One of the most important aspects of planning your wedding is choosing the right entertainment. The photographs and video will capture the memories that you will cherish, but your guests are going to remember how much fun they had. The DJ is vital in keeping the schedule of events on track and making sure you and your guests have a great time.
I interviewed Patrick Stratori, owner of Aace Entertainment, a Preferred Vendor of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, to find out what couples need to know when choosing a DJ.
Before choosing a DJ, what should a couple consider?
Just as with making any purchase, you need to consider Budget, Quality, Cost and Style. When interviewing DJs, you should find out what their style is and make sure it fits with your own personal style. Also find out what kind of equipment they use and whether or not they have backup equipment in case of any issues. They should have a business license and liability insurance (many reception halls require both). It is always helpful if they have played at your venue before, but if they haven’t, ask if they can meet you there to go over setup and layout. References and involvement in the wedding community are very important, too. You want to make sure that they have happy clients as well as a great relationship with other vendors.
The biggest thing really is to make sure you choose someone you trust to follow through with everything you agree on. Be sure they are prompt, efficient and easily accessible.
What are some new trends in the DJ industry?
Technology has really benefitted the mobile DJ. The new LED lights use a fraction of the power that a normal lamp would use, allowing multiple lights to be run off a single domestic power socket. This is important because it allows for larger light shows to be done at smaller or older venues that might not otherwise be equipped. LEDs also have larger color palettes which allows for some pretty cool color combinations.
Synchronized and line dancing is always popular at weddings and there are many to choose from but the most requested right now are The Cha Cha Slide and The Cupid Shuffle. (Check out Patrick’s list of the 200 Most Requested Songs of the Past Year on his website at http://aaceentertainment.com/music.php)
We have an enormous selection of music that is forever growing. I always tell brides that if there is something they want that we don’t have, we will make sure to get it. For couples that want to go all out, we can even put together “Music Videos”.
Everything we do is meant to make each moment a special one. From the introductions to the first dance to the best man’s toast, timing is everything. It is essential not only that the bride and groom feel these special moments but that their guests do, too. It takes a lot of coordination to get that right.
What inspired you to become a DJ?
I was exposed to a wide variety of music from a very young age and as a teenager in the early 80’s I started mixing and cutting music at home. I would emcee house parties and even convinced some local KJs (Karaoke DJs) to let me do sets during their shows. The parties were great but the rush I got from motivating a crowd of hundreds of people (some almost twice my age) was incredible. After high school, I started working on a career in computers. It wasn’t until I moved to Florida that I plugged back into the music scene and realized the potential of starting a DJ company. With seven years in the computer industry, I decided to combine my technical skills with my music background and have been DJing fulltime in sunny Southwest Florida since 2005.
Do you belong to any professional organizations?
I belong to the National Association of Wedding Professionals. What I am most proud of though are the 20+ venues and vendors that have made Aace Entertainment their preferred DJ company. It is an honor that these professionals have enough trust in my abilities as a performer to recommend me to their clients.
Aace Entertainment, LLC / 239.466.0077 / www.aaceentertainment.com / Patrick@aaceentertainment.com
