Brian Dale of Wave Link Music, Inc.

Coffee Talk with Brian Dale of Wave Link Music, Inc.

WC: What prompted you to start Wave Link Music and how long have you been in the business?

BD: I started out as a D.J. in a Teen Night Club. It was closing due to increased gang problems in the late 80's and a couple of us that worked there decided to take the show on the road. After about six months or so of doing house parties and some school and youth events, we started to get calls for weddings and other events and the rest is history.

We started illegitimately in early 1988, but in June of 1989 we became a legal business. This year we will officially be 17 years old.

WC: What is your favorite atmosphere to work in (clubs, parties, weddings, etc.)?

BD: Clubs are usually my favorite, since that is where I started, although the club has to be a place that allows me the freedom to play an Open Format and play to the crowd, not hold me back to a specific format or idea of what should be played.

The same goes for Private Events -- if the client is fun and just gives me some input of what they are looking for, but does not want to control things too much and lets me do what I was hired to do, then any event is great.

WC: Why do you think most brides hire a D.J. for their wedding, and at times do it in conjunction with live entertainment?

BD: 1. Flexibility; a good Wedding D.J. can play a huge variety of music where a band cannot; 2. Cost; this is probably the second biggest reason for hiring a D.J. vs. a band.

WC: What advice can you offer a bride looking to hire a D.J.?

• Hire a licensed and insured professional D.J.
• Talk with your other vendors to see who they recommend.
• Get references
• Know who the actual D.J. is going to be for your wedding and get it in writing
• Make sure you meet your D.J. to discuss your plans

WC: What is the most common misconception brides tend to have regarding D.J.s and how do you get past them?

BD: That all D.J.'s are the same and that all D.J.'s are cheesy -- this is just not true. Yes, some D.J.'s rely on the cheesy gimmicks to try to get people up on the dance floor, but a professional that really knows how to play music will have the same results without the cheese. A good wedding D.J. will be your emcee, but he will not be on the mic all the time; he will let the music do the talking instead of cracking jokes and trying to be a game show host.

WC: In your experience, what has been your most memorable situation at a wedding?

BD: Not sure exactly which one would be the most memorable; there are plenty of different ones that do stand out, though.

• I've had part of the Husky Marching Band perform at a wedding
• I've done a couple of themed weddings where they have asked the guests to come in costume that have been pretty crazy

WC: Do you strictly work in the Seattle area?

BD: We do mostly perform in the greater Seattle area; however, we have performed all over the state of Washington and even a couple of times down in Portland (Oregon). It just depends on if the client is willing to pay for the additional fees that we may charge for travel and accommodations.

Read other interviews at the Club Cafe.