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Why you should book a professional MC for your wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most amazing and memorable days of your life. It’s a day filled with love, celebration, and good times with your family and closest friends. There is so much going on and an incredible amount of planning, and for most people, this is the first time they are planning an event that large. Although most of the planning is done before you get there on the day, there is a lot going on at your reception once you say “I do”. 

A wedding MC needs to plan your running sheet with you and your venue, ensure everything runs smoothly, and keep guests engaged and informed. This is where a professional MC excels. They play a vital role in creating a seamless and unforgettable experience for you and your guests. 

Here are some key reasons why hiring a professional MC can make a huge difference on your wedding day. 

  1. Experience: Professional MCs bring years of experience and expertise to your wedding. They have been there, done that with almost every situation, and have mastered the art of public speaking, crowd engagement (i.e., try making 200 people quiet after they have been drinking for a few hours), and event coordination. Any situation that comes their way they can handle with composure, knowing the ins and outs of event management. 
  2. Getting the flow right: Hiring a pro will keep your wedding running all night, from introducing the wedding party and guiding the guests through the running of the night to seamlessly transitioning between the different formalities, meals and breaks. There will be no weird pauses, no announcing speeches when the person speaking is in the bathroom, and guests will always know where to be and what is coming up next. You can just relax. You can rely on the MC to liaise with the venue.
  3. Personalisation: Your pro MC will work with you to understand what you see happening with your formalities, and they will tailor their service and tone to suit your wedding vibe. They will take the time to learn about your vision, speak to you about key moments/people, and incorporate personalised touches into their script to ensure the event feels uniquely yours. 
  4. Engaging: A skilled MC knows how to get an audience going and keep them engaged throughout the event. They use their storytelling abilities to connect with guests and create an entertaining evening for everyone attending. They know how to project their voice, command attention, and make follow-up comments off the cuff as if they had it planned all along. They can also include some of those classic wedding MC jokes to keep the energy high. 
  5. Problem Solving: A wedding is a big event with lots of moving parts and unexpected situations sometimes do arise. Whether it’s an unforeseen circumstance, technical difficulty, or even a medical emergency, a professional MC will remain calm, think on their feet, troubleshoot, and adapt to make sure the wedding keeps rolling without a hitch.
  6. Stress-Free for the Couple: Your professional MC will be able to make small decisions and liaise with the venue to ensure you are not constantly bombarded by irrelevant notes about mains running 5 minutes late. Entrust the flow of events to someone who knows what they are doing, and you will know that everything is taken care of – all you need to do is enjoy your big day!

To conclude, hiring a pro MC is a decision that could significantly enhance not only your experience of your wedding but also that of your guests. It will ensure a smooth flow of events and a level of polished professionalism that your Uncle John just can’t beat. So, when you are planning your wedding, please consider investing in a seasoned MC who will help you ensure your wedding reception is as easygoing for you as possible.

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Navigating wedding Spotify playlists

Not only because we live and breathe all things music and entertainment, but nailing your music choices is crucial to the success of your wedding.

People will often forget the colour palette of your florals, how your seating chart looked or what they had for entrees, but NO ONE will forget if your reception was boring and no one danced.

Luckily for our couples, they never have to worry about that, as we work with the best talent in Melbourne, and our dancefloors are THE dancefloors your friends will talk about for years to come. (We’re not sorry for the sore feet you’ll get from dancing way too hard).

Music choices can be overwhelming. We know how many BANGERS are out there, but to make it easy for you, we have put together some playlists with key songs for all of the key moments throughout your day.

Here, we have four example playlists that will take you right through a full day of entertainment for your special day. First up, you will find all of your favourite love songs in our ceremony and first dance playlist. These will help you set the tone from the very beginning of your day. Moving along to our reception entrance songs playlist, you will find all the tunes our couples love to enter their reception with a bang! In order of moving through your night you will find our dancefloor bangers playlist, with exactly what the title suggests…all the bangers!!! Finally, our last wedding playlist has all of the end-of-the-night classics that work so perfectly every time.

So, whether you’re cruising in the car, heading for a workout or chilling at home, pop these playlists on and see why our wedding couples choose us to create the soundtrack to their love story.

