Why Do I Need an Emcee For My Wedding? | Mark Addington

Kevin Dennis (0:0.712)

All right, folks, welcome to the 25th episode of Now That I'm Engaged, How Do I Get Married? We're getting old, August. We're 25 now.

August Yocher (0:8.769)

Wow, quarter of the way through. Crazy.

Kevin Dennis (0:10.726)

Yeah, of getting to 100, right? Is that our ultimate goal? Yeah, yeah, Yeah, okay.

August Yocher (0:14.689)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, a thousand would be great, but a hundred's cool too.

Kevin Dennis (0:21.222)

We're gonna start with little bites. anyway. All right, we have the amazing Mark Addington with us here today. And Mark, before we jump in and tell everyone what you're here to talk about, well, we'll spoil it. So he's here to tell us why do you need an MC at your wedding? Which I think most people overlook and forget. But before we do that, Mark, tell us a little bit about Mark.

August Yocher (0:24.170)

Yes.

Mark Addington (0:46.382)

Awesome, thank you for having me today. Yeah, so I got started crazy enough, fell into DJing way early on just doing at college fraternity sorority parties and everything like that. When I moved to California, got a job at a casting agency in San Francisco, did movies, commercials, and got approached by somebody saying, hey, have you ever DJed before? You've got a great voice.

turned it down a couple of times, took it the third time, and it was like I was at the casting agency during the week, DJing on the weekends. I really kind of learned a little bit more what not to do with this company than what to do or how to DJ the best. But I kind of fell into the bar-bought-mitzvah department there and started rockin' bar-and-bought-mitzvahs, which is weird to say partying with 13-year-olds on the weekend. And then moved...

Kevin Dennis (1:26.428)

Oh.

Kevin Dennis (1:40.732)

Tread lightly, tread lightly.

Mark Addington (1:42.718)

Oh, exactly. Yeah. So and then went to left that company. And when I started out on my own, well, I started doing more and more because I got very comfortable on the microphone. And at first, a lot of it had to deal with like acting, right? I kind of assumed this persona. But then it started kind of developing more and more. And I got comfortable with it. I feel like more of my authentic self now.

left the big box DJ company for a chance to work at Pixar, left Pixar and started my, like I said, my own.

Kevin Dennis (2:13.362)

This is my favorite story about, I'm gonna interrupt you, sorry. This is my favorite story and I think you're probably one of our most famous guests we've ever had because of the fact that you worked at Pixar. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.

Mark Addington (2:16.759)

Yes, please.

Mark Addington (2:25.731)

No, Kevin and I can talk Disney forever. So I'm going to try not to like derail this and be a Disney convo. When I started my own DJ company, you know, and really started kind of working that route, which we'll talk about a ton of stuff today, but really being able to MC is what allowed me to go from zero to 60. You know, there were many pieces there. was right place, right time.

Kevin Dennis (2:27.720)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (2:48.721)

Mm.

Mark Addington (2:51.362)

But being very comfortable on the mic and being that so many people left the industry, there was a need for MC. you know, so that's kind of my path and it's, it's, it's worked well for me. And, uh, yeah, I'm happy to like, let's chat.

Kevin Dennis (3:5.832)

All right, let's go. All right, so we're gonna start off with what would you say DJs and MCs are the same? And how can couples know what qualifications to look out for when they're interviewing an MC for their wedding?

Mark Addington (3:21.838)

Awesome. And I love that you asked that because I truly don't believe that we are the same thing. Really in searching for a DJ, I mean, I think that there's many kinds of breakdowns in this, right? There's the hobbyists, or like you said, the weekend warriors, there's people, and there's nothing wrong with any of these. I think everybody fits into a different category of what fills their creative bucket, right? There's your club DJ.

Kevin Dennis (3:28.168)

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (3:40.776)

Mm-mm.

August Yocher (3:44.106)

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (3:49.644)

which is not used to be, you're not used to be speaking on the microphone, right? They can come in and just rock and dance floor. There's a wedding DJ and then there's a wedding DJ MC, right? Those of us that have been in the industry for a while can do both. We have the bandwidth to be able to watch the wedding, rock and dance floor, but pick up that mic and be eloquent in about two seconds. And a wedding DJ is, can they pick up a mic? Absolutely. There's nothing wrong with it.

Kevin Dennis (3:53.648)

Not at all.

Mark Addington (4:19.822)

It is the difference between really gathering attention, commanding a room, following a timeline, and you know, those pieces rather than just kind of going, yo, yo, the cake. It's helping guide. So I do think that there is a separation of the two, but you can't have a wedding DJ that also is an MC. I've also done many weddings where I have a separate DJ with me.

Kevin Dennis (4:32.509)

Hmm.

August Yocher (4:32.540)

Yeah.

Mark Addington (4:47.158)

And I am solely there as the emcee for the evening. So, you know, there's kind of a little bit of breakdown, but they're, they're different.

August Yocher (4:47.382)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (4:50.589)

Mm.

Kevin Dennis (4:54.717)

Mm-hmm.

August Yocher (4:55.393)

I've definitely worked weddings like that too, and there's one group I used to work with specifically where it would always be the same MC and the same DJ because those were just their passions. It's funny you say that about the voice because that one MC, he had a fantastic voice for emceeing. It just drew your attention and it was very captivating. Then the DJ, he just wasn't as eloquent with his words.

