Wedding Vendor Advice from Lance Panton, My DFW DJ
We are kicking off an all-new, very, special blog series "Straight from the Source" with first-person accounts from our favorite wedding vendors of what couples can do to create an unforgettable wedding. And to kick it off, we interviewed DFW Wedding DJ, Lance Panton with My DFW DJ, for the advice he gives to couples planning their entertainment.
Little known fact: Amber got to know DJ Lance because he was her wedding DJ! His ability to pack their dance floor and entertain ALL of their guests from their parents, to their New Yorker and Cali friends that traveled in, proved to us that he is a DJ that everyone needs to know about.
Without further ado, here is DJ Lance Panton's interview:
Portrait of Lance Panton with My DFW Wedding DJ based in Dallas. He is standing while leaning his back on the rail of a balcony that overlooks the city on a sunny day.
Photo: Izehi Photography
1. Tell us who you are and what you do.
My name is Lance Panton or DJ Lance. I am the owner and sole DJ for MY DFW DJ - Weddings and Events based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
2. What is the MOST important thing couples should consider when choosing their wedding DJ?
Trust. Trust is everything. The DJ you hire should be able to assure you that they can execute your vision to perfection. All scenarios don’t have a definitive answer in advance. The right DJ can assure you of being prepared for the unknown. 90% of what happens is discussed and agreed upon in advance. How that other 10% is handled can make or break your day. That’s why the trust of the 90/10 scenario is important.
3. What is one secret you wish all couples knew about collaborating with their wedding DJ?
Tell us what we don’t know. The little details. For example: "This was my sorority’s favorite song." Or "If you play this song, my Dad will blow everyone’s mind with his routine." Or "This song was playing in the background when I proposed." Couples would be surprised by the connection that people make with the little things. If you give a good DJ that info, it will make your day magical.
4. What advice would you give to couples for choosing their first dance song?
Make sure your first dance song means something to you. If you have a distant relationship with music as some couples do, just do a quick lyric scan to see what fits you two as a couple. With the first dance song and other big moment songs, like your introduction and parent dances, the way a song feels matters as well. It may be an extremely romantic love song, it may be uptempo and fun, or something else. If the music feels like it fits you two as a couple, your guests will connect.
5. What should couples do or consider if they want to make sure their dance floor is packed all night long?
This goes back to properly selecting the formal songs and the music that I play during cocktail hour and dinner. Most guests aren’t concerned about “when” they hear their jam. In most cases, they just want to hear it. So if your mom loves Whitney or your dad loves Motown but neither fits the vision you have of your reception dance floor, of course, I can play it. That’s what cocktail hour and dinner are for. All of that music is the prelude to the party. If everyone is happy with the music before the first “dance floor” song is played, then the rest is easy. Your DJ can then focus exclusively on dance floor music decisions and not a non-danceable song request that could’ve been played earlier.
6. And finally, where can folks find you?
You can find me at www.mydfwdj.com, on Instagram @mydfwdj, and on Facebook.
How to create an unforgettable wedding with advice from wedding DJ Lance Panton with My DFW DJ. Black & white photo includes African American couple dancing at their wedding reception in Dallas, Texas.
