As you can imagine, in my 11 year career as a DJ, particularly a Wedding DJ, I have seen just about everything, and if I haven’t seen it, one of my colleagues has, or I soon will.
I want to tell you a story that might help you better understand the role that a DJ has, especially at a Wedding.
Many clients assume that a DJ simply sits back and plays music, or maybe he performs a few tricks with his mixing abilities that the average I-tunes user can’t do. Clients should expect their DJ to have a sense of how to keep the guests involved, on the dance floor, and having a good time. Honestly, that is the majority of what Wedding DJs are supposed to do. But oh, there’s so much more to it.
When I first began my career back in North Carolina, I didn’t have a clue about all the crazy things I was going to see and deal with as a DJ. I quickly learned that due to the simple fact that we have the microphone, Wedding DJs become the Person In Charge in almost any situation, whether we like it or not. Fortunately our clients like it that way and I feel that our DJs handle the responsibility really well. It is our job to convey to your guests the order of events, the plan of the party, the story of the celebration and virtually every major detail of the event. We must do this in such a way as to not be “Cheesy DJs” or obtrusive on the microphone. We can do it with music and with specially arranged and coordinated announcements and work done “behind the scenes.” We must be concise, to the point, friendly and upbeat all the while. But it also becomes our job to try to avert disasters, or to keep certain things from causing problems, things that go unnoticed by most people at an event. This of course, goes well beyond the ability to mix music properly or make the Grand Entrance announcement. This is the role of the DJ that many clients don’t see at first and usually won’t fully realize until the event is over and they are showering the DJ with many praises for his “above and beyond” performance all across the board.
So I want to provide you with an example of how a DJ can work well beyond the conventional “job description” to improve your event. Of course, we feel that these are common standards for our DJs, skills they must all possess in order to be an Elegant Event Entertainment Wedding DJ.
What follows is The Story Of The Falling Wedding Cakes, and how I, the DJ, went beyond the call of duty to help in a time of crisis!
If you’ve ever been to North Carolina in August, you know it can be very hot and humid. If you haven’t, then turn your shower as hot as it will go, close all the windows and doors and put the heat thermostat on 85-90 degrees. Now, stand there in a tuxedo for 6 hours. That’s what an August wedding in NC feels like. And honestly, it isn’t much better in Southern California, minus the really thick humidity.
At any rate, long about my 3rd year as a DJ, I was faced with an interesting problem at a mid August NC wedding. The Cake was delivered, it was a gorgeous 5 tier cake, very traditional, but absolutely beautiful. About 30 minutes after the cake was set up, the icing began to melt. The Bride and Groom finished taking pictures at the church and were in the limo heading to the reception site at about the same time I noticed the cake beginning to “lean” shall we say? I quickly alerted a catering staff member, who assigned someone to stand guard with a platter to catch the cake if it fell. Brilliant!
Well, it was up to me to make a quick decision, and it was my decision to alert the Bride and Groom immediately upon arrival that we were “changing the schedule to Save Her Wedding Cake.” “What do you mean?” She asked. ” I mean, you have a Leaning Tower of Flour on your hands, and it’s about to hit the floor…so we’re going to go straight in for your Grand Entrance, and then you’re going to cut the cake, then you can have your first dance. The staff will break the cake down and whisk it away carefully to a walk in cooler for service later in the evening.”
At first, she was stunned, a little nervous, but I assured her everything was going to be fine and I commanded everyone’s attention and got things moving along quickly while helping everyone to remain calm and have fun. The Bride and Groom were thankful that I made fast and correct decisions while remaining fun and upbeat. So, I quickly lined up the Wedding Party, went back into the room full of guests who were already aware and awaiting the Grand Entrance and were made fully aware of the progression and order of events. Everyone was on pins and needles waiting for that cake to fall in the floor. Luckily, we had a wonderful Grand Entrance and the cake was saved, the photos were beautiful, and it left a lasting, fun, and exhilarating experience etched in my memory for all time. 
Oddly enough, when I moved to California several years ago and became a Los Angeles Wedding DJ, it happened again. This time, the cake was more modern, covered in that very thick hard sugar icing, smooth and sleek, classy and chic. The only problem was, there was a fault line larger than the San Andreas running down the middle and it was at risk for slumping over and falling onto the floor. Once again, I discovered this before anyone else, I alerted the caterer, who gave me a little trouble about changing the schedule, but I politely explained that the Bride and Groom would prefer not to see their $1000.00 wedding cake laying on the floor. The Caterer stopped what she was doing and we went to cut the cake. Again, I alerted the Bride and Groom of what was going on while keeping them calm and proceeding as if everything was planned just the way it was happening. No one knew the difference and in this case, no one realized the cake was in trouble, so there was no reason to be alarmed. I didn’t want to draw attention to the problem, nor did I want the Bride and Groom to freak out. I handled everything very smoothly and in the end, the cake was saved and a possible major problem and heartbreak was averted.
