Bill Lovelace launched his career over 25 years ago when he served as the DJ at his sister’s wedding . Since then, the personable southern Californian has done it all, from gigging at a club owned by Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers to establishing a successful mobile DJ service, but it’s been weddings that have really occupied most of Bill’s attention. He has seen countless couples say “I do” over the years, and wouldn’t change a minute of it. Weddings are what Bill loves, and based on his popularity on the nuptial circuit, he’ll be bringing brides and grooms together for years to come. Bill Lovelace launched his career over 25 years ago when he served as the DJ at his sister’s wedding . Since then, the personable southern Californian has done it all, from gigging at a club owned by Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers to establishing a successful mobile DJ service, but it’s been weddings that have really occupied most of Bill’s attention. He has seen countless couples say “I do” over the years, and wouldn’t change a minute of it. Weddings are what Bill loves, and based on his popularity on the nuptial circuit, he’ll be bringing brides and grooms together for years to come.
Bill brings personality, professionalism, poise and preparedness to weddings. That explains why he has become so popular in the southern wedding DJ world. In fact Bill has dedicated his recent career to making sure one of the most important dates in a person's life (their wedding) is as happy, uplifting and memorable as possible.
It all started for Bill over 25 years ago. When his sister started planning her wedding, he approached her with a money-saving plan to DJ. When she agreed, he borrowed equipment, including a home stereo and a mixer straight and started practicing. “The wedding went well,” Bill says, “I realized that I could really make some money doing this.”
He also realized that he loved working weddings. Although Bill worked the club scene early in his career, gigging at nightclubs in the 80’s and 90’s, including one owned by Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, he always went back to weddings. “I have a lot of respect for nightclub DJ’s,” Bill says, but weddings are where his heart has always been.
“What it came down to was that I liked mobile set-ups much better.” He chose to specialize in weddings, but stresses, “Specializing is a matter of personal preference and definitely not for everyone.” Weddings can be extremely challenging. Bill says, “There’s always something different,” but that makes the reward that much greater.
Personality, poise, preparation and professionalism guide Bill in his DJ business, which has been doing full-time for 5 years. Bill understands that the success of a wedding has many contributing factors, but the DJ is responsible for a fair share of them, and he sees it as a very serious responsibility. “I definitely think one of the things that separates me is the way I balance professionalism and personality,” Bill says.
To help him understand his clients’ goals and personalities, Bill has two meetings before the wedding with every bride and groom. By forming this relationship, Bill says, “When I get to the wedding, I’m not a stranger or just some guy playing the music. That is important.” When he gets to know a bride and groom ahead of time, Bill can better gauge the proper tone for the wedding.
The meeting is practical in other ways, giving Bill and his clients a chance to type up a schedule. “Putting everything down on paper provides direction,” Bill explains. They also have the opportunity to clearly establish what they need and what they want—or what they don’t, such as particular music selections.
Despite living and working in Southern California, which many other DJs call home, Bill says competition isn’t that much of a concern, “I’m active with a group of single-operator DJ’s that I use when someone requests a date when I’m already booked.” He doesn’t advertise, either— around 80 percent of his business comes from referrals.
Bill devoted his career to DJing, because he enjoyed having fun with people. Luckily, he says, “I really found my niche.” Though it’s hard to choose one wedding that truly stands out, since the vast majority are equally good, Bill recently played his niece’s wedding in Hawaii. “It was a paradise destination wedding, which is always nice,” Bill says, but more importantly, “Being able to work with my niece was very special.”
