Why Working at Your Venue for the 1st Time Doesn’t Scare Me!
Are you wondering why a vendor (possibly my business) isn’t on your venue’s preferred vendor list? Most likely, it’s because I haven’t worked there before. And that doesn’t scare me at all!
When I’m working at a venue for the very first time, or if it’s been over a year since I have worked there, I do these 3 things to ensure I set myself up for success!
Photo Credit: Julia Laflamme, wedding at Bella Terra, San Miguel, CA
1) I Contact Your Venue Prior to Your Event (and in some cases, right after you book!)
The gives me ample time to familiarize myself with your venue’s policies/rules, to share any necessary information (such as my COI or business license), and to officially introduce myself as your DJ/MC. This also alleviates stress on your venue’s side because they know they’ll be working with a DJ who is communicative and respectful of their property.
Sidebar - if your venue has any sound policies, such as noise restrictions, decibel limits, etc., they’re typically due to your venue’s permitting, zoning, etc. A disrespectful DJ, who doesn’t follow their policies, can cause them to receive complaints, which can in turn jeopardize their licensing/permits, and result in fines (that may end be passed on to you, the couple/client). An unprofessional DJ can also damage floors (by using the wrong type of/low quality tape), set off smoke detectors (with haze/fog), and damage outlets/trip breakers (by overloading circuits with too much gear). This is why venues are understandably careful and encourage you to book someone from their preferred vendors list.
Photo Credit: Sabrina Ryan Photo, wedding at Greengate Ranch, San Luis Obispo, CA
2) I Arrive Early for Setup
Anytime I’m working for the first time at a venue, at a venue that has spread out spaces, or am working more than 1 hour’s drive from San Luis Obispo, I arrive extra early for setup. As a standard, I arrive at least two hours prior to when your guests were asked to arrive. In the above mentioned scenarios, I’ll arrive with at least two and a half hours for setup.
Putting this into context, I can setup for a Ceremony in 15-20 minutes, for Cocktail hour in 5-10 minutes, and for Reception/Dancing in 45-60 minutes. And this is without an assistant, when three separate audio systems are needed! (P.S. I have an assistant at most of my events. It’s very rare that I will setup, DJ, and teardown an event without someone from my team present to help!)
Photo Credit: Juneau Wong Photography, Vibe After 5 at La Lomita Ranch, San Luis Obispo, CA
3) I Bring Extra Gear
I’m going to bring a high capacity battery, an extra speaker, and more extension cables than I’ll need. In general, this applies to any event and when it’s my first time at a venue, I take extra care. On top of this, my equipment is versatile and I own a range of systems. This allows me to base my final selection of gear on your estimated guest count and the overall layout of your venue.
It’s worth noting that every wedding does differ slightly in layout, guest count, and activities (Photo Booth, live painter, location of the bar, etc.), which can in turn affect what gear will work best for your event.
Photo Credit: Lulan Studio, at Chateau Noland, San Luis Obispo, CA
Plus, new venues are always opening and, over time, existing venues tend to make improvements/open additional spaces. During wedding season, I’ll likely work somewhere new or in a new space at least once a month!
Whether it’s my 1st, 3rd, 5th+, time at your venue, my goals will always be the same - to do everything I can to bring your vision to life and to create a seamless, positively memorable experience.
