How to Choose the Right Wedding DJ: What Actually Makes a Great Wedding DJ?

00:00 Welcome to We Love That For You, a wedding podcast with personality, perspective, and plenty of heart. We are Chris and Jackie from Lime Line Entertainment and we’re here to help you plan your best day ever, without the stress.

00:14 Welcome back to another episode of We Love That For You. Today we’re sitting down with one of our event hosts here at Lime Line MO.

00:21 When people think about wedding entertainment they usually think about the music and the dancing. What they don’t see is all the preparation, communication, coordination and problem solving that happens long before guests ever step on to the dance floor.

00:36 That’s something Mo takes very seriously. In fact, he’s known for arriving hours ahead of schedule just so he can feel completely prepared for the day ahead, whether it’s connecting with vendors, reviewing timelines, checking equipment, making sure we details accounted for.

00:50 He believes the best wedding experiences are built long before the first song plays. At the same time Mo brings a smooth, energetic presence that helps couples feel comfortable and guests feel engaged.

01:02 He knows how to command a room without taking it over, creating the perfect balance of professionalism, personality, and fun. So today, we’re here with Mo, and to hear directly from him about what drives him, how he prepares for each event, and why creating a seamless experience for couples is at the

01:19 heart of everything he does. So welcome, Mo. All right. Thank you, thank you, thank you guys, yeah. Thank you for having me.

01:26 I’m excited to chat it up with you guys. Yeah, we’re excited to talk to you today. Definitely, yeah, thanks for coming in.

01:34 So for, you know, our viewers, couples interested in us, they don’t know you, right, personally. So if you could describe yourself in 30 seconds, you know.

01:47 30 seconds, there’s a lot to talk about, I’m a talker. So 30 seconds, I mean I’ve been DJing for coming on 16 years years now started off nightlife back in Illinois in Chicago and I mostly nightlife and I transitioned into weddings about five years ago, three of them with limelight.

02:07 I believe three now. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Three years, yeah. Three years now with limelight. I love it. It’s every event is different, but every event is so personal to me because I love building these relationships with a lot of my couples and I get to follow their Instagrams, some of them are having

02:26 kids now, and I see their progression of life, and I was a part of their big story, and that’s what really drives me, and it’s just so beautiful to me, getting those texts the next day, so beautiful to me.

02:38 I’m just part of someone’s most important day, and that’s what makes me and drives me and keeps me doing this.

02:44 Yeah, I love following their journeys too even after the wedding. Yeah, it’s pretty awesome We’ll tell us so go going back tell us how you got into DJing so that was in Illinois Yeah, so when I was 19 My family moved out to Illinois.

03:01 I didn’t want to be too far. So I moved out with them I met a lot of people at Illinois state over there and I was younger didn’t really like It vibed with a lot of the frat kids and things like that, but the first people I met were DJs.

03:17 The first two guys shout out Keri Shimon and Norberto, they were great guys and they took me in and just showed me the ropes, I wasn’t really like, I didn’t want to really be in the crowd, but I love to party and hang out and have a good time with all my friends and everybody.

03:35 So they showed me the ropes and first thing they did, they’re like, you’re from New Jersey I’m like, yeah, and they just handed me a microphone.

03:41 They’re like, well, you’re emceeing while we’re DJing. And I’m like, I’ve never touched a microphone in my life. Did they just expect you to be loud?

03:48 Yeah, they just expected me to be like a hype man. And I was like, I guess I’m doing this. And yeah, that’s, and I worked my way into the city.

03:57 And then I moved back to Jersey, traveled a lot, lived a few places, and then moved back to Jersey, and started back in night life, and then jumped right into weddings pretty much shortly after and it’s, I haven’t looked back.

04:10 Very cool. It’s awesome. Do you feel like the Chicago Nightlife is very different from our Nightlife here? In a sense, yes, but you know, back in the day it was a lot of, I did a lot of house music which I love.

04:24 Yeah. OG house music, spy bar, other places like the castle used to be open back then, the mid. seen a lot of great DJs, a lot of Chicago’s festivals, especially in the summer.

04:38 So, you know, I’ve been to a lot of music festivals. And like I said, like, house music was so big over there.

04:44 So a lot of the underground clubs, there’s a lot of, there’s a small like hip hop, top 40 section, especially closer to like the cup or where the Cubs play, Brickley Field.

04:56 And yeah, that’s pretty much, it’s a little different in the sense of like, energy-wise like I feel like the the electronic music in Jersey is a lot different of a vibe than the electronic music in Chicago or what the Chicago crowd wants.

05:15 But things have changed and haven’t been there in a while so I couldn’t tell you what it’s like now but from my experience of me going out is like Jersey loves a lot of their big room where like Chicago likes a lot of their viby house a lot of their you know more like you know they’re bopping instead

05:31 of, you know, hands in the air all the time. Right, right. But it’s interesting, too, because it’s like you’re reading each crowd differently and fighting for them.

05:39 And I love both those vibes, and like, especially when I do weddings, I like to incorporate a little bit of that, where it’s like more of my sets, I kind of like to always tell a story.

05:48 And like, I like to build it up all the time. You know, I don’t like to hammer people right away.

05:55 I kind of do a build so it can like the story makes sense. I like that. At the end of the night.

06:00 So, and that’s why I love DJing, too, is because I could tell a story in my own way, and then also create and make sure everyone’s having a good time.

06:09 Yeah. Well, I’d like share that story. Yeah. I love that. That’s a good way of looking at it. So outside of weddings and DJing, what do you like to do on your days off?

06:18 What do you do for fun? Music’s still a huge part of my life. I like going to show still. Yeah.

06:26 You know, networking, I love going out and networking. Honestly, I do a lot of that. It’s just like DJing’s my life.

06:35 Yeah. It’s literally, I’m not boring though. I go on hikes, I like going to the beach. I like walking. Yeah.