I mean, his art really was music. Like you could tell he really put his full self into it and together they made this really great duo. But I mean, I can't even imagine like having to be proficient in both, which I know Mark and Kevin, you both are like not only are you having to, you know, not trip up on your words all the time, but also deliver great music for the wedding.

Mark Addington (5:43.948)

Right. And it really comes to that fine balance. mean, I think that there is a difference between understanding and following and listening to your couple as an MC, right? You listen to what they say, you listen, hey, this is the style that we want, you know, and understanding that, but then also turning around and understanding that there is a difference between knowing when to get on the microphone and when to stay off the microphone.

Kevin Dennis (6:13.320)

Mm.

Mark Addington (6:14.579)

And I think those are two powerful things. Knowing when to guide your guests and when they're at a point where the guests are fine on their own. And I think that really is a fine line between those.

Kevin Dennis (6:28.253)

Yeah, a fine line between cheesy and not cheesy, think, is that fine. Yeah, is the line that is drawn. I'll say it for you. I'm not afraid.

Mark Addington (6:31.490)

Yes, yes, thank you. Trying not to say it, yes.

August Yocher (6:32.083)

Yeah.

August Yocher (6:38.081)

But guess that's just asking the right questions, right? When you do sit down with a potential DJ or potential MC, like, is it kind of what we talked about before, Kevin, like finding the personality? Would you say a personality of a DJ could kind of translate into the way that they MC if they are cheesy or not?

Kevin Dennis (6:49.340)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (6:56.956)

Yeah, I think well and sometimes I think too it's it's what is the couple looking for out of an MC? Are they or what is the energy from the couple? they a little bit more reserved or are they a little bit more outgoing? think you sometimes I like to mimic my couples a little bit, you know, if they're a little bit more formal, I'm a little bit more formal. If they're a little bit more casual, I'm a little bit more casual. So that's the biggest.

Mark Addington (7:20.050)

And to build off of that, Kevin, mean, sometimes it's those things, like I said, I'm not telling you anything you don't know. You talk to a couple and they are one way, but you get to the evening of the party and the energy of the party is a whole different thing. And so you can adjust or you can adapt. Great. Yeah. Yeah. And it's everything. I mean, I've had plenty where my bride and groom has said, you know, I want to be on the dance floor the whole night and they're out visiting. It's the guests that are dancing all night.

Kevin Dennis (7:32.700)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (7:36.166)

And that happens more than you know. I mean, it really does. Yeah. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (7:47.016)

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (7:50.060)

I had a great wedding. I love to, same thing what you said is adapt to a style, right? I had a wedding that you're gonna love. mean, it was a Disney themed wedding. But they had so much going on at this wedding that, you know, mean, we can go through the whole role of an MC and all these things, but they had so much going on that they needed somebody to guide them through the evening. But being as it was a Disney themed wedding, there's little stuff that we can do to get into it, right?

Kevin Dennis (7:54.247)

Mm-hmm.

August Yocher (7:58.197)

Yes!

Kevin Dennis (7:58.312)

You

Kevin Dennis (8:11.570)

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (8:17.388)

I mean, I know the whole Disney two finger point. So it's like, you know, we're going to be heading over to the next room for cake cutting, you know, and it was just to throw some of those things in or to incorporate even to meld that with the DJs to meld in some of that music to help incorporate, to help build off of the experience of the wedding, which everybody says that's what Gen Z is attracted to, which I love personally, you know, is the, how are we doing not only the MC, but you're

Kevin Dennis (8:21.277)

Mm-hmm

Mm-hmm

August Yocher (8:39.361)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (8:41.574)

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (8:45.784)

putting in the music now to help enhance that process.

Kevin Dennis (8:50.800)

Yeah, I think that goes a long way as well. And you made me think of Chuck. We had Chuck, who's a DJ in Orlando area for Disney, and he was giving us all the good Disney stuff. So you just made me think of Chuck. Yeah, when we were going through it.

Mark Addington (9:1.442)

Oh yeah.

Mark Addington (9:5.806)

And I think, Oh, go ahead. And I guess I know you got a question. So I, I think, you know, there's, there's, there's, there is some stuff, you know, kind of a, what makes a good MC and, know, cause I think that really is much more than just a, just making announcements. And I think that's what a lot of people just think, right? They go, Oh, I'm hiring a DJ. need a DJ or I need someone to make announcements. And it really is much more than that. mean, cause you know,

August Yocher (9:9.557)

No, no,

Kevin Dennis (9:34.651)

Hmm.

Mark Addington (9:35.796)

It's really one keeping the energy and engaging the guests. As you know, and social, mean everywhere, if you're at a venue that is a large property, it's moving guests from one area to another in a timely manner. Especially if you know your couple is focused on dancing. For a DJ, I want to get them from the ceremony to the cocktail hour, from the cocktail hour into dinner. And you know,

to make that happen in a timely manner, I think it's really easy as a DJ, you can just kind of let things just happen, right? You shut your mouth, you don't say anything. Now you're 20 minutes off here. You go from cocktail hour, you don't say anything. Now that's 20 more minutes. Now you're off by 40 minutes. And if you're not, yeah, and if you're not moving things in a timely manner, it's just making those transitions smooth.

