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Florida-West Coast

Whack DJ Story

I contacted Complete Music (CM - we used the location on Powerline Rd) because one of the DJs rocked out at a wedding I attended. The hubs and I really wanted a par-tay so we tried to stick with DJs we/I had heard before. When I initially called, I was on the phone with Damon, the office manager, for over an hour talking about music and how important it was for our day. I specifically requested Rodney, the DJ I saw at the previous wedding. They were a bit more expensive, but I thought I was going with someone I trusted.

A few months before the wedding, I got a little nervous about the decision - not because of anything specific - but I was just uneasy. I shopped around a bit but didn't find anyone that knew Hip-Hop and R&B outside of what they heard on the radio. I called Damon/CM back and asked about their reviews and references. I was reassured that my day would turn out perfectly.

In the weeks leading up to the wedding, both Staci (Unique Event Design) and I both had contact with CM and asked if we would still get Rodney. Each time, we were told "yes". Well, TWO days before the wedding, Staci calls to say that Rodney hasn't worked at CM in months and they were assigning me someone new. I was livid mostly because I had just asked who our DJ would be and heard nothing of Rodney leaving the firm.

Nevertheless, we rolled with the punches and the new guy Jeager seemed like he knew what he was doing. Staci reviewed all of our timelines, songs, etc with him and then I talked to him personally to reemphasize how important the music was to us that day. Not only did this need to be a blow out dance-fest, but we also had fraternity/sorority dances that needed to be perfect. Once again, I was told that everything was under control.

On the day of, the excuse I kept hearing over and over again was "I don't have that song." Seriously? I filled out the planning sheets, went over the selections, and walked you through it. Why wouldn't you have the bridal party entrance song, sorority dance, and garter toss selection? Really? I was breathing fire. He said my sorority song caught a virus and I informed him that iTunes doesn't get viruses. That's when I learned that he didn't have access to iTunes. (Later, the DJ company told me that there was a $20 fee to use the WiFi and he didn't want to pay it. After the payments I made to this company, they wouldn't pop for a $20 connection?). So Staci ran to my sorority sisters in attendance to find someone with the song on their iPhone and we danced to that.

The first thing he played to open the dance floor was techno. Needless to say, the floor cleared in record time. So my husband had to hand feed him the songs that we knew our family & friends would dance to (even the hated Cha-Cha Slide. LOL). The rest of the night was okay... but nowhere near the par-tay we were looking for.

I did talk to Staci and she said that she had issues all evening with this guy from him bringing extra people to the wedding who were not dressed properly, leaving during our reception, being late, etc. Luckily, none of the guests noticed. CM is currently trying to "find the disconnect" but don't seem to want to take responsibility for their crappy DJ. I'm waiting to hear how they'll resolve it.

Re: Whack DJ Story

  • edited December 2011
    That's horrible!  My friend's daughter gave the band the songs she wanted from the real artists on her own ipod.  This guy couldn't ask you to do that?
  • ufsweetiebearufsweetiebear member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_florida-west-coast_whack-dj-story?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:62Discussion:e67cdb57-d70d-4ec7-a5f8-7f16f0453d75Post:d3805cea-697f-4a8b-985b-9811d6931f11">Re: Whack DJ Story</a>:
    [QUOTE]That's horrible!  My friend's daughter gave the band the songs she wanted from the real artists on her own ipod.  This guy couldn't ask you to do that?
    Posted by cjohnsen2010@gmail.com[/QUOTE]

    Hindsight is 20/20...

    The lesson to be learned here: burn all of your songs on a CD for your DOC or DJ to have as a backup.
  • edited December 2011
    Ugh.  Sooooo sorry you had to deal with that!  We met with our DJ on Saturday, and he was great.  He had already found and downloaded a few of the obscure songs we want to use (I had e-mailed the titles and artists to him shortly before we met).  I love music, so I understand your frustration.  I hope you are able to get this resolved in a manner that is acceptable to you--even though you can't get back your "day."  Best wishes...and, you know, Go Gators!  :-)
    "You're the L and the V, I'm the O and the E...Am I speaking clearly?"
  • edited December 2011
    Sorry, I just meant if he was too cheap to pay the $20, he could have asked you to provide it.  Again, I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you.
  • edited December 2011
    That really SUCKS!!!  i am sorr yto hear about that, especially after all the thought and planning you put into it.  Please keep us updated on the outcome and make sure post on wedding wire and spread the word..this guy should not be getting additional business until he gets his act together!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • ceeceed80ceeceed80 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i'm so sorry you had to deal with that. Frown

    i seriously would ask for a partial refund. it is in no way you or your guests responsibility to funnel songs, iphone, etc to them. they dropped the ball and you shouldn't have to pay full price for that. 
  • edited December 2011
    I am so sorry you had an issue. I know we corresponded about DJ's months ago since we both wanted someone who knew hip/hop and R&B. I have the added Salsa and Merengue too. Now I'm scared because the guy we booked we have never even heard him DJ before either. :-(( 
  • ufsweetiebearufsweetiebear member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would say:

    1. Talk to the DJ if at all possible. Office managers are salesmen and it has no bearing on the DJ. I didn't talk to my actual DJ until the night before the wedding.

    2. Make sure you're reading the reviews for your specific DJ/franchise. CM has almost 300 locations across the country. Every time I asked about reviews, I was sent to the overall company reviews.

    3. As previously stated, burn a CD of your songs as a backup

    But I can't complain TOO much because the guests didn't notice (except my sorority sisters). Eventually, the music was okay and we did have some dancing toward the end (in fact, I almost skipped the bouquet/garter because I didn't want to break the flow he finally found). I'm upset and feel that the company isn't taking our complaints seriously but at the end of the day, I'm a MRS. As they say, one monkey don't stop no show.
  • edited December 2011
    Oy vey!  Sorry to hear about that.  The DJ can really make or break a reception.  I'm sorry it wasn't what you had hoped for, but it's like you said...you are a MRS now and can't no one take that away!  Congrats and many blessings to you and your hubby!
    Brooke + Chavis
    est. 10/10/10


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  • cmeyer3946cmeyer3946 member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    oh girl.  i would be so mad.  so so so mad.  music is very important to FI and I as well.  FI is a musician for a living so if my DJ screwed up that bad....hell fire.  So glad you rolled with the punches.

    Good call ladies on the backup CD.  I will do that!
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • babybchbumbabybchbum member
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I would write a letter AND send multpile e-mails until you get a refund of some sort. REALLY?!?!? WE pay you all to be prepared. look at the paperwork and have the stuff ready.
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