06:41 I like walking the boardwalk, especially Nizbury, my favorite boardwalk. You know, I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve been on a lot of countries over 20 countries.

06:53 Really? That’s pretty cool. I lived in over 20 countries, I lived overseas for a little bit. Where’d you live? In Bahrain, small island right outside of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

07:04 I did one event out there, it was like a fun house event with a bunch of guys, it was really cool.

07:09 Yeah, I imagine. You know, but I think crazy. It was fun, it was fun. That’s cool. Yeah, I lived in Nashville for about six months.

07:18 That’s so fun. Yeah, right in a way, pretty quickly after. I’m not, I’m just a Nashville, that was a lot going on, but also not a lot going on at the same time, you know, being from New Jersey, like I like having, you know, New York City right there, Philly right there, Washington DC right there, not

07:38 right there, but not too far. We’re like in Nashville, like the next close to cities, like four and a half hours ago.

07:43 Yeah, yeah. It’s a drive. Yeah. But I want to go explore. I’m exploring. I like to do a lot of that.

07:49 That’s awesome. That’s awesome. What’s your favorite country or where would you want to go back? Portugal for sure Yeah, I went to southern Portugal for actually a BPM music festival.

07:58 Really. That’s so cool I can I believe 2017 or 18 one of the coolest experiences of my life But like southern Portugal one of the most beautiful areas best food best everything vibes music people.

08:11 It was amazing I can imagine I can imagine I got to put that on the bucket list. Yeah Yeah, it’s really nice out there.

08:18 It’s really nice. It’ll be amazing. So let’s get to know a little bit about, like, a little, we touched on this already, but why weddings really matter to you?

08:26 So what is it about wedding that makes it more than just a job for you? I mean, it’s just that feeling, like that feeling at the end of the night when like my groom comes and gives me the biggest hug ever.

08:39 Yeah. Dude, I had an amazing time and I’m like, that’s, that’s what it’s about. Like there’s nights where like, I teared up a little bit because I’m like, Cal, I did this.

08:48 Yeah, I helped make someone’s most important day. And I feel like that drives me time and time again and I texted the group chat yesterday like a text I got from the wedding I did on Friday.

09:00 And in that moment, I was out with my girlfriend. We were at a show in the city and I got that text and I was like, oh my god, I’m so happy I just got this.

09:09 Like that made my day over everything. Yeah, it was like, I was just like, Oh, nothing else matters. Yeah, it is.

09:16 And that helps me like keep going. That helps me wanna do more. You know, that helps me wanna create a vibe for every single couple be a part of their most important day in their life.

09:28 And I love that. Yeah, it’s such a huge chunk of your why. Yes. You know, like, I get it. I get it.

09:34 It makes me happy. Yeah, it makes me happy. Absolutely. Yeah. Could be a hundred percent. No, no, it’s not a corner.

09:39 I love it. I love it too. I do. And when you make someone’s day like that especially such an important day Yeah, it definitely makes you feel good and drives you to want to just keep doing that over and over again I agree and I told people all the time like Yeah, the equipment matters.

09:56 You got to make sure your stuff’s worth it right and got make sure your stuff sounds good bad the other day The couple are gonna care about what you’ve provided for them right like absolutely what kind of service You gave them how you made their night and how you like create, like cultivated it to their

10:12 vision. Yeah. And their vision is the most important thing. And that’s what I care about. It’s their vision. I want to make sure they get what they ask for, plus some.

10:22 Yeah. Because that plus some is what’s gonna take it over to the next level. Absolutely. Absolutely. How you make them feel is so important.

10:31 Just bringing their vision to life, right? And like not going too far away from that. A lot of my like I’ve been blessed to have a lot of couples that give me a lot of creative, you know, room But I make sure it’s always cater to their vibe right always cater to what they want and how they want it And

10:49 that’s what makes me happy as much as I love the art of DJing. It’s like their reaction. Yeah reaction the crowd reaction.

10:57 They had a good time. That’s it Exactly. That’s what makes you an amazing DJ too an amazing wedding DJ. So that’s awesome And then to touch back on like reading a room like when you are behind the booth on a wedding day What are you paying attention to that you would say most you know most people wouldn’t

11:15 really recognize? I’m looking at from grandma to the two-year-old at the wedding I’m looking at everybody the whole time. I’m every song.

11:24 I’m I’m Playing every song I’m transitioning into yeah, I’m paying attention to every single little detail I’m even looking at the staff I have the staffs having fun and I’m looking I’m looking to see if they’re annoyed because I went over five minutes for dinner Yeah, the crowds having a good time.

11:41 Yeah, or the crowd is dancing during dinner two dinner music, which happens quite often lately Which I love but The venues you know, you’re doing a good job if they’re popping in their seats during dinner, right?

11:53 Yeah, it’s a dollar Friday. I had I had like every like literally they ate so quickly and then just got right back up and I was just like, awesome, cool.

12:03 And then we’d like, the groom comes up to me, he goes, can we just skip cake? I was like, that is not my cold.

12:10 That’s your cold, that’s what you want. And yeah, that’s what you want. That’s what you want. Yeah, that’s your cold, sir.

12:16 He’s like, all right, let’s push it back 15 minutes. I was like, all right, cool. Why not? Love that. That’s so important with Wedding’s out, like just being able to read, like being aware of reading the room, like looking at the older guests, looking at the younger guests, you know, make sure that everybody’s

12:29 having in a good time and everyone’s connecting. That’s our job, you know, that’s what drives it. It’s that story. It’s part of that story, right?

12:36 I wouldn’t be able to tell that story if I can’t, you know, emotionally connect to everybody on the dance floor or everybody in front of me.

12:44 Yeah, because at the end of the day, it’s like that’s what, as DJs, that’s what we feed off, right? We feed off the couple’s energy.

12:52 They’re bridal parties, energy, the guests, energy, and that’s how, you know, we know which song to pick next. That’s how we can, you know, gauge it from agency, you know?

