DJ AT YOUR FIRST WEDDING | WEDDING DJ TIPS & ADVICE

[@DJPhilHarris]

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[@emanueldevos]

Starting DJ's, listen to this man!! I've been a dj for 18 years and everything he says is spot on!

[@sofaking777777]

Drunk guy tried fighting me for playing Dwight Yokam 'Suspicious minds' instead on Elvis on the weekend lol

[@ryankirkwood9531]

I am a wedding dj in scotland and 99 times out of 100 the final song is always the same, loch lomond by runrig " the live version" everyone knows without saying but always announce its the final song, at the end as its fading out i announce " that brings our night to the end folks, thank you very much you have been great so lets give this happy couple 3 cheers..hip hip hurrayyyy.... then good night folks, take care and safe journey home...goodnight! finished. For those who have never seen loch lomond done at a wedding its brilliant, ..you will find it on here....its mental but such a feel of belonging and happiness. never get bored of playing it. 1 thing im now taking on board is the lights off part and main lights on during last song, i did it and instead of folk asking to play on they were all just clapping and hugging each other.

[@leeknivek]

That's a pretty clever piece of etiquette, good idea.

[@BoogieWonderlandOldSkool]

Been Playing for 25 years...clubs, corporate, conference and wedding, podcasts and concerts....Spot on mate. exactly right on all points, well done!

[@tazmaniachill]

Ha ! spot on Phil, seems good advice is past down the ages, I’m in my 67 now, retired and did many many weddings, social nights, birthday parties and a good few clubs, all your points are spot and it’s what I did my whole career, sometimes you take a gig, do all the usual, keeping bride and groom onside and always clock where are in the venue in case you need them for cutting the cake, first dance always get their first before you turn up! - had a real curveball once where no matter what I did, played everything they asked for, tried to get them involved, no matter what I did, brides family, groom family the other and they took it in turns to have a little dance, but neither family mixed... thought I’d died on my backside, worst gig of my life, played the last song, and bride and groom wandered over big smile on their faces and thanked me for a great night best they had attended out of all the family weddings they had been to! Totally confused I asked “but no one was dancing!” Bride replied and said “I’ve had a few ask can you do theirs and you must have been good their wasn’t one fight between the families” and pushed £50 into my hand 😂 - go figure! Just for info I had pioneer sl1210’s and a couple of Sony CD players hooked to the mixer. Them where the day. Love your content by the way and have been eyeing up a cdj 800 to play around on loving the anjuna label these days - wish you well and p.S your Mrs is going to be great DJ!

[@redwoodcityintheuknscalera7179]

you sir are totally spot on i am speaking form many years of dj ing myself

[@miketeskey2916]

I have a wedding gig coming up next month and this eases so much anxiety for me. Thanks for helping me be more prepared! Subscribed.

[@eubybeats]

howd it go?

[@matteoorjuela6464]

@@eubybeats I was also about to ask

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Also worth checking out "DJ Rachel" channel. Shes one of THE best Wedding DJ's on the planet. An absolute pro at the way she organises herself too. Plus has some really awesome Lighting and Sound kit that is worth checking out.

[@av92]

One thing I was wondering that I ran into DJ ing a friends wedding is, should you not be in on the wedding rehearsal? This allows you to set the queue for all announcements and songs requested for specific areas of the wedding venue. I was operating off the cuff and made a lot of errors because I had no specifics as to what needed to take place during the event. I also learned that you want to provide only a few people that are allowed to make requests, the bride, the groom, and maybe one or two other people. This will stop the problem of everybody in the place coming up asking for requests.

[@ifitscool]

True say! 👍

[@globaldj719]

That's more time required of us. I would say only attend the rehearsal if part of the ceremony itself. Often can do using virtual techniques as well. He didn't mention here if the DJ plays the formal wedding music itself or is MC of the wedding. People always going to ask for requests. When I start I want to make a sign in sheet saying: "Thank you for requests. If I have in my inventory and can mix-in I will play". Of course as Phil mentioned it is the wedding priority they get any song they want.

[@scottiemanners]

Been DJing for a decade now, a $250 deposit and $750 due the night of the wedding. I've never had an issue getting the money the night-of with 40 weddings a year for the past 10 years. I think waiting helps you get a larger check because then they write it out bigger with a nice tip once you've done the job.

