between $150-250 per 8 lights (in San Diego). Wireless and premium (RGBAW) uplighting is usually around double that. Considering though how much of an effect uplighting can have on the look and feel of a venue, and how even the premium uplighting is many times less than hiring a wedding decorator to decorate the venue, even the premium uplighting can be one of the best values dollar for dollar that a couple might spend on their wedding.

If you have any additional questions about which uplights are right for you, please just contact us!

- Oct 2017 - 

Updates and Improvements Oct 2017

It's been a little while since I posted my last blog but I wanted to write that I am very thankful for all the experiences and growth that has been happening this year. We booked over 100 events in 2017 (so far) which was a huge milestone for myself and everyone who's been helping make Aon Events a top event company here in San Diego.

As for our ever expanding team, we now have two open air photobooth options for customers (a standard and premium) - both of which are excellent and offer unlimited prints and downloads - with the premium being the 'latest and greatest' photobooth model.

DJ Tigerlily has been going out to events a lot this year and each time the couple or client emails me to tell me how happy they are with her performance! I have also had DJ Antuan and Tony Kings covering events and have had the same feedback. Great job guys!

As for equipment and other updates, we are now using lapel and wireless microphones at most ceremonies to give even better coverage, we have started getting involved with twinkle and curtain lighting (which has been getting a lot of interest on instagram), and we are now trying to customize our standard and premium dance lighting for each event to give the best experience at each venue. We have also introduced the Custom Package along with wireless uplighting which has been very popular too.

As for me personally, I have been staying busy mid-week DJing at Ignite in Carlsbad and the Round Bar and Eagles Nest @ Pechanga Casino, as well as trying to fit in at least one club event downtown per month. I have also been emceeing the game shows and slot tournaments at Harrahs Casino which is alot of fun (I love talking on the mic!)

Thanks for checking in !

Danny

December 2016 Update: Busy schedule, expanding team, & Photobooths!

As I look back on this past year I find myself quite excited with the progress and direction of Aon Events! We were invited back to every one of last year's office, corporate, and school dances/events, were added as a preferred vendor to 5 new venues/wedding professionals, and met and worked with so many great couples and clients.

We also started adding photobooth options to our DJ packages, and they have been a huge success. By partnering with Carlos Medina and the rest of the team at MyDJs Photobooths, we were able to offer our client's one of San Diego's best photobooth services at a great price, and many client's chose to add this service to their packages.

What else was new? Well as usual there was a lot of equipment upgrades and continuing small improvements in all areas (kind of like the latest version of Apple OS!). We went to many new venues and expanded our service further north into Orange County and further east into Temecula. We also had enough bookings that I was able to keep several of 'the extended team' busy with events - Chris, Tony, & Steve all went out for several gigs and got rave reviews.

As for 2017, I personally will be focusing on more club DJ work during the week as well as expanding the company to our goal of 200 events per year (this year we hit almost 100). With a expanded group of excellent DJs on board, I am quite confident we can reach that goal! Our mission statement of 'professional and interactive DJ services at a great price' seems to be winning over client after client. We will also be looking to partner with other wedding vendors to offer more 'one stop shop' services, specifically in the areas of dance floor rentals and expanding pro audio/video services and setups.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to meeting you or who having one of our great DJs meeting you in person soon!

Ceremony Vow Amplification - Handheld or Lapel Mic?

UPDATE Oct 2017: We now usually use both a lapel and a handheld wireless mics for the ceremony. Both have their strengths, so when possible we use both to provide the best coverage and best possible sound.

Original Blog (2016): When it comes to the ceremony portion of the wedding, the question is often 'should we use a lapel microphone or a handheld wireless microphone?'. The answer isn't always so simple, as there are some things to consider. I spent many years as a Soundman/ AV tech before becoming a DJ, and have years of practice with audio equipment and sound. When it comes to wireless microphones, I usually recommend a handheld wireless microphone placed on a high quality boom stand, and the reason is mainly because the sound is usually slightly clearer, and there is a time factor advantage as well.

When using a lapel microphone, we attach the lapel mic to the officiant's tie and the transmitter to his belt. This of course can take some time and requires us to spend time with the officiant prior to the start time (not always possible). Another factor I have run into is the officiant's beard, as well as strong wind levels can rustle and affect the quality of the audio. One other factor is that since the lapel is static (as in placed in a fixed position), there is no opportunity to angle the mic closer towards the couple. This isn't usually too much of an issue, but sometimes a bride or groom will be extremely soft spoken and all the signal boosting available can't always compensate for that. However, when the officiant is 'beardless', the location is wind-free, and the bride and groom are all speaking at standard volumes, the lapel microphone sounds excellent and does a good job at picking up all three voices.