13:03 I don’t, I just don’t think that I realize that until these interviews, how much you guys pay attention to back there.

13:09 It’s, it might not, sometimes it might not look like I’m looking, but I’m always looking. Oh, I’m sure. I’m sure.

13:15 I look like my head’s down. I’m like in the mix, but now my eyes are always scanning the room, literally.

13:20 Yeah, indexing everyone, for sure. Yeah, I do the same, but in a different way, because I’m just looking for candid moments that happen.

13:29 It’s the same thing, like reading facial expressions and anticipating the next, you know, the next move. Exactly. And photo and DJing, like, I feel like go hand in hand, especially in the wedding aspects, because, you know, we’re both creating a vibe and DJ has to create a vibe for you to capture those

13:51 moments. Yeah. And like, and that’s how we work together, right? Like, it’s like, all right, This is what we’re doing.

13:56 And this is why I show up four hours early and we appreciate that Oh, we do. It is. That’s great.

14:03 I’ve had to wait outside sometimes. So, like, you’re going to have to be open, yeah. At least you’re there, right?

14:09 But yeah, I get to have a conversation with the photo team. I get to have a conversation with the video team.

14:14 I get to have a conversation with the media. And nice and relaxed. You’re not feeling rushed and you’re not feeling like all these check, this checklist is still looming over your head, which I love that.

14:23 I think Devon showed up Friday and he was like, you’re already set up, and I was just like, yeah, he was like, do you want me to gaff?

14:31 I’m like, yeah. All right, sure. Sure, I can do it if you’re happy. That gives you some work and it’s not the last girl, man.

14:39 Just focus on the interests. Yeah, yeah. So at the end of the night, what does a successful wedding look like?

14:50 Well, I’m more a song. Yeah. I’m joking. Yeah. You were just talking about that. That too. That happens quite often.

14:58 I do have an encore song that I use all the time. It doesn’t always work. Sometimes it does. But sometimes they love it.

15:03 Sometimes they don’t, depending on the crowd. But you know, fat, bottom girls. I love that song. Yeah. I love ending with that if they ask for one more song.

15:12 But just writing a room, being so happy. Yeah. Honestly nothing beats there. Oh my god, we had an amazing time when they run up to the DJ booth after that last song Yeah, yeah, and they’re just like hug me and don’t want to let go and I’m just like like this is so beautiful Yeah, this is why I do it.

15:29 This is it. This is it right here Like he’s like Joe Mindy like you see me a couple times. Um, shout out, Joe It like literally just so happy like literally skipping to my car I’m going to get the bags because they’re wetting wints so well.

15:44 It’s just like, yeah, I’m like, let’s go. Yeah, definitely. I love that feeling when the bride and groom comes up to you and they’re just like, oh, that was so awesome.

15:55 It just makes me so happy. It makes, I will say, makes packing up weightless brutal. But yeah, I’m just packing up on a smile on my face.

16:04 Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, that’s awesome. We don’t like the packing, but we like that excitement. Yeah. Exactly. Well, let’s talk about how you’re able to, like, your approach to personalizing a wedding day for a couple.

16:19 Like, walk us through what they can expect from you on their final planning call, what kind of questions you ask, and what do you focus on on that conversation?

16:28 So I focus on getting to know my couple right away. I ask pretty much like where they go out, what their vibe is.

16:37 Yeah. to know where they work or what they do for work. That’s a big one. If they met in college, where they met, they met at a bar in a certain town.

16:48 What’s their favorite? Sometimes I ask what’s their favorite place to go eat or hang out in party. If they still do parties, if people don’t party anymore, but I ask where they use the party for college or where they enjoy going out now.

17:02 Like I said, what they like doing for fun. In that way, I feel like I can get a better connection and like we’re almost like friends on the day of the event right like we’re pretty much like close enough friends like yeah like we are so comfortable with each other that on the day of like every like it’s

17:21 just like you’re working with your friend like it’s all good you know they have the trust they have all that um and and then we dive in the music I even ask you know what the age range of their their crowd is I think that’s huge yeah um and I ask give me like a ballpark percentage you know how many people

17:37 are 50 and above you know what 30% 40% 50% and that helps me also like playing for the night. That’s a great question.

17:46 Yeah because it’s it’s one of those things where like I don’t want to give them you know if they’re going to give me a request of like a million like young people songs and then half their crowd is older I need to know how to pivot when I have to, right?

18:04 And I also tell my couples, like, all right, listen, we got to actually talk if you’re expecting this and your crowd is this, it might not mix what, let’s talk about it and let’s find a happy median, right?

18:17 Which a lot of people are cool with because a lot of people, you know, they probably never planned a wedding before, they don’t know, you know what I mean?

18:23 So we kind of have to guide them through that, right? And that all I feel like works in making events so successful and wedding so successful because I just relate to them.

18:35 I try to joke around with them. We laugh. We have fun. I try to accommodate everything they ask for. I mean, it’s never anything crazy, you know what I mean?

18:45 But music wise, we live in a world of technology, everything’s easy to find. You can Google and search anything nowadays and there’s so many DJ record pools that you could pull music off of and things like that.

18:59 So yeah, but like I said, those questions are what makes the event successful, being personal with them, getting to know them, finding out if they have kids, hold their kids, what their kids like to do, you know, if they have kids, which happens, you know, and that’s pretty awesome too.

19:15 And like I said, it makes it like, so on the day of the event, we’re all just one giant family just having a party, having fun, you know, celebrating them.

19:23 Yeah, and yeah, that’s awesome. I like that a lot of couples are sometimes you know worried about awkward dance floors feeling forced so what’s your approach to preventing that?

19:39 So I as you all know I’m not I’m not a big MC guy so like during my dance sets I’m not MC heavy I’m not forcing people on dance floor I I let the music talk all the time.

