Day of Remembrance

Never Forget

As we embark on another day, we need to remember those who lost their lives, 17 years ago today. Remember the family and friends that were left to grieve and for the first responders who sacrificed it all. Remember today is a gift and tomorrow is not promised, so hug your loved ones a bit tighter and know that we as a people, can surmount all odds – foreign or domestic.

September 11, 2018Tags: 9/11, never forget, pittsburgh dj, pittsburgh wedding dj

Happy 4th

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

As we celebrate our countries birthday, enjoy time spent with your loved ones! Take a breather from our hectic lives and appreciate all of our privileges. As the whirl wind of excitement from the fourth of July passes by, remember what it takes to have such a wonderful country to live in!

John F. Kennedy- “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

July 4, 2018Tags: america, fourth of july, independence day, usa

Happy Memorial Day from everyone here at Steel City DJ

This Memorial Day…

Savor your time with friends and loved ones this Memorial Day! Don’t forget to spend some time reflecting on all of those who dedicated their lives for this country! Whether the rain will put a hold on your special plans or not, be sure to dedicate your thoughts to the true reason we celebrate this day.

“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause. “Abraham Lincoln

May 28, 2018

DJ Façade

Any professional DJ is going to ensure his (or her) setup is clean and doesn’t have loose cables everywhere. But have you ever thought about taking that setup to a new level? A customized DJ Façade is a great way to add personalized special décor to your wedding venue. The façade will conceal the entire DJ table giving the traditional setup an entirely new look!

These are not your usual façades with the simple one color black or white fabric. You can choose to customize this lightweight fabric with the color of your choice in addition to adding anything from lighting, text with your names and special wedding date, or even your wedding day logo actually printed on the fabric.

Elegant Appearance

A DJ Façade can make the appearance of the DJ table extremely sleek and elegant. Any DJ should do a good job of concealing any cords but the façade makes everything stylish! This route is a great way to supplement a monogram that you won’t use again. You can also use the façade as a great backdrop for photos from the dance floor also.

Modern Style

You can choose to customize this lightweight fabric with the color of your choice in addition to adding anything from lighting, text with your names and special wedding date, or even your wedding day logo actually printed on the fabric!

Personal Reminder

After your Big Day, the Newlyweds actually get to keep the fabric to create a keepsake to keep for years to come! There are a ton of Do-It-Yourself ideas that you can design to showcase this token around your home after the wedding.

Using a DJ Façade is a very simple and nice way to accent any venue and any occasion. The façade will conceal the entire table giving the traditional DJ setup an entirely new look! This style of façade can be a huge addition to the décor at your venue. If you choose to customize your façade it can be a great background for candid photos of your evening and you even get the fabric back as a really cool gift from your wedding day. There are a ton of Do-It-Yourself ideas that you can create to showcase this keepsake around your home after the wedding. Consider using a customized DJ façade to enhance the venue décor for your upcoming event!

Wedding DJ Myth

A lot of times, the suggestions given to plan your wedding are outdated or simply incorrect. Making your entertainment decision based solely on videos is just one of those wedding planning myths that brides are told to do. Don’t be a victim to this wedding DJ myth.

Don’t Be Fooled

You do not want to let a video you see of a DJ be your final decision maker. The video that you watch is going to be something very similar to highlight clip. Just like with movies and photos, almost anyone can make and edit a video to make them look amazing. During that video there will be no way to see how the DJ interacts with other vendors and no time to discuss your specific wedding details to be sure they can accommodate.

If you choose to make your decision solely on the clip you watched, you may not ask some key questions. At the very least be sure to have a conversation with the DJ to determine their sound and style in order to get a feel for their personality. Ask yourself, will the DJ be a good fit for your family and friends? You want to be sure to take into consideration their organizational skills as well. This will give you an idea on how they multi-task and utilize their time. Other vendors as well as venues may be able to share insight on the DJ also. Ideally, you want to know does this entertainer “play well with others”?

There isn’t usually one deciding factor that you can go from when selecting your entertainment. Do your research and ask as many questions as you can think of to be sure you are hiring someone you think will make your special day memorable!

April 30, 2018Tags: affordable disc jockey, affordable disc jockey pittsburgh, affordable pittsburgh disc jockey, affordable pittsburgh dj, affordable uplighting pittsburgh, cheap uplighting pittsburgh, DJ misconceptions, Lighting design pittsburgh, photo booth, photo booth pittsburgh, pittsburgh disc jockey, pittsburgh disc jockeys, pittsburgh dj, pittsburgh photo booth, pittsburgh uplighting, pittsburgh wedding, pittsburgh wedding budget, pittsburgh wedding budgets, pittsburgh wedding disc jockey, pittsburgh wedding dj, pittsburgh wedding entertainment, pittsburgh wedding ideas, pittsburgh wedding planning, pittsburgh wedding reception ideas, pittsburgh weddings, professional dj, professional entertainment, professional wedding dj, professionally trained dj, professionally trained entertainers, steel city disc jockey, uplighting pittsburgh, wedding budgeting, wedding disc jockey, wedding disc jockeys, wedding dj, wedding DJ misconceptions, wedding dj myth, wedding education, wedding entertainment, wedding ideas, wedding planning, wedding planning blog, wedding vendors