Let’s party!!!

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5 mistakes to avoid at your wedding

A wedding is supposed to be one of the best days of a couple’s life. You spend countless hours planning a wedding and let’s face it, things will go wrong; that’s unavoidable, but here are five of the top mistakes to avoid at your wedding.

 

  1. Not having a backup plan for an outdoor wedding or ceremony. Let’s face it: we live in the state with the most unpredictable weather. An outdoor Melbourne wedding MUST have a backup plan in case the weather decides to have a little moment! Ensuring you’re organised in the lead-up with an alternate location for your ceremony or outdoor celebrations will eliminate so much stress on your wedding day.
  2. Not hiring your dream team of wedding vendors. Wedding vendors live and breathe what they do, and the best of the best have probably been doing this for 10+ years. We can’t stress enough just how important the team of vendors you book is to your day and how it will flow. There are plenty of parts to your wedding that you can cut down to save money on, but don’t let it be your dream team of wedding vendors – especially your entertainment vendors!
  3. Including traditions in your special day ‘just because’. Don’t do it! It’s as simple as that. Working in the entertainment industry for many Melbourne weddings, we get to know so many couples along the way and often hear they are adding particular traditions into their day just for the sake of it. Remember, your day is about you, and you should always base your wedding decisions on what will make you most comfortable rather than what might be a tradition.
  4. Cheaper doesn’t always mean better! This one is really crucial and something that we see and hear all the time. Ask yourself why there is such a huge jump in pricing from one vendor to another in the same industry. We often hear of couples booking a vendor purely because it was the cheaper option and then having major regrets afterwards because something has gone wrong or they haven’t gotten what they asked for/ thought they were getting. The saying you get what you pay for really is true, and you really can’t put a price on having your day run smoothly and being the best fun.
  5. Planning things without doing enough research. Getting engaged is so exciting, and you can often find yourself planning things right away, even if you thought you wouldn’t be that person. Before you know it, you are saying yes to things because you feel pressured to get things locked in but haven’t done the proper research. We would always advise you to take things slow where you can, research and explore, and make the most informed decisions along the way.

 

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6 unique entertainment ideas for your wedding reception

The wonderful thing about wedding entertainment hire is that the possibilities really are endless when you put no limits on the creativity in what you end up booking. No two weddings are ever the same, and there are so many unique ideas to add to your planning to make your wedding reception stand out. Let’s chat about our top 5 picks.

  1. Live music for your canapes or cocktail hour. Instead of having your venue play background music via a playlist, booking a live musician, whether that be an acoustic soloist, a duo, sax player, violinist, or vocalist, you can really set the tone in such a beautiful way for your guests as the night begins.
  2. Book a magician. On the theme of canapes and cocktail hours, booking a magician is something we think is SO fun and unique. Often, at weddings, guests from different families don’t know each other, and a magician is such a fantastic way to break the ice and bring people together. This is one that we are seeing pop up more and more, and we are loving it.
  3. Add a live element to play alongside your DJ. Whether it be a saxophonist, vocalist, violinist, or percussionist – this adds a totally different interactive element to your dance floor. A good DJ is more than fine to carry the dance floor on their own, but adding of a live element that can get in and amongst your dance floor really steps things up a notch and makes for the best vibes.
  4. Fireworks! This is another idea that we see popping up more and more these days, and it is the most beautiful touch to finish your wedding with. End the night with a bang by having a fireworks display. Not only does it make for epic photo/video content, but it really is such a special day to celebrate the wonderful day you have just had. Much like we mentioned, setting the tone from the beginning is the perfect way to create a lasting memory for your guests once the night has come to an end.
  5. Hire a live painter. Whilst not totally entertainment–related, we think this is such a beautiful choice to consider adding to your day. Your day will absolutely fly by, and what better way to capture such a beautiful moment captured than with a live painter? Your guests can watch as the painting unfolds in real-time throughout the night, and then you have an incredible piece of artwork to cherish forever.
  6. A drag performer! Nothing says party starter like booking a drag performer. They are so unique, fun and memorable in all the best ways. A drag queen will put on a spectacular live show full of glitz, glamour, humour, and some cheeky banter. Your guests will be left blown away & this is something we are seeing become super popular among many weddings and events.
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10 things to ask your wedding DJ

We totally get it – organising your wedding entertainment can feel daunting. If you haven’t planned a wedding before, here is a list of the most crucial things we believe you should ask your wedding DJ.

