Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Will Megasound be Around for MY Wedding?


from Erik Michaels of Megasound


Megasound has been in business continuously since 1985. Many DJ (disc jockey) companies come and go, but you will not have to worry whether we will still be in business the day of your wedding. We are committed to excellence and our clients.

It is true that many so-called DJ companies are not operating legally within the community which they serve. Most of these "moonlighters" do not carry insurance and offer very low prices. Once again, one usually gets what one pays for. A DJ who doesn't insure himself puts YOUR wedding at risk. If his equipment gets stolen, he is likely to contact his clients and cancel on them.

Megasound is also locally owned and operated right here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We are not part of some franchise or any other company, so there is no risk of our company pulling up stakes and moving operations to some other location.


Friday, April 24, 2009

To Toss or Not to Toss… the Bridal Bouquet?


by June Hoffman and Erik Michaels of Megasound


Reception planning is in full swing for most Fort Wayne brides. One question on traditions that comes up with most wedding itineraries is: “Are you holding a bouquet toss for all single ladies?” Some brides would rather not put their girlfriends through the anxiety of reminding them that they are still single.

As the MC (Master of Ceremonies), here are a couple of recommendations as options to the bouquet toss.

"Candy Toss" - this is where instead of throwing the bouquet, multiple kinds of candy are used instead so that more than one person can enjoy their "catch".

“Award” the bouquet to the longest married couple during an Anniversary Dance, to your grandmother, or to your Maid or Matron of Honor. This is a wonderful way to celebrate marriage and/or friendship.

“Ribbon Pull” for your bridesmaids is an interesting alternative to a bouquet toss. Specialty charms and long colored ribbons can be purchased prior to the wedding and given to your cake baker. They tie each charm to a ribbon and then charms are placed between the frosted cake layers. Before the cake is cut, each bridesmaids select a ribbon and pulls out an individual charm. Charm meanings include luck, next to be married, baby, money, and more.

“Break Apart Bouquets” are an easy way to “share” the bouquet with all of the female guests (single or married). Ask your florist to create several smaller bouquets and have these bouquets tied together. Invite all the ladies to the dance floor and untie the ribbon holding together the smaller bouquets. It is a surprise to the ladies when several bouquets fly through the air. This is an option so more guests can enjoy the flowers.

For those brides who want to include the bouquet toss, here are a few songs other Fort Wayne brides have used at their wedding. These songs are appropriate for the bouquet toss wedding tradition.

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
“Chapel of Love” by the Dixiecups
“Single Ladies” by Beyonce

Whether you decide to toss your bouquet or not, enjoy the moment and take your time so that the photographer can get the best shots. Oh, and IF you decide to do the bouquet toss, communicate with your MC to make sure that they are going to count to three for you to throw the bouquet. Your MC is working with your photographer so that they know the photographer is ready to get the shot (at least here at Megasound, this is important to us).


Monday, April 20, 2009

Why Should I Worry About Sound Equipment?


AKA…What good are signal processors, signal enhancers, and 30-band equalizers and why would I want to hire a DJ/MC who uses them for my wedding?

by Erik Michaels of Megasound


Do you want crystal clear sound at your wedding? Yes
Or would you prefer the sound like at your local drive-thru restaurant? No
You do want your guests to be able to easily understand all the announcements.

A professional DJ/MC is going to invest in components which will make their equipment sound the best that it possibly can.

Signal processors improve sound quality by preventing that “distortion sound". It is similar to that choppy, nasty sound that happens when you turn up the volume too high on your car stereo. A signal processor limits voltage and helps "even" sound out when the disc jockey turns the volume up too high or screams into the microphone. A signal processor makes the sound produced crystal clear at ALL volume levels.

Signal enhancers correct phase and equalization to produce a more intelligible sound. The manner in which they operate isn't as important as the end result: BETTER SOUND. Any performer who really cares about their sound should be interested in utilizing a signal enhancer to improve the overall sound quality.

A 30-band equalizer is similar to the bass and treble controls on your stereo system. The bonus for you is that 30 different frequencies are affected instead of only two. Filtering out unwanted signal "junk" improves sound quality. Keep in mind that most Fort Wayne DJs and MCs perform at many different locations throughout the year. Being able to "fine-tune" their system allows them to correct frequency differences caused by varying environments. A qualified DJ/MC should adjust the sound based on a reception hall’s size, shape, and interior wall texture (carpeting or concrete). Utilizing a 30-band equalizer allows maximum flexibility by providing far more "points" of adjustment than simple bass, mid range, and treble controls.

