Vendor Spotlight | B.A.M.! Productions

We're so excited to share with you "Married Madness Special" from B.A.M.! Productions!

College basketball's got nothing on B.A.M.! Productions "Married Madness Special"!  Book your wedding reception with us in March and get up to 7 hours of mobile DJ music service for your wedding reception for just $650!  That's a savings of $225 off of our regular price!  PLUS, save an additional $50 when you pay in advance [at time of booking].  Your savings can total up to $275 off our regular price!

You get great service backed by the expereince of an actual on-air radio DJ.*  Your big day will be here soon, but your wedding day savings are here now thanks to B.A.M.! Productions.  Special good only until March 31, 2013.**

We can also provide music for your wedding ceremony for an additional, but very reasonable, cost.  Ask for details.  B.A.M.! Productions, home to the "Friends & Family Discount!"  We are also available for birthday, anniversary, and holiday parties].

*Owner Mark Pitz can be heard on 100.7 KKRQ The Fox and on AM 800 KXIC.
**New customers only; subject to availability; holiday weekends extra; mileage fees and other restrictions may apply; gratuity not included; limited time offer

Preferred Vendor Spotlight | B.A.M.! Productions

"Tell a Friend And You BOTH Save" Special

B.A.M.! Productions has always offered "Friends & Family Discounts," but never like this. For a limited time, when you and a friend or another family member or anyone else you know, book your wedding reception with us, you can BOTH score BIG SAVINGS! Up to 7 hours of our mobile DJ service for just $550.00**! That's up to $325.00 off our regular price!!! Can you say(and hear) Cha-Ching! But you need to act fast. This special is good only until June 30, 2012. Sign up and save today! Your big day may be a ways off, but your wedding day savings are here now from B.A.M.! Productions. PLUS---get over 25 years of actual radio DJ experience with owner Mark Pitz(hear him on 100.7 KKRQ The Fox and AM 800 KXIC). **New customers only; subject to availability; holiday weekends extra; mileage fees and other restrictions may apply. Gratuity not included. Limited time offer. Both parties MUST pay in advance. *If NOT paying in advance, a $100.00 deposit secures your date with a balance of $550.00 due date of service. Call 319-551-2476 or fill out the form on our contact page. Get your wedding date reserved today and SAVE!

*We also can provide music for your wedding ceremony for an additional, but very reasonable cost. Ask for details. B.A.M.! Productions---home to the "Friends & Family Discount" (also available on birthday, anniversary and holiday parties).

*WATCH OUR VIDEO

Vendor Spotlight | B. A. M.! Productions

:: Vendor Spotlight ::

We are pleased to spotlight one of our Premier Musicians;

B. A. M.! Productions

The “Sounds of Spring” are the “Sounds of Savings” with B.A.M.! Productions mobile DJ.  For a limited, get up to 7 hours of music service for your wedding reception at our regular 4-hour rate---a savings of $225.00 off our regular price! Pay in advance at save even more! Can you say(and hear) Cha-Ching!?! B.A.M.! Productions is local serving the Iowa City-Coralville-Cedar Rapids-Marion area and is owned by Mark Pitz, an actual radio DJ who can be heard in the Corridor on 100.7 KKRQ The Fox (Classic Café) as well as AM 800 KXIC (high school sports) and 95.7 WMT-FM(Cedar Rapids Titans football). Learn more at www.mybamproductions.com.

B.A.M.! Productions is a Premier Member of The Preferred Bridal Book.

Guest Blogger | Music Man - DJ Services

Today's Guest Blogger is courtesy of Music Man, a Premier DJ Company.  The first time I met Curtis Dean, within the first few seconds, I felt like we were old friends. Curtis has a wonderful, easy-going way about him that instantly puts his clients at ease so that they can focus on the wonderful mix of music that they are well known for.

 The First Question
In 23 years as a mobile DJ, I bet I've answered well over 1,500 initial inquiries by potential DJ clients.  In the early days, of course, most of those were over the phone.  In recent years, more and more of those "leads" are coming from my website or other online referral tools, or by email.  
Those conversations - electronic or by voice - inevitably begin with a first question from the client to the DJ. And that first question you ask may set the stage for how successful that contact will be.

