Carl is the original "tasteful Disc Jockey" and the only choice for people who feel they deserve the best there is to offer! CDJ

Nobody ever intentionally tries to plan an average, mediocre event! You are spending a great amount of time and money to create an incredible atmosphere that represents your personal style, one that will leave your guests talking and feeling they have attended the best event in their memory. With that goal in mind you must consider the great impact that music will have on the event.

Music has the amazing power to create an atmosphere. The choice in music can vastly differentiate an average event from an exceptional event. The styles of music, order of the songs played and at what volume they are played is crucial to the success of a phenomenal party. A DJ’s behavior also plays a major role in the final outcome of the event. A DJ can detract from the desired atmosphere with things like poorly executed announcements or excessive chatter. Most DJ’s don’t quite understand that everyone doesn’t want all of the same, arguably overplayed songs at every event. Many DJ’s don’t possess the experience or restraint to know when to play the appropriate songs and when to shut up and let the guests enjoy the party. All the money in the world can’t undo the damage that a bad DJ will do to your event.

Carl’s style has been classic, tasteful and painstakingly professional throughout his career with Classic Disc Jockeys. Early on, it was a very new approach for a disc jockey who didn’t command attention with ego-inflating antics. Lately, it has become very popular for many "bandwagon" DJ’s to try to shed their stereotypical, over the top DJ reputations and claim to provide a "classy, tasteful show". This is an attempt to appeal to a high end clientele while boosting their fees but the unfortunate reality is that little has changed with their approach except the wording in their marketing materials and their rates. Carl is well aware of the unfavorable DJ stereotype that many other DJs easily validate. He has been working, very successfully to eliminate the negative perceptions associated to the campy, typical DJ since he began playing music.

The devil is in the details! Carl’s professionalism, attention to detail and work ethic along with an unmatched knowledge of many styles of music is something that is highly uncommon in this industry. He has a relatively simple yet dynamic mission to provide superb music perfectly timed for each client at each event, without all of the fluff to which most DJ’s resort. His approach is what enables him to deliver exceptional results regularly and routinely. His expert opinion regarding trends in wedding music and servicing high end clients has been featured in articles found in Modern Bride, Baltimore Bride, Style and I Do magazines, as well as industry sites on the world wide web.

What makes him better... Classic Disc Jockeys was founded in 1983 when owner Carl Junior turned his love of music into a profession. He first began providing music for his own High School parties, dances, reunions and eventually played at weddings and corporate functions as he gained more experience. Many years and thousands of songs later he has played an incredibly versatile mix of music at weddings, corporate events, commitment celebrations, film festivals, clubs, pubs, fashion shows, schools and colleges, The Hard Rock Cafe® as well as Disney®! Carl is routinely sought out by Baltimore Socialites who are looking for that special touch to make their event buzz with the ultimate music. He has been invited to play events for celebrities Barry Levinson, Bruce Willis, Charlie Sheen, Tim Allen and a host of sports icons. He was recently considered as the house DJ for the "Ellen show" in Hollywood and has traveled to Europe several times to hone his skills while playing to patently discerning crowds. His work in the states has taken him as far north as scenic Vermont all the way down to sunny Florida to accommodate his clients with a passion for many genres of music delivered in an expert and unique format.

Clients of Classic Disc Jockeys are informed decision-makers who choose to hire the best professional in the industry who will work with them to construct a music format that reflects their own good taste. Clients realize the importance of having someone with an extensive background in all types of music creating a festive atmosphere for them without having to resort to some of the undesirable antics often associated with campy, inexperienced and low budget disc jockeys. You will notice from the web site design that Carl subscribes to the "less is more" approach when it comes to a tasteful presentation. Although Carl works with many excellent photographers regularly, you won’t see pictures of happy couples that adorn almost every other wedding web-site on his own. Showing you pictures of other people having fun at someone else’s wedding is not relevant to how Carl can help to make your event exceptional.

His demeanor and style is why Carl is the most sought after in his industry and appears prominently on the referral lists of the area’s top event professionals.

Although Carl performs personally at most events and has never missed an event in 20 years, he has two select, talented Disc Jockeys on call as his back-up, who share his concept of helping to provide a fun but tasteful atmosphere.

Carl books around 30 events a year. His schedule is suited to serve the best interest of his clients while still allowing him to spend time with his wife Kellie, their boys Carl and Rex, as well as their three dogs Hayley, Grizz, Poppy and a formerly stray cat named Tessie Lee. Carl and his family are major advocates of animal shelter adoption. They manage a "Mutt promotion" business and love to strut their Mutts!

