March-April 2003 Article of the Month How Important is Entertainment?- By Sheri Fernino People always wonder...How Important is the Entertainment? Sooo....I want you to stop for a moment..imagine your wedding day..& really think hard over this question. Personally, I know, before marrying Michael, I might not have ever thought about it...unless asked to. Seriously, when you attend a wedding, what do YOU remember? Is it the favors, the wedding cake, the food, the flowers?? Myself, being a floral designer by trade for years, I can say..Not likely!!(hurts my ego to say this! *giggles*) It is a fact, that when asked, 75% of guests remember the entertainment!! They remember if they've had a great time dancing, listening to music, & watching the Bride & Groom have fun!! Even though all the other things are factors in making a great wedding...FUN provided by your Disc Jockey is the key element to a successful affair & is one of the biggest things that people will talk about long after the event is over. I can guarantee that the food at a wedding has NEVER saved the day! A lot of Brides & Grooms, or any type of consumer having events for that matter, do not realize that there is actually a trickle down effect attributed to the entertainment at a wedding. A most basic example is: The bride & groom go all out for their wedding day..they get a photographer..a videographer...etc..of course with the intentions of those professionals capturing the beautiful & fun memories. However, if the entertainment that you selected is not fun or stimulating for your wedding guests, will there really be anything special or memoriable for that photographer or videographer to catch on film or video?? In most instances that will be a BIG "NO"!! ...simply ..I guess that does mean that enetertainment is probably the MOST IMPORTANT thing. However important that fact may be, over our company's 19+yrs in business, it never ceases to amaze me that people are willing to compromise when it comes to the cost of their entertainment. The New York/Connecticut/New Jersey/New England area has one of the highest cost percentages spent on weddings every year..the average wedding today being between$20,000-$40,000 & up. Yet, the so-called "educated consumer" tends to shrivel up at the price tag for their music ..Statistics show that Brides & Grooms invest about 45% of their budget on food, 30% on wedding attire, 15% on flowers...& ONLY 2 to 5 % on the DJ/band which equals up to about $400-$1000...why is that?? When you look at the big picture..it's interesting to think about...especially if we are considered the "Make or Break" factor for one of the most unforgetable day/nights in your life!! With that said, as you begin your journey of looking for "just the RIGHT entertainer", remember to look at these characteristics BEFORE all you ask is "whats your price?"( this is a good list to follow when searching out any wedding professional) 1. what is the demeanor/attitude of the prospective service person? 2. Is he/she helpful in answering your questions? 3. Does he/she make you feel comfortable & secure in hiring their service? 4. I she/she interested in your own ideas of a perfect wedding? 5. Is he/she willing to customize their performance/or products to your wants & expectations? Finally...if all the above are in place & answered to your liking..THEN consider the price!! There are many times that certain wedding professionals are above the bride & grooms budget....sometimes even by a small fraction, & still, they hesitate. But , if you are confident with the service, isn't a couple extra dollars worth PEACE OF MIND?? Remember... You ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! This rule applies to anything in life. Hopefully something said here helps you make a vital decision needed to make your day a complete success. I think its pretty clear! And so..one more time..I ask...HOW IMPORTANT IS THE ENTERTAINMENT???