Graduation Celebration

With the school year coming to a close many families are preparing to celebrate with a graduation party. A graduation party is a very special time of year and it doesn’t matter if you’re planning a huge party, or a small intimate gathering Steel City DJ can help with your entertainment needs! Whether you are leaving high school or starting life in the real world after college; every graduate deserves a party to reflect on their accomplishments and create cherished memories!

Plan for Error

Most times, when planning a graduation party friends and family think it is ok to just plug into a speaker or have a friend “DJ”. There are many things that could go wrong when using a professional, so imagine what can go wrong when deciding to use an amateur or hobbyist! With this type of event you want to be sure that all of the music played is appropriate and clean versions. Also, is the equipment being used sub-standard? This could result in feedback and poor sound quality. Keep in mind that since they are not a professional DJ their behavior can be unprofessional, they may show up late for the party or worse, not at all!

All of the DJs at Steel City DJ are employees, not contractors. They have a code of professionalism that is expected of them when performing. We also carry proper liability insurance, back-up equipment (on-site), no hidden fees and a written contract for your review. As we approach your event you will sit with your DJ to discuss the music you want played as well as the atmosphere you want created during your special day.

With wonderful weather full of sunshine and long evenings why not consider having your graduation party outdoors? You can rent a tent and host the event right in your own backyard and avoid additional rental hall fees! The tent is just in case of inclimate weather which is always expected in the Pittsburgh area!

Our goal is to help create the most memorable graduation celebration full of fun for you AND your guests! Call Steel City DJ today @ 412-951-4323 to check the availability for your upcoming graduation celebration!

April 6, 2018Tags: affordable disc jockey, affordable disc jockey pittsburgh, affordable pittsburgh disc jockey, affordable pittsburgh dj, affordable uplighting pittsburgh, cheap uplighting pittsburgh, congrats grad, graduation celebration, graduation party, graduation season, Lighting design pittsburgh, photo booth, photo booth pittsburgh, pittsburgh disc jockey, pittsburgh disc jockeys, pittsburgh dj, pittsburgh photo booth, pittsburgh uplighting, professional dj, professional entertainment, professionally trained dj, professionally trained entertainers, reliable pittsburgh dj, steel city disc jockey, uplighting pittsburgh

Wedding Planning Checklist: Book Your Vendors

Book Your Vendors

Now that you are engaged it is time to start thinking about your wedding planning checklist. What kind of entertainment would you like to have? Do you want to use a band or DJ? What kind of songs would you like played and what is the atmosphere you want your guests to experience. Whichever route you choose, be sure that you ask plenty of questions to be sure that you know exactly what to expect (or what not to expect) from your wedding entertainment.

When to Start

Try to start your wedding entertainment search as soon as you set your date. Many places book 2-3 years in advance so the sooner is definitely better! Believe it or not, there are more couples than you would ever imagine that book their entertainment before their venue. A good entertainer is like a chameleon, able to adapt to any venue, so do not think you need to nail down your venue before you book your band or DJ.

What To Ask

The same goes with booking any other vendors, you have to ask questions to ensure that you are going to get what you want. What training do they have? Are they insured? Will there be a backup equipment and personnel in case of an emergency or malfunction?

Be sure that you are familiar with the contract you are signing and what it all entails. Also, if the vendor offers an online planning site that is a huge help when planning details for your big day. This way you have access to your planning forms 24/7 and can make any updates as needed!

Things to Consider

You may think you know what you want for your special wedding day and that is wonderful. But be open to listing to ideas and suggestions that you may receive from your professional wedding vendors. Remember, this is a first wedding for you and the professionals deal with weddings nearly every weekend. There may be some ideas that they have seen work and alternately not work. Their professional suggestion is just that, a suggestion. Be sure to remain open to various ideas that may enhance your day!

Wedding Planning Checklist: Book Your Venue

Book Your Venue

When it comes to beginning your wedding planning checklist there are so many details to consider. The planning goes far beyond what you want to be your first dance and smashing cake into your husbands’ face! We hope the wedding planning checklist will help with your pre-planning ideas.

Ceremony Venue

There would be no room to celebrate this wonderful day if there is no ceremony! First, decide if you want a traditional ceremony in a church or something non-traditional at your reception venue. Once you have this detail you can start looking into your venue options. How many guests will it accommodate, is there parking available, etc.

