- Book early – particularly during peak event periods (Nov – Apr) and on key nights (Fri, Sat and around public holidays)
- Watch videos & read testimonials – make sure the agency you choose is reputable and well-reviewed
- Don’t automatically go for the cheapest option or lowest quote – you often will get what you pay for. On the other hand, be conscious of what you are being charged. Some agencies will charge a premium price for an entertainer. You can book through another agency for much less. For more info on pricing, check out our FAQs
- Set the mood from the moment your guests arrive – entertainment creates that mood in an instant
- Think of something that will make your event unique (i.e. feature performance, bridal waltz sung live, etc.)
- Consider your timings and at what points your entertainment can make the best impact
- Ensure you have access to direct contact with your entertainer(s) before the day, not just the entertainment agency. It’s important to be on the same page and build rapport as opposed to introducing yourself on the night
- Be kind to your entertainers on the night – It’s also a huge day for them, so make sure they are happy. You’ll get the best performance that way!
- Let your entertainers read the room; they are the professionals – it might be your day/event, but it’s everyone’s night to party
- Let the agency know what you thought – write a review! Testimonials help agencies and entertainers get to play at great events like yours
A special occasion is even more special with the best Melbourne entertainment company behind you
When it’s your big day and you want to make sure that it’s one that everyone remembers for all the right reasons, it’s time to book a wedding DJ Melbourne couples all rave about.
There’s nothing better than a wedding that goes off without a hitch – apart from the two of you getting hitched that is.
Your choice of entertainment is one of the most important parts of a wedding day and can make or break the occasion. That’s why it always pays to enlist the expertise of the top Melbourne entertainment company.
Then you’ll be certain that every detail to do with entertaining your guests is taken care of and you’ll have something to really celebrate, long after the hype of the big occasion has faded.
The best choice of entertainment
We’ve all been to a special occasion or a wedding where all the trappings were looked after. From the decorations to the way the delicious food was served showed that every care was being taken to make it a success.
Then came the entertainment.
This is really the turning point of an event. It might be the time when the party really starts to take off OR it could be when all the anticipation and energy falls flat.
That all depends on the type of entertainment that is chosen and how good the entertainer is.
Even the best band, singer or DJ can be wasting their talents if they are booked for the wrong sort of occasion.
A dance DJ, for example, might not be the best choice for a sophisticated soiree and a jazz combo might not get everyone up and dancing till all hours either.
How a top DJ can make your night or wedding a winner
The special thing about an amazing DJ is that they can read the room and know when to get the atmosphere cooking, get people out on the dancefloor, cool things down for any formalities like speeches and then really raise the roof.
That isn’t just down to what music they choose or a set playlist they have ready. Not every crowd is the same and there are special traits that a top DJ can pick up to keep the party rolling.
It’s even more important when it comes to a wedding or engagement.
If you’re lucky enough to have a fabulous quality wedding DJ Melbourne is famous for, then you can relax and enjoy your night (or day) without worrying if people are enjoying themselves.
Taking charge of the overall vibe of the party or wedding reception is not for just anybody. You need to choose the right talent for the occasion which includes:
- A high level of professionalism
- A flexible approach from a team that has your best interests at heart
- An ability to offer a range of quality choices
- experienced, engaging and personable
- Know what to play and when to play it
There are many different entertainment companies out there, but only one that stands out from the crowd with rave reviews for their stable of talent.
Quality no-one can beat
When you are looking for quality entertainers, there’s one Melbourne entertainment company that wins hands-down. That’s Top Dog.
You can choose from an exciting range of great entertainment options, including:
- DJ’s, including DJ bands and DJ hybrids,
- singers and jazz combos,
- party bands and pianists,
- electronic duos, acoustic artists, and string quartets
- as well as dancers, acrobats, and roving entertainment,
Top Dog has quality entertainers that you can always rely on.
Make sure your event is a special one with the best entertainment possible.
Get in touch with the entertainment experts today.
When it comes to wedding planning or organising a Christmas party for your work, chances are, you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to entertainment. You may have a budget, you may not. You might want a change from what you booked last time, or you may have been to an epic wedding and you want what they had!
Here are some of the top reasons to book through an agency when organising entertainment for an event.
Volume Of Artists
We have hundreds of artists across many genres, styles, price and instruments. We work with bands, solo artists, duos, DJs, DJ band musicians, roving performers and more. You get access to all of these artists with only one contact – super easy to keep track of.
This comes in handy if you aren’t sure what you want, if the artist you wanted is not available or if you want multiple elements of entertainment across your event. With not only the volume, but also the high level of skill our artists have, we will find the perfect options for you no matter your budget or brief!
You Have No Idea What You Want
Sometimes people have no idea what type of music they would prefer at their event and that’s ok. A band or a DJ, a DJ band or an acoustic act – we can help you work out what would be best suited.
