A Moment With 'Tubbzmix Entertainment'
ABIA meets the man, the DJ and the MC behind this popular Wangaratta-based wedding hire and entertainment service.
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
Not all wedding entertainers will travel over 500km to deejay a wedding, but for Jono Leahy, owner and DJ at Tubbzmix Entertainment, a wedding hire and entertainment business based near Wangaratta in country Victoria, it’s a fairly common occurrence.
“We will service literally anywhere,” he says.
Undoubtably, that commitment and flexibility is part of Jono’s success. Having worked for almost two decades as a DJ, his wedding entertainment offerings have grown to include Master of Ceremonies services, photobooth hire and customised lighting and special effects.
ABIA stepped into the DJ booth with Jono to talk all things sound, music and visual entertainment.
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
Tell us about your business and wedding entertainment and equipment hire service?
We offer music from start to finish — for both the ceremony and reception. All of our DJs are also very competent MCs, and we have a digital photobooth, which can be set up to project the photos taken at an event, and downloaded later. Plus, we provide all sorts of lighting, from static venue up-lights, through to full special-effect lighting and smoke machines.
How did you get started in the wedding industry?
I started deejaying in Albury at the age of 17. One of the local DJs took me under his wing and taught me how to mix. More importantly though, he taught me how to read a crowd. After that, deejaying at weddings came naturally. I worked at a few private parties, then started getting asked to do weddings.
Where are you based and what areas do you service?
We're based just outside of Wangaratta, in Laceby, but we will service literally anywhere. I was booked for a Gold Coast wedding in 2020, before Covid put a stop to it, and it’s not uncommon for me to travel over 500km for a wedding.
Image White Shutter Photography
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
What types of wedding entertainment and equipment do you offer? And which are the most popular?
We offer experienced DJ entertainers, who can also emcee. Currently we have three on our books, with more than 50 years of wedding and event experience between them. And, we are continually training our next generation.
We also provide photobooth hire, and our digital photobooth is one of our most popular add-ons.
As well as mood lighting for venues and dance floors, we can also help with budget-conscious sound and lighting equipment hire for smaller weddings, and can even assist with building playlists if a DJ isn’t needed.
Acoustic soloists and duos are also available to complement our range of services.
At what point in their wedding planning should couples consider entertainment and equipment hire?
Once they have a venue booked I would recommend starting to look for entertainment. All vendors are booking out well in advance — we currently have bookings into 2025 and spring, this year, is almost fully booked.
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
Do you see certain trends in your industry? What's popular with couples at the moment?
I think the biggest change is that people are moving away from doing what's ‘traditionally’ expected. I recently deejayed a wedding where the bouquet toss was open to every guest, regardless of gender, marital status and age — and it was probably one of the best I've seen.
How did you become interested in event entertainment? Is it something you were into from childhood?
I was interested in music throughout my school years, and even played the saxophone in the High School band. It was when I started going to clubs that I got into deejaying though. I had no interest in dancing, so I’d introduce myself to the DJs. I was hooked almost instantly!
What are the most common song requests?
There are ‘stock standard’ wedding reception songs that always get requested — like Nutbush, Grease Megamix, Timewarp and Michael Jackson — but, well before a wedding I like to get a feel for what each couple, and their friends and family, listen to so that I can personalise the music for them.
Image Blissful Love Photography
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
What makes your service unique?
I’m honest, and I put a lot of care and thought into every wedding I DJ and MC. This ensures a couple gets exactly what they are hoping for.
How would you describe the couples you connect with the most?
I feel I connect with all my couples. I try to be as open and honest as possible with them and to be as helpful as I can prior to, and during, their big day. I've helped carry brides’ dresses and even driven the wedding car on one occasion.
What was your favourite wedding?
There have been so many! At one, I deejayed with saxophonist Rob Muir while he played along with me. And I’ve done gigs with Jeffrey Cabalar, an amazing vocalist and guitar player. A recent highlight though was my best friend’s wedding, where I got to be DJ, MC, photobooth operator and groomsman!
Image courtesy Tubbzmix Entertainment
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