Please browse the web site and find out why Carl Brashears Junior and Classic Disc Jockeys is the only choice for people with discerning taste who feel they deserve the best there is to offer.

Below are a few of the questions I am asked most frequently and my responses. Please feel free to email with any other specific question or please call me at one of the numbers above.

Q: How are you different from most other Disc Jockeys?
A: Most of my clients are looking for something different from the stereotypical DJ. They need something other than what they have seen and heard at other events. They want a professional who cares about formatting great music to enhance the atmosphere of an event rather than having a "dj personality" dominate it with excessive talking, clichés, overplayed songs and over the top antics. The majority of the DJs in the industry are fairly new to the business and there is a prevailing arrogance that they will give you what they think you need. I encourage my clients to provide detailed input regarding their preferences and then I use my experience to create a personalized format that guests find a refreshing changed from the run of the mill DJ routine. I’ve had over 21 years to hone my skills and routinely deliver a tasteful presence. It’s been my pleasure to play many different genres of music at weddings, parties, colleges, film festivals, corporate events, nationally known and local bars as well as one of New York’s hippest night clubs. My taste in music spans many decades and genres allowing me to entertain my passion for providing the perfect music for every one of my clients.

Q: Do you have other Disc Jockeys working for you or would you be our Disc Jockey?
Do you have backup DJs?
A: My original business plan included my finding and employing DJs that shared my idea of putting an emphasis on a tasteful presentation rather than trying to be the life of the party with an "in your face" performance style. After 2 years of interviewing and auditioning I was only able to find 2 Disc Jockeys who I felt were capable of representing my company’s fine reputation. I perform most events personally and use these DJs as my backup in the very unlikely event that I am unable to perform at an event or need replacement equipment. I have never missed an event in over 20 years and plan to continue my great streak of professional service.

Q: How much control do we have over our music format?
A: As much control as you’d like. I encourage my clients to give me as much feedback as possible regarding their music preferences prior to the event . I’ve had clients whom have given me a short list of "must plays" and relied on my expertise in building a great format around the types of music indicated on their list. I’ve also had clients who gave me multiple pages of music lists and asked that I make my format by choosing songs off the list. My goal for each of my clients is to personalize a music format that reflects their own good taste and appeals to their friends and family. A perfectly personalized music format for my clients sets their wedding reception apart from any other weddings their guests have attended. Music itself as well as how it is delivered has an awesome power to make an event exceptional. Ask my other clients how much their guests talked about how great the music was at their event. Remember, you want your guests to remember your event as being excellent, not just OK.

Q: Why are your fees well above the average for most other DJs in your area?
A: Simply stated, my fees are higher because I’m better than my competition. I have the music knowledge, experience and tasteful presentation to warrant a premium fee. As in any market where the demand is high the fee usually reflects that demand. My clients will tell you that investing in a proven professional rather than hiring a lower priced and more inexperienced DJ really contributed to the overall success of their reception. You are spending a lot of money on a relatively short window of time in your life and many of my clients are not willing to gamble on a less experienced, budget DJ ruining that experience with a weak music format or his/her distasteful behavior. Your guests may take away other details from your wedding such as the types of foods and kinds of flowers chosen, but you can be certain your guests will vividly recall whether the music was good and especially if it was bad. The music is one thing that guests will not be able to ignore if it’s presented poorly.

Q: Do you have a video or DVD of your performance "style"?
A: Although I’m sure I am featured in many wedding videos, I do not have a sample video or DVD of my work. The main reason is because each of my clients is looking for something slightly different. I tailor my preparation, music and performance "style" for each client’s specific wants and needs giving them a personalized approach to their wedding rather than my having a standardized method for all clients. Also, having each client’s wedding uniquely different keeps things interesting for me rather than playing the same songs and delivering the same presentation week after week. Most of my clients find that contacting my references and meeting with me in person gives them a good perception of my capabilities allowing them to make an informed decision.

If I might offer some tips:

Be sure that you get in writing who your DJ will be so that you don’t end up with someone unfamiliar with your wedding agenda and song selections. I say that because unfortunately larger companies have a very high turnover rate and substituting a lesser qualified DJ for the trained sales person who pitched their service to you is a common tactic. I apologize for being negative but I hear stories such as these all of the time from friends, family or bridesmaids of my clients. Unfortunately when there is money to be made there are individuals in the wedding industry who thrive on the volume of their business and prey on the inexperience of people planning their weddings. My clients know when the hire me they are getting me and many professionals in the industry consider me the best there is to offer, just ask them. I have never missed an event in 20+ years and my experience in weddings cannot be compared to someone relatively new to the business.

