Potential Client Drop-Ins at Receptions...

Every once in a while, we will receive a request from a potential client looking to book us, asking if they can come to an event and watch us perform. I believe that many of these requests come after a potnetial client has called or visited a large multi-unit disc jockey company* located in the GTA. This company encourages this kind of behaviour from their clients, and they indicate that this is a good way for the client to get a feel for their disc jockeys. On the surface, this might sound like a great idea, but it isn't.

When we receive these requests, we always respond in the same manner. We do not allow potential clients to visit our client events for a number of different reasons. Here is why we don’t allow this:

1) We think it is wrong to try to use an existing client’s event (keep in mind we are exclusive to weddings and corporate) to try and market ourselves, as it is a distraction from the job at hand.

2) We can not control how long the potential client will stay, how they will dress, how they will act and whether or not they would consume from the bar.

3) We firmly believe that it is tacky to use someone's wedding reception as our sales office.

Thoroughly checking out a disc jockey company that you are considering hiring is a very wise move, and is highly encouraged. With this in mind, we always ensure that potential clients have access to speak directly with past clients. We believe that this is a far more effective means of checking out a potential disc jockey as it allows you to ask an actual past client, that used our services, any question that you would like. Furthermore, they will be able to comment on the entire process - from the planning assistance/vendor referrals right through to the last dance.

Showing up at someone else's wedding only gives a client a snapshot of what kind of service was provided - a mere 5 - 10 minute window. It does not indicate how accommodating the disc jockey was when it came to special requests, the level of service that they provided when it came to discussing your ideas, etc.

Let's say for example that you visited a reception that your potential disc jockey was playing. When you walked in you immediately saw that the dance floor was completely empty but for one older couple. Wouldn't you have seen enough to base your decision? It looks as though this disc jockey doesn't know how to get a crowd motivated and on to the dance floor, so you leave. Unfortunately what you didn't realize was that the older couple was the Bride's Grandparents who were celebrating their 50th Anniversary that night and the Bride and Groom had decided to do a special song just for them - they were the center of attention for that one song...

As you can see, the "client drop-in" method of doing business is flawed on many different levels. We believe that our clients are the "center of the universe" on the night of their reception and no one else...

Thanks for reading...

Most sincerely,

Brad Owens
Skip-A-Beat Entertainment
Tel: 1-866-998-8637
Web: http://www.skipabeat.ca/
Blog: http://skipabeatentertainment.blogspot.com/
"We make your event a memorable one"

* Name ommitted purposely

5 Points to Ponder For Your Reception

This time we bring you 5 Tips or Ideas that you can implement to improve your wedding ceremony and reception.

Tip 1 - Tell the Story Behind the First Dance
Most couples choose a first dance song that has meaning to them. Perhaps it was the first song that you danced to, or the song that was playing on the radio when you met or maybe lyrically it has significant meaning. Why not have us share this information with your guests? It makes a special moment that much more special!

Tip 2 - Toiletrie Baskets in Washrooms
One of the most thoughtful things you can do for your guests is to place a basket of toiletries in each washroom. Guests are apt to stay longer if they are comfortable. Contents could include: breath mints, individually wrapped toothpicks, band-aids, Tylenol, a Tide pen or Shout wipes, Static Guard, cologne, hair spray, etc.

Tip 3 - A Keepsake For All Your Guests
We love requests! One of the ways that we get guests to make a request is pretty unique. Just prior to opening the dance floor (after the parent dances), we invite all guests up to the dance floor and we take a group photo of everyone that was there. We then invite guests to come up to the DJ table, give us their email address and make a request. At the end of the night, we supply the Bride and Groom with the email addresses, and the photos, so that they can send the photos to their guests and look like super stars!

Tip 4 - Guests Don't Have To Leave Early at Chinese Weddings
Most Chinese brides worry that their guests are going to leave immediately after dinner. However, that doesn't have to be the case. There are many things that can be done to encourage guests to stay longer. We have found that by visiting the tables to encourage guest requests and by doing an interactive game or two (some of the traditional Chinese wedding games are so much fun!) guests tend to stay longer.

Tip 5 - Consider Allowing Your Disc Jockey to MC Your Reception
We are often asked if we would be willing to MC our clients reception. We love doing it and don't charge extra for it. Some of the advantages of having us as your MC include the fact that the more opportunity we have to interact with your guests, the more likely they are to make requests. Other advantages include the fact that we can keep things on track and on time, you will not have to feel that you are imposing on friends, we will save you potential embarrassment, etc. The only downside is that we don't have years of stories that we can tell, but for some clients this is a positive!

Great Canadian Wedding Resources...

The internet is full of websites to help plan your wedding ceremony and reception, but so many of them are American based and therefore may not contain the information you are looking for if you are planning a wedding in Canada.