19:53 And I tell my couples that in all my meetings, hey. On a scale from one attempt, which I know we have on that planning forms as well, how much do you want me to be on the mic?

20:05 Because I am a very like in the middle MC, right? Like if I see that the crowd needs a little push, a little more confidence, I might hop on, put your hands up, something light, but I’m never pressuring people because I let the music do the talking.

20:19 and luckily, you know, I’ve been blessed enough to where my music has always done love, you know. Yeah, and the way I do.

20:25 So, you know, and a lot of my couples love that and they, and that’s why they, I feel like they hire me and they like me is because I’m not so heavy during my dance sets on the microphone, you know, I’m not every two seconds like, hey, put your hands up, hey, get on the dance floor, you know.

20:42 Because that could be awkward. Yes, exactly. Yeah, that’s why I don’t, I don’t push it too much, you know. And I don’t like to either, it’s not my personality really.

20:52 You know, I love doing my intro, that’s always fun. That gives me so much excitement, but like during dance sets, I truly believe like the beauty of music has to be shown, right?

21:03 And like the way it’s part of also telling that story and like interrupting that story too many times might affect the flow of how I DJ and how I mix and how I read a room.

21:14 So yeah. That makes sense. That’s how I avoid those awkward moments. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s all about playing the right song at the right time right time and then sometimes there’s like There’s there’s like if I see like all right They might need a little push in the second dance set, you know in the

21:29 post-dinner dance set I’ll do some something I like to do is like I’ll suggest to my couple. Hey, do you want to do a group shot?

21:37 Group shots are fun. You want to do a group shot right after Kate? Yeah, one by everybody on dance floor and then I just drop a banger right there.

21:45 We’ll do three shots, fun shot, playing it with the photographer, Ben, EJ Booth, get him a chair, and people love that.

21:51 And that got everyone on the dance floor, and let’s go. And then you just rip it from there, because it’s a second dance issue.

21:58 You’re coming in with more energy to begin with. Like I’ll choose a random high-energy song, whether it’s September or let’s get out by J.Lo, or something fun that fits the vibe, of course, And that can just like as soon as they’re done with that picture is like they’re ready to get you know Yeah, and

22:17 luckily it’s always worked you know, so I like that’s one of the like small things I like doing. I love it.

22:22 It creates a snapshot for them, too Oh, it sounds like it was great. Yeah, it’s always a good one for like a full-page spread in an album because there’s so many people in it You got almost your whole wedding in that photo.

22:35 Yeah exactly. So I try yeah I try to like get everyone literally all the guests on the dance floor to like come together and then put the couple in the middle and go from there.

22:45 And I like the songs that you mentioned too because they’re cross-generational, right? So that you have to keep that in mind for those moments because you want to capture everyone and keep everyone out there, older guests, younger guests, everybody.

22:56 Yeah, exactly. And that’s why I go like kind of in the middle. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, very cool, very cool.

23:02 So when it comes to your philosophy on balance, What how do you balance what the couple wants versus what the guests are reacting to?

23:14 So that that goes I feel like that always goes to planning. Yeah, it goes back to the phone call Yeah, it goes back to the planning phone call.

23:22 It also goes back to like as a DJ like how you’re planning for your events How you’re setting up for your weddings how you’re prepping music because yeah at the end of the day The couple are gonna give us their vibe they’re gonna give us their music that they must that they want you to play, the most

23:37 plays that they must hear throughout the night but you also as a DJ or a job is to read their other crowd and that’s why we asked those questions to prep for those moments, right?

23:49 And I like I do it, I do it so like in a way like if it is an awkward song that is just for the couple but they want it played during like the middle of the dance set absolutely fine.

24:01 Yeah but most of the time that works like like I don’t I don’t jump on the And I’m like, it’s a request from the cult.

24:07 You know what I mean? That makes things awkward too. So usually people can already tell like, okay, that’s something for them.

24:14 They’ll create a circle or else I’ll be like, hey, create a circle around your bride and groom. You know what I mean?

24:18 And I feel like that helps avoid those awkward moments when it’s music that the majority might not know. And then you bring them back, right?

24:30 You’ve a song here and then two songs for everyone and three songs for the cult. you know, like as a DJ, you should know how to handle that, but yeah, that’s how I handle that.

24:41 Yeah, so let’s dive a little bit further into your professional experience. So can you share a moment where something didn’t go as planned at a wedding and how you handled it and kind of how you saved the day?

24:55 This past Friday, actually, on my wedding, during speeches, my mic, my main Mike started giving out the frequencies. I don’t know what happened.

25:09 I’m guessing there was the big body of water behind us. Could have affected the frequencies. Were you on a marina?

25:16 Yeah, we were Red Maritime Park. That’ll do it. That’ll it. Right outside of the city. Right outside of city. Yeah, right outside of New York.

25:22 My flashes do not want to communicate there. So luckily I had a backup microphone plugged that in right into my board and I felt bad because it was the groom’s speech at the time, and she wasn’t getting through it, kept chopping up in the first two seconds, and I literally ran downstairs, grabbed the

25:43 other microphone, plugged it in, and I’m like, start over, please. And everything went smooth for me. But that’s how I feel like I saved the day, because they had four speeches that day, and they had two of them early on, and then two of them they’re in dinner, because they wanted to kind of separate

25:57 it, so it’s not too long, which was perfect by the way. Pay attention, couples, if you have too many speeches.

26:04 So back up equipment is super important. Back up equipment, my girlfriend makes fun of me because she says I have backups to my backups.

26:12 And I’m like, yeah. You should. And I’m like, that’s how it helps my anxiety. Absolutely. And I get to save the day.

26:19 Absolutely. And there’s like, I’ve shown up at venues where there’s like, like the couple, like for example, they might have not hired us for a ceremony.

26:29 and then the microphone at the venue wasn’t working. They’ll text me while they’re in there. Oh my God, Mo, can you please help us?