Give us a brief and we will give you options. We are happy to work with a small, large, tricky, specific, or strange brief – we love a challenge. Give us as much information as you can, and we will give you a couple of line ups that are sure to impress.
Your Artist Is Sick
People get sick and things (although rare) can happen out of our control. Once in a blue moon a DJ or musician is not going to be able to turn up at your event and sometimes with very little notice. Should this happen, and your wedding was only hours from commencing, you wouldn’t have time to deal with this. Cue the agency staff – we would be on this instantly and sort out the best possible back up/replacement. Here at Top Dog our office phone line is diverted to a staff member overnight and over the weekend. We are always available. Should anything happen, we will be onto it and sorting it out before you even know what is going on! With the sheer volume of artists we have, we can find available alternatives in a flash.
You Have Too Much To Organise
Planning an event can take up a lot of your time and chances are (especially for couples getting married) you haven’t done this before. Planning events doesn’t always come naturally to everyone.
We will coordinate all your song choices and run sheets with our user-friendly online forms, coordinate with venues, liaise with performers and make sure everything is perfect and ready to go on the day. This is particularly useful when you book multiple artists. We ensure they all work well together; the right amount of equipment has been arranged and that everyone knows their parts, arrival times and we organise payment to all artists whilst you only have to deal with one invoice.
We Are Experts
All we do is listen to music, scout new artists, talk to musicians and DJs, follow new trends, visit venues, and organise entertainment for epic events. Got a question? Need some advice on what will fit/work for your event? Bit confused about on-site restrictions/rules? Chances are high we will know the answers to any of your questions. In our office alone we have a DJ, a musician, an event manager, and a celebrant. We have a wide range of event knowledge and we are always learning.
Professional Service Guaranteed
We do not just book anyone. We have seen every single person we book play in person. To us, it is not just about talent, its about being presentable, experienced, personable and talented. We make sure that anyone we send out to an event is representative of our brand – we have high expectations of our artists.
Diary of a DJ by DJ Henton S
It’s always a pleasure being asked to provide the soundtrack to a couple’s special day. I don’t just rock up on the day. The planning starts well before the actual event by sitting down and going through the details provided to Top Dog on the event form to get a feel for how they dream of the day panning out. I like to find out what music is special to them, what might make their friends and family dance, look at playlists they may have created and make sure I am across the run sheet and key songs, such as ceremony music or the first dance.
In the week leading up to the big day I ring the couple. It’s a great opportunity not only to introduce myself but to run through all the music, get a feel for the vibe they are after and just get to know them a little. I think it’s important that they feel comfortable with me and that they trust that I can deliver the atmosphere they are after for their big day.
After chatting with them I will play around with my music and put together some folders containing music they like and music that will fit around that. It helps to be prepared and although I have an extensive collection of music, (great for requests!) it makes the night easier when I have all of their must plays on hand.
On the event day from behind the decks I’m very lucky to have a fantastic viewpoint of the entire venue and celebrations. Starting off with seeing the smiles of excitement from the guest arrivals, everyone looking beautiful and sharp, friends & family travelling from far & wide, reuniting and embracing with joy!
My first aim is to set the mood and play a perfect balance of welcoming and warming music to get everyone relaxed and excited for the evening ahead. It’s great to look around and see people happy in conversation catching up or eating the amazing food but as long as the toes are tapping then that’s a good sign!
Once the formalities are out of the way it’s time for the DJ’s most crucial job; to get the party started and everyone on the dance floor! Quite often this involves a First Dance of the couple’s choice and then straight after it’s my turn to up the BPM (beats per minute for those non musicians!) and get everyone in the party spirit! Working with other musicians, such as saxophone, trumpet and percussion also brings an extra wave of energy which the crowd always enjoy. It is really fun seeing them roving around the dance floor and interacting with the guests.
Once you get the guests up and dancing, one of the most difficult jobs as a DJ is to keep them there because one wrong song choice can kill the dance floor! This is where experience and a vast music collection comes in to play. With 20 years practice under my belt I like to read the crowd, mix it up with some new hits, some sing along classics, floor fillers and play for the girls, as they are usually the best dancers!
As the night draws to the end (depending on what is requested) I would usually aim to finish with a bang, some big sing along anthems and finally give the couple a farewell circle or archway send off if that’s their thing. This is a great way to bring everyone together for one last time to say their goodbyes and off into the night.
Once it’s all over I pack up and fill out an online job report form so that everyone at Top Dog knows how amazing the night was! Job done!
These days, people are looking for the next best/most popular entertainment option when planning their event. A DJ Hybrid is the latest option (and one of our most popular) when choosing a DJ band. A DJ Hybrid is produced when you find an incredibly talented individual who has not only nailed the skill of an instrument (or vocals) but learnt to mix tracks on the decks like a pro! Booking a hybrid gives you the flexibility to have a bit of live music without the price of hiring two separate people.
