See this interface? Better than the iPod interface, maybe.
photo: Iain Buchanan/Creative Commons license
The phrase “iPod wedding” has been popping up so frequently it now shorthand for the do-it-yourself sensibility taking over a huge segment of the bridal market in these recessionary days. It is a term that delights the younger, tech-savvy bride but horrifies the American Disc Jockey Association, which decries the iPod wedding as inept, ignorant, and laughable (you can see the video that started it all and the ADJA’s video response here; read professional DJ comments per same here.)
But both the “Dump the DJ” interview and the ADJA’s response are partisan marketing sound bytes, and they don’t really discuss the pros and cons of using and iPod for event music (except for the financial impact and brides and DJs.) As someone who conducts a lot of weddings utilizing DJs--and yes, increasingly, iPods--and since I therefore have a basis to compare the two, I will chime in here.
Obviously there is the financial issue: using your iPod costs little or nothing if you already have a digital stereo system to plug into (or, as is also becoming more common, you have a venue that provides a digital interface for its sound system.) The cost for a DJ can be significant, ranging from the $50 Craigslist Special--a guy who downloads music illegally to pad his playlists, and if you're lucky he won’t rob your house later that night--to several thousand dollars for a top-of-the-line professional who provides pro audio equipment, microphones, fog machines, programmable disco lights, karaoke screens, and his own selection of bow ties.
But let’s consider the technical and aesthetic issues--since with iPod weddings, they are inextricably linked:
The iPod, bless it, has revolutionized the way we enjoy music but--and this is a critical BUT--it has a brilliant, subtle, intimate interface designed for personal use, not an interface meant for broadcast or performance cueing and crossfading. This means that with an iPod it is difficult to see what is being cued, you have less precision due to its touch navigation, and the ability to accurately cue using iPod touch-scrolling technology varies from person to person, often dependent on something as random as the size of their fingers. You can’t cross fade or vamp or otherwise cover up miscues or stall for time if a flower girl flips out or your elderly grandfather takes a couple extra verses to get to his seat. Because you can't crossfade, there's dead air between one track and the next, which ruins the dramatic flow of the presentation. All these things are just fine if you're jogging and listening on headphones--the sort of thing the iPod was meant for--but are a huge problem if you’re iPodding a closely-timed event like a bride’s entrance.
This is where a DJ is way better than an iPod: they can shape those dramatic moments so they are more effective, and they help you out by covering if the processional stalls for some reason (at least, an experienced, attentive DJ can help you. The Craigslist guy is off smoking a doobie somewhere, chatting on his cell phone and inviting his posse to stop by your reception later.)
Of course, live ceremony musicians can also provide the needed theatricality and cover for human errors--remember those guys, those real musicians? who were mostly supplanted by DJs offering cheaper goods?
Sounding familiar, ADJA?
As at the turn of the last century, those curmudgeons who couldn't stop griping about the superiority of The Old Grey Mare never brought saddlehorses back as the preferred form of transportation despite their grumbling. The horseless carriage is here to stay, my friends. Then as now, technology changed the world forever and the digital horse has already left the technological barn. Whether fate is kind or cruel to DJs who now struggle to pay their bills, one fact is clear: the iPod/webcast/digital wedding demographic is here to stay.
Next: Part Two Should I have a DJ host the reception, and what are increasingly-unemployed DJs to do?
Until next time, a sweet and long life to you all.
National Wedding and Marriage Examiner Elizabeth Oakes welcomes your feedback at weddingexaminer@gmail.com; you can easily share this story or subscribe by clicking on the buttons at the top of this column, orread more of Elizabeth's stories by clicking here.
She's also happy to answer your questions about getting married in Los Angeles--check out her work and inquire about availability at MarriageToGo.Com.
Comments
Thank you for bringing the "human" side to the whole iPod frenzy!
Elizabeth: From the purely simplistic standpoint of serving as just a "music host" you fail to refer to the Basic DJ Skills of 1) PROGRAMMING the music for each segment of the wedding reception (knowing what to play and when to play it in order to bring about the most desired results) and 2) MIXING the music which most frequently serves to enhance the fun on and off the dance floor. Again, just strictly from a music standpoint, good programming and mixing skills will always translate into more participation and much better response when it comes to the open dancing portion of the reception. From this perspective alone, it's really the difference between attendees having fun and packing the dance floor, or getting bored and leaving early. And mind you, this all has very little to do with serving as an effective Master of Ceremonies, and additionally providing the grounds for everyone to feel connected and truly a part of the celebration.
I think there can be a sort of blend to both. We actually offer an iPod Package. I blogged about it when we started offering it. There is a lot of discussion out there by those opposed to it. Just as DJ's entered a market that was once held by Bands now iPods have entere4d the same market. Adding iPods to the mix will not cut into the profits of any individual group. It’s a budget minded add on and I think if a person wants to go that route then they should. It is the part of the dj/band/etc. to adapt to the technological revolution.