26:37 I’m like, yeah, I got you. Like no worries, you know what I mean? Like I do everything from my couple as much as I can on the day of.

26:45 And stuff happens and we deal with technology, right? So it’s not always gonna be working the way we needed to and we gotta learn with experience on how to adjust and adapt as we go because the end of the day, this is a high pressure job.

27:01 Yeah, high pressure job. So it’s like, having those backups and being able to maneuver in those moments, in those awkward moments, or when something goes wrong, when a speaker goes out, I’ve had a speaker go out before, actually.

27:17 It was as simple as an XLR change. Honestly, I was in the moment. I was kind of like freaking out.

27:22 I was like, oh my god, my speaker went out. I have to go get another one from the truck. Right.

27:25 And during dinner, just walk out of the next alarm. Yeah, good to go. Yeah. So, and luckily, I had spare accelerers.

27:31 So, and that’s back to the backups. Backups and extra equipment. But having that professional experience being in it for this long, you learn how to pivot, what to bring with you, and how to fix things fast.

27:47 Yeah, and that’s what it’s about. It’s like, you gotta be on your feet. You gotta be on your toes the whole time, on your feet and like just, right?

27:57 Cause no one’s thinking what to do. And that comes with experience. Obviously, when I first started, you know, now if a speaker goes out, my anxiety is way less about it.

28:06 Because I know how to handle it. I know that things to look for immediately to fix it right away. You know, and takes me less than like 20 seconds at this point, you know?

28:16 Yeah, let’s touch on a little bit about like your music and your personal style. so if we dropped into one of your dance floors at peak energy what would that feel like?

28:28 Hands in the air, people breaking it down, people having fun. I don’t like to stick to as much as I love house music and electronic music.

28:37 I don’t like to stick to one genre. You know I’m a very, I like being versatile. I like going from genre to genre.

28:43 I love playing the lane. I love playing the house. I everything in between the rock, the pop punk, pop punk is a huge favorite of mine.

28:51 Yeah. Keep people guessing. Yeah. And I just, I feel like it helps build the story, right? And that goes back to what I was saying.

28:59 Building a story is so important with my sets. And that story is catered to every couple, every event in their own way, right?

29:10 And I make sure that I try to, you know, this is why we have those meetings is that that you can walk in at peak hour any moment, or like in that moment of peak hour, and you’re having a good time, no matter who you are, no matter what your music tastes this, right?

29:24 And like, that’s what I like doing, and that’s why I like being versatile and like being more like just having my library to where it’s like I have almost every song in every genre, you know what I mean?

29:37 It’s probably impossible to have every song, but like that’s the goal, and you know, that builds experience too, because it helps avoid those awkward moments on the floor, like we were mentioning earlier.

29:48 Yeah, because you’re there for anything at that point. Yeah, because your library is so built. Right? And you’re ready for, you could pivot in any direction.

29:56 Yeah, definitely. So when you’re building a story, this next question has me kind of thinking about this story. Like, what kind of music do you gravitate toward when you build that party?

30:07 And like, I guess going back to your questionnaires and getting to know the couple, like each one is personally built so I guess it would obviously it’s going to be different every single time.

30:18 Yeah and it really is because it is different every single time like luckily I get a lot of couples that are like right up my vibe you know what I mean they like their top 40 like house remixes they like you know their Joel Curry songs they like you know stuff like that.

30:36 And that’s so it always works out for me in that in that sense. So I definitely gravitate more towards like higher energy music, you know, 120 and up beats per minute usually.

30:49 But I like I say I don’t start that way. I like to go like I’m a middle like I’m in the middle like 110 one between 110 and 115’s where I usually like to start as far as like music energy goes And then like build it from there and then go up and down from there where I need to right I feel like that’s

31:06 a happy medium I’m very like a balanced person, so I feel like everything in life has to have balance Yeah, I love that.

31:14 I don’t know if that’s the best way to go about like, but that’s how I think it is So like and like even with music, right like balance is important like and that’s why I like I don’t want to hammer or an hour at EDM while grandma’s sitting like right in front of me is the speaker, you know, me and like

31:33 , I don’t wanna hear that for an hour or two in front of a speaker as much as I love the music.

31:37 You know what I mean? So it’s like, yeah, because then grandma’s gonna like wanna leave early. You know what I mean?

31:43 She’s like, I can’t. No, we wanna keep grandma for the whole night. Yeah. So I always sell my couple of that too.

31:49 Like my job is to keep literally, especially the older people there, till the end. I was like, we want to keep until the end.

31:58 Yeah, we want anybody to leave early. I love Ramos. Yeah. So, do you have like a certain song that you feel just always hits?

32:08 Mm-hmm. You know, we talked about every crowd being different, but is there that one song that just always hits? Don’t laugh.

32:16 Unwritten Natasha Benningfield. Yeah. Okay. I will. That is my sick. I agree. that’s on. Yeah, I play it every set, like almost non-negotiable.

32:28 It has worked in every room. It’s almost only requested like once or twice on the musk plays that I’ve ever gotten, but literally every room I’ve played it and never failed.

32:40 You know, I’ve been playing that song a lot lately too, and it hits. I’ve been playing that song for years.

32:45 I will forever love that song. Yeah, she’s great. So do you throw it? Do you hit that in the middle of a dance set?

32:52 Like do you have like a remix of it or is that like a like a dinner song like everybody’s sitting in their seats Singing no, it’s a dancing song like I play that during like all right, so do I so yeah, I play that I have a like a Moomba remix of it that really hits okay And it’s not too far away from

33:09 like the original But it’s got like a heavy bass line so like people are like yeah into it and then like yeah And then I get everyone clapped in during the break down.

33:18 That’s awesome. I love that song because he the feels does it for me and the the crowd reaction I get like even when I have like a hip hop heavy couple and I dropped that song love it.

33:28 Yeah, I have an EDM heavy couple and I dropped that song. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it’s a massive sing along.

