My son and daughter-in-law hired DJ Vinnie for their wedding and reception, after interviewing/checking out several other recommended DJs. They picked a winner! I am a 'gray hair' and 60 years old - lived long enough to know that often times professionals promise what they can't/don't deliver. A wedding is a one time event, so having the right DJ is crucial, especially if he/she has to cover the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner AND 3 hours of dancing. In addition, music is a major passion for this particular couple.
DJ Vinnie delivered wonderfully on all fronts. He provided a clear contract of services/terms. He was very responsive by email/phone. He initiated a couple of face-to-face meetings including one (in my son and daughter-in-law's neighborhood) at a cafe, and welcomed my husband and I to join in. At that meeting he laid out how the evening would go, in accordance with their preferences and plans. He answered, knowledgeably, any questions or concerns we had. He gave us preliminary advice based on his experience as DJ at numerous weddings, and communicated with the event planner we had hired for the wedding. He had worked at the site (Stern Grove/Trocadero Clubhouse) before, so knew various hazards and conditions to be prepared for.
The day of the wedding, he showed up on schedule (no small thing since it was on a Friday afternoon AND the first day of Outside Lands and crazy traffic) with his amazing collection of excellent equipment, hauled it all into place, set up and was more than ready to go in advance of guests arriving. He had to provide music to the ceremony grove, the cocktail hour porch and the dining/dancing room. He adapted easily to a change in location for his table, he did not ask for any help or complain about anything even though he was setting up in a beehive of activity! He had zeroed in on the wedding couples' choice of music for various parts of the evening beautifully, drawing on an expansive range of music, using turntables as well as other sources.
We've all been to weddings where the DJ is rather like a performing Vegas MC, grandiose and loud and full of tired remarks. DJ Vinnie is NOT that variety. On the contrary, he is spot on with giving guidance to guests (e.g. please find your name on the table chart and join us inside for dinner, now there will be a few toasts, cutting the cake,etc.) but understated, gracious and timely. BTW, he provided a wireless microphone for the toasts. When the dancing started, he eased the crowd - a mix of 50 and 60 year old 'aunties and uncles', several young children and lots of 20 to 40 year olds - onto the dance floor with universal favorites, fast and slow. EVERYONE danced! Then he progressed with the couples' playlist into a wonderful collection, reading the crowd intuitively. We even had a conga line out of the room, across the porch and in the other door! No one was falling down drunk - just having an enormously happy celebration - and DJ VInnie set the stage.
The event planner and her staff have worked 100s of weddings, and found Vinnie to be excellent to work with, professional and personal. When it came time to break everything down (midnight), he quietly and efficiently gathered up his considerable amount of equipment, and loaded his SUV, patient and personable to the end.
No question who I would hire for any occasion requiring a DJ and great music: DJ Vinnie's the man! read more