In most cases I find the handheld wireless microphone sounds excellent, and can be adjusted to pick up a faint talker. My suggestion is unless there is a need to have no microphone in the background of the ceremony pictures, the handheld wireless has a slight advantage.

Uplighting is easily the most popular add-on! Here are some reasons why..

Uplighting is the add-on option that customer's always choose to add over all others, and for good reason. Uplighting is excatly what it sounds like: a colored light placed on the floor, that projects light (a wash) upwards. Almost any color is achievable, with the most popular being purple, blue, red, and amber.

Uplighting can change the entire feel of a room, and can transform a 'dead' room into one that feels lively and classy. Even a room with 'character' can benefit from some sort of uplighting. Often clients will say that uplighting was the best value (dollar for dollar) of all of their decoration budget, as it is immediately noticeable and can have such an impact. Usually uplighting is placed in the corners of a room and around pillars and other objects for the greatest impact. Uplighting should always looks symmetrical and should consider the layout of the room. Another area of a room that one sometimes finds uplighting placed, is behind the bar area and/or behind the DJ area. Both add a bit of excitement to a room. The other trend in uplighting is to go 'beyond' uplighting the room itself, and uplight the individual tables as well. This is a more expensive undertaking, as it requires many more uplights, but it definately increases the 'wow' factor.

The newest trends are towards wireless uplights as they dont require close proximity to power outlets or long power extensions. This means that they can be placed in areas unreachable by standard uplighting, and avoid the presence of extension cabling. Unfortunately wireless uplights cost much more than standard uplighting (at this point), but there is every reason to believe the price will come down in the next year or so.

I have made a photo collage of some of the events from the past year that I used uplighting on (which I have attached to this blog), to give you some examples of what it looks like. I find that pictures don't really do them justice, although you can find some great professional uplighting pictures on a Google search!

Thanks for reading, and of course if you have any questions about uplighting, or any other kind of lighting, please send me a message!

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Improvements to website and videos coming this week!

I am often asked for videos; of myself emceeing or leading a line dance, or just of the dance floors from previous events. I have been working on putting these videos together and will have them uploaded to my Youtube and Vimeo pages, as well as (hopefully) having them embedded here. This will give everyone a chance to see what an event looks like without having to actually come down to one, and to hear me emcee (so they know I don't sound like a cheeseball!).
Thanks and please leave any suggestions on further improvements that will help clients see what I can offer and bring to their next event!

2016 is filling up ! Please check calender for dates open!

2016 is looking to be the busiest year yet, with 8 weddings booked just this past month ! (January). I have updated my calender (upcoming events page), and am making sure I keep updating my calender,  so you can check my availability for your upcoming event. I have excluded all tentative and pending events, but will update the calender once a week. Please call or text me to confirm availability. Call now for your free consultation and how I can help make your event amazing!

New Equipment Updates!

I love equipment upgrades!

I am happy to announce that I have upgraded my main speakers from the EV 1000 watts models to the latest model at 1500 watts each (EKX-12P). This results in a more powerful and clear sound, even at lower volumes!

Also I have added a couple of wireless uplights to the uplight setup (this is a new technology but definately the way of the future). Wireless uplights allow the elimination of cables and extension cords (which looks better visually), as well as being able to place the uplight in areas where there is no power or far away from power sources.

Lastly, I have upgraded the lapel microphone for the ceremony. The new sennheiser model has great clarity and is an option for those who don't want the handheld wireless.

That's it for now!

New Speaker Stand Covers!

I am happy to announce that now that new speaker stand covers (also known as Skrims) are available! These were backordered for awhile but have now arrived and look great. Clients now have an option to ask for stretch or fabric type skrims. I have attached some pictures of both types, although as a default I will be using the new fabric style ones (as I have the past few events). It's the details that make the difference!

New updates to site!

October 25th/2015: Welcome to the DJ Danny Aon/XxEvents page! I have added a few updates to the site including an 'upcoming events' section, some updated photos, an audio mix, and some other improvements! I will be talking about events, venues, things I've learned from the hundreds of events, and probably alot about equipment here too (as I love sound and lighting!). Thanks for reading !