Today on Industry Friends, we are featuring, the cute as a button, and extremely talented, Scott Rideout, owner and DJ at True North DJ Services. We have had many opportunities to work with Scott last summer, and we will be working many weddings together this summer, including Lauren & Corey’s wedding this Saturday!

Hiring a professional DJ for your wedding can make a huge difference with respect to the enjoyment of your wedding guests.  There is so much more to keeping the dance floor booming than plugging in an iPod or iPad.  Different music for different moments, knowing what song to put on if the dance floor is getting a little sparse, and making sure your dance floor lighting is tasteful and complimentary to the atmosphere.  Uplighting for your reception makes Teddy and I so happy, and it looks so amazing in photos, and Scott is a one stop shop.

This guy and his team are fantastic at what they do, immensely talented, and all around really great people to have in your corner. Not to mention, they are a whole lot of fun, and you will not be disappointed on your wedding day.

True North DJs were recently named the GOLD WINNER in The Coast’s Best of Halifax Wedding Awards, for Best DJ.

Scroll through Scott’s photos to get to his interview on how to keep your dance floor rocking on your wedding day!

Click HERE to make your way to True North DJs’ website to see what amazing services they provide, and click these social media links to follow True North on FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM

Give us a little history about True North DJs, and what made you choose to pursue the entertainment business?
The name “True North” has an obvious pride connected to it, however, the main inspiration came from sailing on a 12 metre racing yacht, off the coast of St. Maarten in the Caribbean. The yachts flag was attached to the stern by a hockey stick and, following our sail, we sat on the deck drinking Labbatts Blue. The name of the sailing yacht?… True North.

Do you have a showroom where clients can visit, where is it located?
Absolutely – our office is located on the Bedford Highway, at 1266 (in the same building as Taz Records). We ask that meetings be pre-booked as our office hours are irregular.

Where do you draw your inspiration from when it comes to creating the perfect wedding playlist?
From the moment I press play, every song is important. Cocktail hour & dinner music can be used to set people up for the rest of the evening, being enjoyed in the background as well as used to increase the energy as the event progresses. It also gives me the chance to play songs that may not be suitable for the dance.
Personally, I rarely use a pre-determined “play list” as you never really know what to expect or how a group will react to your music. There are songs that typically work which I use in most events, however, a DJ should remain flexible and be able to adjust to any situation musically.

In saying that – I have a guilty pleasure of trying to catch people unexpectedly coming out of their shell & being swept up in the moment… There is a party in every room – it’s our job to find it. Whether it’s the worm, ties on people heads or Granny on piggy-back… My play list for an evening makes every attempt at giving something for everyone in the room.

What are your favourite wedding trends for the upcoming 2015 season?
The photo booth is ALWAYS a hit… it gives your guests an interactive activity as well as a take-away memo of the event. Up lighting has been enhancing weddings for the past few years, but has become one of the most important elements of decor available. I find both of those are being requested by more & more clients.

What are some “golden rules” you believe every couple should follow when thinking about their Wedding DJ?
There are so many – but I would say it boils down to these 2:
Rule 1: Go with your gut feeling!… If you feel confident that your DJ of choice suits you AND your guests, go with them!…
Rule 2: Once you have made your decision – trust your DJ! Remember – our goal is the same – with your guidance and our experience, we all hope for the same outcome for the event.

What are some things that couples can have ready for their consultation with you?
Much of the music planning can be done via email through our planning forms. There are the obvious things that people can provide in their initial contact such as: date, venue, room and a basic timeline for the day as well as when they would like to have music provided. Some of the questions we like to address in our meetings include your guest count & ages of guests in attendance. We also like to know your music genre preferences as well as music dislikes.

Other than the music, what are some other important components to incorporate into your wedding that a DJ can provide, and why do you feel it important?
It’s not really tangible, however I believe that a huge component to provide clients is comfort & confidence! There are hundreds of things that are on couples’ minds on their wedding day. The last thing I want them worried about is the DJ. Once a couple relaxes into their event, you can feel the other guests follow suit. The same can be said for the dance – if a couple is active enjoying themselves, guests are more apt to do the same.

Do you travel for weddings?
Yes – depending on availability, we generally try to keep it within an hour of Halifax, but I have had the fortune of spinning in Vancouver, Miami, South Africa and even Maine.