Sean McDonnell was one of the first DJs I worked with professionally. He’s lots of fun, knows how to keep the dance floor packed, and really loves his job – which definitely shows!
Read a little more about Sean below, or go check out his website: http://www.djanddance.com
Tell me the basics – who are you, what do you do, and why do you do it!
All Night DJs is a team of three DJ/MCs that provide the sound and energy to make weddings and special events fun and memorable. As DJs, we help set the tone for the reception with well-picked background music building up to crowd-pleasing dance tunes. As MCs, we handle all introductions and announcements throughout the event and work with all vendors to make sure everything runs smoothly.
We have tens of thousands of songs in categories including the latest radio hits, rock & roll, disco, alternative, R&B, country, Motown, 60s, 50s, swing, Latin, world and Christian.
Our team includes DJ/owner Sean McDonnell and DJs Dave Kujawa and David Reid, with 19, 15 and 22 years of DJing experience.
When did you decide that this was the industry you wanted to work in?
I started DJing in high school and college and was immediately hooked on the thrill of playing music for the enjoyment of others. I worked for an Okemos-based DJ company and was trained to provide top shelf service for weddings, corporate parties and other events. Dave, David and I all met nearly ten years ago and formed a team based on our similar styles.
What is your favorite part about your job?
It’s a tie between packing the dance floor with guests of all ages having a great time and having a bride and groom or client thank us at the end for making their event special.
How far in advance do most of your clients secure your services?
We’ve had bookings range from two days to two years but most clients reserve our DJs six to twelve months in advance.
Why do you think professional musicians should be a high priority for brides and grooms?
Many say that entertainment is one of the key aspects of a reception and certainly one of the most remembered – good or bad. Music creates atmosphere the moment guests enter the room and it can add flavor to the meal without overpowering it if handled correctly. A professional knows how to work with large or small bridal parties and make each part of the reception run smoothly, even when surprises come up.
With the relative ease of breaking into the business, there are literally thousands of people willing to setup and play at a wedding. There are, in our opinion, less than one hundred full-time professional DJs in Metro Detroit that focus on weddings, and fewer still, that have been doing it as long as we have.
A few suggest skipping paid entertainers all together and simply plug an mp3 player into a stereo system.
There are dozens of reasons to go with a pro, but the most important is that instead of working of a pre-planned order of songs, a professional DJ who has entertained at hundreds of receptions will often not know what song they’re playing next until a minute before because they’re still reading the crowd. They can adjust musical styles and genres on the fly, responding to the highs and lows of energy provided by the guests. The professional will still play the “must plays” and avoid the “do not plays” but he or she will blend them and fill in with additional tunes to build off of that energy.
How are you unique or different than all the other artists out there?
Out of literally thousands available, there are very few DJs that are professional, have entertained at weddings and are actively DJing, versus managing a group of DJs. Most DJs who have been in the business as long as we have don’t actually DJ many weddings anymore – they run the company and oversee the new DJs. We work in every aspect from the first phone call all the way through personally entertaining at the reception.
We work with the bride and groom or client to determine the right mix of music. Sometimes the bride and groom are very detailed as to what should and should not be played, other times they leave it wide open. For those that request a vary unique mix of tunes, we don’t hesitate to provide our professional opinion as to how well their choices may or may not make guests want to dance but the final decision always rests with the client.
Many DJs are only familiar with music from the past 20 years. Since we are just a little older than the average DJ and because we all grew up and enjoy listening to older music, we know it very well and this helps to balance the age groups that we can play to. In fact, I own one of the most extensive collections of big band and jazz music covering the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
The number one complaint from guests about disc jockeys is that the music is too loud. We know that we’re not the focus of the evening and we don’t pump the volume up any higher than it should be. We walk the floor to make sure guests can hear each other during dinner and even during the dance portion.
When I DJ a wedding, sometimes I’m asked to provide ballroom dance lessons to the guests as a way to fill cocktail hour time or introduce people to the dance floor.
We’ve been told by many clients and vendors that we are very well organized and detailed.
We’re told by photographers and videographers that we’re great to work with as we always keep them up to date with the timing of the reception – making sure everyone’s ready for the next formality – and even discussing logistics, such as grand entrance pathways and the direction of the bouquet toss.
We’re the only DJs in the area that provide a money-back guarantee in writing.
When you’re not working what do you enjoy doing?
My wife, Laura and I enjoy spending time with our two young boys. I enjoy cooking, ballroom dancing and history.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
If toppings are available, I’d pick French vanilla, otherwise I would enjoy a nice scoop of birthday cake ice cream.
Anything else cool you want potential clients to know about you?
While working for my former DJ company, I DJ’d for 20,000 people at Joe Louis Arena for Detroit Red Wings games six or seven times. It was a lot of fun but very nerve wracking!
by Lindsey | Event Planner
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