Saved by the DJ!

Been shooting weddings every weekend since April. Somewhere around the middle of the reception on this last wedding, I realized that this was probably the least exciting wedding of the year.

The couple were young and sort of shy. Both ceremony and reception were held at one of those commercial chapels where they run people through like cattle. They didn't even let the couple cut their own cake! They were led by the nose through the events and the poses the photographer wanted. Nothing was spontaneous. Nothing was "fun".

Finally, it was dance time. But it reminded me of one of those dances we've all had in sixth grade. Everyone seated, nobody on the dance floor. It was so dull that people had begun leaving.

Then, there appeared a magician and like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, he waved his magic wand that the "FUN" started happening!

OK, he wasn't actually a magician, although he did perform some magic by bringing this party to life. He threw an indian headdress upon his head, played some lively music and got people on their feet, having fun, laughing and dancing. Finally, the party began in earnest!

(I'll pull a frame off the video and post it in this message, after supper)

This wasn't the first time we've seen a DJ liven up a party, but it was the most dramatic change I've ever seen, and this DJ deserves an award! It makes me wonder if brides ever give thought to just how important a choice this can be - deciding upon a DJ. Probably comes right after choosing a videographer, in importance.  

By the way, forgive me but I just can't help plugging this guy -

Tim Davis - www.djtimstatic.com - Oklahoma City

Bill Castello
www.OKVideoGuy.com

My story is the exact opposite...

The wedding was absolutely hopping and during the speeches I nipped out for a ciggy.  After my bit of puff I went back into the hall (praying that the speeches were almost finished) and the place had turned to ice.  Later that night, the bridesmaid - told me that during the toasts the best man confessed to an affair with the widowed Mother of the Bride.  

All in all though it was a great wedding and I was encouraged by the well pissed groom to make full use of the Free Bar; no better man and my head was thumping all day yesterday!

[vismaster]

Many DJs seem to think their only job is to spin the CDs and read the announcements from a list.  That bride was very lucky.  I'd say only one DJ in three would have tried to resuscitate that reception.

Im currently editing a wedding where the DJ announces, "..and now, for the father - son dance!"   :lol:

Hey - this is California, anything's possible!  But this was just a slip of the tongue.  Strangely enough, no one seemed to notice.  I'll edit it out.

[Majestic Video Creations]

Wacker, when you say "speeches" what are you referring to? Are these the toasts, etc. from friends, family, wedding party, etc.? If so don't you normally capture these to tape for use in the finished product?

Yes I'm referring to the toasts when I say speeches. And yes, I capture them for the final product.  You see, in Ireland we have a blanket smoking ban in public buildings and workplaces.  So what I do is: I set up a nice establishing shot of the head table and if I'm hanging for a puff and just nip out for a few minutes.   I've only had three or four complaints about this in the past but it's not my fault if people can't control their kids from knocking my tripod off center, is it?

Wacker

[osbornes5]

Wellllll...first, let me say I realize we come from different worlds. Never been to Ireland but would LOVE to some day. What I have seen of it seems so awesomely beautiful. Consequently, I speak from my strictly American experience. The purpose of this web site seems to be to dramatically increase the professionalism of wedding videography thus increasing our compensation and reputation along with the ultimate satisfaction of the client in the end product.

In my humble opinion, yes, it is your fault. Not trying to be a jerk here and as I say this is based on what I know and have experienced. First, I can't imagine leaving six or seven thousand dollars worth of high quality video gear perched high atop a relatively unstable tripod (relative to the rambunctiousness of rowdy kids) in the midst of or even in the same room as a bunch of wild unpredictable kids. I recently saw a video of a kid who's mother turned her back on for just a few seconds. The child immediately walked under one of those velvet rope lines to a big sand art thing that a group of monks or something had been working on, on the floor for days. Within thirty seconds the thing was destroyed!  

