NEW BEDFORD — A wedding is a special time in an individual’s 
life, a day to be cherished forever.
From the actual ceremony to the cutting of the cake, a wedding is remembered by everyone involved.
One of the most scrutinized aspects of a wedding is the reception — and the music.
That’s where “Music on Wheels” comes in.
The New Bedford-based professional disc jockey service
has catered weddings, corporate functions, parties, schools dances, and so much more for the past 20 years.
The husband-and-wife team of Pete and Tammy Rivet blend musical experience and their upbeat personalities to create an atmosphere that is appealing to all ages.
We play what you want to hear” is the “Music on Wheels” slogan, and they do anything necessary to live up to this expectation.
“Everything is tailored to what the bride and groom want,” said co-owner Pete Rivet. “We ask them exactly what they want and what they want is what they get.”
Everything from the first to last dance, the Rivets put on an organized, full reception coordination
to the exact specifications of the party involved.
Couples interested in having a wedding reception are encouraged to meet with Pete and Tammy beforehand to discuss even the smallest details.
“It is a very big day,” said Pete Rivet. “ We want to make the bride and groom feel as comfortable
as they possibly can, and by meeting with them we are able to do that.”
The bride and groom are allowed to choose from an array of more than 50,000 songs in their fully backed-up computers. In case a speaker were to blow or a computer to crash, the
Rivets come prepared with back-ups to keep the party rolling.
“We work with the photographer and all of the event staff to make sure everything runs as smooth as possible,” Pete Rivet said.
The customer is allowed to make touches of their own to make their reception special. Some of these include the first dance, the bridal party dance, the dances with the mother or father, line dances,
and centerpiece giveaway games. They can also choose to have various props used, can decide
whether or not they want the DJs to wear professional attire or something casual and can recommend dance requests.
“It is very important that the guests feel as comfortable as possible,” said Rivet. “The true meaning to a successful wedding is having everyone stay until the end. If they’re not dancing, we’re panicking.”
The average price range to have “Music on Wheels” at your wedding reception runs between $750 and $950 for the entire evening.
“For what we charge and what we do, they (customers) are getting a very good package,” said Rivet. “If you don’t get the right DJ, no matter what the cost, the outcome of the night may be totally different.”
“Music on Wheels” keeps an organized, updated website (www.musiconwheels.us) that gives an in-depth look at their business.
The Rivets are open to playing at any type of event, but they specialize in weddings. Their focus is the customer and they make a point of showing that.
“A DJ can make or break your party, so you have to pick the right one,” said Rivet. “You want to make sure the DJ is what the bride and groom are looking for.”

Review from Wedding Wire

	music on wheels New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740 Services Used: DJ	4.5 out of 5.0 Quality of Service: (4.5/5.0) Responsiveness: (4.0/5.0) Professionalism: (4.0/5.0) Value For Cost: (5.0/5.0) Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)
	We found Music on Wheels at a first communion. Not the first place you would look for your wedding disc jockey, but regardless they did an amazing job. They showed up early to set up, played all the perfect music to make all of our guests get off up the feet, and met with us before the reception to make sure they pronounced names and couples correctly. These guys are professionals, and had some great ideas with involving the other guests. (IE it was our best man's wedding anniversary also, so we played their wedding song and said congrats) They were doing such a great job, that when our time was up at the venue, nobody wanted to leave. We asked if they would stay an extra hour and they willingly said yes. They made my wedding such a blast, and I would recommend them to anyone!

Family shot of Pete and Tammy with  Noah, Simon-peter and Jacob.

Right musical choice can make or break reception

By TYRA PACHECO

Standard-Times correspondent

When guests arrive at a wedding reception, they are likely expecting a decent meal in a nice atmosphere. People enjoy seeing pretty floral arrangements on the center of the table, and they usually smile when they see what the bridal party has prepared for wedding favors.

But for most people, the thing they look forward to the most is the fun they know they will have. And for many people, that fun depends on music, a fact that musicians and special event planners know to be true.

Getting quality musical entertainment is much easier when you plan far in advance.

The rule of thumb when reserving a date for any wedding related services is, there is no time like the present. If you have a date picked out for your wedding, start making phone calls.

When making the choice between a DJ and a band, price can be a deciding factor.

In the SouthCoast area, the cost of a DJ can be anywhere from $650 to $1500. The fees for local bands start at about $1,000 and can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the band.

Having an wide assortment of music does not necessarily a good DJ make.

“You have to make sure the DJ knows what to play and how to play it,” said Peter Rivet of Music on Wheels. “You can have two DJs with the same amount of music, and the same guests and the parties will be totally different.”

Mr. Rivet has been providing music for weddings for twenty years, with the help of his partner and wife, Tammy. Over the years, the couple has learned how best to interact with the crowd, without overdoing it.

“My focus is on the bride and groom and the guests,” said Mr. Rivet. “I’m there to interact with the guests. I’m not there to entertain them (personally). They feel comfortable coming up to me and putting requests. We try to play what they want.”

With an inventory of more than 30,000 songs, Mr. Rivet likes to know what the age group of his audience will be. Songs from the 1930s to the current top hits, country, pop, rock, and ethnic music are among the choices.

At many weddings, however, “The Chicken” is not on the musical menu.

DJs are often given a “do not play” list, which can include songs that were special to the bride or groom during a past relationship, or any number of line dances.

“The Electric Slide, The Hokey Pokey, The Chicken, a lot of people don’t want line dances,” Mr. Rivet said. “But (the bride and groom) have to understand, people want to hear it. They need to play the music for the people they are inviting. To have a successful wedding you have to be versatile all the way around.”

Experts agree, the DJ can make or break the wedding reception.

The band or DJ should have a good understanding of the mechanics of a wedding. Many traditions are dependent on them, such as introductions, cutting the cake, the first dance, and all of the fun that follows.

“Experience, experience, experience. It is absolutely the most important thing. When the party is over, everyone will remember whether they had a good time or not.”

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