Frequently asked questions
Have some questions? I've got some answers!
Why and WHEN did YOU start to DJ?
I’ve always been enthralled by music - when I was 5 years old, I heard my sister play piano, and immediately wanted to be better than her (friendly sibling rivalry)! From there, I picked up violin and joined my school orchestra all the way up until after college. and was even fortunate enough to play Carnegie hall in New York! I loved how music made me feel, how connected music is to your emotions and life, and how much you could do with it - I picked up composing music, playing in different groups, and even joined an embarrassing band (we were NOT good).
So as you can clearly see, music has been a part of my life for as long as I’ve known. However, DJ-ing wasn’t in my horizon until after college. I had just found a full-time job in Minneapolis at a company called General Mills - and it was a BRUTAL winter with -66 F weather. In my cold stupor, I decided I need to have a new hobby to take my mind off of the cold. I answered a craigslist ad that said they would teach you how to DJ, let you borrow their own equipment, and set you up on wedding jobs for free - I just had to meet them at an abandoned warehouse. Well… I went, didn’t get abducted, actually learned how to DJ, went to a few weddings, and then bought my own DJ equipment. A few years later, I started Virtuoso DJ Entertainment. It’s been a crazy ride since then, and I’m still loving Dj-ing weddings.
There’s nothing quite like seeing different couples every weekend, hearing the stories of how they fell in love, and then playing music that they remember from their past. Weddings are amazing and I am SO excited to be a part of your life!
How many Weddings Have You DJ-ed?
It goes on and on and on!
Honestly I’ve lost count, but definitely at least 100+, through 5 different states! Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and California. Still looking forward to one day when I will have a wedding internationally (fingers crossed!)
What is your style?
Respectful and Professional.
This is the most important part of wedding DJ-ing. I have seen a lot of DJs play their own music and to be extremely boisterous all night. This is NOT my style. The music is really about you, and the night is also about YOU! I am not the type of DJ that likes the sound of their own voice - I like to keep things fun, light, and as always, respectful and professional.
In my experience, it’s all about early and thorough preparation. I have planning forms for both your event as well as music choices to help tailor everything the way you want it! If you have obscure music choices, no problem. I do my best to acquire all of the music and make sure I’m extremely transparent with you to make sure you’re happy with everything for your big day.
How do you make sure the dance floor is packed all night?
It Varies!
A lot of the hard work is done PRIOR to the actual day of your wedding. This means that I should already know what your favorites songs are, what type of music you like to hear, and what the overall crowd is going to be.
In the few cases where your crowd is really shy and doesn’t want to dance, there are many ways for me to get them back on the dance floor. Depending on the demographics of your group, I would play songs that are huge hits: sweet caroline, don’t stop believing, backstreet boys, top hits, etc.
If that doesn’t work, group dances also tend to work about 99% of the time - cha cha slide, cupid shuffle, the wobble. It’s really about the flow of the crowd and what type of music they respond to. There are so many genres of music - It’s my job to read the room and understand what would work! No two weddings are the same :)
Who is the most important person at a wedding?
Without a doubt, the most important people are the BRIDE and GROOM! It’s not the DJ, it’s not the best man or matron of honor. It’s not even the parents of the bride and groom. It’s really about our newlyweds. If you two are happy, I’m happy!
Do you DJ full time?
Corporate job M-F 9-5, but weddings on the weekends!
I am blessed to be able to DJ weddings on the weekends. The thing about me is that I do not DJ other events - no clubs, bars, or other things. I am a dedicated wedding DJ specialist! I also work a 9-5 corporate job in San Francisco at Google. It’s always great when a hobby can turn into something more. I can’t ask for anything more!
What do you do for fun?
You mean besides DJ weddings?? I love to play music (piano and violin) in my spare time, I love tennis as well, and I absolutely try to travel as much as I can. I think it’s so important in this day and age to get a myriad of experiences and to meet all different types of people - to share experiences, and to live life fully. I’m extremely adventurous - you can find me trying anything at least once (or twice)!
So what’s next?
You made it this far down into the FAQs!! I’m super impressed. As your reward, if you mention to me that you’ve read this entire FAQ, I am happy to give you 5% off the total price of any package you choose!