Wireless Microphones

All wedding and Bar Mitzvah packages include a high quality wireless microphone. We use Shure PGX series wireless microphones which carry a standard SM-58 head we also use EV RE-2 Mics which are the owners personal favorite they are light weight and have minimal feedback. If a guest accidentally walks past the speaker with the mic potted up it may cause some feedback. We try to position our guests who are speaking in the middle of the dancefloor and away from the speakers.

We also include wireless microphones where toasting, presentations, and roaming the audience are going to happen.

Events like School Dances, 12th birthday parties, and graduation parties always employ a wired mic unless asked specifically.

Our final bit on wireless microphones, When you hire us for ceremonies we take great pride in setting the equipment up behind the audience, including the speakers, so they are not in the way of the pictures.

We do however use a high quality handheld wireless microphone on a stand at the alter, this is so everyone can be heard and no one does the head on the shoulder thing that most inexperienced microphone users do with lavalier mics. Yeah they're great but we could show you hundreds of pictures of brides and grooms who's heads were tilted during photos so they could talk "into" the mic.

We can do lav's but prefer not to for the above reason.

People worry about the mic on the stand in the photos, most of the time if you get married at a church there will be a hand held microphone at the alter/pulpit for the preacher this is the same thing. If your minister is using a music stand or other stand to hold the bible and wedding book, then we can put the mic directly behind it.

We formed these opinions on microphones based on our 450+ weddings per year. We will certainly do what the client wants but this is the way we do it if the client doesnt specify. We do not do corded mics at weddings.

Why do we require payment in advance

For all weddings and most other formal events (like Bar Mitzvah's) we require the balance payment to be paid by the day of the event this protects us from bad checks but it also gives our clients a better piece of mind to properly say goodbye to family and friends and not stress about payment. Nothing is more awkward then the dj standing off to the side of your conversation with your grandmother or great aunt just waiting to be paid. With our company, and many others, you are protected by contract that services will be rendered. Your also protected by the fact that we want more jobs and need your referrals and recommendations to get them.

What makes a great wedding

Wow how hectic can wedding planning be? VERY! Most brides don't realize exactly what they are getting into but I know from working with 1000s of brides that not only is it a lot of work, it's an adrenaline rush, and the feeling you get when it all comes together is second to none, well of course that thing of actually marrying your husband ;)

Whether you're having a wedding in Raleigh or a wedding in Charlotte or you're having a wedding reception in Asheville, no matter where remember these

Three key elements

The fiance: Of course you want to make sure you're marrying the right person. We will assume you've done that so that one is taking care of

The Food: You want to make sure that your food is delicious, memorable, and presented well. Now real quick, presented well doesn't necessarily mean elegant. For some Brides and Grooms elegant is just not them. While we'll address that another blog entry we recently did a nascar crew members wedding in a very nice establishment the food was delicious and the decor was very nascarish picture a wedding in a garage... it was them though... so yeah the food is important

And The DJ/MC or both
While you may have a day of coordinator helping in the background the DJ/MC is in the foreground directing the guests as to whats happening, where its happening and when of course the DJ is also responsible for the "Good time" perception so please make sure you pick a great dj. Post-Wedding over 80% of Brides have said they wish they spent more on entertainment.

Just food for thought... (there's that food reference again)

No Lavalier Mic Please

Providing music and sound system rentals for ceremonies is becoming almost a business of it's own. Our ceremony package sales saw a 75% increase this year.

So now that we are doing the music for so many weddings in Raleigh and weddings in Charlotte, we are always asked "Can we get Lavalier Microphones, ya know clip ons"

Well everytime i try to post a picture to this blog it doesnt work so try to picture this. The reason 1st Carolina DJ's does not like to provide lavalier microphones is because if you're not used to using one it forces you to tilt your head to the microphone because naturally you want to talk into the mic.

I discovered this problem about 6 years ago a bride had come in to meet with us and her MOH was her sister. Her sister had brought her photo album from her wedding to show us how the DJ had set up. When going through the pages I noticed the cock-eyed pictures of both the bride and groom and i said specifically "So I see you used clip on mics"

From there we've started offering very high quality wireless microphones, SHURE and EV not Audio Technica or Gemini so our handheld mics on stands DO NOT feed back and its the only piece of equipment of ours that you see as we hide everything else.