– How does it work with music planning? Should we give you requests? Will you read the room or do a bit of both?

– How far in advance should we start organising the music we would love at our wedding?

– What genres of music really don’t work for an epic dancefloor vibe?

– What genres of music do you feel most comfortable playing/do you specialise in?

– What DJ equipment will you be bringing?

– Can we hear a mix/see a video of your work?

– Will you take song requests from our guests on the night?

– What music will you play when you’re taking a break throughout the night?

– How would your past clients sum you up as a DJ?

– What is the most crucial part of your role as a wedding DJ?

– Can we submit a ‘do not play’ list?

Once you have chosen your wedding DJ – or maybe you would like to ask these questions whilst you are making your decisions on which DJ to book – ask them these questions. Once you have the answers to those, it will aid you so much in making a decision to pick the best-suited DJ for you!

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What to look for in a wedding DJ

The possibilities of the different types of entertainment you can have on your special day really are endless, but you can never look past a DJ.

It is such a popular choice among our couples and such an integral part of your reception.

Choosing the right DJ for you can feel overwhelming. We get it our artists are amazing, and we hate choosing too, but we are always at ease booking you one of our DJs because we really do work with the best of the best.

Below are some of the main points we think are crucial when looking for a DJ.

  • Do you get to select your DJ? Many agencies will book you anyone who is available – not us! This is about you and what you love, so we will always allow you to have a full say in your day and guide you if you are stuck.
  • Look for someone with a minimum two years’ experience in weddings. Our DJs are not uni students who learnt a new skill or people who decided to give DJ’ing a shot during Covid – they are all professional, experienced and experts at what they do. On the biggest day of your life, this is something that is super important to consider.
  • Build trust with your booking agency/ DJ. Trust in them to execute your vision. We live and breathe entertainment and music and have been doing this for 15+ years. If you trust us, we guarantee to get it right for you every time.
  • Does your DJ have professional equipment and a neat set-up? This is so important. There is nothing worse than great music being played out of not-so-great speakers. This can really ruin the whole vibe. All of our DJs have the highest quality equipment that is checked and approved by us so that we never compromise on sound quality for our clients. Our set up’s are neat, tidy and safe. If you see cables and cords everywhere… run!
  • Reviews and Feedback. These are real people from their own events sharing their feedback, and this should be used as a tool to help you feel comfortable in booking with your chosen agency and DJ. We are proud to have a 5-star Google review average, and you can read all the wonderful things our clients have to say here LINK.
  • Cheap DJs should be more of a red flag than you think. When you are looking for a wedding DJ hire, we understand and respect everyone has a budget and different financial situations, but if you are reviewing several quotes and some are significantly cheaper, ask yourself why this may be. The saying you get what you pay for is often very correct. 

Before you make a decision on your DJ, look into all of the above points, and you can be sure if you’ve ticked all of these points off, you’re in for an amazing night!!

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A celebrant’s top tips for ceremony music

Oh hey there, it’s Shelley – by day, I work at Top Dog and on the weekend, I moonlight as a marriage celebrant. Working in both fields keeps me super invested in the music at a ceremony, so here are some tips!

Go live if you can.

Live music is magic at a ceremony. There is nothing better than a soulful vocal, a romantic tune played JUST FOR YOU. So, what are your options for live music? Well, I mean, really, they are endless, but the most popular things I am seeing currently are: strings, solo and duo acoustic lineups, and traditional jazz ensembles. When choosing a lineup for your ceremony, watch videos, have a listen to tracks, and make sure that you LOVE the sound they are putting out. Ensure they’re set up early to get the tunes started for your guest’s arrival – nothing better than setting the scene early. Don’t forget to chat about song choices early. If your musician needs to learn one of your favourite songs, they will need time to perfect it!

iPod – No worries!