August Yocher (: 10:16

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 10:22

Yeah, that's a lot in a five hour waiting.

Kevin Dennis (: 10:32

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 10:33

getting on the mic and letting people kind of know what's going to happen next. You know, and I think that everything to me is like I said, it's that experience. And if you're a guest at a wedding and you walk in and you sit down and you go, is it a buffet? Is it a sit down menu? What is happening next? Your mind starts to go, now five minutes goes by and you go, wow, this wedding is really boring. It's long. Nobody wants a long break. But if you have somebody that sets it up and says,

Kevin Dennis (: 10:38

Yeah.

August Yocher (11:0.843)

Mm-mm.

Mark Addington (11:2.966)

you know, that it's going to be a plated meal. Our planner or our caterer will be coming around to letting you know when it's your table or when it's your turn for your table to go to the buffet or whatever. People go, well, we know what's happening next because Mark just told us what's happening next. I can now sit back and visit until, you know, August comes and lets me know when to go to the buffet, right? Done.

Kevin Dennis (: 11:13

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 11:25

Yeah.

August Yocher (: 11:26

Mm-hmm. Well, and I think I, and you know, I worked with a lot of different DJs when I was coordinating, and I think a lot of times an inexperienced DJ did not always understand the power of the microphone because you really are the one directing the event. Like as a coordinator, yes, like I can make some small directions, but it is kind of frustrating when I'm like, OK, here's a big group. Everybody move this way. Like I just don't have the same impact.

as someone with a microphone, like it's almost like you have this authority like figure, everyone looks to you, they know that you're the one calling the shots. And when I was able to work with a DJ who understood that and understood the flow and how imperative it is to stay on time, it really just made all the difference.

Mark Addington (: 12:15

Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, to a DJ that enjoys the art, right, of keeping a dance floor going, a packed dance floor and having fun and really getting that amount of time, when you can keep the flow of the party on time, you get, you generally get two or three extra songs because you've kept that momentum going. And I really think that an MC,

There's a certain portion of an MC that you are on the microphone, right? There is a certain amount of that MC work that is off the microphone. It is coordinating. mean, I always say this, like the last thing that I ever want to do is invite people from cocktail hour into the room to sit down and the staff go, dude, we needed five more minutes, right? It's a check-in. You don't want to announce your first dance and heaven forbid your photographer's in the bathroom, you know?

Kevin Dennis (: 12:52

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 13:13

making sure that everybody is where they need to be. So when you do get on that mic, you're right, it's the power of the microphone. People are listening. One story that I always tell is we went to my cousin's wedding and sat at the back of the wedding, know, cause I feel bad, like the rest of my family to sit towards the front. One, nobody made an unplugged announcement before the ceremony started.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:39

Mm.

Mark Addington (: 13:41

And so half my family had phones up in the thing. But the second part was, it was just, was, oh, the DJ was on the mic so much, you tuned him out. And when he released tables for the buffet on the microphone, which I'm not saying is anything wrong. It's not my style. I don't think it's elegant. I, as a DJ, when it falls upon me to release tables, I love walking up to a table and table number one is your turn to head up to the buffet.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:52

Mm.

August Yocher (: 13:53

Oh.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:57

Oh, that's the worst.

August Yocher (14:8.521)

It's more personal

Mark Addington (: 14:10

It is more personal. And I think people go, Hey, are you the DJ? You know, what you got on the list? Right. You start a little bit of gift to gab, right. You get this conversation. Um, but the other thing too, is if there's anything they need to know, right. It's a double-sided buffet, bring your plates with you, blah, blah, blah. can usually kind of throw that stuff out and you become a little bit more than just a vendor, right. And there's nothing wrong with the term vendor because that's what we are. But I think it just gives a little bit more information, right. People go.

Kevin Dennis (: 14:32

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 14:39

Oh, grab our plates, let's go up. Dude, that guy was nice, right? Now they get on a dance floor. But like at this wedding, the DJ was like, table number one, head to the buffet, try the tri-tip. And you're like, what? My mind goes to, like, you've eaten before us? Like, that's not cool. So, so, you know, I think it's really just in that August, exactly what you said is knowing when to get on the mic and when to stay off.

August Yocher (15:4.513)

Mm hmm. Well, I think it's nice to like you said, going up to it like it kind of like not that there's a boundary between like a DJ and his stand, but you crossing it, I feel like gives guests a little bit more comfortability level with you, right? Like if they felt the need to approach you and like ask a song like they've already felt like they've built that connection and relationship with you. And I think that just changes the whole vibe of the wedding. Like it just makes us we're all family here, you know, like

Kevin Dennis (15:6.280)

I also think.

August Yocher (: 15:33

We can all hang out and have a good time. But go ahead, Kevin.

Mark Addington (: 15:36

Exactly.

Kevin Dennis (: 15:37

No, I was just going to say when you hear a DJ do that, it sounds like they're a hostess at a restaurant. And we've now changed this elegant affair into an experience that everyone has at a Chili's. Party of two for adding to it. It changes the whole vibe. that's so, I 100 % agree with everything you said, Mark.

Mark Addington (: 15:54

Yeah, yep.

Mark Addington (16:2.488)

Well, and it does, and I think to be respectful of your art, you want people to walk away going, literally I couldn't move the next day because I danced so much because my legs hurt. Instead of going, sitting there at brunch going, man, that guy wouldn't shut up on the mic. Someone needed to take that from him.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:23

Yeah.

