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WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A WEDDING DJ

The wedding engagement has been announced and the date is set, now it’s time to make all the plans. One of those plans is what to do for your wedding reception entertainment. The two most common choices are hiring a band or a DJ. After a few days of research you decide on using a DJ. Now, who do you hire for your entertainment?

 

This article was written to assist you on the ins and outs of what to look for and what questions to ask when hiring a DJ. Let’s face it, since the birth of the compact disc and player in the 80s and the internet in the 90s, a whole new breed of DJ has emerged. Purchase a sound system, a CD player, some MP3s and a computer, and bam! you’re a DJ. I don’t think so, but that’s what has taken over the market. I’m not saying that every DJ is a bad DJ, what I’m saying is that a large percentage of DJs out there are. So how do you know how to filter out the good DJs from the bad DJs?

 

Your wedding day is the one day that you want no mishaps. This is the day that you are going to remember for the rest of your life. This is the day you want the best DJ you can find.

 

Here are some key topics that you should pay attention to when speaking to a DJ. Listen carefully when you call. Most DJs or companies out there state that they are the best and there is no reason for you to shop for a DJ any further. Some of the questions you ask may need additional validation by having the DJ send you photos, videos, DVDs or audio samples of work they have done in the past.

 

1. Website/Press Kit
   • Does the DJ have an interactive website that you can use to see photos, videos and references? Any good reputable DJ should have a website or at be apart of a website that showcases his/her press kit.
2. References
   • All reputable DJs will have references for you to call and or view of what they thought of that particular DJ. Don’t be to trusting of DJs that have what customers thought of them typed right on the front page. Example: “I thought DJ B’ was the best. He was awesome. I would hire him anytime.” John Doe.
3. When To Hire
   • The timing factor of when to hire a DJ is important. Hiring a DJ a year in advance in my opinion is not necessary. In that time frame you may find another DJ that is more suitable of what you are looking for and you would most likely loose out on any deposit that you paid the first DJ. Trying to hire a DJ two weeks before the wedding date is futile. All reputable DJs will be surely booked by this time and you will have to suffer with what is left to choose from. Three to four months in advance is adequate.
4. Pricing
   • There are DJs that overcharge and definitely ones that undercharge. Expect to find a wide range of pricing out there. You can find pricing for an average 4 hour reception from $300.00 to $1800.00. So why the wide range in pricing? Some DJs and companies charge like McDonalds does when you order a hamburger. The hamburger is one price, but the price changes when you add cheese. I truly believe that you get what you pay for. I am in agreement of pricing up the event, but there are some DJs and companies that are taking advantage of customers. Let’s take a closer look at what some DJs use to raise the cost of your wedding:
     • Experience
     • The total number of hours
     • The number of guests
     • How much audio equipment is required
     • Do you need wireless microphones
     • Dance floor lighting and how much coverage is needed
     • Travel distance
     • Overtime charges
5. Equipment
   • This topic is an area that most people shy away from when talking to DJs. Knowing the difference between JBL and Community is going to be difficult to explain. I suggest that if you have no clue on what to ask for about the audio and lighting equipment, find someone you know with some knowledge on this topic and ask for their advice.
     • Backup Equipment - A very important question to ask is if the DJ has backup equipment incase of a failure at your wedding. It would be a sad day if the DJs equipment failed and they didn’t have any backup equipment to continue your wedding.
     • Audio Equipment - With dozens of brands and models of pro audio equipment, it will be impossible for you to establish if the equipment the DJ has is of quality or not. Ask the DJ what brands of speakers and amplifiers he/she has and call a local pro audio sales center (one that sells guitars and amps) and ask if the brands are considered to be quality or cheap. Remember that you are getting an opinion of that sales person.
     • Dance floor lighting - If you are paying for dance floor lighting, ask for details of what you are paying for. You don’t want to pay an additional $250.00 for a mirror ball and spot light.
6. Music
   • Don’t be concerned with DJs that advertise that they have thousands of songs or that they have the largest database of music. With the invention of laptops and wireless, any DJ can download off the internet as long as there is adequate signal at the location of the event. The question is does the DJ have a wireless card? Always ask if the DJ has a computer with wireless capability and if they would test the event site to insure there is proper signal.
   • Be involved with the music choices. Simply telling a DJ that you like country, rap and rock leaves you open to a wide range of music and at their discretion.
   • Think about it for a minute.
     • Average playtime per song = 4 minutes.
     • 60 minutes divided by 4 = 15 songs per hour.
     • 15 songs per hour x 4 hours = 60 songs per event.
     • I would advise that you to give the DJ a list of at least 30 – 40 songs that you would like to hear at your event. These songs should be danceable songs both slow and fast. Remember that you have guests that may not necessarily enjoy the music that you do so insure that DJ will play a mix of music and genres.
7. Deposits
   • Most reputable DJs will charge a non-refundable deposit. The amount of the deposit is dependent on the total pricing of the event. The amount is also determined by the month. June, August and September are three months that are very popular for weddings. It is hard to fill a booking date a week before when you the client cancelled at the last minute. Some DJs require 50% of the booking price as a non-refundable deposit.
   • Insure you get a receipt for any money you paid to the DJ.
8. Contract
   • A contract is protection for both you and the DJ. If you ask for a contract and the DJ has to create one, you should be hesitant about that DJ or company. A reputable DJ will have one that can either be emailed, faxed or downloaded from the internet immediately.
   • Insure that every detail that you and the DJ have discussed and agreed upon is in the contract. Do not sign any contract if you don’t understand what you are signing for.
9. Attire
   • You the client should be the one to dictate what you want the DJ to wear. Any reputable DJ will have a tuxedo.
10. Setup and Teardown Time
    • Setup and teardown are dictated on what equipment is required for the event and the location of the equipment.
      28 years as an experienced professional Disc Jockey and Mobile DJ, I have seen the DJ market explode with new DJs everyday. I hope that this article helps in your search for a good reputable DJ. There are many of them out there, but just as many good DJs out there, there are the ones that make us look bad. It is your job to do your research. Ask numerous questions and I highly suggest that you meet in person with the DJ of your choice. If you feel uncomfortable with the DJ, don’t hire them.

Remember that this is your wedding day. It is a very special day. You want the best for you and your guests. You are in charge and you tell us what you want or expect from us. It is our job to tell you if we can meet your expectations.

 

Robert E. White
In The Mix Entertainment

 

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