A DJ/MC who utilizes these types of components in addition to the standard amplifiers and speakers, obviously cares about their sound QUALITY. This is very important for your wedding, as high quality sound will make your reception much more enjoyable for all who attend. No drive-thru loud speaker sound for your wedding!!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Place to be this Saturday, April 18, 2009


from June Hoffman of Megasound

“Something Old, Something New”
Catrina for Jordan Fashions
Mother’s Gown Trunk Show

As an MC (with Megasound), I am excited to be a part of this unique event this Saturday at the Wedding Place. Brides can bring their Mother and soon-to-be Mother-in-law to celebrate wedding traditions together. The highlight of the day is a Mother’s gown trunk show by Catrina for Jordan Fashions.

Each Mother of the wedding who brings in a copy of her wedding photo to add to the Wedding Place collection will receive free flowers. Brides and their mothers will also receive great prices on the mother’s gowns, tasty treats, and special surprises.

This is a chance for Brides and their mothers to share in wedding traditions and create wonderful moments with lovely fashions, flowers, and a chance to talk about your wedding.

Hope to see you on Saturday!!


The Wedding Place
“Something Old, Something New”
Saturday, April 18, 2009
10am-5pm
4618 Speedway Drive
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Call 260-482-1250 for more details

Monday, April 13, 2009

Why Would You Desire 100% Horn-loaded Loudspeakers for Your Wedding Reception?


by Erik Michaels of Megasound


For those of us who are not acoustic engineers, the debate over which type of loudspeakers are best for a particular use may not seem like much of an issue. However, loudspeakers are what transform the electrical signal sent to them into sound and will change the sound you hear more than any other part of a sound system. You may think that a loudspeaker is a loudspeaker, but that is just like saying that a DJ/MC is a DJ/MC. We all know that some are better than others and the same holds true for loudspeakers as well.

Horn-loaded loudspeakers offer you better sound than bass reflex loudspeakers.
1. Horn-loaded speakers are more efficient at converting the electrical signal sent to them into sound energy, so they require less power to create a given sound volume.
2. These speakers project their sound much further than other speakers. Have you ever noticed when you took your own loudspeakers outdoors that the sound coming from them seemed to "evaporate"?
3. Most loudspeaker designs for home use employ either bass reflex or acoustic suspension as their design, and since they are designed for the average-sized living room, they work very well as long as they are in that size of a room. Your wedding reception hall, however, is much bigger and will require larger speakers in order to create that same sound as what you are used to in your living room. This is one reason you would want horn-loaded speakers as opposed to other types of speakers.
4. Another reason that horn-loaded speakers are better is that they create less distortion. Since horn-loaded enclosures are more efficient at creating sound in the first place, they require far less power to achieve a certain volume (sound pressure level). This means that one doesn't have to push the amplifier as hard and therefore reduces cone breakup, which causes one form of distortion. While there are other forms of distortion which are also reduced, what you will hear is more crystal clear sound than from other types of loudspeakers. In fact, most sports stadiums utilize horn-loaded speakers for these very same reasons.

The reason most DJ/MCs do NOT use horn-loaded loudspeakers is because of their size and cost. Yes, they are generally larger than bass reflex speakers, which also means that they are heavier. They are also more expensive than bass reflex speakers. However, their excellent sound quality and superior projection qualities make them a much better choice in all but the smallest reception halls.

In fact, horn-loading is so popular that even most professional bass reflex speakers utilize horn-loaded midrange and high frequency (tweeter) drivers. Unfortunately, the all-important bass driver is left out. As a result, a subwoofer is then required to produce the "chest-thumping" bass which can easily be produced utilizing horn-loaded bass drivers. Once again, utilizing 100% horn-loaded loudspeakers produces less distortion, provides further projection, and gives you more accuracy than similar-sized bass reflex speakers.


Monday, April 6, 2009

What’s Your DJs Backup Plan?


by Erik Michaels of Megasound


Why should you use an entertainer who provides backup equipment?

While you are considering who to hire to provide service for your reception, keep in mind that not all MC/DJs are created equal. In our previous article regarding experience, we highlighted the difference between MCs based on their experience. Likewise, many inexperienced MC/DJs do not have backup equipment installed, hooked up, and ready to go as part of their package. Even experienced service providers (who DO have backup equipment) can still experience problems during weddings due to equipment failure. However, an MC/DJ who has backup equipment on-site can prevent most problems from becoming a nightmare.

Having backup equipment at your reception such as an extra amplifier, microphone, and CD player can make all the difference if one of those devices fails. Electronic equipment can fail at any point in time. Just because an entertainer tells you that they have backup equipment does not necessarily mean that the equipment will be on-site, hooked up and ready to go. If an amplifier fails and the backup unit is in the entertainer's vehicle, it will still take some time for them to bring the unit in, hook it up, and turn everything back on.

As an example, without an amplifier, the loudspeakers are silent. For your protection, this should be the minimum backup provided by any DJ. A true professional will also care enough to provide a backup microphone and some sort of backup source of music as well (a backup CD player or similar device).

Unfortunately, many DJs leave backup equipment out as a means to save money. While this may also save YOU money, you run the risk of ruining your wedding night as a result. As the old saying goes, "You're better safe than sorry."