Second, IMHO, it is the responsibility of the videographer to do everything possible and necessary to see that a once in a lifetime shot gets captured. To goof up is one thing because we are human and the best of the best of us WILL make mistakes. But this seems to be something quite different. It seems clear that in order to do this your way, the shot would have to be relatively wide angle to ensure that someone does not start talking off camera. As you know, wide angle is not the strength of todays digital video cameras. Then you have the obvious problem of your cam getting knocked out of place whether it be accidently of intentionally by some not so nice teen.

Now, I don't smoke and never have so I have no idea what the addiction is like but it would seem to me that a second videographer would be necessary in your case to allow for such diversions. We never shoot a wedding with less than two videographers anyway. The second guy (preferrably female) doesn't have to be a master videographer like you, just competent. Maybe nicotine gum would suffice till after the important parts of the reception. Just a suggestion...take it or leave it.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here but the purpose of this site, as I said, seems to be to increase the professionalism  of our "industry" bouncing observations off of each other is one good way to do it. Anyone else out there agree here?

[HankCastello]

it's not my fault if people can't control their kids from knocking my tripod off center, is it?

Uh, yes, I think it IS your fault if you leave the room to smoke and a child knocks your camera off target.

Furthermore, I think it is your fault if that camera falls and hurts someone or damages property.

And more to the point, I think it is negligent to depart, when from your post we presume there is only one camera and you the only operator, while important events are occuring.

It is a nice touch to come in for a close-up when a speaker says something particularly dramatic, and to be able to grab the couple's reactions.  Obviously this isn't going to happen with a static camera on wide and no operator.

And what about monitoring the audio?  I learned long ago that just watching the VUE meters isn't enough - gotta wear those headphones!  I assume you're leaving all that to chance also?

Taking your previous posts elsewhere into account, I can see that you're an intelligent guy with at least some wedding video experience, so hopefully you'll see the light here and either give up the smokes or hire a second operator.

In short, the behaviour you spelled out does not fit in our picture of a professional wedding videographer.

Another quick thought -

I've been doing wedding videos since the late eighties (skipped most of the nineties though) and I've never had a complaint about our actions at the wedding or receception - not a single complaint!

I think it would be highly unusual to pile up four or five complaints in a lifetime of wedding videography.  In other words, perhaps you should see these as a red flag.  Probably only one in five or six people will actually complain - the others just hold it in and tell their friends not to use your services.

In fact, it's rare that we get a complaint when we send out our approval DVD copies.  Sometimes they don't like the music we chose (though we ask their preferences before editing) and once in awhile we're asked to take out "Aunt Martha", etc. - but complaints are very, very rare in my experience, so I think you should take each one very seriously.

Hey - you guys hijacked my thread!  This is supposed to be about DJs.

I'll go ahead and weigh in on those piling on Wacker, but i can't help wondering if he isn't pulling our legs.

Guys, thanks for the tips and I see where you are coming from.  I'd love to see your videos because it sounds as if you put a lot of work into them. Anybody care to share examples of professional video?

By the way, nicotine gum isn't an option in my case because it leaves this horrible taste in my mouth that makes me want to throw up and there's no way I'm quitting just to get close ups when someone says something nice during the speeches.  As far as I know there's only one guy in my area who does that kinda stuff (I also think he might be gay) but the rest of us just set up the shot and have a smoke with the hotel staff.

But I'm willing to learn and I'd love to improve so that I can charge more money.

Wacker McGrath

PS. Regarding complaints: the Irish are notorious for moaning about the smallest thing - scientists put it down to the miserable weather - so a few groans here and there are to be expected on this side of the water.  All the other video guys get complaints as well so I'm not the only one.

[HankCastello]

[..have a smoke with the hotel staff]

I think this is going to get turned into an article -


Wacker, you just brought out something that I think most of us don't think about - the image we project while doing our jobs at weddings.  Probably nothing is going to affect the way we are percieved more than the way we appear and conduct ourselves while doing our work.  

