Is Your DJ also an MC?

By Kevin Olson

Microphone skills can make or break your event. Does your DJ have the chops?

First, for those unfamiliar, let's clarify the terms. DJ (or deejay) stands for Disc Jockey, while MC (or emcee) stands for Master of Ceremonies. Although they work together, their roles differ. Frequently, when you hire a DJ for your event, that DJ is also expected to act as the MC, meaning one individual is typically responsible for both playing music and communicating verbally with the audience. Therefore, this person (DJ/MC) must excel at multitasking.

Most of the time, I serve as both DJ and MC. Occasionally, a client might have a professional MC, like an auctioneer, handle the MC duties. Other times, a friend or guest, like the best man, handles the mic, but this isn't common. When it does occur, I'm always prepared to step in if that person starts to flag. They're typically volunteers, and during a long event, such as a 6-hour wedding, they often become more interested in enjoying themselves with friends and family than maintaining their role as Master of Ceremonies. Therefore, I'm always ready to take over if necessary.

I started in radio and was taught early in my DJ career to keep my microphone breaks brief: say what needs to be said, keep it short, and return to the music. Young MCs often become captivated by their newfound authority and linger far beyond the point of delivering their message, which can be self-indulgent at best and tedious at worst. The best radio DJs understand the importance of being concise and "wrapping it up" before they start to ramble. Of course, in radio, everything is timed so the jock only has a finite amount of time to get their talking in, so everything is usually scripted. Organization is crucial; knowing exactly what you intend to say before switching the mic on, then saying it and going back to the music. That's why, when it comes to emceeing, my motto is "less is more".

There's nothing more unfortunate than an MC who doesn't know when to stop talking. If you've ever been to a New Year's Eve wedding where the toasts dragged on far too long, you know what I mean. I've noticed that the more an MC talks, the less attention people pay to what he is saying. So, my aim is generally to keep announcements to a minimum, focusing only on the important ones, so when the crowd hears the DJ speak, they know it's worthwhile.

Since I'm primarily a DJ, my instinct is to get people dancing and keep them on the dance floor. Interruptions with the microphone can disrupt the momentum. You can usually tell when a DJ has no confidence in his ability to segue from one track to the next, because they frequently use the mic to urge people to "keep dancing." I know, because I was one of those guys once. I sucked at putting songs together in a way that flowed, so I felt it my duty to keep reminding people to dance. What I didn't understand was that each mic break I took was a momentum killer. Sadly, if you have to tell the crowd to dance, you've already lost them. It's a catch-22: the more you talk, the less people feel free to keep dancing.

I provide all my clients and couples with planning forms to fill out, informing me of key announcements like the first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, birthday songs, and more. Additionally, they can specify how much or how little they want me to engage with the crowd.

At the very least, most people want their guests to be aware of what's happening, so they aren't just standing around aimlessly. I serve as that guide. I'll keep your guests informed while also ensuring they keep dancing. It's a juggling act, but there's a reason a DJ is called a "jockey".