August Yocher (: 16:23

Well, I think that's a good segue into something I definitely want to talk about today because I'm sure we've all seen it and I know I've seen it working at weddings is sometimes couples do think, hey, I want my best friend or I want this family member who maybe has dabbled in this, maybe hasn't to handle the emceeing for the night. And what do you think are some of the risks that couples take when they go this route?

Mark Addington (: 16:51

You know, it's funny, the one thing that I will say that I do, I'm gonna give you my pros and cons, right? The things that I love about a family member doing something or saying something on the mic is the fact that a family member has a different comfort level with the family. They can get away with stuff on the microphone that I never could, right? It's just hilarious. But what I always let my couples know is every wedding that I have ever been to at some point,

Kevin Dennis (: 17:13

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 17:21

that person just wants to become a guest. They also don't do this for a living. And so they're not looking at all those little pieces. So what I don't want is a person to get on the microphone and announce first dance. And like I said, your photographers, or even heaven forbid, the couple is outside with the photographer doing sunset photos and they're going, okay, so now it's time for the first dance. And you're like, they're not in the room.

It's really that communication. So I am there as the catchall. I am there to help. But I do love those moments sometimes that what a family member can do or get away with, like I said, that I can't. Or if I set up a second microphone and that person is helping translate for the family, I think is wonderful. so that portion's fun.

Kevin Dennis (18:9.350)

Yeah, I agree with you on that one.

Kevin Dennis (: 18:14

Yeah.

August Yocher (: 18:15

wedding once where it was kind of a balance of both. And I definitely wanted to talk about it today because I felt like it's kind of what you said, Mark, like they did get to become a guest at some point. And it was one of my couples and this was their the bride's cousin who had lived in Hawaii. And he had like a small DJ business on the side, but he really wanted to be a part of the wedding and MC a little bit. So he helped with like the introductions for the grand entrance.

He helped with announcing the speeches and whatnot and kind of adding that fun vibe and saying stuff again that a DJ might not be able to get away with. But he did, he took it very seriously and he worked very closely with me. He worked very closely with the DJ that night and it really went all great. And then I think it, don't even think he did cake cutting or a couple of the other formalities, but he just took a small part in it and kind of, you know.

brought the vibe up for the wedding, but then he was able to be a guest at the end of the day.

Mark Addington (: 19:17

Right, I had a great wedding where my groom was English. The whole, like, I mean, his whole side of the family, it was just like the accents were flowing amazing, but he wanted his best man to do all the announcements. His best man was Scottish, had a very heavy brogue, drank so much that like when he got on the mic, the language was just coming out and there were kids. The groom comes over and goes,

would you mind like making the rest of the announcements? And I'm like, I've got you. This is so what I'm going for, right? And I think that's another portion of like what a great MC is there to do is as much as I do love family members, you know, jumping on, we know how to read the room and understand that grandparents are there and there are kids there. And, you know, just as a general DJ, we understand that when we're playing music, you know, what's appropriate at what time.

As an MC, it's the same thing. And I'm even obviously it's the same going as far as like I dropped a long time ago. I dropped ladies and gentlemen from my vocabulary and I'm friends and family now. Um, I have a wedding that I had where you might, my, the, person DJing kept saying ladies and gentlemen and dropping a few other like F bombs and a few other things. When I took over and I was now friends and family, I had a couple of.

or I had a couple of people at the wedding coming over saying, we really liked your change of vocabulary. And it meant something to me leaving the event that somebody felt included enough by the terminology that I was using to get on my dance floor instead of feeling like excluded. And so I think that's such an important thing in making everyone at your reception feel welcome just by changing a couple of small verbiage, small things in your verbiage to

to help make people get out there. It's not just in what you play, it's making people feel welcome.

August Yocher (: 21:16

Yeah, absolutely, I love that. And the fact that they felt so compelled to come tell you that they appreciated your change in language, like I'm sure that meant a lot to them.

Mark Addington (: 21:27

Yeah. I mean, ultimately, you know, and you hate to sit here and go, everything is beneficial or self-serving, but you are hiring me, right? I was a great DJ to rock your dance floor and pack dance floor. So if all the little things that I do along the way help people feel like they're part of a journey, it only helps my dance floor later on, you know, because people feel like they can get out there and then people leave and are talking. Like I said, it's not a focusing on these small little things. They're talking about.

August Yocher (: 21:34

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 21:47

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 21:55

my legs hurt from dancing, my voice has gone from singing along, you best wedding ever, right? That's the stuff that you like. And then you meet up a year later and they're just like, oh my God, it was still like the best thing, you I love that.

Kevin Dennis (22:9.170)

Those are my favorite.

August Yocher (: 22:11

Well, I know I've got to experience a Mark Addington dance floor and it was great. So... Yes, yes, very ridiculous.

Mark Addington (: 22:18

Ridiculous.

Kevin Dennis (: 22:24

All right, Mark, are there any small but impactful moments an emcee can create that a couple might not even be thinking about?

