DJGold

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:28 pm Post subject: Marry the room

As much as I love DJ Gold, I do surf other DJ boards. (Sorry CJ). But I learned of an idea so huge, I had to copy it here.

---

On the ProDJ board, in this thread about special stuff you do at weddings, DJ Ken Peterson mentioned that he "marries the room". When asked what he was talking about, he posted this video.

I replied:

Ken -

That's FANTASTIC! I'm gonna steal - er USE - that!

But I had to play it 4 times to get the full script. Here it is for anyone else that wants it:

Quote: Turn to the door and repeat after me...

We
are now
one big family
one room of friends.
We promise to love
we promise to laugh
support
and smile
tonight
and for the rest
of your lives.

Are you ready to meet your bridal party?...

---

Today, I had to add the following:

Ken -

Thanks for that. I did that at the wedding I did yesterday. It worked great. And it gave me the opening to expand on the concept.

I did a 'repeat after me' toast.

The Maid of Honor and Best Man were supposed to do the toast. I even reminded the BM to bring up a glass of champagne. But neither had a glass, and neither did a toast. They just did the 'love you guys' speech. When they were done, I waited a moment, trying to think of what to do, when the groom's father approached the head table to take the mike. OK, I'm thinking he knows how a toast should be done. But he doesn't have a glass either! And he just does another 'love you guys' speech.

What the F---

So after they are done, I get a burst of inspiration and get on my other mike and say:
Quote: OK, everyone raise your glass and repeat after me.

To the new Mr & Mrs Jack and Dawn Saunders,
May all your tears
be tears of joy.
May all your pain
be champagne.
Congratulations! Woo hoo!

And the only reason it worked, is because I had already established a 'repeat after me' rapport with these people. I.E. Because they were repeating, it was THEM toasting the happy couple, not me.

The only thing I regret is that there wasn't a video camera at this gig....

CJ Greiner · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:26 am Post subject:

Don't feel guilty -- I've been a member of ProDJ for many years! :D

----------------

That's a great idea, and thanks for posting the links!

This past Saturday's wedding was such a huge success that I wouldn't wish to change a thing...
but I can certainly try it this next Saturday! :idea:

Ken Petersen · Joined: June 22nd, 2005 Posts: 87 Location: Rapid City, SD

Thanks Teddy!

Yeah, I have a membership over here! :P

Room prep with vows has more continuity to it.

Teddy, good work again in taking something and expounding upon it. That's is exactly how a "bar" gets lifted.

TheBartman47 · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Marry the room

I could hear the first part of "Where the Streets Have No Name" playing in the background in that video.

TheBartman47 · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Marry the room

I could hear the first part of "Where the Streets Have No Name" playing in the background in that video.

Ken Petersen · Joined: June 22nd, 2005 Posts: 87 Location: Rapid City, SD

Currently, my music beds are:

For the Vows:
"Where the Streets Have No Name" - U2
or
"Loose Yourself (Instrumental)" - Eminem Loose Yourself - Import Single
or
"Love Theme to St Elmo's Fire" (instrumental)
or
"Music Box Dancer" - Frank Mills

For the majority of the bridal party:
"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" - Hotei Tomoyasu Kill Bill Soundtrack

Best man / Maid of Honor AND Bride / Groom:
"Thunderstruck" - AC/DC
or
"Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
or
"Love Walks In" Van Halen

This is always changing, but this is where I have landed as of late.

Jumpin' Jeff · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject:

Great Topic!

I actually shared something similar with my forums regarding an itinerary/transcript of a wedding I did just this past Saturday! I didn't "Marry the room" but it was very effective in getting the party off on the right foot. You can see the results of my "cheat sheet" here!

Ken and Teddy, Thanks for sharing these ideas! I may have to work those in as well!

Many times I've heard the "Love You Guys" speech, and had to improvise and command the toast myself. I love how you make it theirs!

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:37 pm Post subject:

Music bed -

This couple made no request for the music for ANY of the intros. So I looped the 30 second instrumental of the original version of We Are Family. Used that for the Marry the Room and all the intros. I had NO music bed for the toast.

winsorpd · Joined: February 21st, 2005 Posts: 110 Location: Gorham, ME

Great ideas. These are the type of thought starters that make this, and other forums great.

I had been doing something like this, without realizing that it could be done better. I would say something like:

"This is the ONLY time that we will be able to do this, so I would like everyone to show our couple just how much they mean to us. Be sure to make some noise for them when they enter the room, I mean enough noise to startle them, make them laugh, make them cry. Who's ready? I SAID......etc."

You have made my hamfisted approach must stronger and for that I bow...*bow*

Dave

CJ Greiner · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:56 pm Post subject:

This is a great topic!

Ken -- thank you for including the full video and music information ... and thanks Jeff for including your "cheat sheet".

That's the kind of info that can foster new ideas and really help each of us take our routines to new levels.

jbrown157 · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:30 am Post subject:

CJ Greiner wrote: Don't feel guilty -- I've been a member of ProDJ for many years! :D

----------------

That's a great idea, and thanks for posting the links!

This past Saturday's wedding was such a huge success that I wouldn't wish to change a thing...
but I can certainly try it this next Saturday! :idea:

Ken et al., Thanks for sharing. It's cool to see how each of us processes this information and turns it into something uniquely our own. Great ideas spawn other great ideas.

CJ - Did you implement any of the "Love Story" training in this wedding? If so, how did it go?

CJ Greiner · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:57 am Post subject:

jbrown157 wrote:
CJ - Did you implement any of the "Love Story" training in this wedding? If so, how did it go?
A large portion of The Love Story training was voice and presentation skills which I've used at every event since then.
I might be using a portion of The Love Story this weekend if the bride & groom return what I requested in time.
The first time that I perform the entire love story might be at one of my December weddings.

Ken Petersen · Joined: June 22nd, 2005 Posts: 87 Location: Rapid City, SD

New footage of this bit, refined.

dokai · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:35 am Post subject:

Great footage, Ken! I am SO stealing this! :D

jbrown157 · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Marry the room

Ken, Thanks so much for sharing this great concept.
I have done a version of it a few times now and it has always been well received. I try to read the crowd as I am warming them up before the grand entrance. If it feels right... then I do it. I've had several positive comments from venues and photographers who appreciate seeing something fresh and new. The clients have loved it too. I don't plan on discussing it with them beforehand though... I think it makes for a nice surprize. Do you tip them off during the planning stage?

goodknightdj · Joined: August 3rd, 2005 Posts: 149

Ken and Bear:

You guys are awesome.

Since this was originally posted on Pro DJ I have used both. In one wedding the Best Man had this great speech written but got cold feet. The "Repeat After Me" Toast saved the day.

Tom