33:35 Well, I’m gonna probably get roasted for this but wasn’t it like a song for like a TV show? That was a pretty big TV show.

33:41 Was it? I think it was. I’m glad I’m not I’m not the only one that doesn’t Remember, pretty sure it was.

33:48 I just don’t remember what TV show it was. Maybe that’s why it was so big. Yeah, man. I can’t remember if it was a reality show, like the Hills or something, or if it was like even before that it wasn’t really out.

34:00 I’m gonna look it up when we’re done. Okay, okay. I’m pretty sure it was. That’s definitely a search. Yeah, I’m interested to know in the section.

34:07 You can let me know what it is. Natasha Beddingfield also has another wedding banger that a lot of people love these words.

34:16 Yeah, the badger remix or edit of it is so good. I play that too. I play that too. A lot of my couples love to use it for their intro, which I love.

34:26 And then they’re like, can you play it again later? Yeah, I think she’s very talented. I like a lot of her music.

34:33 I love that. Cool. Well let’s talk about the experience you create for your couples. What do you think couples are really hiring you for beyond music?

34:42 Um, I feel like my, I feel like I, I bring it like a chiller personality, you know what I mean?

34:49 Since I’m not like this, like, very like, like my intros are high energy, but like, like I said, during my dance sets, I’m not very big on the mic, right?

35:00 I’ll give my couples shout outs here and there, not very big on the mic and I feel like that’s why I get hired a lot, is because I tell my story and I tell their story through music.

35:10 And I cater it to them and yeah, I feel like that’s there and my versatility in music as well. I feel like a lot of my couples enjoy that I can go from rock, pop, punk to reggaeton to hip-hop.

35:26 Yeah, or adaptability. Yeah, to disco, to house. And I just, I love that and that’s what I get, that’s the feedback I get.

35:35 And like I love that. I love that. Like when people hire me and you know, or you know, get me they they almost know what they’re Going for and that’s that’s my vibe and that’s why they They want someone like that.

35:49 Yeah. So what’s one mistake you see couples make when planning their entertainment? Not hiring professional services and when I say that I mean like don’t No, don’t, but like definitely if you’re looking if you’re looking to hire someone whether it’s your photo, video, DJ, ceremony services, whoever 

36:13 it is, you’re efficient, make sure, make sure they have the experience, right? Even if it’s a friend, even if it’s a family member, make sure they have the experience, right?

36:22 They’re not doing it as like a side thing or they’re not just doing it for fun, you get what I’m saying.

36:27 and just make sure they have the experience because if one part of that, especially like, for example, like if it’s DJ and photo, right, they have to connect and if someone, if one of them doesn’t have experience, it’s not gonna flow as well from my experience and that’s what I’ve seen over the years

36:46 . It just flows a lot better when everyone has hires professionals that are there for the service unless as friends. And I think that’s, yes, better communication helps keep everything pretty tidy and working smoothly.

37:05 That’s my biggest advice, honestly. And the other advice, big mistake I see couples do, don’t be shy with the music.

37:14 Tell us your vibe. I don’t know, it’s not an answer. You have a vibe. You listen to music, tell us your vibe, don’t be afraid, don’t worry about your guests yet we’ll get there.

37:26 Tell us your vibe. Let us know. Don’t be afraid to tell us your vibe. Your vibe isn’t weird. We all have different tastes of music.

37:33 Tell us your vibe. Yeah, we want to know the more we know, the better we could do for you. For you.

37:39 Yeah. And we have ways to incorporate different genre like I had a I had a wedding in freehold last year.

37:47 One of my one of my fun like high energy weddings and their groom is a big, like, drum and bass fan.

37:57 Okay. And, like, dubstep fan, right? Have their crown. It was older. So, what I did was, and we discussed this, we played this together, he kind of DJs for fun.

38:08 Yeah. And we discussed this together. What I did was, I literally, like, was playing, like, Ain’t no Mountain High enough, but it was, like, a drum and bass remix.

38:16 Oh, that’s cool. So, point where the end of the night, like, his mom and dad came up to me and, like, that gave me the biggest hugs in the world.

38:22 They’re like, this was an amazing experience. And it’s never a firehouse. And it was so cool. We made it so viby, they had the lights, everything.

38:31 And they just loved it, right? And like, but during our meetings, he was shy about it, right? And I was like, let’s find something that works.

38:38 We’re gonna make you happy and your wife happy and we’re gonna find something that works. And she’s on that vibe too.

38:44 She’s a big drum and bass dub set fan. And it was such an amazing water. That’s really cool. I told about figuring out the solution.

38:51 together. Yeah, but yeah, but don’t don’t hold that information from us. Yeah, because then if you don’t hear what you like, you only got one person to be mad at.

39:01 Very true. Very true. Oh, it’s funny. So funny. So what’s one good piece of advice you’d give a couple who wants an amazing dance for.

39:13 Trust your DJs. Trust your DJs. You’ve had the meetings. You’ve had the planning. Trust your DJs to rock the night because that’s what they’re there for.

39:26 That’s their job. Just trust them. Trust your DJs and you know it’s we all work together and I tell you know I’m very communicative on the day of my events right.

39:36 I check in with my couple like literally any chance as I get. I tell them what’s going on, I go over, I grab the Mator D, literally, hey, we’re gonna have, we’re gonna go through timeline with the couple.

39:47 Right? I don’t like doing that, just myself, so that way, everyone’s on the same page. Everything’s streamlined, but yeah, trust your DJs, trust your venue, and everything will go smoothly.

40:00 Yeah, that’s very true. Put your trust in the professionals. Exactly, yeah. Exactly, kick back, enjoy the day. Enjoy the day, yeah.

40:08 Yeah, we’ll make sure everything runs smooth and we’ll make sure that everybody has a great time. You hired us for a reason, right?

