10 Reasons to book Lee Live 

My advice on ipod Weddings.

The ipod may seem like a suitable choice for a wedding but before you make any quick decisions it is worth considering a few things:
Requests - A good DJ will take requests from guests to keep them happy. 
Quality - I am afraid that MP3s are good on headphones while jogging... but the sound quality is comparable to radio quality when played through a good PA system. A good DJ will be playing Linear PCM Audio Wave files through a 24bit Dual Stereo soundcard.
Continuity - A disc jockey is there to group together similar styles of music and beat and harmony match them so that the dancers keep bouncing to the same rhythm. He will also be able to react to changes in mood of the audience and know what style of music will change the dynamic.
Rapport - It is not just about the music. The rapport of a good DJ as he shares the experiences of your night will give that extra dimension to the event.
Lights - A good DJ will have a suitable LED lighting rig. This will add immensely to the atmosphere of the night.
Less stress - With a DJ at least you will be able to relax without worrying about the need to change the music if no-one is dancing.

My advice on having a DJ instead of a Band

A DJ has a passion for all styles of music. He will be able to play all your favourite tracks, current chart material, take requests, read the crowd and adjust the music to suit, cater for multicultural music and play the original recording of your First Dance. He is more likely to have a dedicated lighting rig and be able to set-up earlier and play on longer. He will also adapt to the size of the space available. He will also be the more cost effective option which is helpful if you have a set budget.

My advice on advance song request from guests

At one time it was very useful to have a list of songs in-advance, just in case any special CDs had to be purchased, but recently DJs can subscribe to Wav file database for downloads. So now music is available in minutes on the night via a 3G connection. I recommend that the Bride & Groom just give me a dozen of their "must play" songs in-advance as I will give the guests cards and pens on the night for their requests. The main reason for this is so I can put a face to the person who asks for a particular song. This is useful for knowing when to play a track. If I notice someone has gone off for some fresh-air or to change their shoes etc... I can hold the track. It is also useful to know which requests have come from families with kids as their songs generally need to be played earlier.
I suppose another good reason for requests to be taken on the night is because it is easier for the DJ to knock-back a song that is on your "do not play" list rather than you having to tell the guest yourself. Also, if any dodgy requests are given to the DJ he can check with you on the night before playing them.
If you are including a song request-slip on your invite can I suggest it says something like "the song I definitely want to dance too is:" as there lots of great songs but not all are ideal for the dancefloor. I do not recommend an advance list of any more than a dozen songs. On the two occasions where I have been given a play-list of the entire music for the evening there has almost been a mutiny!! Guests become very unhappy if there is no music they can dance to and will leave early! 

I am afraid that if the date you requested is shown on my availability page then I am definitely not available for your event. If that proves to be the case this list should prove useful in helping you find an alternative.

DJ Check List:

As a VOWS Awards Winning DJ who prides himself on customer service I feel I can offer a few tips on the things you could ask to see if a DJ is serious about the business and the music.

Do you take Play-Lists and requests from Guests? It is your Big Night and a good DJ should be able to prioritise a dozen of your favourite songs. They should also ask you what songs you don't want to hear no matter who asks for them. As an extra they ought to be giving your guests cards and pens for requests.

Do you have a ProDub Licence? A legal requirement for anyone using a laptop to play copies of their CDs.

Can you call Ceilidh Dances? As a wedding has all ages present a few may want some ceilidh dances (especially if they are in kilts!). A professional DJ ought to be able to call upto 30mins of the dances for you should they be required. 

Do you play MP3s or WAV (LPCM Audio) files? MP3s are reduced quality (compressed files) and are really not suitable for DJs... especially as most DJs ought to be using a dedicated studio quality digital-to-analogue soundcard and not the headphone socket on their laptops! The difference will be seriously noticeable with ultra-modern sound equipment. You will hear the full range of frequencies with no loss to the top or bottom.  

Can you download a song at the last minute if urgently needed? There are specialist DJ websites where WAV files can be purchased (such as Broadchart database). If the DJ is serious then they should have a 3G internet connection to be able to do this for you on the night!

Will my guests still be able to talk when you are playing? If they adhere to 2005 H&SE Noise at Work Directive you should be able to talk as-well as dance. A good DJ will use a graphic equalizer or sound optimiser to also remove troublesome audio frequencies caused by anomalies in the shape of the room. As an extra, they should ideally be carrying protective headgear to offer for any babies present.

Can you cater for Multicultural and Interracial Marriages or for the requests of my foreign guests? The world is becoming culturally smaller. A good DJ should know what types of music to play for all corners of the globe or be willing to learn what to play.

Is your equipment electrically tested? Some venues won't let the DJ in the building without a PAT certificate. Check they have this.

Do you have Public Liability Insurance? In the unlikely event that an accident occurs you want to be assured that the DJ can be sued for damages. Most should be taping down cables and securing lights with safety ties.

Do you have back-up equipment? If they are prepared then they should have a duplicate of almost everything in case of any emergency. (i.e laptop, soundcard, speakers, mixing desk). If they are really serious then they also should have a Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS Battery) so that they won't have to restart everything if there is the slightest of surges, spikes or power failures.

How much space do you take up and how long will it take you to be ready? A good DJ should have already visited or at least been in touch with your venue to ensure that there is sufficient access and set-up space. Most DJs should be at your Wedding at least 30mins before the required time to ensure that they have all their equipment in an anteroom ready to set-up when the room is ready. Doing this will keep their set-up time to less than an

Do you have Digitally Controlled Lighting (aka Digital Multiplex or DMX)? A professional DJ will have complete control of the lights so that they can set them to match the mood of the music.

Will you play background music during the buffet? I have added this because years ago when I got married the DJ played through the buffet and hardly any of it was eaten! You want the DJ to lower the volume and allow 20-30mins for people to enjoy the food before getting the party going again.

What is your style of DJing? Ideally a good DJ will be grouping together similar styles of music and mixing in harmony as well as beat-matching. There should be no gaps in the delivery of the music. Do they also know how to read a crowd and react to changes in mood of the audience and know what style of music will match the dynamic.

Do you have any images or videos of your set-up in action? You'd be surprised how many don't want you to see it and will send you photos of the crowd instead.  This is usually because they use cheap equipment or have messy set-ups with untidy cables hanging everywhere (which won't really be the look you'll want on your Big Day).

What extras do you have? You can save a lot of money by seeing if your DJ can provide such items as evening mood-lighting, microphones and a power amplifier (PA) system for your speeches, a projector and screen, or even an audio transmission system for placing a wireless speaker system in the bar area if it is far from the dancefloor (so that guests don't miss their music requests).  

On top of all that you should get 100% focus from your DJ. ie. Quick replies to your quote request and any other communications. Follow-up emails a month before the event to check your First Dances and confirm timings etc... And on the day they should be professional, polite and dedicated to ensuring that you and your guests have an absolute scream!