[@swaziibanks3807]

Am starting as a DJ and this is informative thanks, man. 🤘

[@soundofphiladelphia311]

I think I may have mentioned this in a comment on a previous video, but one wedding I did, I was given a list from the bride and groom of 5 and three quarter hours worth of music. I was booked from 7pm until 1am (6 hours if you haven't already worked it out!), and then I was told I could also take requests......erm I don't think so. After a few emails back and forth I was able to whittle their song choices down to around 20-30 (still didn't get to play all of them as you know what tracks are going to work and keep the dance floor ticking over). You can even get the 80 year old Auntie Mabel's of this world bopping along to 80's tracks, because 40 years ago that's what they would have been listening too. Great advice all the same Phil.

[@saintsteve]

Cracking tips and advice Phil. They seem so straightforward when you think about it but often it’s the little things that get overlooked. Keep up the good work!

[@drewpassion]

He's 100% right on these tips 👍

[@johnmullens2857]

good tips, but one remark. If youre killing it and a drunk person, or any person asks you to keep on an extra hour, remember: People LIE to get what they want, especially drunk people. So make sure you get the OK from management THEMSELVES. Dont let one of the guests go ask management. At most, you can let the bride or groom check with management, or their parents/best men/bridesmaids. NOT any random guests, because youll run the risk they come back and say its ok, but they never even checked with management.

[@eddydilvy9493]

I’m a dj for 30 years and I totally agree with you ! I just regret I wasn’t informed before my first Gig !

[@skidogleb]

Thanks! I’m about to dj my first wedding for a friend. Your advice for music selection is helpful!

[@kambinoxwins]

Dude, this was PRECISELY what I'd hoped to find when I ran my search. Cheers!

[@dinguskenny]

Recently hired two guys to work for me and I was going to make a training video. No need to now this about covers it thank you so much man.

[@djkarlantony]

I have many years experience.. everything said here is good advice.. That last half hour of any gig is always a pain.. The better the night has been, the harder it is to end it.. one way i do it is to say its the last tune of the night ect .. then slip off into the background once the lighting has faded out and the last tune is playing.. by the time its faded out, im at the bar getting the riot lights ready...(and a quick drink lol)

[@MyVasudev]

DJ at your first wedding? For a second, I thought you meant 'your FIRST WEDDING' 😆 anyway, I love what you're doing, big fan! ❤️

[@SWC44]

Pradeep Vasudev , YEA, GOT ME ALSO, IS THERE ANY YT VIDS ON SOMEONE's FIRST WEDDING GIG? THANKS!

[@allisonfernandes7336]

Your tutorials are the best Mr. Harris 🔥

[@MrIsaiah56]

I’ve been DJing for 5 years. Good video! All good points and most of them learned the hard way! This is the video I wish I had starting out.

[@EllisrileyDJ]

This advice is great, but if someone asked me to stay an extra hour please, I’d take that as a huge compliment and be like yeah no problem don’t worry about it.

[@CREAOOfficial]

It gets very old if you aren’t getting paid for the extra hour. A gig here and there is cool but if you stay an “extra hour” for each event, it becomes very tiring - very quickly

[@jcjamsproductions211]

This will preach. I had to learn a lot of this the hard way.

[@charlesurdy-barnes413]

Excellent tips.

[@mitchwells69]

I’m a 30-year DJ and I agree with everything you said.

[@BlackLemonT]

Totally agree about getting full payments minimum 2 weeks prior of event every-time. All other vendors get paid prior we are no different.

[@geraldfer]

2/22!! I'm here and listening so I can grow and go... And make some $$$

[@markseymour8767]

Awww...feel like you're so looking after us Phil!