I dont know about you but i rather see a professional microphone for 100 years worth of photos than the bride and groom tilting their heads.

comments?

Pronounciation of Names

Could you imagine the DJ at your wedding mis-pronouncing your bridal party names or even your name? What about calling you or your new husband by the wrong name or calling the married couple by the brides maiden name?

These are all things that happen when you don't prepare with your DJ prior to your wedding. More and more couples are hiring vendors online. We do about 75% internet business in 2009 sometimes we don't see the bride until she is introduced into the room but when we can't meet in person we always do a conference call and then make sure we do the names right. In our conference room we actually have a recorder where we sometimes record that part and then phonetically write the names down in the planner to ensure that your DJ/MC gets them right.

Of course this is a horrible sin at any wedding but compound that with a videographer and than you have a horrible moment saved forever.

Make sure the pronunciations are a big part of your planning session whether its on the phone or in person.

1st Carolina DJ's will meet with Raleigh Wedding brides on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and Charlotte Wedding brides the opposite week. Of course if your schedule doesn't allow that time we can work something out but this is a one shot deal on the names..

get em right...

My DJ Ipod?

Well The Ipod sounded like a great idea but here you have spent thousands of dollars on the food, thousands of dollars on the venue, tuxes, dresses, and now a good time right?

Why would you hire an ipod?
An Ipod Can't do your introductions with inflection and flair
An Ipod can't introduce your dances
An Ipod can't read the crowd
An Ipod requires someone you probably invited as a guest to control the song flow

The American DJ Association (For which we are members) has this to share about ipods..

Check it out
http://www.adja.org/general/ipodwedding.asp

Help Im Stuck with on music for my wedding

We did 490 weddings last year and a few really stuck out as far as music lists go. This bride is in her mid to late 20's. She had about 150 guests and we turned the dancefloor around 50 at a time all night. We blew off most slow songs at brides request and even played Crank Dat for her when she requested it late. Here is that list:
1. “Your Love” – The Outfield
2. “Kiss” – Prince
3. “I melt with you” – Modern English
4. “Rock the Kasbah” – The Clash
5. “You spin me round” – Dead or Alive
6. “Virtual Insanity” – Jamiroquai
7. “Brown Eyed Girl” – Jimmy Buffett
8. “White Wedding” – Billy Idol
9. “Hey Ya” – Outkast
10. “Float On” – Modest Mouse
11. “I want to know what love is” – Foreigner
12. “By your side” – Sade
13. “Can’t help falling in love” UB40
14. “Message in a Bottle” – The Police
15. “Every breath you take” – The Police
16. “Every little thing she does is magic” – The Police
17. “In your eyes” – Peter Gabriel
18. “Burning down the house” – Talking Heads
19. “Sweetest Thing” – U2
20. “Beat It” – Michael Jackson
21. “Policy of Truth” – Depeche Mode
22. “Let the music play” – Shannon
23. “Jessie’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
24. “Don’t you want me” – Human League
25. “Call me” – Blondie
26. “Superfreak” – Rick James
27. “867-5309 (Jenny) – Tommy Tutone
28. “Tainted Love” – Soft cell
29. “Come on Eileen” – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
30. “One thing leads to another” – The Fixx
31. “Somebody told me” – The Killers
32. “Funky Cold Medina” – Tone Loc
33. Money for nothing- Dire straits
34. Proud Mary
35. Cha Cha Slide

Throw out the Bouquet for an Anniversary Dance

Are you the last one of your girlfriends to get married? Maybe you held out for the right guy, or maybe you were waiting for the perfect wedding in Raleigh or the best wedding in Charlotte? Well now you've done it, you have a date, your bridesmaids are set and your fiance is overwhelmed with glee thinking about the day you too will walk down the aisle.

But wait.. this means all your girlfriends are already married, you're worried about not having enough single ladies for a bouquet toss much less the Beyonce "Single Ladies" dance...

Why not try an anniversary dance. 1st Carolina DJ's team of DJ's know how to execute an anniversary dance perfectly

Here's what it is:

You and your husband take center stage on the dance floor, you in your beautiful dress and he all buttoned up in his tuxedo. From there your wedding dj from 1st Carolina DJ's has all the married couples join you on the dance floor for a romantic, slow dance.