So if live music isn’t your jam, it’s not in your budget, or if you just prefer your favourite songs in their original format, then playing the songs through a speaker is the way to go. Chat with your venue and celebrant to see what options you have to play music, whether they can press play for you, or whether you need to allocate a guest. Personally, I let everyone have access to my speaker. It is a beast of a Bose unit, and any guest can press play via Bluetooth using their phone. You won’t even know who is doing it! You send them into the ceremony early, I chat with them about the cues, give them a printout of the script to read along if that helps, and then remind them about fading out and not just cutting off a song when you get to the top of the aisle. It’s so easy, and I am yet to have a guest fail me on the tunes!

Choosing songs – how on earth do you narrow it down?

My main advice here is to choose songs you love. Don’t get stuck trying to choose from the list of most popular ceremony songs or focusing too much on finding a ‘love song’. Pick songs that you both love, that mean something to you and that will give the vibe you are after on the day. Wedding ceremony music doesn’t need to be lovey-dovey and romantic – upbeat works just as well and will have you skipping all the way up or down the aisle. Some of my recent less common and favourite tracks have been:

Baby, I Love Your Way – Big Mountain

(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You – UB40

Lovefool – The Cardigans

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Daryl Hall & John Oates

How many songs will I need?

Okay, so for the aisle, you will need one, but some like to have their wedding party walk down to one song, then another separate song for the couple. So, potentially two for the aisle.

Then, depending on whether or not you sign the official documents during the ceremony, you may need a song or two for that. I say I’ll always get it done in one, but sometimes people get chatty, and it’s good to have that second one ready just in case.

Then, the recessional, the finale! Pick something fun and uplifting so that it can be heard above the cheering when we announce you as married. Walk back down the aisle together with a pep in your step, and your guests will embark on the next part of the day with a party vibe already activated!

At the end of the day – it’s YOUR big day, and you should include songs that set your hearts on fire. Who cares about the rest of the world? Are you an unabashed Madonna fan? Well, let’s get ‘Into the Groove’! If your heart beats to the rhythm of rock and roll instead of Ed Sheeran and his serenades, then give your guests a taste of ‘I Was Made For Loving You.’ Music at your ceremony isn’t background noise. It’s going to set the tone for the rest of the night and be the anthem to all of your wedding anniversaries!

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Read this before booking wedding entertainment!

Wherever you book, whomever you book with, make sure you do these things to ensure you get the ultimate wedding entertainment experience!

We have been doing this for years (not joking, over 30!), and we know a thing or two about weddings, entertainment, and how couples get the most out of their entertainment:

Here are our 4 MUST DOs for couples booking wedding entertainment:

  1. Choose experience!

    Book someone who has been doing this for a while and has a range of experience! Be careful about booking young kids who don’t have the gigs under their belt and can’t keep all ages partying on the dancefloor.

    Does your artist(s) have experience in only doing weddings? Although that’s obviously pretty important, artists that play at a range of other events have a better all-around feel of music trends, demographic ranges and how to keep the dancefloor turning over all night.

  2. It’s Your Wedding – you are in control.

    Make sure you have full control over who your key artists are.

    Knowing who your DJ is, is critical – they are the ones that are in control of the vibe of your night.

    So, you ask, and you should ask, ‘Can I choose my own DJ?’ Yes, a hundred times ‘Yes, you should be able to.’You have the power, and with your agency’s guidance, you can piece together the ultimate line-up.

    Some agencies might shove their pre-selected artists (or artist that they are trying to keep exclusive to their agency meaning they need to give them x gigs per year) down your throat, leaving you with a DJ who still thinks the Macarena is the pinnacle of party anthems. It’s important that the choice in your hands.

    Can you also speak with your artist(s) before your wedding? Creating an introductory rapport with your key artist(s) is very important. If you don’t, are they really understanding your vibe and style? You’ll feel way more comfortable on the night to approach them if you have spoken to them prior.

    Despite having all the chats you need with your coordinator throughout the planning process, it just isn’t enough without speaking to someone who will be on the ground with you.