If we want to be perceived as professionals, it is incumbant upon us to take charge of our image.  This means, of course, dressing professionally - a topic I'll go into better in the article - but it also means conducting ourselves professionally.

You are in charge of your image.  Think about it.  If you were producing a movie where it was important that the audience perceived a particular character as a "professional", would you have him hanging out and smoking with hotel staff?  Ummm, probably not.

Think we live in a classless society?  Think again.  Right or wrong, politically incorrect or not, you will be perceived to be on the level of those you associate with.  Do you think clients want to pay big fees to those on a level with waiters and hotel maids?  If so, please think again.

When we shoot weddings, we do not eat with the guests and we do not hang with hotel staff.  We work, period.  If I need a quick break or a bite, I'll slip out, unseen, and munch a bagel and drink from the water bottle we each bring.  I'm never out for more than a few minutes and only during "dead times".  My wife and I wear radio communication gear so we can advise the other if they need to get back quickly.

I would urge you not to hang out with hotel staff and not to leave your post.  Anything can happen during a live event.  What if the person speaking, left the table and came over to the couple, said something quite tender, then hugged them or presented them with a super-valuable gift?  Your video would be of a blank wall.  Professional?

The thing about improving is it helps to get feedback and critiques. These can sting a bit, but hopefully they also help you see things from a different perspective.  

I'll be happy to trade wedding videos with you.  Send a complete wedding video with your mailing address, and I'll send one in return.  My mailing address is on our Contact Us page.

It is helpful to see as many different videographers' works as possible.  I know I've learned a lot from watching wedding videos from over sixty different videographers, so far.

In fact, we'll start a database of people who send us complete wedding videos with written approval to send to others.  Then, by including five dollars each to cover materials, shipping & handling, people will be able to request a certain number of different wedding videos to review.  Only those who contribute one of their wedding videos with this permission, will be eligible to purchase others.

If you wish for your wedding video to be included in that database, please include a signed permission to distribute to other wedding videographers.  It will be up to you whether your video includes identifying logos, etc. or not.

Well I've got nothing against hotel staff and my girlfriend is a waitress.  But you know what, I really think you make some valid points about being professional and stuff.

And I'd really love to receive some critique about my work because coming from highly regarded professionals who know their stuff would mean a lot to me.  But why not trade online?  I could post the first ten minutes of my current edit online and you could post ten minutes of your best wedding video. Wouldn't that be cool and the public could join in with critique.

I think we're onto something here, Hank! I'm excited!

[HankCastello]

I absolutely aree that there are many wonderful people working as waitresses and waiters.  The issue I'm trying to address is the perception of professionalism.

As for posting videos online, we all agreed from the start that this is something we will never do.  For one thing, it would only lead to one-up-manship - whose video is better than whose, etc.  There are plenty of contest type sites.  That is not what we want to become.  We will never hold a contest and will never hold up one video as better than another.

Nor do we want to say that a professional wedding video must look this way or that.  Yet, if we posted a video that would be its perceived effect.  

Our goal is to draw a line between professionals and non-professionals and to help clients find the professionals.   If your videos show that you understand the basics of good videography and that you know how to put different elements together in a way that tells the story of the wedding and if you have a few recent clients who think favorably of you - then that is enough for us to say you are a professional and that puts clients way ahead of the game in regards to choosing a professional wedding videographer.

Does it guarantee that THEIR wedding video will be great? No.  Does it mean that your wedding videos are super creative and artsy?  Not necessarily.  Our goal is only to draw a line between amateurish wedding videography and professional wedding videography.  We leave it to others to say who is "the best" this year, etc.

What followed was a fairly heated debate by several members over whether WVDR should post video samples online or not.

I removed these posts, feeling it was detracting from the purpose of these boards and a further hijacking of the original post.

I've summed up WVDR's position on that issue and added it to our FAQ page at -

http://www.weddingvideodoneright.com/?p=faq

I will remove any continuing posts on that issue.