VIDEOGRAPHY TIPS
DON'T SHOP PRICE - SHOP QUALITY!
Interviewing your videographers should be a learning experience. Shop all the price ranges, and educate yourself. Find out why one is more expensive than another. Then make an educated decision. Go to their studios. Your wedding video is an investment!
Don't discount talent! It's an important factor and has to do with the videographer's interpretation of the events. You can't take talent for granted. It's something that's inborn and flavored by the artist's experience, training, and expertise. It's the factor that makes each wedding video unique. Look for it!
NEVER CHOOSE YOUR VIDEOGRAPHER OVER THE PHONE!
The telephone is used for setting up appointments. Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life. Your choice of the right team of wedding professionals is critical. Take the time if you are seriously considering vendors to visit with each of them. See their work environment. View samples videos, albums, taste cake, food, etc… This is a big purchase.
WATCH A REAL WEDDING - NOT A DEMO TAPE
The reason why you want to watch scenes from a REAL wedding is because on a demo tape the studio is only showing you the BEST Clips. You need to see an actual wedding video from start to finish getting a good idea of the consistency of the videographer.
FULL TIME STUDIO VS. PART TIME STUDIO
Full timers are professional business people and rely on their craft for their livelihood (unlike a part-timer, who has another job to fall back on). A professional full-time videographer tends to maintain a better level and quality of equipment, and is able to invest more time in the edit room.
DON'T ASK FOR REFERRALS ABOUT QUALITY
Your friends are going to tell you that their videos are the best ever, but how do you know unless you take the time to watch them? Once you do, make your own determination. However, do ask about the reliability of the videographer, their attitude and style. These are critical factors that are just as important as the final product. You must be happy with all your vendors, and not be stressed by them on your wedding day.
THE WEVA DIFFERENCE
With today's rapid changes in digital video, professional videographers must constantly update their skills, techniques, and technology. In selecting your videographer, look for their WEVA membership logo on literature and website. Members of WEVA International have access to the best new technology, techniques, industry information and advice. WEVA members have access to the best new technology, techniques, industry information, and advice.
DJ ENTERATIMENT TIPS
Begin your search no later than three to six months ahead of time
The reason why you want to search for a DJ entertainer that fast is because you're in a competition. Yes, you are competing with other people seeking the same services on the same day as you. So it's best that you begin your DJ search as soon as you lock in your location.
Ask for referrals…but be careful
The best way that you can choose a DJ is through the referral from a person you trust or has no financial gain in making this recommendation. Make sure that the person referring is referring from the audience's overall response to the DJ in question and not merely their own personal perceptions.
CAUTIOUS OF VENDOR REFERRALS.
In Las Vegas, a lot of vendors have monetary booking arrangements, such as finder's fees and/or kickbacks, with each other. Since the almighty dollars is their motivation, they obviously won't be objective. Asking direct questions will help determine if this is so. For example, "Why are you recommending their services?" "What's their finder's fee payout to you for you recommending them?" "Do you pay a referral fee to be on their list?"
Don't Base Your DJ Selection Based On A Fancy Ad
Advertisements are flash, not substance. Just because a DJ company has an ad in the yellow pages or the local wedding publications doesn't mean they are the best or reliable. Anyone with money can get into advertising…with no questions asked.
Look For A Reliable Full-Time Company
Las Vegas is a very transient town and with that, DJ companies come and go every year! Similarly, new DJ web sites pop up on the internet every week and shopping by internet alone will give you only 1/2 of the story. Think about this, a full time DJ company is a professional business. These DJ companies rely on their craft as DJ entertainers for their livelihood. A part-timer has another job to fall back on and your event is "pocket money" for them. How comfortable does that make you feel?
Customer Service
Take the time and invest in a telephone calls to the DJ companies you are considering. Talk to each prospective company. Are they excited about your event? Are they nice? Keep in mind that a DJs performance is a customer service, and how they handle your initial consultation can give great insight into how they work as a whole.
Don't Let The Price Make The Cut
Cheap DJs are never good and good disc jockeys are never cheap. One of the most common mistakes that leave to event nightmares is hiring the cheapest guy in town. Usually the cheapest guy in town is the DJ company with the inexperienced DJs! A polished professional can calmly deal with the nervous family member, or a crowd that just won't dance, while keeping the event enjoyable. Make sure the DJ will be experienced at YOUR type of event. Weddings and corporate events are very different from the club or high school DJ! A cut rates DJ can destroy your event.
The best price is NEVER the best deal, especially when planning a wedding.
As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that after the wedding was all said and done nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their DJ, Video and entertainment.
A full-service wedding company will normally “invest” 12 to 30 hours or more to your special day but it may appear that you are only paying for “4 hours”.
Consultations, editing, preparation, set-up, tear-down, travel to and from the event, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.
Make sure your vendor belongs to a professional organization or trade group.
Although belonging to an organization or trade group does not guarantee the professionalism of a company, it may indicate that the company is willing to network, learn and grow. Professionals is any trade especially in special events learn a tremendous amount new techniques and information through attending national conventions in their industry, tradeshows, association meetings and networking with others in their industry.