I’m always hesitant to be negative about the industry but in my experience I have seen many DJ’s come and go. Most people have never planned a wedding and the process can be both exciting and overwhelming and unfortunately there are those out there who capitalize on the emotional investment of couples planning their wedding. Swapping DJs at the last minute, knowingly playing music that has been put on the client’s “Do Not Play” list and having the DJ’s deliver the same rehearsed performance week after week are the most common complaints from clients who have been guests or attendants at these weddings gone awry. I believe the reason that these un-professional practices have perpetuated from companies who have been in business for a number of years is that their unfortunate customers don’t really share their bad experience with others. When couples talk about their wedding after the fact, they are most likely not going to point out that they had an error in judgment when hiring certain vendors. Every couple wants their own wedding to be the very best that their friends and family have ever attended and any deviation from that goal is not going to be highlighted. That said… feeling confident about your decisions is really all that you have the week or so before the wedding so you need to go with your instincts. Your peace of mind is crucial because at that point things have been set in motion and while mostly under the control of your vendors, will play out accordingly. A general rule of thumb is to be very clear about what you do and do not expect from your vendors so that there is no misunderstanding.

The entertainment that you have at your wedding makes such a strong impression on your family and guests. The choice and order of the songs as well as the way the DJ presents him/herself has the ability to separate an OK wedding from a great wedding. Most of the people who contact me are looking for a less is more, tasteful approach and honestly there are very few DJs who have the experience and restraint to deliver that style. Working a wedding is so dynamically different than say a reunion, party or dance. The structure that is involved with the agenda as well as presenting yourself in a way that does take away from the atmosphere is the hard part of what I do. Also the discipline of formatting the music that the bride and groom have requested along with other songs that fit their music style is a skill that has taken years to hone.

I have been in the business for over 20 years and have noticed a prevailing arrogance in attitude among most DJs that they know what is best for your party. While experience is important, it does not give them the license to play music that you did not approve or act in a way that diminishes your very expensive 5-6 hour window of time that you have worked long and hard to create. More than a few of my clients have told me that the DJ at their sister’s, friend’s or cousin’s wedding sat with them at their meetings nodding his/her head to all of the things they wanted but when the wedding day came, they played what they wanted and their performance style was way off what they had anticipated. In some cases they questioned the DJ’s music choices and he defended his actions and explained that these were the songs that everyone wanted to hear and they would get the dance floor moving. While this scenario may not ruin your wedding for your guests it certainly will not leave them with the impression that you intended. This a an example of the arrogance and inexperience with structure and music format that can turn a potentially great wedding to one that guests will say was OK.

Large DJ companies are famous for their turnover as you have new DJs recently trained who, after feeling comfortable with their skills leave the company to start their own business and make all of the money instead of a portion of it. Also, the DJs that stay on satisfied with making a portion of the fee that the client pays do not have that great of an investment in your event with the knowledge that there are several other new DJs chomping at the bit to get some experience under their belt and fill in if they should decide to “become sick” or go to a concert as in one story I heard. One company used to advertise that they matched their DJs to what “style” their client’s requested when in fact they would assign the DJ who lived closest to the venue. I ran into one of these DJs one day at a music store while purchasing equipment and we began talking. He was scheduled to do an event where he did not have any knowledge of the music genre the clients had requested. I cannot imagine how that event turned out for those poor people.
I won’t bore you with the many other stories that I have heard over the years but just leave you with the advice that you need to be very specific when conveying your expectations to your entertainment. I always recommend to people to ask their potential vendors open ended questions like “Describe your style?” or “what is your role?” and let them tell you about themselves. This usually gives you a good idea about their intentions and you can make an informed decision. References will usually tell you a lot about the vendors “style” as well. In the end, as I have stated previously, it all comes down to your feeling comfortable with your decision.

That really is the long and short of it and I hope that it gives you a better understanding of the side of the industry you won’t read about in the bridal magazines.


Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding your music, the reception agenda or simply to get my take on something related to the wedding.
Best of luck in your wedding plans,
Carl Brashears, Jr.
carl@classicdjs.com
www.classicdjs.com
Office: 410-879-0990
Cellular: 410-459-7187