Wedding Day Advice | Reception and Ceremony

Having some form of musical entertainment at your wedding reception is non-negotiable – it is a celebration, after all. Usually, people opt for a live band or a DJ. But have you thought about hiring a jukebox?

When people hear the word ‘jukebox’, they immediately associate it with the large, colourful machines of the 1940s and 1950s. But they’ve come a long way since those days. Now, jukeboxes are smart, making use of touch screens, and can store over 14 500 songs. Some of the very latest models can even download music files on an as-needed basis from a central server via broadband, giving the user an almost unlimited, up-to-date music selection.

Photo courtesy Ruffled, Photographer Lisa Devlin

A Jukebox versus a DJ or Band…

• A jukebox has a huge song selection (certainly more than a band)
• A jukebox does not require breaks (unlike a band)
• A jukebox plays all night (no cut-off time)
• A jukebox plays exactly what you and your guests want (selection via touch screen)
• A jukebox does not need to be fed or looked after (saves on catering costs)
• A jukebox allows you to control the volume to suit your preference (standard speakers are loud enough for up to 100 guests)
• A jukebox is compact (doesn’t take up nearly as much space as a DJ or band)
• A jukebox is generally half the price of other forms of entertainment, all things considered.

Ensure that your jukebox…

1. Is South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) registered. SAMRO protects the intellectual property of authors and composers and all jukebox service providers should be members. Unlicensed jukeboxes could land you in trouble. Incidentally, DJs should also be SAMRO registered.
2. Has a large track selection. Your own music selection can be loaded onto the jukebox, provided it’s in CD or Mp3 format. Many of the most recent designs can also download tracks via broadband. Remember, it’s wise to have a track selection which caters for the tastes of your diverse guest list – songs from the 60s to current chart toppers.
3. Is upgradeable. Many jukeboxes offer extras like microphones for speeches and additional sound and lighting.
4. Has a quality, easy-to-use interface. Go for touch screen versions over those with a graphic interface, and make sure that it offers a track-search function, a track-queuing system and a virtual DJ function (for when there are no playlists selected). Ensure it makes use of a quality sound system which caters for your number of guests.
5. Can be hired on a ‘per day’, rather than a ‘per hour’ basis.
6. Is cashless, i.e. not coin-operated.

For jukebox hire in Johannesburg and Pretoria