To Bose or not to Bose

Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all of our clients and readers. As the New Year makes its way around “The Wedding DJ” has been doing some research on speakers so that we can include Speaker upgrades in our 2013 year budget. As you may or may not know there are many different brands, makes and models out there. Some of the leaders are Bose, JBL, and QSC. There seems to be a trend amongst Mobile DJ’s to buy Bose (I was considering the Bose L1 Model 2 w/ B2) and get you the client to use their company’s service because they have “Bose”. Personally I am a fan of Bose for home audio and own several of their products and must give their marketing team excellent marks because I had all but made up my mind to give them $7,000. The particular Bose product I am referring to is the L1 series and I must also add that is was originally designed for one musicians to plug into one Bose set and then the same process was to be copied by all of the other musicians in a group until everyone had their own individual sound. I do not believe it was originally intended to be used by DJ’s.

One of the reasons for the trend (other than marketing) is Bose is using a technology called line array speaker, which has been around for many years. I will give them credit for making it work and portable. Without going into the boring details, these speakers project sound in many different directions using wizardry and engineering, so much so that the volume standing next to the speaker is close to the same volume when you are standing across the room. I will admit it is amazing. However when you consider the technical specifications submitted by Bose and my favorite QSC, the QSC speaker model KW 153 along with a KW 181 has a larger frequency range and in my opinion outperform Bose all day long for a mobile DJ setting (That means it will sound better).

Here it is my main point. I recently went to a reception where a DJ was using Bose. I drooled at first because that is what you supposed to do when you see the name “Bose” up close. However, they were loud (too loud) in all the wrong places. I discovered that line array is awesome if you are in a concert listening to your favorite band. You can use half the amplifier power or less and be heard everywhere in the room and the big concert halls are already using this technology.  For “The Wedding DJ” we are a mobile DJ company and just about every event we do there are people scattered around the edges of your reception and or party who are talking and not dancing. These people are your guests and if they don’t want to dance or are taking a break from dancing then they should be able to leave the dance floor and go to their table and talk at a comfortable level.

I offered to test run several different speakers from several different companies and they all declined. Probably scared of what I might say. Anyway, this article all comes down to one point and that is “not to Bose” for my application. I hope this article helps other professionals trying to make the same choices I was between Bose’ Line Array or Traditional system’s (QSC for me).  I also hope that my customers recognize that I have made this choice with them in mind. I actually want the song to drop off at the dance floor and to be significantly quieter elsewhere in the room so that their guests are not uncomfortable.

Corey Brown

http://www.TheWeddingDJ.net

Not just a DJ

Not JUST a "DJ"

by Corey Brown on 11/29/12

by Corey Brown - The Wedding DJ of The Wedding DJ - Servicing 120 mile radius of Greenville, SC(7-Nov-2012)

We specialize in Weddings - Reception's as well as ceremonies. We are one of the premiere DJ companies in the tri-state area but still the term DJ does not represent what we do very well because we are first and foremost customer service experts. We are not as concerned so much about what we want to play or what your guests want to hear on this very special day and our primary concern is making it a day that you will enjoy. Playing your requests and fulfilling yourdreams – this is our focus. I want to play a part in your fairy tale. I have been known to say that “I have one glass slipper and am willing to travel”.  If you have a special need or idea for your reception and or ceremony I will do everything within my power to make it happen.

Secondly, we are your Master of ceremony. We use our "wedding timeline" which is designed with your help to keep the day moving along but lively and upbeat. We interact with your guests and bring a radio style voice to you. No need to stress over when to cut the cake or have a toast made - that is our job and we will see that it gets done and make sure the photographer is ready and in place. At receptions and ceremonies we always wear a plain black and white tuxedo to signify to your guests that we are a small part of your event. There is nothing flashy or upscale about it but a little higher standard than the normal DJ. We are representing you and presenting you to your family and friends and believe that our attire should be representative of such. This is not to say that we do not know how to blend in. After making an announcement and drawing the crowd’s attention to you I slowly back away so that you are the center of attention. I will be probably be the only guy there in a tux that no one remembers other than “that guy was good”.

Thirdly, we are audio engineers. Our systems produce SRS Premium sound due to our digital processors but the sound we get at each venue is because we know what we are doing. Pro – Audio sound systems are not “plug and play” like a home stereo. It takes years of experience to be able to know how to get the best sound out of the simplest setup. We have gone to the trouble and expense of having redundant equipment on scene and at hand in case of a problem.

Lastly, yes we are DJ's. We know what to play and when to play it and you have the option to leave us in total control of this with no input or you can create the entire playlist. It is not my day - it is yours. It would be a challenge for you to find anyone who genuinely cares as much about your Ceremony and Reception as I do and that’s because this is not just a job for me – it is my passion and my ministry. That’s why my motto is “Romantics at Heart – DJ’s by Trade”.  By all means if you are throwing any old party hire the cheapest guy you can find with decent equipment and let him “scratch” away but in my humble opinion “your day” is not the time to do this.

I can hear what you are thinking this must be expensive. We charge less than the national average hourly rate for Professional DJ's even though we are much much more. There is a travel expense charge for areas outside of a 100 mile radius of Greenville SC. Our rates are based solely on playing time. We do not charge you for the 2.5 hours it takes to set up equipment nor do we charge for two hours it takes to pack up. We do not charge for the 45-50 hours per week that we spend on the internet and computers marketing and filling out contracts. We do not charge to help you in your search for other professional vendors and are constantly taking phone calls and answering emails to field our customer’s questions and concerns. The travel charge (if applicable) is not based on time but solely for gas and wear and tear. Call today for a free consultation! Dates are filling fast and to God be the Glory.

Thanks for reading!

Corey Brown

The Wedding DJ - Servicing the 110 mile radius of Greenville, SC.

http://www.TheWeddingDJ.net  (864)367-9546

"Romantics at Heart - DJ's by Trade"