Tamworth’s newest wedding and events DJ is swapping strobe lights for sparkler exits, club crowds for couples in love, and the thump of nightlife for a job that comes with a whole lot more joy.
Angus Renton, the owner of I Do Entertainment, has been spinning tracks in clubs around the region for the past five years. But this year, he made a very deliberate choice to trade in the chaotic energy of nightlife for the warm fuzzies of weddings and private events. I Do entertainment is now taking bookings for weddings, parties and corporate events throughout Tamworth and the New England, bringing a little club polish and a whole lot of heart to dancefloors across the region.
“I have been working in clubs for the like five years, but I decided to go into weddings just this year, do something a bit more relaxing than all the club work,” Angus said.
And for him, weddings are not just a business shift. They are a vibe shift.
“At clubs, you are very separated from the audience in a way, where you are sort of just there playing and people see you as as much part of the furniture as the chairs,” he said.
“I find the connection and the just love that is present at weddings a lot nicer to be around.”
Going from club sets that flow seamlessly for hours to wedding dancefloors where every guest has a request has been a learning curve. Angus says mixing for weddings is more like musical acrobatics.
“At weddings, you are just sort of jumping around a lot based on all the requests you are getting. It has been a bit difficult flipping my club brain off,” he said.
And then there is the marketing. In the club scene, your music does the talking. In the wedding world, social media does. Angus has spent whole evenings filming, editing and producing reels that show brides and grooms what he can do.
“I had to trawl through hours of footage to find good moments, and then spent another two hours editing that together coherently to make a reel,” he said.
It is a big investment for videos that are often under a minute, but he sees it as essential in a competitive local market.
“There is probably six or seven dedicated wedding DJs in the area,” he said.
Angus is confident his club background and high end gear give him an edge, providing a higher quality of sound and lighting than most. And while the New England wedding scene is well established, Angus says breaking in has been surprisingly friendly. Photographers and other vendors have been great, although he has had to adjust to the variability of the venues.
“I have had to learn to chase people for the specifics of their internal sound system, whether or not it is going to be good enough,” he said. “And then when I show up, it is sometimes just two lights. But I’ll get there.”
When it comes to advice for anyone starting a business locally, Angus keeps it simple and encouraging.
“If you think you can do it, then give it a go.”
In this series New England Times Investigates is unpacking some of the dynamics and forces driving our new business boom, and meeting some of the new business owners having a go. Read all the stories in this series here.
Advertising with New England Times is a cost effective and reliable way to reach New England locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.