DJs Michael Murphy and Alex Verno started DJs for Lovers in 2006.
A good disc jockey can make or break a wedding reception, say Michael Murphy and Alex Verno, who run DJs for Lovers, a Richmond-based mobile disc jockey service. Experienced spinners who hail from the local club scene (Murphy hosts the crate-digging Mellow Madness show on WRIR), their hip take on the post-matrimonial soundtrack is edgy enough to include some obscure Iggy Pop and P-Funk, and flexible enough to have the “The Electric Slide” on standby. We recently caught up with Verno and Murphy to talk marriage and music.
Bride: What’s the biggest mistake couples make in selecting a wedding DJ?
Alex Verno: Just looking for the lowest price. If you go with the cheapest rate, you might not get what you expected. The DJ may show up and not have the songs you want played.
Bride: How important is it to have a meeting with the couple beforehand?
Michael Murphy: Very. It’s at that meeting where you find out what they want played and what vision they have for their wedding.
Verno: That first meeting sparks questions. They might know their song for the first dance, but what about the father-daughter or mother-son dance? We try to be prepared. We don’t want to have same-day questions.
Bride: Do you guys do a lot of talking on the mic?
Murphy: People at a wedding want to socialize with the couple and enjoy each other’s company. They aren’t there to be interrupted with a lot of announcements. We like to let good music provide the entertainment.
Verno: The less my personality is interjected, and the more the couple’s personality is allowed in, the better.
Bride: What does a good wedding DJ provide that the groom’s cousin with the cool iPod playlist won’t?
Murphy: I learn something new at every wedding. I can take that experience to the client and offer tips on what to expect.
Verno: We kind of serve as timekeepers for the wedding. We’re seeing what’s working on the dance floor and changing on the fly. No one who is a guest at your wedding is going to have a good time if they have to keep getting up to adjust the sound levels, fix equipment problems and deal with a rented sound system.