I tell you this because sometimes things happen at events and weddings that are beyond our control, or beyond our capacity to predict. Although the cake incident has only happened to 2 wedding cakes out of hundreds that I have personally seen, it could happen to anyone. And so, as your DJs, all of us at Elegant Event Entertainment are highly skilled at the art of surveying everything that goes on at a wedding and we feel it is our job to make decisions on the fly in an effort to avert problems or disasters. An inexperienced DJ would not have made those decisions, in fact I argue that he would have either overlooked or simply not said anything about the problem at hand. I’ve always found that it is a DJs responsibility to be the eyes, ears, and voice of a Wedding, party, or event. I’m confident our current and potential clients will recognize this great responsibility, and will put their trust in our DJs to make great decisions, to be fully aware at an event, to be of help in all circumstances, and to make a good wedding absolutely Grand. Our Music choices make the night a hundred times more fun and memorable, and our quick thinking and vast experience help us to make sure your event is a smashing success. 
If you’d like to read more helpful stories about our experiences as Wedding DJs, keep coming back to our blogs for future stories.
Cheers!
Jason Jones– DJ & Co Founder
Elegant Event Entertainment, Inc.
Photos in this blog are provided by permission from Mi Belle Photography
What a great story! Never underestimate the skill and foresight of an excellent DJ!! 🙂
Bravo Jason!
I have many stories like this, however none involving cakes…
One that comes to mind is a wedding I did where the best man was rushed to the hospital shortly after the ceremony due to some severe stomach pains. I later found out that it was due to food poisoning along with an allergic reaction to something he ate. He needed to have his stomach pumped and to be kept over night for observation and recovery. The bride and groom where upset about the situation, however after hearing news that he was going to be ok they decided to go on with the event without his presence. When it came close to the time of the toasts I knew it was going to be a bit somber since, next to the father of the bride, the best man’s speech is a key element in a wedding reception. I then thought of asking one of the groomsmen if there was any way to get a hold of the best man by cell phone. I was able to make contact with the best man and asked him if he would be up to giving the speech via cell phone, he agreed and I told him that I would surprise the bride and the groom with it. The best man not only agreed, but was excited to do it as well. When it came time for the best man to give his toast, I already had him on the line with my cell phone in my suit pocket and since I was addressing everyone with a microphone, the best man could hear all that I was saying. I gave an introduction that went something like “as you may or may not know, the best man could not be here right now to give his toast, and although he is lying in a hospital bed with an I.V. in his arm, I have been told that he is going to be just fine… in fact, why don’t I have him tell you so himself”. I then took the phone out of my pocket and placed it on the microphone. Needless to say everyone was pleasantly surprised, the best man gave a great speech that not only made everyone laugh, but brought tears to the bride and grooms eyes given the situation.
What Jason says rings true, there are many DJ’s out there that will not care enough to take that extra step to preserve a memorable moment. It takes professional DJ’s like ourselves to be able to treat your wedding for what really it is, a special event in your life!
I to have had many situations over my 20 years as a DJ. From the mother of the groom going to the hospital similar to DJ R. Mora to cakes falling,believe or not cakes cracking. Within the last two years I was part of a cake not having a top center piece. Before the Bride and Groom came into the room, I had a staff member, the florist along with myself go outside of the ballroom and cut some roses they had, quickly created a beautiful top center piece. I had a couple of cuts and scraps from the roses but all went well. Later that evening the bride and groom came up to me and told me they noticed that their piece they selected was not on the cake but the roses where a nice touch. They ask who did that? I explained everything to them and even showed them my war wounds. They where surprised and thankful. The bride even said “I have a new respect for DJs. Your more than just a person playing music.”
Wow Jason, truly a man of many hats! I can relate; we DJ’s have to think fast on our feet to tackle any unforseen problems. One memory that comes to mind instantly is the “sermon on the mount” wedding ceremony I performed high atop a hill in Malibu overlooking the beautiful Pacific ocean. The ceremony site was unique indeed, a treasure of a backdrop which would require live sound and microphone amplification to carry above the “natural ambiance” of high whipping winds and psychotic seagulls screeching above our heads. Only problem was; THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY! The happy couple had forgotten one crucial detail. Even the world’s longest extension cord would never reach this majestic summit.
So what’s a DJ to due? Luckily I had arrived on site several hours before the ceremony had begun, so I had a little extra time to trouble shoot this very ominous situation. I was not about to let a small setback of no power stand in my way. So I high tailed it down the mountain, jumped on my I -Phone, did a quick search of Malibu’s rental houses, and found one just down the PCH. Racing to the store I called ahead and reserved what turned out to be their LAST generator. In no time flat I was back on the mountain, genny fully gassed and cranking out those precious kWh’s crucial to making the ceremony not only something special, but more importantly, audible!
The couple was overjoyed with my fast thinking, and the ceremony, kicked off with a live bagpipe (mic’d) was flawless and beautiful. Truly an unforgettable day…
Have you in your life attended a wedding and felt sorry for the groom because he harvested the biggest boneheaded buddy to be the best man. It happened to me, we travelled a very elegant wedding reception and the Best Man’s speech was so terrible that it was mind blowing that this dude was the groom’s best friend. Once they found the best man, he got up to the microphone and gave this speech: “This couple, Bill and Monica are great and I hope their life is filled with fulfillment and all those things that make a marriage great.” This is what you will get when you don’t prepare a speech. When I got married two years later I didn’t want my best man to be the subject of discussion for a long time so I sent him this set up http://www.bestmanspeech.largestnetwork.com on how to write a best man speech. It relieved the anxiety and his speech was outstanding, hilarious and poignant.