Mark Addington (: 22:32

Yeah, yes. I mean, one thing that totally comes to mind, well, a couple of things, right? So as an MC, I honestly, I love doing an unplugged announcement before the ceremony, okay? Even if you have signs, and this is nothing rude, people lose the ability to read at a wedding. Even if you have a sign saying it's an unplugged ceremony, it just doesn't happen. I love doing one before...

the processional starts because if you wait till your officiant makes one, when you're walking down the aisle, people will have their phones out. Those are some impactful photos that your photographer is just going to appreciate people don't have their phones out, right? And this is just something I love to do is just going up, letting people take their phones and turn them to silent, take their phones and then put them away. We really want you to be present. And I personalized my, you know,

I personalize it, you it's like in, planning the music with Kevin and Gina, one thing that was really important to them is that we do an unplugged ceremony. Now here's what that means. And I just leave that and then I walk, you know, walk off and it's funny at how many people will clap. And it just reminds me like the clapping with the plane landing, but, but I love this because like I said, now is my first introduction to these people and they go, Oh, this guy's got his act together. Right. And you're just like, okay, we're good. Um, but my, like one of the other things that I really,

August Yocher (: 23:43

Hmm.

Mark Addington (: 23:59

And then if you, like I said, if you're efficient then wants to do a second one, they can do a second one, right? Second thing that I always love is I can't tell you especially with crazy family dynamics and or I'm a big person against this. I know you are Kevin of just letting the open mic for toasting, right? Never. But when I have couples that are worried about it, one thing that I do is I'll walk up and say, you know,

Kevin Dennis (: 24:18

Never, ever should happen in a wedding.

August Yocher (: 24:20

Mm-mm.

Mark Addington (: 24:27

friends and family, we're now ready for toast. We have two toasts happening tonight and I name out my toasters. When you do that, people that wanna get up on the mic, they just go, oh, you just said we had two, we can't get in there. But if you just go, it's time for toasting, people go, oh, I'm in, it's not an open call. It's keeping it very determined. And then I will say, if you are a wedding TikToker,

And you see all these cool trends that are on wedding, know, that you want a strong MC will be able to pull those off and not make them sound cheesy. Um, one thing that I referenced my cousin's wedding that really sickened me was when the, uh, and this isn't new, but when the announcement was made for a money dance and how he made it sound just like a, a cash grab.

Instead of there's ways to announce that and make it sound different. But the way that he was just like, you know, get out your money, get out, you know, whatever. he's like, if you need a, whatever, and he even kind of came into him somehow referencing that he accepts tips. And it, it just was one of those things. I said, and I feel bad because I am a DJ and sure was I judgy. I'm sure that I was, you know, it's hard to not click out of that, but your mind just goes this, this there's better ways to say it. Um,

with wedding TikTok, all these cool things are coming on. With having content creators at weddings, people are wanting certain things achieved. And I think that if you really pay attention, you listen, understand it, you can pull them off as an MC and make them sound like as if they were planned, but yet they happened organically, right? So, you know, I think, I mean, it's kind of a three part to what you asked, Kevin, but those are things that I think that couples overlook.

August Yocher (: 26:10

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 26:18

is of those little details of what a good MC can bring to your wedding.

Kevin Dennis (: 26:23

Yeah, I agree with you. I don't even think that those thoughts even cross their mind when they're planning their wedding.

Mark Addington (: 26:30

Yeah. And I mean, you know, and I guess even if you, if you reached out for one more, it's, it's covering up sometimes as an MC, the little things, um, you know, I, I want to say, you know, letting people know where a photo booth is or heaven forbid the, um, catering staff needs five more minutes for something or the, you know,

Kevin Dennis (: 26:47

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 26:56

The bride broke a heel and she ran back to the room to get new shoes. know, something along those lines. It's really easy as an MC to get on the microphone and say, you know, friends and family, have five, you know, five minutes before, you know, toasting happens and just giving people a little heads up to not travel places. Because if you've most of your wineries, right? How so many amazing places for people to sneak off to for photos. If you don't give people a heads up that something is coming down the line or something is whatever.

you can lose half your room. So now you go in to try to get them back to your room for toasts and your toasting now is 15 minutes late. So sometimes it's guiding people on that timeline.

Kevin Dennis (: 27:35

Yeah, and especially during sunset.

August Yocher (: 27:39

Yeah, think Sunset is definitely what derails a lot of people the most. And again, if it takes too long, then people just get antsy. Like they don't know what to do with themselves. I think like it is having it's good having those, you know, time stamps too, because I would say it even takes sometimes five minutes to get people to settle down and to get back into their seats if they're all spread out around the venue.

Mark Addington (28:5.964)

Right, And you know, there's, I just, mean, the MC like at a wedding is just really, I mean, obviously it's my playground. It's what I really love, but I take it even a step further of, you I pay attention when people are toasting, you know, of listening to what they're saying. Cause you can match, Kevin, you said it early on, you can match their energy. I have been able to play off of that when somebody has used a common nickname of somebody.

I had a wedding where one of the best men was named, his name was Job, but they all called him Jobi 1 Kenobi. And it started this thing the whole night, but as a good MC, I played off of that to an extent, but I could see where the groomsmen and the toast were taking it a little too far, but I knew how to keep it still level to where it wasn't, push wherever. I think stuff like that is fun, to really kind of take and to match some levels. And it's interesting too, of,

Kevin Dennis (: 28:42

Mm-hmm

Mark Addington (29:6.424)

paying attention and if you have something big to say after, know, whatever, then understanding of when to take your tone down. You know, they get up and they give this emotional speech and then to not follow that emotional speech well, and let's welcome them to the dance floor. It's understanding those pauses. Let that emotional moment sink in. Let everybody, especially if you have a videographer there, oh, that is so powerful.