It is with this in mind, that we present 3 Canadian websites that are truly fantastic resources.

1) Frugal Bride http://www.frugalbride.com
This website features a bulletin board system that thousands of Canadian brides rely on to get product/vendor reviews, talk with one another and get new and interesting tips and ideas. The bulletin boards have separate boards by geographical region and specific topic. There is also a tremendous library of articles to browse through. Membership is completely free.

2) Canadian Bride http://www.canadianbride.com
From the publishers of Canadian Bride and Today's Bride. This site also features a great bulletin board system which is very similar to Frugal Bride. One word of caution with this site... The vendors do not have to pay to advertise on these bulletin boards which opens things to low-end vendors.

3) My Canadian Wedding http://www.mycanadianwedding.com
My Canadian Wedding offers a comprehensive directory which will surely help in your planning.

Best wishes with your planning!

Sincerely,

Brad Owens
Skip-A-Beat Entertainment
http://www.skipabeat.ca
1-866-998-8637
Click on this link to start receiving our FREE monthly email newsletter full of tips, ideas and give-aways! http://http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101857992212

10 Tips On Having An Environmentally Friendly Wedding

Protecting the environment is on all of our minds these days. A wedding can generate significant waste and leave a HUGE carbon footprint. From food waste to the chemicals and trees used in the printing process of your invitations and programs, weddings are not generally the most environmentally friendly thing.

We have come up with 5 Ways That You Can Reduce The Carbon Footprint Of Your Wedding!

Tip 1: Don't Let Food Go To Waste!

Did you know that not-for-profit organizations like Second Harvest (http://www.secondharvest.ca/) will pick up your left-overs and ensure that they go to those in need? If you are using a caterer, share this idea with them and that this is what you would like to do. After all, many couples are leaving the next day for their honeymoon so a bunch of leftovers aren't what you need, but would certainly help the needy.

Tip 2: Choose your Favours Wisely!
There are lots of different ideas in which you can incorporate your desire to be Eco Friendly and still have favours. For instance, companies like Plant A Memory (http://www.plantamemory.com/) offer inexpensive seedlings in a decorative tube that your guests can take home and plant. They are around the $3.00 mark and are quite attractive. Other companies offer seed packages with wedding suitable envelops.

Many couples are opting to skip the idea of favours altogether and make a donation to their favourite charity. If you like the tree idea and would also like to make a difference in a developing nation, an organization like Trees For Life (http://www.treesforlife.org/) is a great way to go. For every donation of $1.00, they will plant a fruit tree in a developing nation. The trees will become a food source for those in need.

Tip 3: Plants instead of flowers!

Granted flowers are absolutely gorgeous and somewhat difficult to do without. However, why not incorporate living plants and trees in to your wedding instead? Topiaries made of living plants and manicured junipers with a set of LED lights look stunning and give you something to incorporate in to your garden that will remind you of your special day for years to come.

Tip 4: Avoid printing where possible

The amount of printing that goes in to the average wedding is quite incredible - from the printing of invitations, ceremony programs, name cards for the tables, itineraries and various emails, it all adds up. Avoid printing where possible, choose an eco-friendly printer that can print your invitations on recycled paper using vegetable inks.

Tip 5: Buy carbon offsets when flying

One of the biggest environmental impacts will come in the form of your honeymoon. Airlines produce a tremendous amount of carbon through their emissions and waste. The good news is that most of the major airlines offer customers the chance to buy carbon offsets. Basically, the small fee that you agree to pay in addition to your ticket goes to neutralize the carbon that you produced. That money is used to invest in wind farms, planting of trees, etc. The fee is minimal, but it allows you to have all the fun of the trip without the guilt.

Tip 6: Avoid conflict diamonds - buy Canadian

Many of us have seen the movie "Blood Diamond". It is a reality that there are diamond cartels that exploit women and children in to working in slave like conditions in order to harvest diamonds. Much of the money raised in these parts of Africa are used to finance civil wars which have been devastating for the people that live there. Many of these diamonds make their way to the North American markets, and it is quite difficult to tell if the diamond that you are buying is a "conflict diamond" or not. There is one easy way to ensure that you are not buying a "blood diamond" - buy Canadian! Jewellers will provide you with a certificate of authenticity and the quality is pretty much the same. One cool thing about a Canadian diamond - if you look under a microscope, most have been microscopically etched with a Canadian flag or one of our national animals (not seen by the naked eye). These diamonds are harvested in the Territories which brings work to areas in which work is scarce, thus improving the lives of our fellow Canadians.

Tip 7: Candles - Use Beeswax or Soybean and ensure that the wicks are lead-free!

