September 28th, 2021

Staying sustainable doesn’t always come easy! As individuals we all play a part in making the world more green which is why we’re looking into all the ways that vendors can play a part in being eco-friendly! For today’s blog we’re taking a closer look at how wedding DJs and bands can practice being green!

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Choose eco-friendly materials

~ EQUIPMENT MATERIALS ~

Anytime there is equipment that needs a battery, you should consider using a power adapter instead. Upgrade your equipment so you’re not having to throw away battery after battery which we all know is not good for the environment.

If you are a guitarist, you can choose to purchase picks that are made from biodegradable materials (like stone, wood and leather). Every little bit counts! Same with the actual guitar, we support the guitars made from Koa wood (native to Hawaii!). It’s possible to make the entire guitar from this, and Koa trees can be harvested sustainably.

~ GO DIGITAL! ~

It’s common to see tablets in vendors’ hands as it’s becoming increasingly popular to lessen paper use (what we use at events too!). The benefits of going paperless allow for all your clients contracts, invoices, and timelines to be in one spot with no way of getting lost. So on this note, we have also been seeing more and more bands use iPads or other tablets to store their music sets, rather than the old school music stand and paper.

~ CONSIDER THE PACKAGING! ~

Some brands use an excessive amount of packaging materials that just become waste. When looking at the same products created by different brands, choose the one with the least amount of packaging. If there isn’t an obvious better option, try sticking to paper wrapping rather than plastic!

Properly dispose of the not so eco-friendly materials

Unfortunately, some materials are unavoidable and don’t have eco-friendly substitutes. In this type of situation, we highly encourage taking the time to educate yourself on proper disposal.

• Batteries contain toxic chemicals that are damaging to our planet. Many electronic stores have battery drop-offs where they will properly dispose of batteries. Or, use rechargeable batteries!
• Instrument strings also tend to be difficult to recycle, but there are programs that have been created to make it easier.
• Donate or sell old equipment: Do not throw away! Unless if the entire instrument is rotting, there is likely a way to repurpose some of the materials. Or a young aspiring artist who cannot afford an instrument can benefit from your old instruments.
  These initiatives in brands and stores are extremely helpful in allowing consumers to make green decisions!

Virtual Events

So you’re saying there was actually a huge benefit of the pandemic, when everything went virtual? YES! Concerts (especially when gathering thousands of people in one location) can be terrible for the environment. Especially when considering all the waste from thrown away cups and beer cans and other trash. While we’re not telling you every event should be virtual, it’s something to think about. Instead of telling 10 band members to drive [separately] to an event, it’s much more eco-friendly to have a band virtually up on a green screen. If all guests are partying from their own residence, you’re making the greenest “event” possible.

Transportation

We know that not everyone has access to public transportation, and if someone is bringing in equipment they can’t ride a bike. But for those DJs and musicians who CAN, we suggest looking into the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago. Toast & Jam DJs is a proud supporter of this organization who promotes eco-friendly means of transportation. And if that isn’t possible, consider purchasing an eco-friendly car instead of a gas-guzzler!

Neil Dixon Smith

Neil Dixon Smith is a solo classical guitarist, available for wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, proposals, and really any kind of party you want to have. In addition to offering traditional ceremony music, he also specializes in several other categories of music allowing him to perform exactly what you envision hearing on your big day! We were lucky enough to hear some of his green wedding tips which we’ve included below.

~ DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO SMALL! ~

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the COVID era is that people “understand” if events are downscaled. The cousin who lives a few states over is no longer miffed if they don’t get a wedding invitation. In the past year I have performed for many weddings with 25 or fewer guests and I can report that what they may have lacked in grandeur they gained twofold in intimacy – at a fraction of the carbon footprint.”

~ CONSIDER THE SPACES AROUND YOU! ~

“A smaller wedding may open up new venue possibilities. Of course there is your backyard, but there may also be parks nearby for which a permit may not be necessary (as it effectively becomes just a large picnic). This is a chance to pinpoint a favorite local most beautiful spot. Just be sure to clean up!”

Cage + Aqaruium

Cage + Aquarium is a premier event company offering full service DJs and emcees. Masters of their craft, C&A’s artists specialize in turntable DJing, giving your event an authentic music experience. We also asked them how they are sustainable.

“When using vinyl, C&A’s entire staff utilize the studio’s 100% recycled record collection. In any other case, all DJs have digital music collections stored on their laptops. Their studio owned microphones use rechargeable battery packs, eliminating the need for batteries entirely. All dance floor disco lights are LED. Cage & Aquarium makes sustainability a priority and a group effort – from daily operations in their North Center office to event execution across Chicagoland. To begin, the majority of their operations are done digitally, including paperless contracts, invoices and event PDFs. C&A recycles paper, plastic and ink cartridges on a regular basis, and they use all LED lighting in their office.”

If you have other suggestions as to how bands, musicians or DJs can be more green, let us know in the comments! We are happy to add more content to help our readers think of sustainable ideas.

– Ohana Events