40:13 Yeah, exactly. Let’s talk about dream wedding to DJ. What is your dream wedding to be the DJ at? What does the energy feel like from start to finish?

40:24 Best wedding you’ll ever DJ in your whole life. Oh man, pressure. Man, that’s feel. That’s pressure because every wedding is my favorite wedding.

40:34 Good answer. Good answer. I mean, they’re all really fun. They’re all really fun, yeah. They’re all different. They’re all different.

40:43 But I’m a, like, it’s like, it’s weird to say, because like, my favorite thing to do is just like, flow right and do me.

40:52 And like, like, my favorite weddings are the ones that are, like, that the couple are like, we heard you out, whether it’s in Asbury at Porter or a Bond street or in Hobo game.

41:07 And do your thing. Do your thing. Literally, just like, do not play these three songs. Other than that, do your thing.

41:13 Yeah, cool, those are my favorite. Those are always my dream weddings, and luckily, I get those, right? So yeah, those are my dream weddings.

41:24 The energy is a build. I can go up and down with it where I hate you emotionally, me and I love seeing that reaction be like, oh my God, I haven’t heard this song in so long.

41:36 And then just like they just hands in the air, they’re all having fun. Or even if it’s a new song, like I corporate it in there the way I mix it.

41:45 Oh my God, this is such a great song. I tried it the other day. And like, you know, just getting that reaction and just building that energy.

41:53 And that’s my dream wedding is like being able to just DJ out of my own creativity, honestly, which I mostly get to do, but so yeah.

42:02 And just see and feel those reactions. And like that’s the highlight of my life. As much as I love music and I’m in it for a lot of the music, you know, it’s also about that crowd reaction.

42:12 Like I wouldn’t be honestly, I would just be producing if it wasn’t. You know, I love DJ way more than producing.

42:18 You know, so like that crowd reaction. Yeah, like seeing people have that joy on the day. dance floor and from something I created is what gives me joy and happiness.

42:31 Sure, you know, it’s, I may have not produced these songs that I’m playing, but just the way I put them together that makes them to the crowd, you know, the way I just made grandma happy.

42:42 And then the 15 year old niece happy, you know, on the same dance floor, you know, that’s, that’s what makes me happy.

42:48 Yeah. I made grandpa happy and uncle Mike happy. You know, like it’s what it’s what drives me you know those are my dream weddings is just seeing everyone on dance floor Pack dance floor happy the whole time.

43:01 Yeah, dancing and having a good time. Mm-hmm. So in your eyes what makes a wedding unforgettable Like for me or for like the couple Um for everyone Yeah, like for everyone.

43:17 Yeah Yeah, the couple I knew I mean music music is everything right it’s it’s It’s the flow the the energy.

43:26 Obviously, you know, you have to have a good bridal party that wants to party Good a good crowd that helps a lot, you know, but that’s That’s what a successful wedding is like that’s what makes it unforgettable You know people dancing people having a good time and staying on the dance floor, right?

43:45 And it’s a team effort, you know, so as long as the venue’s working with you, you’re working with the venue, you’re working with the photo team, you’re working with the video team, you’re working with your couple being communicative.

43:58 I think it always makes an unforgettable night. Especially when the bridal party, the crowd, you know, the guests, everyone is just having a good time and they know the assignment.

44:11 right when people coming weddings are coming to dance right you’re coming to have a good time you’re coming to celebrate two beautiful people starting out life journey you know yeah so it’s like it all has to work together and that’s what makes it unforgettable yeah I believe 100% agreed agreed so we’re

44:27 gonna um end on some rapid fire questions about the potential future wedding for you like if you were talking about your dream wedding um would you go for a first look or no first look.

44:40 I would go for first look. Yeah. I agree. First looks are great. They give you some time to together to breathe in room.

44:48 How about personal vowels or traditional vowels? Would you write your own or would you go traditional? Hmm, personal. Yeah. I like that.

44:58 Personal. I’m an emotional guy so yeah. It sounds like it too. Like the way that you build your dance sets and build the story of a night and talk about the emotion of music.

45:07 music is emotional. I’ve cried in ceremonies before I’m like, oh yeah. I like listening to personal vows at a ceremony.

45:18 It’s nice. It’s so nice. That’s awesome. What would be your introduction song? You have an idea. Have you ever thought of that?

45:28 It’s a tough one. That that is a big question. I know huge question. Yeah, like how are we kicking off this?

45:35 Yeah, I was like a lot of music Like the one me and you walked into. Yeah, yeah, I wouldn’t change it.

45:42 You picked that one though It was the song called lightning and but it was like Johnny Resneck from the Google dolls did the vocal on it and it was just really really cool because like me I used to like the Google dolls a lot when when I was growing up I just like his voice a lot and the song was like

46:01 super high energy. It was like an ADM song and that was like huge at the time You know, so it was just it wasn’t like a super well-known song So I kind of liked that about it.

46:12 It just had good energy good vibes and like a voice that I liked You know, so it was just a good way to kind of kick things off.

46:19 Yeah, yeah, I mean for me it probably be rather be by Yeah, I’m just Glenn. Okay. That’s one of my favorite all-time songs.

46:29 Love her voice. Love that. Beautiful voice. I think it’s, yeah, I think it’s rather me right in the middle for me.

46:36 So like, you know what I mean? I’m like, day-to-day life, I’m a very chill person. So like, you know, it’s like right there for me.

46:42 It’s not too high energy. It’s just right in the middle right there where I like it. Perfect. Love it. Would you go with a big wedding party or just a few close friends?

46:53 Yeah, people are gonna find this for me but a few close friends. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like to DJ big wedding parties.

47:00 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Couples have a huge wedding party but I’m gonna have a small one. It has to do with a lot of the energy that you know when you have a large wedding party it is great.