About 30 seconds into the song and at random intervals thereafter we dismiss married couples based on how long they've been married for example "Those who have been married 2 years or less have a seat" etc. Then at the end of the dance the couple who has been married the longest is left dancing. This is good luck to you and your husband on your wedding day.

As a nice congratulatory gesture and for good luck that couple is the recipient of your bouquet.

Naturally you can also do this dance without a bouquet and it works just as nice.

When 1st Carolina DJ's is chosen as your dj in Asheville, or anywhere else in North Carolina this and all the other special dances are available to you at no extra cost. Of course we wouldnt suggest an evening of all special dances but we can do as many as you'd like.

Trust the one team, 1st Carolina DJ's.

Wedding Season is among us

Wedding Season has officially started for us so lets talk about weddings. When you have a wedding in Raleigh or need a wedding dj in Winston Salem you can turn to 1st Carolina DJ's.

We employ over 22 dj's who work exclusively for us and have worked as wedding DJ's in Asheville, Dj's for weddings in Greensboro, Charlotte wedding djs, and even as wedding djs in South Carolina.

We have a diverse cast of DJ's here ranging from young chic metro type dj's to more conservative dj's for the most elegant weddings. Whether you are having a wedding at Castle McCulloch, or a wedding reception at High Grove Estate, or if your having a fun casual wedding reception at Tanglewood Park in Winston Salem, then know we've played there and countless other places.

Lets introduce you to just some of our dj's.


DJ Dan White, has been with us for the past few years and has over 100 weddings under his belt. Dan hails from Elicott City Maryland just outside of Baltimore. As it turns out the founder of 1st Carolina DJ's used to work for Creative DJ's in the Baltimore area and repeatedly performed at School Dances that Dan White attended. Dan even listened to founder; Kyle Shannon when he was on Radio Aahs and Dan White was just a tyke. Dan has a contemporary style carrying out the formalities with style and grace and then rocking the party. Dan White books up quickly so if you want him please give us a call at (888)71-DJNOW or (336)899-0311

DJ John Sumner has been with us for two years, despite having just 50 weddings under his belt he is a favorite on theknot.com he and his dj assistant Jim P, rocked a destination wedding at the Bitlmore estate for knottie Helen that went on forever with overtime because the party was so intense. Although John wears his hair long and looks like a rocker he knows the best standards, classics even country and can beat mix for your sweet 16 or private party.

DJ Mance and DJ Erik B are our youngest DJs on staff and North Carolina's hottest teen dj's perfect for the school dances they perform at, sweet 16s and 13th birthday partis. This team of talented teen dj's is a favorite and exclusive for the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro


more DJ profiles soon...

No matter what kind of event you're having and where you're having it, 1st Carolina DJ's is North Carolina's 1st Choice for DJ Entertainment

Bar Mitzvahs, Jewish DJ's Judean Center Durham

Shalom!

1st Carolina Dj's is proud to be the only member company of the NC Chapter of ADJA with 2 jewish DJ's. If you are looking for a Jewish DJ in Raleigh, or a Jewish DJ in Charlotte, or a Jewish DJ for your bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah at the Judean Center in Durham, look no further than 1st Carolina DJ's.

Why a Jewish DJ?

Because it makes my mamala Urk everytime she hears the DJ at my cousins wedding say Challa with a CH- sound and not Challah the way it was meant!



The DJ at this same cousins wedding said who is coming to say grace at this wedding not Motzi.. we know this, we know what its like to work with Jewish Mothers and Jewish Grandmothers why, because we have them...

So the Jewish DJ's of 1st Carolina DJ's are perfect for your Jewish Wedding in Charlotte or your Jewish Wedding in Asheville or wherever in NC you're having the wedding


We also specialize in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Bnai' Mitzvahs too where we put your son or daughter 1st and they quickly become the star.

We regularly do Bar Mitzvahs at the Judean Center in Durham, Bat Mitvahs at Temple Emmanuel, Greensboro, Bat Mitzvahs at the JCC in Charlotte and we are also the exclusive DJ at the American Hebrew Academy.

Please check us out online or call us now at (336)899-0311 or (888)71-DJNOW