DJ Bedro: 10 Questions with Christopher Bedrossian

DJs - Christopher Bedrossian

Business: DJ Bedro
Location: Rockville, Maryland MD
Experience: 12 Years
Profile: DJ Bedro
Website: djbedro.com

1. Introduction: What's your story?

Hi! My name is Christopher Bedrossian and along with my wife, Kelly Bedrossian, we make up the dynamic duo that is DJ Bedro. I am the founder and lead DJ while Kelly is our energizing master of ceremonies. I started DJ Bedro in 2010 after winning an iPad and playing around on a DJ app called “Algoriddim Djay.” I eventually purchased a mini DJ controller to pair with the app and after developing fundamental knowledge of mixing, I DJ’d my brother’s wedding rehearsal dinner later that first year. To be honest I didn’t know what I was doing and the speakers we used were from my desktop computer! Regardless, I HAD SO MUCH FUN! I never felt that type of rush before and I felt the connection you can have with others through music. It was during that night that I knew DJing was something I wanted to do more.

11 years later, we have invested in top-of-the-line gear, have DJ'd all over the country at all types of events, and my wife has now been an emcee for more than 4 years. We call it our date night, haha, because we get to dress up, have tons of fun, dance, and eat.

We don't know what the future has in store for our passionate hobby that has turned into a bustling side business, but we do know that we cherish each event we get to be a part of and hope to instill the love for music and people into our family for years to come.

2. What's your experience as a wedding DJ? How many weddings have you done?

We have worked more than 70 weddings all across the country and even internationally. We have even DJ'd weddings from all different types of cultures to include: Armenian, Iranian, Indian, Persian, Asian, and of course good old American country BBQ! We love being a part of someone’s special day and we haven’t seen a husband and wife duo like us before so it’s what really makes us unique. We even DJ'd part of our own wedding to make it special!

3. How far in advance do couples need to book your services?

We recommend booking our DJ services at least 6 months in advance. If you are planning your wedding during a prime wedding month (April, May, June, or September) we recommend booking a year in advance because weekends get booked up fast. Most weddings with us get booked in a variety of timeframes and we are always flexible when there is quick planning or a need for moving dates.

4. What's your rate? What does that include?

Our standard wedding package is $1,000 and includes the essentials: Equipment Rental, Setup, Takedown, Reception (4 hours of music), DJ Booth Lighting, a Curated Playlist, and Master of Ceremonies Service. We also have additional services that the bride and groom can supplement their standard package with such as Additional Lighting, Additional Speakers, Ceremony Music, Cocktail Music, and a custom Photo Booth Experience by Unfotogettable Events. The additional services are a la carte and would require a custom quote. We like to say that we can build an experience for any wedding budget.

5. Are you available to travel if needed?

Absolutely! We do require that the travel and boarding costs are covered by the customer. If flying is required, we bring our essentials but would need to rent additional equipment on-site, please consider the associated costs.

6. How would you describe your style?

We are energetic, engaging, professional, and adaptive to each event because we believe in bringing a great balance of professionalism and fun. We always have props on hand, and we take requests if appropriate. Taking time to understand our client's needs is essential to providing a great Big Day experience. We do this with consultations in person or on the phone and provide wedding music and experience worksheets months before the event to learn about their preferred party style, music must-plays, music don't plays, and everything in between. We end up making friends with all the vendors because we believe in providing a seamless day-of experience by having great communication.

7. What's your backup plan if there's an equipment malfunction? Do you bring backup equipment?

We come prepared for every event with backup speakers, a backup DJ controller, and even a backup computer. The only thing that is not in our control is the electricity and power at the event location. We do recommend asking your vendor, if an outside location, what type of power source will be available for entertainment.

8. What's your sick day policy?

Because we are a dynamic duo, there are two of us! This means our first backup is one of us would still make the event and provide a great experience. Our second backup is to leverage our connection with other local DJs that we recommend in the area.

9. How do you motivate a shy crowd to dance? What do you do to motivate the crowd if nobody is dancing?

We love this question! There have been times when the crowd is not in a dancing mood, and it often depends on the vibe of the bride and groom. If the bride and groom are more reserved we see that their guests are also, however, we have some tricks up our sleeves that can get the party going! We have wedding games, and a "get out of jail playlist" that is our secret weapon for the dancing blues. Sorry, we can't share those songs here, but do know that we have it and we're ready to implement at a moment's notice!

10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?

We require a small $100 deposit to hold the date up front that is a non-refundable deposit. Due to current events, our cancellation policy has been more flexible on a case-by-case basis, however, cancellations within one week of the event do require a 50% payment of the final rate. Any additional preparation costs incurred by DJ Bedro would also be required for reimbursement.