Behind the Beat | DJ Express - Premier Bride Milwaukee

Interview with the Experts | DJ’s | Behind the Beat

Finding the right entertainment for your reception is such an important element in your planning process, so we created “Behind the Beat” to give you a more in-depth look at each of our DJ’s! We will be running a new post each month, so be sure to check back in!
***Take a look below to get to know a little more about Jeff Kohler-Owner of* *DJ Express Disc Jockey Service***

How did you know you wanted to be a DJ? How did you go about starting out?

When I was 8 years old I had a toy stethoscope and used to talk into it, even back then I told my mother I would grow up to be a Dj. And then when I was 18 years old I used to help one of my friends Dj in a night club. Music has always been a huge part of my life. A few years later one of my friends was getting married and could not afford a Dj so I told him that I would Dj his wedding as my gift to him and two of his guests said we were so good they wanted to know what we charged to do a wedding. Dj express disc jockey service was born!

How long have you been in the business?

We started the business my brother and I back in 1993. After being together for 1 year I bought him out and started to grow my business.

How many people work for you?

We are now capable of covering up to 19 weddings in one day.

What are the qualities that make a successful wedding DJ?

The first thing that makes a successful wedding Dj is being a people person, a vast knowledge of music; past and present, and the understanding that you have a couples special day in your hands and how important it is to help make their day memorable.

Why do you love providing entertainment at weddings?

I love providing the entertainment at a wedding for several reasons. One, this couple has trusted you with the memories of their very special day and I love to see people laughing, having fun, and dancing, all due to them responding to what I’m doing.

How has your DJ (style) changed since you started?

We started with 12 inch vinyl, to CDs, and now laptops. Other than what plays the music style has not changed, fun is fun, dancing is dancing, a good time is still and always will be a good time.

How do you train your DJ’s to make sure your vision is followed?

I personally train each of my Djs, they work side by side with me, then go out and help some of my top Djs to get different perspectives, and then return back to me as the lead Dj, and I am their assistant, and only then will they be allowed to Dj on their own.

When choosing their DJ, what should a couple look for?

First of all that they feel very comfortable with either conversating over the phone or in person prior to their wedding day so that they are very much on the same page together. And also if the Dj company has good reviews and references.

Do you offer extra services? ( Lighting, props, etc.)

At Dj Express we offer up lighting, karaoke, ceremony, cock tail, dinner, and reception music/lighting all at once low cost.

How do you assist in keeping the wedding day running smoothly? Do you work hand in hand with the other vendors?

Though a Djs job is not just to play music, it is to help orchestrate and organize a couples’ day by working together with the other vendors so that everybody including the bride and groom, the vendors, and the Dj are all on the same page to fulfill the bride and groom’s plan for their special day. Example: we will go up and tell the photographers what the plans are and when it is set up to happen and before we do it, we let the bride and groom know and the photographer so that the bride knows to have such as the bouquet and where it is and the photographer has the knowledge of it to take those special pictures for our bride and groom.

What is a typical wedding day routine for you?

Checking in at the hall, confirming with the hall where it is that we are to set up, setting up, doing a sound and light check, getting the music ready to go, and doing a once over again of all the paperwork to make sure that I know exactly what is going on one more time, waiting for the guests and my bride and groom to arrive.

What is the most requested song right now?

The most popular song requested right now would still be the novelty songs such as; Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Macarena, ect.

Are there any new trends you are seeing?

Probably one of the newest trends for a while now is adding up lighting for the ambiance of the wedding venue.

Do you have an all-time favorite song that really gets the guests on the dance floor? If so will you share it with us.

And I would say my favorite song of all time to play to get the guests on the dance floor for some time now has been the Cupid Shuffle. That’ll definitely get guests out on the dance floor.

In conclusion, my customers mean everything to me, and music has always held a special place in my heart. And to know that I get to impact somebody’s special day, knowing that I am a part of that couples memories for the rest of their lives is a pretty cool job that I’m proud to say I love so much.

Jeff Kohler,

Owner of DJ Express Disc Jockey Service

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