[@TimmyTheSnail]

Honestly I’m not even a DJ (although I am interested in it) and I can see the advice you give is priceless!! Don’t know how you don’t get more views but then I suppose not everyone is wanting to become a DJ 😂 Great work though and thank you for the extremely high quality content you always put out

[@nostalgeejays]

Some good valid advice here folks if you haven't been a wedding DJ before. Take notes and listen carefully to Phil! However, with the risk of being the bitter old man i the room... haha. Many of the topics are also the reason why I quit DJ at weddings. I just get sick of all the drama. First, the playlist is usually micromanaged by the bride to a point beyond insanity. Usually good tracks, but none of them are suited for a dance floor. I'm always asked to be there by 20:30 at the latest. Doesn't matter that I firmly state that the dinner won't be finished before 23:00 (because of all the speeches etc). So what happens? I have to sit in the kitchen at the venue for hours, hoping to get a short conversation with someone from the catering company. Once you have start playing and finally find out what gets the crowd going, you have to stop. There is this nine year old that has taken three lessons in the local dance academy and the grandma wants her to show her new skills. After that it takes another hour to get back to the dance floor energy you had before the break. Then the drunk people starts to find you. After a couple of years you hate drunk people ;) At some point the groom and his best friend approaches you with an ipod, demanding you to play some odd music that they have a very specific memory about from a high school trip. Nobody else at the party gets it, and starts blaming you for ruining the party with bad music. And the worst of them all. International weddings. Half of the party is from another country/culture and whatever you do, you loose. During the full night 50% of the guests think you suck as a DJ. Did I mention the drunk people? Once there was this lady that believed my table was the best place to use as a stage for her, hm, sexy dance. I tried to pull her down with the result that she broke the laptop screen in half. The final 1.5 hour had to be played through a cell-phone. Once there was a dude that tried to choke me, since I wasn't playing his request two minutes later... With that said. Some weddings are actually my favorite moments being a DJ also. But some are truly the worst. Nowadays I stick to theme-parties or 40-50 years birthdays, so I can play the music I like =) My additional tip, and that goes not just for weddings, would be to always have prepared a backup, if something breaks up with your gear. If it is a single CD-player or an Ipad doesn't really matter. Just something that could be started up within seconds to avoid that awkward silence when something fails. I guess you might have that as a tip in some other of your newbie tutorials perhaps?

[@BrettGaertner]

7:23 overtime pay… yes yes yes absolutely you get paid upfront. Do not be a people pleaser and try to be cool and say yeah, you can pay me at the end…. Nope, I’ve had people weasel out of honoring their commitment to pay me extra.

[@mornejansevanrensburg7227]

spot on hahahahah we average 5 weddings weekly bro, nice video

[@Vibesformusic]

That spotify tip is working really good 👌

[@MrRobotoDomo]

Ask the groom and bride for a playlist. You can extend this also to their parents, maid of honor and best man or other entourage. For the extension just ask like their top 10 songs…

[@globaldj719]

Awesome tips! I guess this is for the reception part of the wedding? How about the ceremony itself? Is that usually done by someone else?

[@nodaysoff2005]

Love this. I am fortunate that all my events are referrals so I only take 25% before the event and the rest after. Mentally I can't take all the money ahead of time.

[@DJ_Timmay]

I could see 75% minimum. What are you going to do if they use you and dip and then your stuck

[@omaynelasco1767]

These tips are 💯% spot on!!!!!👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿🇯🇲

[@gedemarco1615]

I did all the things you said in this video but not in wedding party, it's birthday🎂 party🍻💃🕺

[@LVCID777]

Very informative, I’ve never dj’d but I bought a simple setup just to entertain myself and thought dj’ing weddings might not be so bad because I ha ent learned that much about song transitions, mixing keys and tempos. 🤷‍♂️

[@djmaxreloaded7050]

Great video. Concise and spot on. Easy tips to follow.

[@melonhead8657]

That is SOLID advice. Great content.

[@djsirroundsound1301]

Awesome! However I did my first wedding 1983 and I have always collected my money the night of no problems.

[@djcato]

Thank you Phil!

[@michaelcohagan1775]

When doing weddings, I often am provided a list of music; a full list. Like 100+ songs that I have to play from. Oftentimes, I know the songs, but I do run into some music I do not know. I've recently started charging extra for a full list of songs I have to play from. I only request a dozen or so songs so I get a feel for the genre the couple like and then build from my list; which as never let me down. But, WOW! More and more I get a large list and am required to play from that. I know. What's life without its challenges? Thought, Phil? OH! and great videos, too.

[@pimlican1]

Great points made, especially the leaving at the end :)

[@hola-munecas]

Question: the couple gives you a playlist. Do you only play that and call it a day? Or should you use it as inspiration? Another TIP is asking the couple if there’s anything they don’t want to hear.

