Same Sex Weddings: A Primer
After receiving a warm reception at last year’s DJ Expo speaking on a business panel, this year Jodi Duston from DJ Jodi Entertainment of Portsmouth, N.H., delivered a full-length seminar offering tips on how DJs can book more same-sex weddings. Duston operates a thriving DJ business that specializes in same-sex weddings and other events catering to the LGBT community. A lesbian herself, Jodi’s wedding-DJ business initially focused on straight couples. It was only later, after forging relationships in the community and learning musical programming for LGBT couples, that Jodi would develop her same sex-wedding specialty.
Duston’s tips include:
(1) Place images of same-sex couples on your website. Related, get reviews from same-sex couples.
(2) Create separate paperwork for same-sex couples. Spend an afternoon revising your wedding-planning forms creating one set for lesbian couples and one for gay-male couples.
(3) Get educated on the different traditions and announcements at a same-sex wedding, particularly for the ceremony, wedding-party introductions, and Parent Dances. For example, consider a lesbian wedding: Do both brides get walked down the aisle by their fathers? If both brides are wearing a dress, this may be the case. In other cases, when one bride is “butch,” she may dress in a suit and tie and take the role of a traditional groom and will be waiting at the wedding altar with the officiant. DJs should be armed with lots of information and options for their same-sex couples.
(4) Be where they are. Of course, you want to be online where same-sex couples are researching wedding vendors—sites like the Rainbow Wedding Network and gayweddings.com. DJs should also research local community events. In particular, DJs can purchase a table at “pride festivals”—large gatherings for the LGBT community that are less formal and lots of fun.
(5) Volunteer for causes important to the LGBT community, such as AIDS walks or youth programs. The community is quick to support those who support them.
(6) When performing at straight weddings, conduct yourself in a manner that will place gay couples in the crowd at ease.
There’s plenty more, of course. Stay tuned for next issue, when the wrap-up of DJ Expo 2015 continues.
Gregg Hollmann owns Ambient DJ Service in East Windsor, N.J.