Reception Venue

What style and feeling do you want to provoke with your wedding reception venue? Guests absolutely love when they do not have to drive from the ceremony to the reception. Not only do you eliminate travel time from one location to the other but you also don’t have to provide transportation for out of town guests. There are a number of venues that offer All Inclusive Packages that have the ability to be both your ceremony and reception venue. If that option is not for you, you can always start looking for a reception venue based on proximity to the church you will be married in.

Again, how many guests will the venue accommodate and is parking available are key factors. Also, you want to check into whether the venue is full service or not. If they are a full-service venue then most everything you need to make your space beautiful and serve your guests is offered. If the venue is not a full-service venue then they are simply renting you the space and what you put into décor is what you get out of it. You will also need to inquire on per plate cost and drink costs as well. Be informed on the food tasting policies also. Will there be a tasting prior to finalizing the menu? Is there a fee associated with the tasting? Liability insurance, cancellation policy and weather contingency if you are planning an outdoor event are also details you want to consider when making your decision.

Officiant

This can be tough to nail down if you are not a member of a church or know someone ordained to legally marry you. You can always ask for recommendations from friends or family that recently got married. You want to be sure to find someone you are comfortable with. This person is going to guide you and your guests during this very special day so you want to be sure you feel confident that they know your story and what you want out of your ceremony.

Your officiant is going to set the atmosphere for your wedding. Be sure to make time to meet with them beforehand and convey the tone you wish to set for your big day. The may want to schedule time to meet with your family and close friends and they should definitely want to hear more stories about the happy couple to get to know you better if you are not already familiar with each other.

Be sure to ask questions about the officiant fee and what is included with it. You do not want to assume anything when you are booking these services. Is pre-martial counseling, legal registration, travel and performing the ceremony all included in the fee? What is the officiant back up plan if an emergency arises?

These are just a few key details you want to be sure you know about before entering into any type of agreement with a venue or vendor. Be sure to know exactly what to expect for the money that you are investing into this day. You want to try to remain as stress free as possible!

Wedding Toasts

Making sure you enhance your wedding reception so that your guests will remember it for years to come is key. This planning tip will share some guidance on wedding toasts and speeches.

Give your toasts while you have all of your guests’ attention. Couples think it is best to give toasts during dinner, but that is actually the worst time to give them! The only time you really have your guests’ full attention is directly before you begin dinner. This is after your grand entrance. Wedding toasts, speeches & greetings should be given when your guests’ eyes are directed toward the head table and you have their full attention.

Between courses, guests may go to the restroom, the bar, or simply catch up with other guests at other tables. Instead of listening to your toasts they’re walking around with other intentions completely oblivious to what is being said. Remember, it is difficult to settle your guests once they have begun to move around.

Another reason we recommend getting wedding toasts and speeches out of the way before you lose your guests attention is because most likely the person giving the toast is not a professional speaker. When your guests are up and moving around they are not paying attention to the person speaking. This could be a huge distraction to whomever is giving the toast. The distraction can lead to jolting their nerves or causing them to lose their train of thought. When this happens, it could take longer to get toasts and speeches completed which take time away from the catering staff who are patiently waiting to serve your guests the hot meal you paid so much money for.

If you did decide on toasts and speeches between your courses being served bear in mind that the catering staff is going to stop serving your guests when there is someone speaking because they do not want to interrupt. But again, do you really want to make your catering staff pause their duties because of poor time management?

Power Bar

If you are a tech savvy couple that plans on using a hashtag for your Big Day then the now trendy power bar may be a great add-on for you! With social media becoming more and more popular at weddings your guests will be trying to capture moments to share online. In order to do this, a fully charged device is essential and so is a phone charging station! Why have a hashtag if no one can use it? Since you have invited your guests to use social media throughout the day they will most likely need to recharge their device by dinner.

There are lots of creative ways to display a charging table and have it fit in with your wedding décor. You can choose to rent a phone charging station, or go the DIY route. Most times, when you rent a phone charging station you will get to customize the stretch fabric that encloses the charging station. The design can be anything from using your wedding logo or you can include your wedding hashtag. The options are endless! After your big day, you can keep the fabric and create a keepsake such as a throw or curtains to remember your special day.

Try placing your customized phone charging station in a common area where people can have access to their devices without “hanging around” the charging station and missing out on any traditional wedding events! It can be set up near the bar or restroom or even just at the ballroom entrance. Be sure to include a sign near your phone charging station with your #hashtag so that your guests will know what to use when posting their pictures. Also, remind your guests not to hang around the charging table or they will miss some great memories…with or without their mobile devices. All of the fun for the evening will be on the dance floor, not at the bar or phone charging station! It is not uncommon for the bride and groom to not want their guests on their cell phones throughout the day. If you and your fiancé do not want your guests on their phone all evening you can make a note in the invitation stating that. This way your guests are aware beforehand.

Give us a call today if you are interested in finding out more details about adding a phone charging station to your wedding reception. We would love to start discussing ways to make your 2018 wedding stand apart from the rest!