  3. Don’t grab a stack of quotes and book the cheapest.

    If you’re grabbing a stack of quotes and booking based on price, you are either very brave, or the quality of entertainment isn’t that much of a priority. Cheaper entertainment may save you money upfront, but it can cost you in terms of your overall experience and impact. Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

    Side Note: that being said, Top Dog offer the same artist as other agencies, but at a cheaper rate. Providing the best service and value for money always prevails over our agency margins (check out our Wedding FAQs for more info on this 😊)

  4. Get on the phone / ask questions.

    Talk to your agency contact – Building a real connection with the person coordinating your wedding entertainment is important!

    Ask questions; No question is too silly. You’ll know pretty soon if they know what they are talking about. You’ll get instant answers, too; no waiting around for replies like you’re stuck in a slow dance.

    Also, you get to feel the vibes and energy firsthand because rapport and tone matter when planning the perfect wedding.

For much more assistance to guide you into making the best decision, be sure to read our Wedding FAQs, back on our Wedding Page. It’s comprehensive and covers a heap of questions we’ve been asked over the years…

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The best entertainment for your wedding or special occasion

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.

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The best acts at Grazeland and for Melbourne wedding entertainment

From the best in corporate and Melbourne wedding entertainment, to the stars at Grazeland.

If you’ve never experienced the fun and excitement of Grazeland, then it’s time to get there.

This is where the best in food and quality entertainment come together in the best possible way. It’s like a perfect marriage and a great chance to be inspired by great tastes and great music to savour.

Of all the different entertainment options out there, this is the one place that is sure to impress.

It’s one thing to have a great venue. It’s another to have great food and a whole variety of flavours to enjoy. Then, imagine if you could have all that fabulous fun to enjoy and have a fantastic vibe all the time you’re there.

That’s where having the best in DJ entertainment makes all the difference. It can take an atmosphere to a whole new level.

Talent for bringing people together

There’s one special entertainment company that really stands out from the crowd.

You can get the ultimate in a whole host of entertainment options to suit any function or event that you can think of.

The chance to have everything from the best in Melbourne wedding entertainment and hottest DJs, to the ultimate in corporate entertainers, or the top musical artists and combos, there’s only one name to know. That’s Top Dog Entertainment.

High quality entertainers do more than showcase their musical talents, the best of them can really make the event a winner by getting everybody up and moving. That’s a special skill.

There’s nothing quite like an artist who has the ability to build the excitement and keep that buzz going for the whole duration of the occasion.

As the organiser of the special occasion, you can sit back and relax, knowing your event is in the very best of hands.

If you’re there on the big day or night, then you have the chance to get up and dance along with everyone else.

The all-important Wow factor

It isn’t always easy to get a crowd on the same wavelength and lift the mood of an occasion.

Only an experienced talent can work with all the variables of different tastes, different ages and demographics to find that ‘sweet spot’ where everyone is happy and ready to enjoy themselves.

We’ve all been to an event or party where the vibe was flat, and the atmosphere was anything but inspiring. The problem is that something like that can be a self-fulfilling prophecy and one where people feel that they have to stop themselves from interacting or dancing.

You can flip that on its head with the right entertainers and music choice.

That’s when you can see the shy types or those inclined to be more a wallflower suddenly join in the action and the whole place can be up and jumping.

This is when a top calibre entertainment group can make all the difference.

It’s no wonder that Grazeland is known for more than the tasty treats on offer. It’s the music that makes any visit there a memorable one.

It always pays to see a reliable team who have an in-depth knowledge of planning through to execution. That’s why Top Dog Entertainment is the team to see.

The entertainment specialists

Whatever the occasion, from corporate events through to the highest quality Melbourne wedding entertainment, you can be sure that you’re in the best of hands with Top Dog.

The entertainment options are both excellent and extensive, including:

  • The best DJ’s,
  • corporate bands,
  • singers and jazz combos,
  • electronic duos, folk artists, and string quartets
  • as well as dancers, acrobats, magicians and roving entertainment,

Top Dog is the name for quality acts all at the top of their game.

Get in touch with the entertainment experts today.

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