47:14 It’s great for dance floors. it’s great for like the energy there, but like throughout the day that it does become difficult, at least on my end, because we’ve got to organize upwards of 20 to 25 people with large wedding parties, everyone’s got to line up, someone’s got a pee, someone’s over here, someone

47:34 needs a drink, so like it is, it can be difficult with larger wedding parties, so I mean, and it also adds a little more logistical things to figure out.

47:44 And I’ve just been in the presence of many different wedding parties, large and small. So a nice, me, I’d say medium sized wedding party is perfect, six, seven people.

47:57 Yeah, yeah, I agree. Yeah. I have a very huge family though. So it’s a lot of cousins. A lot of Yeah.

48:05 Yeah. A lot of disink cousins, people we call cousins, but I don’t think they’re all cousins. We were like related at all.

48:15 We have a few of those, that’s so funny. So how about cake cutting in the middle of the party are off to the side?

48:25 To the side. Yeah. Yeah. To the side always. I think DJ is always going to say off to the side, right?

48:31 Or would you do it? We did it in the middle of the dance floor. It was 12 years ago, but we also had fun with it.

48:38 We weren’t just standing there like, you know, all proper and everything. We did a good time, but yeah, yeah, that was fun.

48:46 Depends on your personality. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like I’d keep the dance floor going this time around if we did it again.

48:53 Yeah. Yeah. I don’t know. I really have no preference. Chris is a very traditional guy. He likes tradition. Yeah, I feel that.

49:01 I feel that. Yeah. I like it but like for me like it’s like Like there’s sometimes we’re like it makes sense to like do it in the middle of dance floor And yeah, you need the break.

49:11 Yeah, sometimes like they need a break Yeah, so it makes sense, but sometimes I was just like more often than not if it’s right after dinner Yeah, just get it done.

49:20 Just get it done Yeah, some of the news do it automatically right up the dinner nowadays and most people like nowadays like really don’t want it And like a lot of it’s private now.

49:31 Yeah, yeah, that is true, that is true. I do like it though sometimes, like after dinner, if you’re stuck with like, not stock, I shouldn’t say stock, but like if you’re given like a two hour dance set, like after dinner, you know?

49:44 It needs, yeah, so maybe 45 minutes into that dance set, like it’d be nice to like kind of break it up a little bit with the traditional cake cutting, you know?

49:53 It gives people an opportunity to like get another drink. and hit up the photo booths, make their way back around.

50:00 But that also goes back to one thing I like to do when I DJ is like, I do handle it like nightlife, right?

50:08 Like bar owners sometimes like, if you have a packed dance floor the whole night and nobody’s going to buy drinks, the bar owner’s not happy.

50:15 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s true. It’s like, nobody’s helping us. It’s so much the bars make it, right? Like, you kind of like sometimes I feel like that you have to flow with the music to let people go get that breather, go get a drink, go get a little bit of dessert, you know what I mean?

50:32 I feel like that gets their energy back so when they come back, they’re like ready to go. Yeah, you know what I mean?

50:39 That’s happened multiple times for me and I love that. Yeah, that makes total sense. So much of wrap of fire, huh?

50:45 Yeah, it’s a natural flow. No, I like it. I like it. The conversation’s important. So what would your last song of the night be?

50:51 Do you have something on your mind about that? Are we on written? Yeah. You’re in the job. There is a song ever.

51:00 The best song ever. Go out with a great sing along, right? On written for sure. Yeah. Okay, okay. And would you do a late night snack, and if you would, what would you or late night snack?

51:11 Like a grab and go for your guests on the way out. Taco Bell? Yes. Wow, Taco Bell lover, huh? Okay, okay.

51:18 Yes. Jackie loves Taco Bell. That’s my reward meal after a wedding. If I’m not being good, it’s my reward meal after a wedding.

51:27 It’s why I really like coming home from Hamilton Manor. Because I have to pass. That’s not good. Oh, I know.

51:34 I’m like, ooh, reward. That’s not good. That’s not good. That’s not good. So my girlfriend just moved right by Hamilton Manor.

51:41 Oh, my goodness. Oh, see you know. That’s not good. That’s not That’s not good. That’s not good. That’s not good.

51:48 I love it too. Chris does not enjoy it with me. He didn’t eat it. He does not enjoy it. He loves it.

51:53 And there’s nothing like, there’s nothing more like disappointing than getting that Taco Bell and having no one to enjoy it with.

52:02 You know? I agree. You don’t want one? No. Oh my God, did you ever have their breakfast? No. I have my staples that I have.

52:10 They used to have the best breakfast. Yeah, they don’t do it anymore, right? No, they don’t do it anymore, but it was like fast food wise.

52:17 It was probably the best breakfast. We’re like breakfast burritos, I’m guessing. So they had breakfast burritos, I don’t eat pork, so I would get like the steak sausage and the steak.

52:26 I can steak burritos, especially when I’m hungover or after a long night. And it was just like, give me a right back on to my end of the game, I’m like, ready to go.

52:37 That’s great. You’ll be back up. They had like a crunch wrap, a supreme steak thing that I love and they put a hash brown in there.

52:43 Eggs that jalapeno creamy sauce, Taco Bell, just sponsored me. bring back breakfast lots of love for Taco Bell. I will promote your breakfast.

52:55 I love it, I love it. Well, Mo, it’s been a pleasure. I’m so glad we got you here and and thank you so much for sitting down with us.

53:07 If Mo feels like he’d be the right pick for you, just let us know. But yeah, thanks for tuning in guys and yeah, wherever you are and whatever you’re planning.

53:17 We love that for you. All right. Excellent. See you guys. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today.

53:24 If this episode was helpful, make sure you follow or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next. We love hearing from you, so if you have a question, a planning struggle, or an episode idea, email me at Jackie at Limelight Entertainment and J dot com.

53:38 There’s a really good chance for question becomes a future episode, and if you’re planning a New Jersey wedding, you want vendors who truly care, you can find us at linelightwedding.com.

53:48 And remember, wherever you’re planning, whatever you’re dreaming, we love that for you.