Over the years of being in the wedding industry, I have met many many vendors. I have since built a great relationship with them and always refer them to my couples. I have decided to do a vendor spotlight blog post of all of my preferred vendors. I will try to do this monthly but you may end up seeing a few a month. I truly enjoy meeting new people especially in the wedding industry. So I figured why not interview these favorite vendors of mine so that if you are a couple looking, you can learn more about them. First up is Chris Ortleib. A Columbus Ohio DJ with Premier Entertainment.
Get to Know:
1. How did you get started?
The Entertainment business was always a draw for me. I remember attending dances in middle school and desiring to do that job. Allowing people to forget about things for awhile seemed to be the ultimate way to spread happiness and joy. It continued through high school, DJing fundraisers, band and cheerleader dances, and the dance to end a week of Band Camp. I enjoyed DJing through college in my fraternity house basement. I moved to Grand Rapids, MI in 1999 and joined Premier Entertainment –my current company name is a tribute to that company which is no longer in existence– DJing about 250 weddings in my five years there. I focused on the restaurant and bar business as of 2003, securing a DJ residency at Tiki Bob’s Cantina in downtown Grand Rapids. When Tiki Bob’s shut it’s doors in early 2005, I moved to Columbus, OH on a whim to DJ at Lodge Bar in the Arena District, going on to serve as its Sales Manager. I secured a promotion as the Director of Entertainment for that company’s BlackFinn concept in it’s early stages. I oversaw the audio, video and entertainment of the concept from 2007 through my departure in 2011 and was responsible for the hiring, firing, coaching and training of the DJs in 12 different locations, along with the coaching and training of the management. I began Premier Entertainment in late 2012 after initializing my “Plan B.” I currently and PROUDLY serve my wedding clients along with The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Buffalo Wild Wings and Eldorado Scioto Downs.
2. Tell me about your favorite wedding last or this season.
I thoroughly enjoy ALL of my weddings as I am lucky to get to do what I LOVE. If I had to pick one, it would most likely be Tim and Ally’s wedding reception at The Blackwell in June of this year (you’ll be seeing this wedding on the blog soon). The energy was palpable from my welcome speech through the final song of the night. I was able to set the tone for the night very early in the evening. I enjoy taking feedback on musical selections, however, this Bride and Groom gave a little bit of input and said “We trust you to do your thing.” The dance floor was packed with a raucous crowd from start to finish.
3. How far out should a bride pay a deposit to secure your services for her wedding day?
Usually nine months to one year out to secure my services for their big day.
4. What is included when a couple books you for their wedding?
I like to keep things as simple as possible. I believe Brides and Grooms have MORE than enough things to worry about planning the biggest day of their lives. My all-inclusive package includes sound for up to 250, a light show of their choosing, wireless microphones for toasts and speeches, plus the most important part, all the requisite planning meetings and forms to insure no detail goes undiscussed.
5. How do you help couples customize their wedding?
My planning form takes about an hour and a half to complete and includes milestones that may not be pursued at your reception. However, simply thinking about them, or going through them all may give you some new thoughts about the flow of things for the day.
6. What’s one interesting fact about Premier Entertainment?
Premier Entertainment is my full-time job and as such, my clients garner my full attention on their Wedding day. This is not really a “job” for me as I thoroughly LOVE what I do. I also attend workshops and conferences to hone my skills and provide a memorable and unforgettable performance.
7. What do you have planned for the future?
I plan to continue attending workshops and conferences — I am looking at one in Milwaukee in April of 2017. Conferences help by mingling with industry leaders on the cutting edge of technology and performance/emcee techniques.
8. What are your top five go to songs to get the party started?
There are so many that fill the dance floors, however, my five go-to songs would be as follows:
Shout! by Otis Day and the Knights – it can’t be the Isley Brothers version. I love the Isleys, but the Animal House version seems to have more energy.
Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – this is the song du jour.
Wannabeby The Spice Girls – the 90s are coming back into vogue these days. This song carries an incredible energy and has aged well.
Kiss by Prince – with the passing of the Purple One, this already-popular song took on a whole other level.
December, 1963 (Oh What A Night) by The Four Seasons – such a happy song that still continues to appeal to multiple generations of dancers.
9. What makes Premier Entertainment unique?
Premier Entertainment is made unique by me, Chris Ortleib. My wealth of experience spans many vectors of Entertainment and adds up to a great experience for my wedding clients. From the formal portions of our early evening to the dance floor logistics of the latter portions of your Big Day, you get an all-around great experience from top-to-bottom.
10. How long have you been in business?
The current iteration of my Entertainment career has been around since late 2011, however, I have been a DJ for some portion of my income since 1999.
There you have it folks. If you are in need of a DJ for your wedding or event, give Chris a call. He’s a pretty cool guy.