Shopping
Occasionally I get a call from someone who knows they want my services.  Oftentimes these are friends, acquaintances, past clients, or others who have seen me perform.  However most clients are simply "DJ shopping".   Perhaps they've scouted out a few DJ's on the internet, or received a vendor sheet from their venue with the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of a few DJ's.  They don't know yet who they want to have as their DJ, so they are calling around or emailing to learn more about their options.    
Like with any shopping experience, how the interaction begins often determines how it will end.  So if your a prospective client calling a DJ, what should that first 
question be?                                                                   

What NOT To Ask First
There's one question that's on every client's mind, and in many cases it's the most important:  how much will this cost?  But for several reasons, I would advise you NOT to ask that question first.    
When the first thing out of a potential client's mind is "How much do you charge?", the DJ immediately thinks, "This person is only interested in getting the cheapest DJ they can find."  Even if that's not your intent, it can put the DJ on the other end of the line into a defensive posture.  The DJ may think, "They are on a very limited budget and probably can't afford me, so do I want to waste a lot of time on the phone with someone who will end up hiring a 'Craigslist DJ' anyway?"  

The other reason it's not the best first question is that usually the answer is "it depends".  Most DJ's have service packages and pricing depends on what package is most appropriate for your event.  So while it's obviously important for you to know what your financial obligation will be, it's better to engage the DJ in a conversation about your plans before turning to the financial matters.                                                        

Conversations Matter
Hiring a DJ is not just about hiring someone to perform a service for a few hours on the day of your wedding or other big event.  I truly believe it's about establishing a relationship with someone who will be a partner in that event's success.  So I believe the best place to begin is with a conversation.                              

Most mobile DJ's like to talk about themselves.  After all, you couldn't do the job without having a bit of an ego and a penchant for communicating.  So I would advise you to start your dialogue not with a question but with a simple request:  "Tell me about yourself and your company."  The response you get may very well tell you all you need to know about whether that DJ is right for you.  If you don't get a positive feeling from that conversation, you may never get to the question of money.  

In addition to asking the DJ to tell you about them, be prepared to tell the DJ about YOUR plans, even if they are only tentative.  A good DJ will want to know what those plans are before talking about packages and pricing because of all the variables that go into offering a package of services.  If all the DJ says is "It's $500 for 4 hours", that means they probably see themselves as offering a commodity...their time in exchange for your money.  That's not to say that the DJ won't have a fixed package price, but if they don't take the time to learn more about what you have planned, how can they truly meet your (very specific) needs? 
           
Ask To Meet
I've got to admit that most of the clients I've booked over the years hired me after a few phone calls and/or emails.  I think that's because in northwest Iowa, I was already a known presence because of my years on the radio, as spokesperson for Spencer Municipal Utilities, or by my reputation as a mobile DJ.  
Now that I've relocated to a central Iowa, my reputation doesn't precede me.  The slate is clean.  So, I've been asking potential clients for the opportunity to meet with them in person before they hire me.  If you ask your potential DJ to meet with you and they express reluctance, then you're probably not talking to the person who's best suited for you.  If they enthusiastically agree to meet with you, that means they are excited to engage you in a conversation about your event and they are confident in their abilities.  
Some people might be reluctant to ask for an in-person meeting because they are afraid of a "sales pitch". But you're not buying a car from a used car salesman, or a TV from Best Buy.  You're investing in a person who very well could make or break your event.  So don't be afraid to sit down with that person and engage them in a conversation.                             
    
Meet, Have a Conversation, Then Talk Price
So you meet with a potential DJ.  You have a good conversation about their services, and about your plans. You're getting a good vibe about this person.  At that point, you're ready to start talking about how much their services are going to cost.  But what happens if the DJ you just "fell in love with" is out of your price range?  It's about priorities.  If you've done this process with several DJ's, sit down as a couple 9for weddings) and discuss the pros and cons of each DJ.  If the "perfect" DJ is $200 more than the "OK" DJ, think about whether or not you want to settle, or whether it would be worth it to economize elsewhere to make it work.  A couple of hundred dollars is generally a tiny sliver of the total cost of a wedding, for example, but having a quality DJ is by far the biggest factor in how memorable that event will be.  Think about it this way:  what will your guests remember most about the evening a month later?  Will it be how fancy the cake was...how stunning the floral arrangements were...what color the napkins were...or will they instead remember how much FUN they had?  That fun is in the hands of your DJ, so choose wisely.  



