You’re standing, talking with some friends you haven’t seen for a while. Laughing, reminiscing, being congratulated. You take a sip of your drink, scan the room a bit and you see it; no one is on the dance floor. The middle of the room just hole, no fun, no pop-lock-and-droppin’ from great aunt Sue.
Suddenly you wake up!
Whew. It was just another wedding nightmare. And we’re here to help make sure it doesn’t become a reality!
Brad Schindewolf from Integrity Events STL let us send him some of the tough questions and a few so you could get to know the face behind the 1s and 2s!

Tell us about yourself:
Did you always want to become a DJ? How did you get your start?
I never thought about being a DJ until the door opened. In 2009 I was asked to DJ a Private School’s Homecoming. I instantly made the “big bucks” in the form of a $50.00 iTunes gift card. The principal of the school had a sister getting married and they were needing entertainment for the wedding. They asked me and I said yes! I was in WAY over my head, but powered through. Looking out at a packed dance floor with smiles over everyone’s faces, I knew this was something I wanted to continue. The passion came from the couple coming up to me at the end of the night and thanking me with tears in their eyes for making their Big Day fun and special. 
What’s your favorite food? I love a good SMASH burger and fries. If you haven’t been to Mac’s Local Eats in St. Louis, you NEED to take a specials trip! 
Are you a dog person or a cat person? I’m a cat guy! My wife and I love our tubby kitty! 
What’s your top five favorite songs to play at weddings? This one is a hard one! I will try my best and in no certain order: 1) DJ Khaled “All I Do Is Win” feat. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain & Snoop Dogg 2) CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! – Justin Timberlake 3) Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond 4) Shout – Otis Day & The Knights 5) Heavy D & The Boyz – Now That We Found Love ft. Aaron Hall
What is your favorite part about being a DJ? There are two areas that are my favorite part of being a DJ. The first is just being a blessing for the couple. Planning a wedding is stressful enough. I aim to be a stress-free vendor and if I can take on any stress to help out one of my couples I do so.  Secondly, providing an atmosphere and party for people to remember for years to come. I tend to be a more upbeat DJ that wants to help host the best party possible! 

What are the key differences between a DJ and a band? In the words of Ted Mosby from the ever so popular hit TV comedy series How I Met Your Mother, “Would you like me to get Cool and the Gang to play at your wedding? And would it be okay if they invited their friends Beyonce, and Abba, and the Begees, and Journey, and Queen? What, what are you saying? How is that even possible?.. You Hire A DJ” 
Do I need to say more?
What should a couple be looking for when they start the search for their perfect DJ? Couples should look for recommendations, reflect on past experiences at other weddings/events they have attended, and research what makes a good DJ. 
What should a couple expect to invest in a DJ? Couples should expect different price points in the different areas: Time Frame, Multiple locations/rooms, and added value needs (up lighting, cocktail hours, additional equipment to meet multiple areas) to name a few. Also, couples should expect a stress free, easy going DJ that makes preparations fun. 
In your opinion, what are the three most important tasks a DJ has at a wedding? The three most important tasks: Provide the type of atmosphere the couple dreams of for their wedding, adding smiles onto everyone’s faces, and DO NOT MESS UP NAMES WHEN ANNOUNCING!
What other services do you offer couples besides the DJ aspect? The main service outside of the DJ aspect providing Emcee services. We provide expert level knowledge for wedding even planning, guidance on music choices, and multiple added value services. Added value services include: Up lighting, chair covers, sign design, and vendor recommendations. 
How far in advance should a couple book their DJ or band? I suggest couples booking at least 12 months in advance. This allows for appropriate preparation time for the night. It does take a while to decide on how the day should go, and the DJ/Band sets the tone for the atmosphere of the day/night. This also allows time for the couple and vendor get to know each other, as this greatly helps the Emcee portion of the night. 
Having just planned a wedding through COVID yourself, what is the best piece of advice for couples going forward? Have back up plans and make sure vendors are willing to work with date changes! My wife and I were pretty blessed to have AMAZING vendors that worked with us taking a lot of COVID related stress away from us. 

And there you have it friends! If there’s any questions we didn’t go over that you wanted answers to, please feel free to drop a comment and we’ll get you that info ASAP! Make sure you check out Brad for all your DJ (and now event planning) needs, too! You can contact him at brad.schindewolf@outlook.com for his availability and sleep better!