Kevin Dennis (: 29:26

Yeah.

Mark Addington (: 29:35

You let the dad give his speech, let people cry. And then you start talking. And I think there is something about that. it's, you know, just, it's amazing. Those are the magic, I'm a Hallmark boy. So I love all those magic moments. Well, half the time to be honest.

Kevin Dennis (: 29:49

Oh, how funny.

August Yocher (: 29:52

And you're like the curator, right? You're like, you're the one orchestrating all of these little things to happen. So that way those moments, you know, do have a big impact on the room.

Mark Addington (30:1.826)

Well, half the time I'm trying to not cry in the first place, so I know that if I get on the mic and I'm like, let's do cake, I'm not gonna break down. I got it, yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:12

It's hard not to sometimes though. Yeah.

August Yocher (: 30:13

No, it do be like that sometimes. Yeah, for me, it's always like the father daughter dance that always like just sends me into a spiral. Like I gotta go. I gotta leave the room. But.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:25

Yeah.

Mark Addington (: 30:25

I was never that way with father daughter until I had a daughter and now I'm just like, that just crushes me.

August Yocher (: 30:28

Hmm. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:30

It's, yeah, for me, it's the speeches, the parent speeches that gets me. So, yeah, for sure.

Mark Addington (: 30:33

Yep. Oh yeah, yes, yeah. I lost my brother a while ago and anytime during the toast if a best man says, you you're like a brother that I didn't have, that is the trigger for me and I'm like, okay, I'm gonna need some time, right?

August Yocher (: 30:48

Ugh.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:48

Mm-hmm.

August Yocher (: 30:51

It just gets you. Yeah, it's funny. Obviously we do spend a lot of time with our couples, but it's still very limited in obviously the span of their lives. But I think it's just a mix of sharing that moment with them. then also, I don't really know that much about you, but I'm just still on this journey with you. And it's just very emotional when you get to those parts of the wedding day and you're like, wow.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:53

in a moment.

August Yocher (: 31:19

And I think it's really just the love, right? Like you're feeling the love in the room. You're feeling like the impact that this couple has on their family and friends. And it just feels so special that you got to witness that love.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:23

Yeah.

Mark Addington (: 31:31

Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean, this was something that was said, know, I realized when the pandemic hit for us being locked down and not doing what we get to do, that there was a creative bucket that needed to be filled. And just to have the opportunity to go out and do this every weekend, you know, you're just like, man, you feel like you're lucky. You know, you're just lucky to get to do this. But then this is much more than just a hobby.

This is something that I'm really passionate about and what can I do or bring to the table to add to the day without it being the Mark Addington show, right? I never really care at the end of the day if people go, I'm not the type that says, I don't say my name on the mic every five seconds. It's just not my thing. Yeah, yeah. It's so tough. I'll tell you, Kevin, you probably get this. How many times do people go, dude, what's your DJ name?

Kevin Dennis (: 32:18

No. DJ Mark.

August Yocher (: 32:20

TJ Mark!

Mark Addington (: 32:29

What's your DJ name?

August Yocher (: 32:30

think I've asked Kevin that like three times and he's like, it's Kevin. I'm like, oh.

Mark Addington (: 32:36

Well, funny story really quick, when I was, when I left, when I was still working at Pixar, had a friend that wanted to start a DJ company and he's like, dude, and here it is. And he gives me all the information and the company name was pyramid productions. I asked, I asked my son, like, what does that sound like to you? And he goes, a pyramid scheme. And I'm like, is that weird? Like, that's the first thing that comes to your mind. I have friends that they're, they, they're DJ names. They're like, you know, DJ flash. And I'm like,

Kevin Dennis (: 32:56

Yeah.

August Yocher (: 32:58

too.

Mark Addington (33:5.144)

How is that your DJ name? Like, what does that work into? And he's like, well, I'm not fast yet, but I'm going to get there. And I'm like, good branding early on, I guess. I don't know. It just to me is I feel, I've been in the industry long enough. I feel people know my name, but like I said, it's one of those things that a wedding, it's not, if they want to know who I am and they had a great time, they'll either come up and ask me at the wedding or they'll ask the couple afterwards. Like I get people all the time that reach out that just say, we were at so-and-so's wedding. It was a packed dance floor. That's what we want. Right. And it's the easiest thing.

Kevin Dennis (33:6.833)

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:33

Yeah, and I think the biggest difference is we're like you said, we do weddings and you know, it's a little bit more of an elegant affair than being in a nightclub nightclub. You know, DJs have names and the fact that we don't do that. Yeah, I think that's the biggest difference. So.

Mark Addington (: 33:46

Yeah.

Mark Addington (: 33:49

And once again, there's no hate to anybody that has a DJ. Like I said, they're coming from coming from an acting background. When I first started doing this, the, um, I created a persona, you know, and it was in my head and that's how I was able to get to get on that mic and get out in front of people because it wasn't really me. Right. It was an actor. That was Mark Addington.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:51

No!

No, well.