Did you know that a lot of candles on the market today still contain lead? Most of it is contained within the wick, but even the colourants used can put harsh chemicals in to the air. Beeswax and soybean candles are usually safe alternatives, but I would still encourage that you confirm that the wicks are lead free.

Tip 8: Eco Friendly Disc Jockey

Did you know that even your disc jockey can play a part in ensuring that your wedding is environmentally friendly? It's true! For instance, we use digital music subscriptions which are the exact same quality as compact disc, but without the waste and environmental impact that comes from the associated packaging and the process of creating the disc itself. In addition, once our laptops no longer meet our needs, we donate them to an organization like Renewed Computer Technology in order that they can be used for training and development programs worldwide. All of the data is removed from the computer and the hard drive is re-formatted to ensure that none of our client information is ever compromised.

Tip 9: Insist on Organic and Free Range Foods

There was a time in which organic represented a monumental cost difference, but that is not quite the case anymore. Certainly you will pay a slight premium, but not it is not as earth shatteringly different as was once the case. If you are looking for an organic/free range butcher, then we can't recommend Cumbrae's (http://www.cumbraes.com/) enough! Their products are absolutely second to none, and one of the many reasons that they are the chosen vendor by so many of Toronto's best kitchens including Jaime Kennedy's Wine Bar and North 44.

Note to grooms: If you want to look like a superstar - invite your new in-laws over for a bbq featuring Cumbrae meats. I speak from experience, you will never hear the end of how wonderful you are. Want some good bbq recipes - drop me an email.

Tip 10: Pick vendors that are in close proximity

Try to pick vendors that are in close proximity to where your event will be. This will reduce the emissions caused by the cars used to get to your event.

Bonus Tip: A few honeymoon tips...
Rather than travel somewhere exotic, why not choose somewhere close to home that you have always wanted to visit, but just have never found the time. When renting a car, don't go overboard - hybrids are awesome as they don't produce emissions when they idle, but even compacts are usually a good choice. If you are going somewhere exotic, choose an eco-friendly resort or lodge. Travel agents have lots of eco-friendly packages to choose from. We saw one recently where you can walk along a canopy in the rainforest - how cool would that be!

As you can see, with a little effort, you can truly make a difference!

All the best with your plans,

Brad Owens
Skip-A-Beat Entertainment
web: http://www.skipabeat.ca/
blog: http://skipabeatentertainment.blogspot.com/
email: info@skipabeat.ca
tel: 1-866-998-8637

GLENNA AND ANDY MAKE IT OFFICIAL!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of performing at Royal Ashburn Golf Club (http://royalashburngolfclub.com/) in the hamlet of Ashburn - about 35 minutes outside of Toronto.

Glenna and Andy held both their ceremony and reception there and it was an all Scottish affair! Most of the men in the room were dressed in kilts, which in itself creates an absolute elegance.

The ceremony incorporated Scottish traditions both through the attire worn, but also by having live bagpipers performing for the recessional, processional and signing. Bagpipe music is extremely moving and something that guests will never forget.

Our good friend Dan Deveau of Life In A Flash Photography http://www.lifeinaflash.com/ was the photographer for this wedding.

Glenna and Andy were just an absolute blast to work with - they understood the need to play an active role in their reception by being out on the dance floor as much as possible. They also took the time to attend the second consultation with enough time to spend so that we had an opportunity to get to know them both well. This allowed us to represent them in a way that was representative of the people that they are.

One of my favourite moments of the evening was watching Andy's Dad dance & skip along the dance floor as he really enjoys music and knows how to have fun!

Glenna also took the time to incorporate the Scottish theme in to her wedding through a variety of different ways - from incorporating Scottish music to using shortbread as a favour. They also incorporated their interests in to the wedding - they are both avid skiers and had a custom made cake topper that looked like them (with skis on) and had a cake made that looked like a ski hill - how cool!

Hats off to Jim, their MC, for a terrific job of incorporating humor in to his role - he was one of the best MC's we have worked with and had an excellent understanding of his role.

Skip-A-Beat Entertainment Launches A Monthly Newsletter!

SKIP-A-BEAT ENTERTAINMENT has officially launched a monthly "tips and ideas" email newsletter. This newsletter is currently being sent out to more than 3,000 Brides across Ontario.

The newsletter is full of articles, tips and ideas on how to improve your wedding ceremony and reception. We also promise to include a money saving coupon or give-away in each issue.

This newsletter is absolutely free and recipients can opt out at ANY time by simply clicking the "unsubscribe" button at the bottom of every email.

If you would like to be added to our distribution list, all you need to do is visit our website at http://www.skipabeat.ca or send us an email to info@skipabeat.ca and ask us to add you.

Thanks as always for reading our blog!