We sat down (virtually…) with one of our most popular hybrid performers, Chris, who is not only an incredible saxophonist but also a DJ!
What instruments do you play (and how are they incorporated into your set)?
Saxophone and Flute, and DJ decks.
Acoustic flute and sax work really well in canapes or meal sets. Wandering through the guests as they eat and mingle without being too intrusive
Sax gets the dance floor going! Wandering out and partying with guests
What music is your favourite to play?
Love playing any funk/disco/soul music – works wonders with the sax! But honestly, my favourite type of music is what the client wants to hear – their energy on the dance floor gives me energy and it creates a really positive feedback loop that makes the night a huge success.
Why do you love performing at events?
Being a part of someone’s special day (wedding) or party (corporate event). Knowing that you are helping to make the day memorable.
Why a hybrid? Why not one or the other?
Saves the client money by hiring one person instead of multiple performers!
Playing sax whilst DJing offers a live music experience without the need for a full band. You get the flexibility of song choice that a DJ offers, but have the live music element and interactivity that a musician can offer. When you are the musician and the DJ you know all the perfect songs to complement the event but also your instrument.
Favourite dance floor song?
Definitely love disco hits like September but also a big fan of Yeah! or You’re the Voice (especially playing along with the bagpipe solo!) or sax specific tunes like Jubel.
What song goes off with a sax solo?
Jubel and Careless Whisper are definitely the two most request sax songs. Levels, Valerie and I Wanna Dance with Somebody are close thirds. Can also end the evening and begin to wind down the night with the famous INXS never tear us apart solo.
Memorable moment?
- Playing at the races and moving around the marquees – also love the different crowds that are in the bird cage or the private marquees on the other end of the track
- Having another guest at an event bring along his own saxophone and we had a good jam throughout the night
- Joining in with a Croatian band at a wedding – They were a great bunch of guys and had some music for me to read. Night was a huge success – they played all the classic Croatian tunes and gave me freedom to jam along and roam amongst the crowd.
What’s good about working with Top Dog? (shameless plug – can you blame us??)
Organisation and making my life easy – they take care of the admin and fine details for me so I can focus on making the night a success!
The honesty and transparency when working with them, as well as feeling like you are valued as a musician. They have your best interests in mind when working to deliver what the clients want.
What’s next for you Chris?
- I love playing with the Garth Ploog Trio where Garth sings and does keys, Henton DJs the beats and I play sax. This gives a great canape and early evening sound that can easily transition into the dance floor as the DJ is already set up and ready to go! It’s a really unique DJ band option!
- Next step is pairing up multiple entertainers with the hybrid and having a full DJ band. Percussion and vocals with a DJ/sax hybrid creates live music entertainment with the flexibility of song choice of a DJ.
- Pairing a Hybrid DJ with a Hybrid DJ so that there can be more features of my sax whilst the other hybrid DJs and/or sings – the options are endless! I’m booked in early next year to DJ and play sax with another DJ who sings. It will be an awesome vibe!
Like to hire Chris for your next event or function? Contact Top Dog Entertainment today!
Book Early
Particularly during peak event periods (Nov – Apr) and on keys nights (Fri, Sat and around public holidays}
Watch videos & read testimonials
Make sure the agency you choose is reputable and well-reviewed
You get what you pay for
Don’t automatically go for the cheapest option or lowest quote – you often will get what you pay for. On the other hand, be conscious of what you are being charged. Some agencies will charge a premium price for an entertainer you can book though another agency for much less. For more info on pricing check out our FAQs
Atmosphere
Set the mood from the moment your guests arrive – entertainment creates that mood in an instant
Be creative
Think of something that will make your event unique (i.e. feature performance, bridal waltz sung live etc.)
Timing is key
Consider your timings and at what points your entertainment can make the best impact, whether its a corporate event, wedding or anything in between!
Keep in touch
Ensure you have access for direct contact with your entertainer(s) before the day, not just the agency. It’s important to be on the same page and build rapport as opposed to introducing yourself on the night
Be kind
Be kind to your entertainers on the night – It’s also a huge day for them, make sure they are happy, you’ll get the best performance that way!
Trust your entertainers
Let your entertainers read the room, they are the professionals – it might be your day/event, but it’s everyone’s night to party
Give Feedback
Let the agency know what you thought – write a review! Testimonials help agencies and entertainers get to play at great events like yours
Check out our most popular services:
- DJs – https://topdogent.com.au/djs/
- DJ Bands – https://topdogent.com.au/djband/
- DJ Hybrids – https://topdogent.com.au/dj-hybrid/
- Acoustic – https://topdogent.com.au/acoustic-performers/
- Party Bands – https://topdogent.com.au/party-bands/
- Jazz Groups – https://topdogent.com.au/jazz/
- Roving Entertainment – https://topdogent.com.au/roving-entertainment/
