The whole issue of I-Pod
weddings is a thorny one and few people understand it
properly but here it is in a nutshell. I've taken my info
from the AVLA website and they have authority over the music
copyrights and they issue DJ's with their licenses.
1) I-Pod weddings are legal if the wedding couple buy a one
time license for the reception. We know that the chance of
that happening is very slim. An I-Pod wedding could be legal
if the reception was at a private place like a backyard tent
or home.
2) An unlicensed I-Pod wedding is illegal in a hall or hotel
that rents their premises for events. It's important that
halls and hotels understand this because they also could be
liable in a lawsuit.
The AVLA license is good for one event and any copied CD's
or music on the I-Pod that was used for the reception must
be destroyed or erased after the vent and we know that the
chance of that happening is also very slim. The AVLA has
authority to litigate any unlicensed event and that goes for
unlicensed DJ's copying music or using unlicensed hard
drives.
I've also added an article taken from another Professional
DJ Service in the US re: I-Pod weddings. It's real
interesting and insightful.
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Much has been written about
the advantages of using an iPod or other MP3 playback device
for wedding ceremonies and receptions. One obvious advantage
is that you can save quite a bit of money not hiring a DJ
for your wedding music. You can also have absolute control
of each and every selection of music and the order in which
it's played throughout the entire event.
However, the harsh reality is that in most cases, these may
not be advantages at all. Just ask anyone who has been to a
wedding where an iPod was used without the guidance of a
professional wedding disc jockey. True, you may save
hundreds of dollars, but at what cost to the quality of your
wedding reception?
Keep these facts in mind:
• An iPod can't "read the crowd", but that's a professional
wedding DJ's 'specialty'. A pro can change the tempo if your
guests want a slow song next or a faster song played.
Working with a professional wedding DJ who has a vast
knowledge of all styles of music will, in most cases, make
your wedding reception 'an affair to remember'. Filling your
iPod with songs that YOU like doesn't guarantee that all
your guests will like them as well. |
•
An iPod can't mix the music like a professional DJ. You'll
have a 2 or 3-second 'dead-air' gap between songs that can
kill the energy on the dance floor. On the other hand, a
professional wedding DJ can mix almost seamlessly from song
to song, keeping the guests dancing until the very end.
• An iPod can't act as a
Master of Ceremonies. Hiring someone who does weddings on a
regular basis and knows all the formalities associated with
such events is priceless. If you think a friend can do the
same job as a professional, think again. Be very careful and
sure of the friend or relative you ask to do this for your
wedding. Unfortunately, too many friends have 'frozen' at
too many weddings, and there are no "do-overs" when it comes
to weddings.
There's a reason we use the words "professional wedding DJ"
and not just "DJ". There is a huge difference between the
occasional wedding DJ (the 'weekend warrior' that has given
the industry a bad name) and the full-time professional who
customizes and personalizes every wedding s/he does. I urge
you to seek out a professional who can help you plan the
wedding of your dreams. A professional wedding DJ will go
beyond just playing the music like an iPod or hobbyist DJ.
They will act as Master of Ceremonies and keep the flow of
the reception going through his or her coordination and
directing skills. |