Thanks for the comments, everybody!
Per Larry's comment about DJ skills, I agree that a good DJ can help create a fun dance party, but it's the presumption that "dance party" is the only way people use music during a reception that creates much of the angst over the "iPod vs. DJ" problem. Many weddings are downscaling and/or happening at less party-hearty locations (e.g. museums, intimate restaurants, or private mansions in residential neighborhoods) so the dancing portion of the evening isn't a given, or may take place at an after-party rather than at the hosted celebration. Many couples--particular older couples, a growing demographic--would rather have ambient music, and I see far more people "get bored and leave early" because they can no longer converse over the thumping and blaring of an overly loud DJ mix, rather than because the music programming is poor.
I'll be dealing with the MC portion of the question in Part 2; stay tuned to Examiner.com!
I have to agree, the iPod is a wedding disaster. We used one, and I ended up marching to the wrong song because the person in charge hit the wrong playlist and rather than stop and fumble around with it after the wedding party had already walked, they just let it go. Aweful. Plus its completely impersonal, and you feel it, everyone does. Don't do it. Get a DJ or a band.
A wedding reception is more than "Just Music" which is what you get with an ipod. A good DJ is so much more than "just Music" They help you with the planning of your reception, keeping a smooth flow and a level of excitement to your event. What is the biggest fear of humans? "Speaking in public" the second biggest fear? "Dying." The DJ industry as a whole has really changed over the last few years. Yes, you can get those bad DJs as you mentioned, but an intelligent B&G whole take the time to really research their entertainment instead of just buying the cheapest DJ available, will have a more successful event. Please don't lump all DJs into the same category, as I would not lump all writers into the same category. (National Enquirer)The problem isn't the DJs it's the client who select their entertainment solely by the cheap price. Cheap DJs are not good and good DJs are not cheap.
I spend all day refining and building my music collection, equipment maintenance, creating itinerary's to make the evening flow (and entertaining)providing planning materials and meeting with clients to ensure that the night is organized, fun and all announcements are made at the proper time so they don't have to worry about a thing. I call the other vendors I'll be working with to make sure they are up to speed on the nights events and see if they have any special requests or needs. The list goes on and on. I love my ipod but it is a lazy piece of electronics who lays around all day and only plays music.
All great points, everyone--thanks!
Jeff, I agree that you get what you pay for, whether it's DJ services, catering, or National Enquirer writers (pointing out that some of the world's finest writers died in poverty--"money" doesn't always correlate to "good.") In a highly competitive marketplace, it is generally true that quality services rise to the top of the price-range and people are willing to pay more for proven quality.
However, as personal sound technology gets more affordable, the economy remains listless, and wedding "trend" marketing demands vendors constantly innovate in order to stay competitive, many couples are seeking choices other than the previously standard-issue entertainments. I believe DJs are going to have to work hard to stay in the future mix, if you will.
I'd be interested to hear what the wedding professionals who read this column are doing to update their services--not merely technologically, but innovations that make their offerings unique. A
I just wanted to point out that iPods are absolutely, positively NOT putting wedding DJs out of business. People who understand the impact of the entertainment at their wedding will hire a professional disc jockey. People who have no respect for the work that professional DJs do will use an iPod or a laptop, and then justify that decision by saying it's because of money or because they "didn't want a cheesy DJ." Trust me, there are far more of the former than the latter.
That being the case, people ultimately get what they pay for. I have heard more horror stories about iPod weddings in the last two years than I have heard about bad DJs. Professional wedding planners HATE do-it-yourself music at weddings. When something goes wrong or nobody dances, it makes the planner look partially responsible for that decision.
If you're interested, I wrote an article about iPod weddings for my company's website - I'm sure you'll find it enlightening.
I've worked many weddings where client-generated music (be it via iPod, laptop, or their own compositions) has been a successful choice, and I know many planners who find dealing with "iPod weddings" much easier than dealing with DJ or band set-up and scheduling. I think people who "understand the impact of entertainment at their wedding" will realize that they now have a wider range of choices than they did in the past--including having receptions that are focused on guests socializing with each other rather than a DJ- or band-driven dance party. I think it is intriguing that most of the DJs who have commented or attempted to contact me seem more interested in defending the status quo than considering the future (and FYI for those who have called my business--that's for clients only, Examiner feedback can be left at weddingexaminer@gmail.com.) I suppose we'll see in twenty years or so how technology, tastes, and economic crises have changed wedding culture.
An Ipod can be compared to a tape recorder. The technology has existed for years for people to tape their party or wedding music and have it played back. There are also mixtapes that a person could playback using a cd player. So the DJ has to offer more than just music. I think that the interactive nature of a DJ is the main reason we get hired. In many ways we are part of the entertainment!
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