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HIRING A DJ: POINTS TO CONSIDER
Hiring a Disc Jockey for your wedding ceremony, wedding reception or other event here in the Raleigh-Durham North Carolina Area? Please read this carefully...and choose well. The DJ that you choose will be your spokesperson and everything they say or do on that day will be a DIRECT reflection on you. Here are some important points to remember when you interview a DJ company.
Who is going to show up at my wedding and handle my event ?
This is THE biggest concern about the DJ industry today....The person you interview may not be the person that will actually perform at your event!! You should always ask who will be the actual person performing, and if you can meet him or her. You should know this UP FRONT before you decide on a company or sign a contract. Preferably, you should meet both the owner/contact AND the actual DJ.
There are plenty of "Multi Operator" services in our area who will be 100% upfront with you regarding this particular aspect of their service and they will be glad to arrange for you to meet your prospective entertainer.
If you don't get a good answer when you ask this question, FIND a different DJ service.
Can you expect prompt return of your phone calls or Emails?
You should expect to get a call back or an Email back within 24-48 hours. There are many DJ's who may be at a show when you call. Be sure to leave a good call back number and your name, as well as the time frame you need entertainment for. In fact, provide as much information as possible. This will help the DJ to give you more information about their service and give you an accurate assessment of what they will charge to handle your event.
Will they meet with you?
This is going to be one of the greatest days of your life! Yet we find many prospective brides will choose a service without actually seeing who they have selected or understanding what they are getting for their money.
We feel that you should feel 100% comfortable about meeting the various companies that want your hard earned money, and most full service companies will want to meet with you and anyone you wish to be present to talk about your special day They want to make sure that you are 100% comfortable with their choice, and will not try to use fear or pressure as a mechanism to book you.
What value are you placing on your entertainment?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is the entertainment? Select your DJ service on the overall VALUE that they bring. You most likely are not planning to simply show up and "wing it" through an event such as your wedding. You shouldn't hire a DJ service that will do that either. Understand what specific services your DJ company will bring to bear when you interview them. A list of many of those services we offer are at the bottom of this page.
Will the DJ meet with you AFTER signing the contract to plan your event?
Your DJ should ALWAYS be willing to discuss your event at any time, and should display the flexibility to accommodate changes and help you solve problems. Meeting your DJ to plan well in advance of your event is crucial to ensure a smooth and successful such as a wedding ceremony and reception. Your DJ should discuss the follow up meetings and planning. The DJ should also work with you to decide on an appropriate time to meet with you to accomplish the planning phase of your event.
Will you have to plan this by yourself?
A new trend these days is the use of "online planners", where the client gets to "plan their own party" on the Internet. While many think this is "cutting edge" and "cool", the reality is that many companies do employ this tool to minimize the time they spend with you, maximize their profit, and place the responsibility for the success of your own reception squarely on your shoulders.
While planning a reception isn't rocket science, it does require a clear view of each client's "Landscape" or operating conditions. An experienced DJ will know what questions to ask you that will avoid these landmines and pitfalls. Someone with little or no experience will not be able to interpret the planner you fill out online as being a good plan or a plan that has some hidden pitfalls. Many sadly, do not even check these planners out, and assume that the client knows best, and they make mistakes while your reception is in progress, like not pronouncing names correctly, or managing the event over the PA system, when it is too late to fix it.
Nothing takes the place of well invested time to advance plan the event. If the company you interview is not willing to invest that time with you in advance, you may be in for a big disappointment come time for your event to start. In some circumstances, such as the client being out of state, where email and phone are the primary avenues of communication, as long as you feel good about the level of communication taking place, this is OK.
Do you LIKE the person that you interview at your meeting?
There is NOTHING worse in the world than having to do business with someone you do not like. Choosing the person who "feels" right is the most important factor in picking the right entertainer for your party or reception. The DJ you choose should be very open about what he/she can do for you and should volunteer information and show you that they are comfortable with the type of event you are planning. Most services want you to be 100% comfortable with your choice you make and will not use fear tactics to scare you into booking them.
Is the person knowledgeable about your type of event?
Not every DJ is qualified to handle every type of event. Rather than ask "how much do you charge" as your first question, you should ask your DJ, "How much experience do you have doing weddings"?
Ask the DJ how many events of your type that he/she has done. As you interview your DJ, if you do not get the impression that the DJ is comfortable with your event and specific needs, you should interview more companies before you make a selection. The DJ should spend time listening to you describe what you want to happen, and get excited about your event.
What does the DJ use to "Seal The Deal"?
You should expect to see several documents that the DJ service uses to display their service and demonstrate HOW they will conduct and plan your event. First and foremost is a planner. This planner should impress you enough to the point where you understand that the DJ you are hiring is a professional, and is capable of handling your event. A sample copy of the CONTRACT to be used should be available as well as a schedule of pricing information. A DJ may also give you a list of references. CALL THEM!! Ask if there were any issues or problem areas when the person dealt with the DJ.
Of course, you will most likely not get a bad reference, but you should be able to note elements of consistency between what the DJ tells you in the interview and what his/her clients have told you.
Does the DJ have a music list ?
You need to be assured that the DJ you hire not only has a sizeable collection, but has a variety of music, especially for wedding receptions, where many different styles of music will be requested and several different age groups will be in the same room together. Ask to see a music list. Find out if the DJ service you want to hire will work to acquire the music you need to ensure your event's success. Having a large library is not nearly as important as having a large selection of music that you, the client, need to have played at your event. Find out if your DJ will be flexible with requests for special music, and will follow your direction (if you give direction) about "do not plays" and "must plays".
Does the DJ use professional grade equipment?
If the DJ does not have pictures of his or her gear, you should ask to set up a time to see the equipment or see pictures of the DJ's set up. You should not expect to be invited to someone's wedding or private event to accomplish this however. The DJ should be able to tell you what he/she uses and characterize the equipment as professional grade. You should not recognize your favorite consumer brand stereo components from Best Buy or Walmart in use at your reception.
In Closing:
Your DJ entertainer is an insurance policy you buy that ensures that all of the other money you spend will not result in bad memories or a less than enjoyable occasion. Good entertainment is NOT cheap, and cheap entertainment is NOT good.
If you answered 9 or 10 in the value question raised above, that means you are placing 90 to 100% of the success of your event on your entertainer. Now consider the percentage of money you are spending with respect to the amount you have budgeted for the event. In many cases, clients budget less than 5% of their money on entertainment, but expect the entertainment to be the main factor in making the event a success.
Does that make any sense?
Your DJ, if you have chosen a good one, will display many of the following skills and attributes before and at your event:
- Emcee and Time management skills
- Event planner and event coordinator
- Comprehensive library of music
- Professional grade equipment
- Follow the plan that you and he/she have worked out using the planner
- Flexibility to adapt to sudden changes -
- Problem solving skills and innovative out of the box thinking
- Seamless continuous music at all times unless otherwise specified
- Sound technician/Light technician
- Ability to read a crowd and pick the right music
- Audience motivator
- Referral service for other event professionals
Please call us at 919-481-4290, check our availability online or Contact us by email!
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