DJ Richard Mills

For most of the 25 years I’ve been entertaining as a DJ, I’ve played music that I feel will fit the night, the mood and the crowd. Recently I realised that my perception of older songs is likely to be quite different to that of the guests at my events, especially with older music and older guests. What if the feel the older guests will have is substantially different to how the music makes me feel? How can I get a better understanding of how the older songs I’m playing will make my older guests feel? Read the rest of this entry »

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There is a lot of cross over and no clear demarcation point between the DJ and DJ/MC roles. The skills and wedding experience that a good professional mobile DJ has puts them in an ideal position to move into the MC role.

As for my service, I don’t charge out my MC duties as an extra. My fee is my fee and I do all the planning for every wedding as if I were the MC, so even if the MC on the night panics or falls ill and pulls out (as has happened twice now), I can step in seamlessly and nobody is any the wiser.

I know who the VIP guests are, what their names are, where they are sitting and what their relationship is to the couple. I know who will be speaking and in which order and whether there are any important anniversaries or birthdays to honour and acknowledge. I know (and have prepared) the run-sheet for the day, so I know what needs to happen at what time and I know the dynamics of the crowd and the venue. I liaise with the venue and other on-site event vendors. I often assist the MC when I’ve not been booked for the duty.

I am qualified to do this work. I attend international DJ and MC seminars, workshops and trade shows. I am a regular and long-standing contributor to DJ and MC forums and I purchase materials to constantly train and improve my service.

Being a really good MC is a hard, hard job and it takes a lot of practice, rehearsal and training. On top of that it requires a top understanding of wedding reception etiquette, run-sheet preparation, name mastery and pronunciation. It requires the ability to relate to people in a friendly, polite, approachable and competent manner and to control the flow of the reception, eliminating problems before they occur and facilitating the creation of great memories.

It’s a big job. An honourable job. One to not take lightly.

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What kind of equipment do they use & what is their technical expertise?

Determine if the DJ uses today’s professional technology. You are paying money for a professional and they should have modern, well maintained, quality equipment and know Read the rest of this entry »

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How will the DJ you are looking at hiring make YOUR celebration unique? What will they do to ensure that your celebration isn’t just a music playlist variation from every other similar type of event they’ve performed?

If your event is a wedding, this question is all the more important. The couples I’ve spoken with over the last 23 years really don’t want their wedding feeling like a McWedding, or to feel Read the rest of this entry »

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In a recent post on his blog, my fellow DJ Nick Logan commented “If you’re looking at a photographer who “has great pictures but is much cheaper than everyone else”, ask yourself WHY that is”.  I found this comment extremely poignant and it really holds true for any service provider, DJs included.

If a DJ says he does everything for you that the recognised professional DJs do, but for a fraction of the Read the rest of this entry »

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For the third time I made the pilgrimage to America for the annual MBLV DJ show. This trip is always incredible, as I get my enthusiasm boosted, catch up with the very latest developments in equipment and performance, but mostly because of the incredible knowledge sharing and ideas I get from other attendees. The one area where most DJs fail is in continual self improvement Read the rest of this entry »

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Wow. Just wow. I’m freshly energised, refocused and totally excited about the new direction, ideas and skills I’ve learned at the MC workshop and Mobile Beat DJ convention in America. The wedding at Bear Gully Cottages, 4 hours east of Melbourne straight after the convention was wonderful also and I look forward to the next few weddings here in New Zealand! This was the second wedding I’ve entertained at in Australia, following on from one in the Victoria Hotel in beautiful Port Fairy, about 4 hours west of Melbourne.

I’m proud to be one wedding DJ and wedding MC who insists on continuing to learn and invest in my professional development to the benefit of my clients. Too many mobile DJs don’t invest anything in this area, which is a great shame.

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I’m currently in Las Vegas at the MobileBeat International DJ Convention. Please accept my apologies if I don’t reply to your phone calls and emails immediately as I will be busy in seminars and workshops for much of the time.

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Shortly I am flying to Las Vegas to attend the 12th annual Mobile Beat DJ Convention. In addition to the incredible equipment and technology expo hall, there are a huge number of advanced seminars and networking opportunities. I last attended this convention in 2006 and my clients have since benefited greatly from the application of the advanced learning and new ideas I brought back.

In addition to Mobile Beat, I have also paid and booked a position in the Marbecca Method Advanced Master of Ceremonies Workshop. Very few New Zealand MCs and DJs do anything to improve their knowledge and skills, let alone such an intense two day course in America. It’s a big investment in time and money, but well worthwhile to help my clients enjoy the very best celebration possible.

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