A Personal Perspective Jeff Knee a Halifax DJ- AtlanticProDJ.com
As a DJ, I know firsthand the significant role vendors like myself play in making a Halifax wedding day truly special. It's a labor of love that starts long before the guests arrive and often stretches well into the late hours after the event has concluded.
Picture this: I arrive at the venue hours before the first guest steps foot in, lugging equipment and setting up. The day actually began even earlier, with the task of picking up and transporting the gear to the event location. It's a hustle, but one that I willingly take on to ensure that the day goes off without a hitch.
There have been times when I've found myself in remote locations, far from any food options, making a 14-hour day feel even longer. I remember one wedding, a good one-hour drive from the nearest town, where I was on-site from 1:00 am, setting up for the ceremony music, also the reception in the main tent. By the time I left town at 11:00 AM that morning, I'd already been loading my truck for an hour so 10am start.
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When it finally came time for the meal, after the guests had been served their hors d'oeuvres, none of the servers thought to bring any my way. And when the family-style meal (Bowls of food pasted around a table) was ready to be served, I approached the caterer, hoping for a plate at my DJ station. The response? " we'll see if there's any left after the guests eat." Unfortunately, I never did get a meal. I finished the event at 1am Packed up until 2am Went to my hotel at 3am to eat junk and pop from the vending machine.
This does not happen all the time and the above story was the worst. There are some hotels and carters that feed us and treat us very, very, well. And other venues and carters that we basically have to remind them to feed us, and that the bride and groom paid the same price for us as they did their guest.
I've made it a point to include a clause in my contracts specifying that our djs should be provided meals, and included in their meal count. Despite this its still happens. It's a simple yet crucial step that sets expectations from the get-go, ensuring that everyone involved is treated with the respect they deserve.
But it's not just about the food; it's about the timing too. More often than not, DJs and Photographers find themselves eating long after the guests have enjoyed their desserts. The whole " whole well see if we have a meal left ones the guest are served. This means that when the first dance begins, we're still in the midst of our meal, and when we're needed for important shots or Song cues or announcements. , our plates have just been set in front of us.
For vendors like us, the day starts early and ends late, with countless hours of dedication poured into making your day perfect. We're not just "the help," but guests at your wedding who need access to sustenance and hydration to perform at our best.
So, my plea to couples and event planners, hotels and food carter is make a plan to include us wedding DJs. Hotels and carters should be pro active in asking about the Vendors meals? Treat your vendors, be it a DJ, a Photographer, or a day of Coordinator, as valued guests. Make sure we're fed around the same time as the head table or family table, so we can be ready and fully focused when the formalities kick in.
In the end, recognizing and respecting the needs of wedding vendors goes a long way in creating a seamless and unforgettable event. It's a shared understanding that leads to a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.