“Weddings are joyous occasions. People are there to have a good time, and we’re here to help them do that,” said Doug Daley of Daley Entertainment Agency.

As a professional DJ for the better part of the past 20 years, he takes his role seriously, adding, “What people don’t realize is that deejaying takes real personality and responsibility, and a good DJ can make or break a function.”

Deejaying began as a cool career and an easy means of earning cash in Daley’s 20s. Mentored by friend and longtime radio personality Rich Amooi (aka Hey Mr. DJ), Daley has honed his work as DJ and MC into a sophisticated craft. He has taken the helm at San Jose Sharks holiday parties, high school functions and everything in-between.

“Anyone can play music – an iPod can play music,” he said. “That’s not what you’re hiring. You’re hiring me, and here’s what comes with that.”

Daley does more than spin Top 40 hits. He gets the party started and sustains the momentum with crowd-friendly songs and fun competitions or trivia contests. Whether he’s asking guests to embark on a treasure hunt for silly items or participate in a money dance for the bride and groom, Daley aims to prevent guests from getting bored and bolting early. Since many wedding attendees are unfamiliar with how the bride and groom met and got engaged, Daley enjoys collaborating with the couple on their love story during the wedding planning stage and sharing it with the audience during the reception.

The latest addition to Daley’s wedding repertoire is an open-air photo booth. All the rage at the most recent DJ convention he attended, these booths are big hits at weddings. In addition to or in lieu of traditional party favors, guests can get goofy for the camera – Daley provides props such as wacky hats and feather boas – and take their memorable photo strips home. The bride and groom receive a CD containing every photo taken.

“People are lined up from the time it opens to the time it closes to get in there and take photos,” Daley said. “It’s amazing how fun and popular it is.”

Unlike the enclosed photo booths found in malls, the open-air booth is a relatively small, freestanding and portable piece of equipment that can be placed anywhere power is available and can accommodate up to 10 people. It can also be privatized with drapes and customized with themed green-screen backgrounds such as casino night and Hawaiian luau.

According to Daley, a wedding is essentially a five-hour party, and the DJ “controls 90 percent of your function. That’s what I do at a wedding – I run it, MC it, control it.

“People have downgraded our value because of technology, but all you have to do is attend a bad wedding and you’ll see why we’re important. Music drives emotion, whether it’s happy or sad. Playing the appropriate song at the appropriate time can do a lot for your event. It’s about doing things out of the box, learning to play for different age groups and keeping the focus on the bride and groom.”

In fact, Daley promises his clients an outstanding experience – and backs that up with a money-back guarantee if they’re not fully satisfied with his service.

“What keeps me coming back to this line of work is my love of people, my love of entertaining. I get paid to host a party. What a great job.”

For more information about Daley Entertainment Agency, call 925-766-8677 or visit www.daleyentertainment4u.com.