Music Man is a premier vendor with The Preferred Wedding Book 

Preferred Vendors | Vendor Specials

Here are some recent vendor items that you may find interesting.  All are members of The Preferred Wedding Book, so you know that they are great service providers that you can count on for excellent customer service!

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Nick Walke from Jambox has a social networking special that they are currently running http://www.jamboxllc.com/specials/social-networking-special.html

All you have to do is fan Nick on Facebook or follow him on Twitter and you receive $40 off. You must book this DJ Service before the end of May.

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Need to find a certain vendor for your Wedding Event?  Iowa Wedding Ideas Magazine is a great resource for some of Central Iowa's best Service Providers.  You can find this publication at several locations around Iowa; Supermarkets, Restaurants, Salons, Gas Stations, Retail Specialty Shops and much more.  

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Danielle from Something Chic Floral recently opened her own retail space at 2700 University Avenue Suite 208, Governor's Square * West Des Moines, IA 50266.   When you get a chance, stop by to see her amazing work. 

 

 

End of Week Love | Vendor Updates

I apologize for the lack of posting yesterday.  I was meeting with a client in Independence, then had more traveling to do all day, so consequently, the day escaped before I had a chance to chat with all of you. It is funny how much I miss you when I don't write everyday!
Today's posting is all about vendor updates.  I get so many that cross my path, that it is hard to keep up, but these have been on my desk right in front of me, so I have to share them with you so I can get to the others!  Happy Friday Love!

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Katherine McClure is a sponsor of our Bridal Show this Sunday at the Embassy Suites on the River.  It promises to be a beautiful show - we are one of Iowa's most romantic shows after all so we have to live up to our promise!  

Katherine is one of those amazing people that you love the moment you meet her.  Her tag line:  "...because life is gorgeous!" already tells me that we will become fast friends. Come see her work and why we are thrilled to showcase her as a Premier Iowa Vendor.

Want a sneak peak?  Visit her at: http://www.katherinemcclure.com/blog

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Sarah Seeley Photography has joined Weddingsiniowa.com  from the eastern side of Iowa and I couldn't be more thrilled.  As you all know, I am a lover of all things Romantic and Beautiful, so when a Photographer has her tag line as "Modern and Romantic Wedding Photography," of course, I am all in.  Her pictures are as enchanting as she is.  Love!   Check her out at the Preferred Bridal Show coming to Bella Sala on April 17th in Tiffin, IA.   Here is a little more about her work:

 I started my photography career working for a wedding photographer in Dallas and totally fell in love with weddings! I love all the details, people, excitement and happiness that weddings bring. Once I started shooting weddings on my own, I brought my husband Scott along to help. Turns out, Scott has a naturally creative eye and loves shooting weddings as much as I do! Since then, we have shot most of our weddings together and have loved every minute of it! 

Our style is a mix of documentary photojournalism and modern portraiture. We love capturing smiles, tears, real emotions! 

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Brian from Live Wire Entertainment also comes to us from the eastern side of Iowa.  He is a master DJ artist and ready to party hearty at your wedding.  Brian is one of those lovable people that really cares about your event's music.  He knows how important it is to get everyone up on the dance floor, even Grandpa!  He has over 20 years of experience and has worked over 1000 wedding receptions!  Brian and his staff will be providing the music for our catwalk runway show at the bella sala Bridal Show on April 17th.  Come say hello!

Reading Love

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Make sure to visit us this Sunday at the Embassy Suites on the River for one of Iowa's most Romantic Bridal Shows.  Grab a glass of wine, eat some cake and plan the perfect Wedding, courtesy of our professional vendors!  Find out more at Weddings in Iowa.