August Yocher (: 34:12

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 34:13

And then I just started dropping some of that stuff and just becoming a little bit more like I dropped my ego. I'm not cool. Like I know the stuff that I DJ, you know, I know what happens to those sorts. And I get more of a fulfillment from that than to going in and going, you know, it was this persona and I have to do this. I don't know. Like my mind doesn't wrap around that. It really is.

August Yocher (: 34:24

You're so cool, Mark. Come on.

Mark Addington (: 34:40

What do I need to do the day of to make that magic happen? you know, look, all of this just really kind of pays for me going to Disneyland all the time. So it feels like, yes.

Kevin Dennis (: 34:50

True.

August Yocher (: 34:52

It feeds the addiction.

Kevin Dennis (: 34:57

My favorite, you made me think of something, Mark, is I was, you know, because we do a lot of lighting and drapery and decor. And so I was cleaning, cleaning up a wedding one night and a DJ actually had like a drop that he was using. You know, you're dancing to DJ. I don't even remember his name, but like you're dancing to DJ Mark. Get on the dance floor with DJ. And it was, I was sitting there and I'm like, I asked the staff, I'm like, is that been going on all night? They're like, he doesn't stop. He was kept doing these little drop. Yeah.

August Yocher (: 35:22

Feels like a radio station.

Kevin Dennis (: 35:25

Well, no, and it was very much like a radio station. made me think of my college days. But anyway, I don't know why I was thinking that.

August Yocher (: 35:31

Well, what's funny too, this made me think of, if you guys watch Fantasy Sounds social media, we made this video once where I went around and asked the staff if you had a DJ persona or a DJ name, what would it be? So I go to Kevin and I'm like, hey, Kevin, what would your DJ name be? And he goes, Kevin. I'm like, great. he's even in his, you know, fantasies, he's still DJ Kevin.

Kevin Dennis (: 35:52

You

Mark Addington (: 35:53

Yes, I saw that one.

August Yocher (36:1.397)

So, yeah.

Mark Addington (36:3.582)

I love that. You know, it just, like I said, I mean, I think that there's, there is a, there is a place in the wedding world for everyone. You know, but I think it is one of those things when you're first starting, because we are going to a wedding every weekend. You know, this is, we have knowledge that our couples don't coming in. And I think, you know, if you could only, there's, there's a million things that you could pass along and educate, but you only have a certain amount of time to do that.

August Yocher (: 36:11

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 36:30

And I think that when people really start to understand what the importance of an MC is, that it's much more than just somebody going, like I said, yo, yo, the cake. It is definitely more of moving.

Kevin Dennis (: 36:39

Yo, yo the cake I'm gonna do that at my next wedding now. Yo, yo

August Yocher (: 36:44

producer to put that as the first sentence of the show notes. Just yo yo, the cake.

Mark Addington (: 36:51

I'll get Kevin some wedding socks that just say, yo, the cake.

August Yocher (: 36:54

We should, yeah, let's make t-shirts, guys!

Mark Addington (: 36:57

I'm in. There's our side hustle. We got it. Yeah. Kevin, if it pays for our magic keys, we're good. Yeah. No. So I think, like I said, there's a place for everything here. And you only have so much time to educate a couple. But just them under, I think it's the understanding that how important an MC is for your wedding. And like I said, much more than just making those mic announcements, but communicating with the rest of the staff.

Kevin Dennis (: 36:58

There you go.

Yo, yo the cake.

Yeah, then we're golden.

Mark Addington (: 37:25

You know, and I think that really helps be cohesive, builds for the experience, and then of course just makes for a great dance floor. So, you know, I think those are the things that really, I hope people walk away understanding that.

Kevin Dennis (: 37:40

I agree. All right, we're going to wrap up. Can you share your favorite wedding moment that really highlights the power of a great emcee?

Mark Addington (: 37:49

Um, I have so many, so many favorite wedding moment. Um, there's what's funny. Um, there's been a couple of weddings where, um, as an MC, um, so I done, obviously, like I said, I cut my teeth on a lot of bar and bat mitzvahs, but, um, I had an amazing wedding where we, was a Jewish wedding we built after, after the dancing started, I got on the mic and I just let everyone know.

Kevin Dennis (: 37:53

So give us a couple.

Mark Addington (: 38:18

that we were gonna do the traditional, know, horror and helped build the circles out with it and then let it go and help kind of like guide it a little bit because you had of 200 people there, maybe only 20 were actually, you know, like Jewish that knew what to do and just having that experience and helping guide it but without being cheesy on the microphone. And the videographer came over to me afterwards and said, that was not your first horror.

Kevin Dennis (: 38:34

Oh, yeah. Needed help.

August Yocher (: 38:34

Mmm.

Mark Addington (: 38:47

And I started laughing because I saw your first rodeo, right? the people contacted me afterwards and sent me a video from the horror. And their grandparents never got out on the floor the rest of the night, but were in the center. And the smiles on their face were absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing. And it was one of those things that you left feeling like, man, I did something good. I helped contribute to that.

Kevin Dennis (: 38:48

You

Kevin Dennis (39:9.970)

That's good.

Kevin Dennis (: 39:16

Mm-hmm. Created a memory.

