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vendor reviews: disc jockeys
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Interviewing Rob Aitken, Owner & Disc Jockey at Music Central
You want your
reception dance
to be both romantic and fun. To get that balance, you need a
disc jockey with experience. At a rate of three to six
Music Central provides hours of music, lighting effects, Master of Ceremony services and even karaoke, for prices starting at $439 per event. Considering the cost of most of the elements that go into a wedding, the services that Music Central provides for your wedding reception are priced to impress.
Prior to booking, Rob is more than happy to sit down with you to answer any questions. This is also a great chance to meet Rob and learn more about the options for music, lighting, the various packages, slideshow equipment, ceremony options and much more. Closer to the wedding date, Music Central will meet with you, in person if possible, for a consultation to discuss the details of the wedding. This usually happens a few weeks before the wedding. This is a great time to discuss the more in-depth details such as musical likes and dislikes, additional services needed, such as MC services, or to go over any specific song request lists. He says that, "... it's important for every client to have a chance to meet Music Central and discuss what they want and don't want at their wedding." Rob says that the bride and groom's preferences and tastes are what it's all about.
So, what's the difference? Rob is a big part of what sets Music Central apart from other DJ companies. With a great personality, five kids at home, and a huge love of music, he provides couples with the face-to-face service that is so rare. "Really, I'm a former musician myself. Just about any DJ you meet, is likely a frustrated musician and/or a huge music fan!" Rob insists that a DJ needs to love music to work in this field. "I needed a way to justify my record-buying addiction. This was the perfect fit!" And that was how Music Central was born in 1983.
Music Central tries to provide as many personal touches as possible throughout the couple's wedding day. They work with the couple to determine appropriate and meaningful songs for things such as the first dance of the bride and groom, mother-son dance, father-daughter dance, garter and bouquet toss and special songs chosen for family and friends.
Music Central's packages for reception music range from $439 to $659, depending on specific services required and number of hours you need a DJ for. Some of your options are:
• Ceremony music • PAs for ceremonies (musicians, vocalists, officiants etc.) • Music for reception and dance • Dinner music • Karaoke packages to keep your guests laughing & involved • Additional lighting effects to jazz up the dance floor • Vocalist background music available (for ceremony, etc.) • The disc jockey can assist with or handle Master of Ceremony duties if required
"One of our top priorities is
to lessen the client's stress and to make sure the
evening runs as smoothly as possible. That's what we're best at. It's more than just music;
it's about the event as a whole,"
Rob told us. This philosophy has kept Music Central in good standing with many
of their clients, including top London names such as The Convention Centre,
Lamplighter Inn, Hilton, Sunningdale Golf & Country Club and Windermere Manor
and Elsie Perrin Williams Estate. Music Central Entertainment: packages and the nitty gritty of it all...
• A professionally trained and properly attired musical host/hostess. • On-site staffing throughout. • An extensive CD library and professional sound. • Free wedding consultation. • Use of request cards. • Advance set-up for in-town locations, if necessary. • Use of a microphone for speeches etc. Packages do not include: • GST & travel fees (usually average $40, but are based on distance and location).
Rob says that there are add-ons to each package to make them completely customizable including ceremony music and lighting packages... anything to suit the couple's needs, including Stag & Doe packages. Music Central also offers a Stag & Doe discount (a value of almost $100) when you book your wedding with them.
Karaoke is becoming an increasingly popular (and fun!) choice for many couples. Rob says that as one of London and area’s main suppliers of karaoke entertainment, they have a huge library of karaoke background tracks available to you. If you have someone who wants to perform a particular song, he can even let them practice with the background track beforehand. Karaoke is a great idea for the kissing game or to raise money at the Stag & Doe.
What's new at Music Central? Music Central now offers the use of an LCD projector with a large screen and DVD player for their couples. This is particularly great for couples who are having a Destination Wedding and wish to show the wedding ceremony video at their reception to extended family and friends. It's also ideal to play any slideshows that you or someone else has made up to show at the wedding as a laptop computer can be hooked up the projector. If you'd like, Music Central can put your slideshow to music. If you are interested in using the projector and screen for a slideshow, the cost is $125. The projector alone is $75. They can hook the sound from a laptop or DVD player into their system at no extra charge.
Preparation is key Music Central is prepared for ceremonies and/or receptions in remote locations such as beaches and parks. If you are planning a wedding anywhere where you may be concerned about power outages (or where there is no power source), Rob can make sure that the party won't stop if you book their portable generator. For a small fee of $100, you can be assured that your remote location reception will run smoothly. The generator is built with new whisper quiet technology so noise is not a factor. On several occasions Music Central has come to the rescue during an emergency power outage. Their back-up staff was called to deliver a generator and the party continued on.
detailsdetailsdetails • Rob and his associate disc jockeys will always attend your wedding dressed appropriately. • Music Central requires a $100 deposit to confirm and hold your wedding day for their services. • Suggested book ahead time is one year, if at all possible. • There are six DJ's on staff including Rob and he will try to match up the personality of the DJ with the couple to ensure a good fit!
•
Music Central are
members of the Canadian Disc Jockey Association (CDJA), The London Chamber of
• During their busy season, Music Central does up to 6 weddings per weekend.
Want to hear more music? If you're interested in talking to Rob Aitken or his staff at Music Central Entertainment, you can contact them by phone at 519-680-0698, or toll-free at 1-888-537-6511. If email is better for you, reach them at musiccentral@musiccentral.ca. Check out their just launched website at www.musiccentral.ca for more on their services.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are correct to the best of our knowledge, however are subject to change & should be verified with an authorized Music Central Entertainment representative. |
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weddings per week, it's
no mystery that Music Central Entertainment
Music Central places
emphasis on working within whatever
guidelines his clients give them, whether it is a themed wedding, a specific list of songs you want played at certain
times, or specifics about what you don't want played at your wedding. There are still many couples that simply leave music choices up to
the DJ.
Either way, Rob is dedicated to delivering what his clients ask for.
Rob is a big
believer in supporting the music industry and continues his love of purchasing
music. Music Central buys music on a weekly basis not just to keep up with
what’s new but also to bolster their back catalogue. Music Central’s office
library now consists of over 3000 CDs. All their music is legal and
appropriately licensed with the A.V.L.A. Rob states, "If you want a song and we
don’t have it we’ll go to great lengths to find it for you."
All
packages include:
Commerce, Tourism London and are A.V.L.A. Licensed.