[@mrbeehenderson5372]

That was awesome advice. Thanks bro

[@henrikzetterstrom278]

As always, amazing video.

[@davellbruton1901]

Hey Phil, once again great tips and info...….

[@cortML]

Great tips and lovely Benetton top 👌🏻

[@chrisclose7793]

great informative video ,when i do weddings at the end of the night i switch the house lights on and turn my moving lights and other lights off and drop the sound levels down

[@djkanoya]

Great advice ... I think the "bride and groom are king" thinking is a fine line to walk though. You want mutual respect between the client and service provider. I want a couple that is hiring me for my expertise and not because I can be their puppet.

[@SWC44]

THEY ARE STILL YOUR BOSS, NOT SAYING TO PLAY 10 SONGS, BUT YOU AS PHIL SAID WILL BE THERE HERO!!!!, BUT WORD OF MOUTH GOES ALONG WAY!!!! NOT TROLLING, JUST SAYING AS BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!! THANKS!

[@dreamoe4371]

Loved Your advice ❤️❤️

[@lariconesbitt2630]

Yes Thanks that's real

[@anthonydavis1714]

Awesome tips - thanks DJ Phil!

[@albertadelrosario9178]

Important thing i want to know is step by step like bride & groom dance then father daughter so what’s next toast or cutting cake then what 🤷‍♂️

[@61barrackroad]

Nice points Phil

[@vladimirvladi4130]

This is the best!

[@itsamedjmario]

had 4 of my gigs CANCEL / postpone on me yesterday... .. This is going tough time the next few months.. 2 of them, was booked last year, (weddings).. always get a DEPOSIT!! .. Also.. i hate going OT.. I feel like, that extra hour is usually paid for with my Tip money, So I'm losing money by going OT.. ill usually say 100$ for another hour, then when its time to collect the balance, my tip isn't as much as i was expecting, all because that extra 100 is MY PAY.... Not MY TIP..

[@LVCID777]

Good tips!

[@weddingdjstevedeehertfords9862]

Good video. your bang on Mr..

[@SWC44]

Phil Harris, GOT ME, THOUGHT IT WAS YOUR "FIRST" THANKS, QUESTION? IS THERE ANY YT VIDS ON SOMEONE's FIRST WEDDING GIG? THANKS! PS, JUST FOUND YOUR CHANNEL, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO CALL YOU "CAPT PHIL" GREATEST CAPT. FROM DEADLIEST CATCH!! BUT LOVED AND SUBBED! TY AGAIN!!!

[@tinababy4716]

Thanks dia urda best u really help in many things

[@danielweetman]

Great advice

[@slindsay808]

Phil great vid. How do you mix/perform transitions? Beat notching ain't gonna be possible a lot of the time. Do you fade, spin, scratch, effects?

[@djjudy3180]

I admit these are good advices .. :)

[@mikethemic86]

As far as requests from the Bride and Groom... do I finish the song I am currently playing or do I cut the current song for their song?

[@Djbeyonds]

Awesome ......

[@shomodjsav]

Well said!!!

[@KTMmaniac40]

I know this video is old and I am probably not going to get a response but how do you go about building your music library for a wedding? I would take the bride and grooms list and download those songs as well as as many other songs I would think people would dance to at a wedding. But if the bride and groom or someone of significance requests a song you don’t have downloaded do you just not play it or explain to them it’s not downloaded?

[@globaldj719]

I bet there are playlists on Soundcloud or other of popular wedding songs (Motown/70s/80s etc.).

[@brivooo5381]

How can I find a way to play ONLY EDM at weddings, school events, and parties that I find appropiate without having to attend clubs, nightclubs, and parties that I may find a little inappropiate?

[@Dj205]

Great tips! Thank you :) 1 question, do you do this for living? Im thinking on all the courses you have + KZbin, or do you have a «normal» job on the side? :) kind regards from a Norwegian bedroom Dj :) (sorry for the bad english)

[@DJPhilHarris]

This is becoming a bit part of my main job now. A huge part of my focus is going into making an insane online music school at www.edmcoaching.com . By the end of the year, that online music school could be my full time job!