Mark Addington (: 39:17

Um, yeah. And it just really are those things of, know, those are the things that you look for. Those are the things that you really, you know, like I said, I feel like I'm a creative person when I can, fill that creative bucket. And I leave at the end of the night, knowing those people had a once in a lifetime curated experience. And I was a part of it. Not. Not I, it was all me. It was our whole team. I worked with everybody to get to that point.

from the caterer to the venue to the photographer to whatever, I left feeling like, you I did good. So yeah.

August Yocher (: 39:51

feel like that's the high that keeps wedding professionals doing what they're doing. Because I mean, I think we can all agree at the end of the day that it's a very like stressful job at times, right? But I think like you said, when you have that camaraderie, you have that teamwork with your fellow vendors and creative partners. And when you make those impactful moments and just, you know, how they make you feel at the end of the day, I think that's what keeps people doing it.

Kevin Dennis (: 40:19

Yeah, especially when people say I couldn't have done this without you. And it's like in your head, in the back of your head, I'm like, yeah, yes, you could have, but yes, you're right. I was that impactful and that memorable. So that makes a huge thing.

Mark Addington (: 40:19

Yeah.

Mark Addington (: 40:24

Yes.

Mark Addington (: 40:29

Yes.

Mark Addington (: 40:33

Yeah, the other quick story that I always have, this was one of my favorites, but I fell in love with this couple just of the stuff that they wanted to do a Harry Potter wedding. And it was at the clock tower in Venetia, right? Very much felt like Hogwarts. I had all the music and the terminology down and everything like that. So the whole evening was curated, I geeked out on the entire thing. My tie, my Slytherin tie on, and yes, you can make fun of me for that one.

Kevin Dennis (: 40:44

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 40:49

Mm-hmm.

August Yocher (: 40:57

You

Mark Addington (41:2.770)

Um, but it was amazing. And afterwards I told my wife, I'm like, I think you and this bride would be best friends. And she reached out and my wife and Amy are best friends to this day. And this was 12 years ago, 12 years ago. There's just something about their personalities that clicked. it just was being able to, and I, I like, I know all their family now, but it was just those things of like being a part of something that

Kevin Dennis (: 41:15

Oh, that's hilarious.

Mark Addington (: 41:31

grew to something greater, I will never forget that wedding.

Kevin Dennis (: 41:33

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 41:36

No, that's pretty impactful. Yeah.

August Yocher (: 41:37

Well, that's, I think, the best story you could have told. That's amazing!

Mark Addington (: 41:39

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 41:43

All right, so Mark, we normally wrap up and ask everyone their favorite wedding moment, but I'm going to throw you a curve ball and we're going to, I'm going to ask you, what is your favorite Disney moment or Disney magic that you can remember being in the parks since we're Disney geeks?

Mark Addington (: 41:49

Please do.

Mark Addington (42:1.772)

Okay, I'm going to do this because it involves, obviously they all involve the fam. I've done, I have been lucky and I hate to use the word blessed because it's overused, but I have been blessed with many great things. I rocked a company party for somebody that happened to build amusement parks. As the conversation went along, he goes, well, before it happened, goes, I happen to have an inn at club 33. If you've never been there before, if you rock this party, we'll get you in.

We were 15 minutes into the party and the dance floor was packed and he came over and he goes, this is unreal. You're going to club 33. And I'm like, oh my God, I'm trying not to cry. But we just so happened to be pregnant. Don't ask me why we brought our kids. It was one of the most expensive meals ever. if I had the chance to go back again, it would be my wife and I. But because my son was born, like my son was two,

Kevin Dennis (: 42:29

Yeah

Mark Addington (: 42:58

but my wife was pregnant with our daughter and we did our baby announcements on the steps of Club 33 at Disneyland. And of course, all of my friends were like, Mark, you are so extra, right? It was just so, know, but it will, it almost like that moment kind of like Club 33 is amazing, but just to know that, to know that my kids were at Club 33, that made me feel good. So, you know, I definitely, I have a million Disney stories that are always amazing.

Kevin Dennis (43:5.051)

Oh, how awesome.

Kevin Dennis (43:9.968)

Yeah

Kevin Dennis (: 43:22

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 43:27

I know.

Mark Addington (: 43:28

That is my favorite just because it's the family. yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Yes.

Kevin Dennis (: 43:33

I love it. That's amazing. All right, Mark, we want to thank you for being here. Thank you for being a Disney nerd as well. we will have all Mark's information in the show notes. So you can go out and hire Mark when I'm booked, obviously. Hire Mark to be your emcee and DJ at your wedding. Or if you have any questions for Mark, reach out. Also, don't forget to, you know.

Mark Addington (: 43:42

Yes.

Mark Addington (: 43:51

Right, right.

Mark Addington (: 43:59

Please do.

Kevin Dennis (44:2.650)

If you have any questions or for us, send them to podcast at fantasy sound.com and then also go out and subscribe on all the all the different places. Right, August? All the different place, all the things.

August Yocher (: 44:15

All the things, all the things. I'm watching you guys, I'm waiting.

Kevin Dennis (: 44:19

I know, she does. She's like, oh, this one did that. She knows when you guys do something. And also, please go out and give us a review. We'd really appreciate it. But Mark, we can't thank you enough for being here, especially on our 25th episode. We're excited. We're getting older now as we grow along. All right, Mark, thank you so much. We'll see you guys, everyone, next time.

August Yocher (: 44:25

Mm-hmm.

Mark Addington (: 44:39

Yep. Awesome. Thank you.