[@Dj205]

Phil Harris Thank you for your awnser! :D sounds like you are living the dream 🤗good luck with you webside! Bet u gonna do great👌🏻😃 and like always, im looking forward to your next video 😃 have a nice day!

[@splatterbrain3788]

Get the money up front or do it for free.

[@globaldj719]

And with contract!

[@chrisleech7254]

Worst wedding DJ thing I ever did was play Chumba Wumba ‘I Get Knocked Down But I Get Up Again’ whilst the ambulance took the brides grandmother away after she slipped and banged her head on the dance floor. Suffice to say it did not go down well. Then had to play a 3hr set :/ (She had stitches and was ok)

[@DINU_R]

How many hours on average should we DJ at wedding?

[@RealLifeDJ]

Need to put your rates up Phil! You can get lots more that £500 per wedding 😎🎧👍🏻

[@globaldj719]

I heard that too especially if doing both the ceremony (one fee) and the reception (additional). Maybe he is just quoting the reception piece?

[@renald32]

Can a Dj play non EDM songs? If yes, can you please make one video of it?

[@redizit]

Partys Banging, end it 15 minutes early....say your goodbyes and credits... then do an encore, then the party is still banging and do 1 more encore, give them a little more, then do an epic ending song when everyone knows its the end, then literally unscrew your needles, take them, and walk on the other side of the crowd, they will chant 1 more song, but you'll be watching them from behind, djs gone

[@redizit]

Ive had people try and play music after I walked away, that's why its vital to bring your needles with you for you turntablists, if you have a controller set your laptop to a 30 second screen shut down

[@musicandmusiconly9947]

Which controller do u use bro?

[@KUYAJRIP]

If someone requests a song and you don't have that song in your music library, where do you go to play the requested song? I have Soundcloud Pro, but the thing with that is that I would have to restart Serato DJ Pro for the request song to pop up on the Soundcloud Playlist (if that makes sense)

[@thatjessedlife1479]

Jayson Quindao Through Serato, Tidal can be searched and used while playing your set. I know you said you’ve got SC-Pro but Tidal has always done me solid for streaming requests.

[@DJPhilHarris]

Honestly, sometimes I just Spotify it!

[@neil_bird]

If you have access to internet... I'd be getting on iTunes or Google Play and downloading it. IF you don't have a massive library, you can't do this all night it'd get expensive. Odd tracks on occasions I have gone on to youtube and played one or two. Not ideal but if you want to please a requester of a particular track, I'd do that.

[@DJSTOEK]

💘

[@DJSTOEK]

💘

[@ajasmt9530]

♥️♥️♥️

[@HazzMazz]

I feel like I won't enjoy djing at a wedding if its not the music I like and if I'm not feeling the music I won't dj as good

[@DJPhilHarris]

This could be the case for a lot of DJs. But when the room is rocking sometimes a wedding can be amazing.

[@HazzMazz]

Phil Harris Yes can understand but I don’t have confidence in my wedding choice of music / knowledge maybe you could make a vid on how you got into ?

[@globaldj719]

You can squeeze in one of your tracks here and there. And the drunker they get the easier to do!

[@globaldj719]

@@HazzMazz kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6DHYWaGi7l_p80

[@globaldj719]

Elton John/Dua Lipa would be a very good warm up/chill down track.

[@adamcooper3108]

Instructions unclear Played cotton eye Joe at a underground techno gig

[@globaldj719]

Right! I hope I get to do a Gothic/Industrial themed wedding or even and an after life celebration. Some people love weird shit! Hey KISS sells KISS coffins.

[@princeofpeace2915]

Can someone answer this please. Do you need a buisness license to dj or provide sound at a wedding? I wont be mixing music or using a dj mixer. I would just be putting together a playlist of songs from apple music and have them play one after another for weddings. Would you need a license for that? If not where are you getting the information to assure you? And lastly do you need a license if you are actually using a dj Mixer and mixing music at a wedding?

[@THESKIPPARTY]

👍🏽👍🏽

[@scorebagmuncher7670]

Please for the love of god change your advert

[@BergenMilliren]

First

[@angrykermit3192]

Be weary of the drunk unmarried bridesmaid who's bitter that her younger sister got married first because she will try to hijack the music and turn her sister's wedding into her own wedding lol.