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How to Choose a Great Wedding DJ |
Hiring a disc jockey is one the most important decisions you'll make to insure the success of your wedding reception. To help you find quality entertainment, DJ Billy James suggests you review the questions below and then select several to ask the Phoenix wedding disc jockeys you are considering.
2. How much wedding experience do you have as a wedding DJ?
3. Can we come to your wedding and see you in action?
5. Do you use professional equipment and bring back-up?
6. How would you describe your setup?
9. Do you provide lighting and do you charge extra for it?
10. How many songs are in your music library?
12. Do you provide a written contract and require a deposit?
13. Can you provide ceremony music?
14. What are my payment options?
15. Are there any hidden charges like taxes or gratuities?
17. What if you are unable to perform due to illness or an emergency?
This is the question to ask if you are looking for the least expensive DJ you can find. Prices for Phoenix wedding DJs range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. You usually get what you pay for. If there was no difference in quality among wedding DJs, then only the least expensive DJs would survive. Obviously, that is not the case. If you want to be sure that your reception flows smoothly and all of your guests have fun, you may want to start with the next question.
2. How much wedding experience do you have as a wedding DJ?
DJs who work clubs or school dances are usually good at what they do, but may not be the right choice for your wedding. The same goes for a friend or relative with a laptop of music who has never DJ'd a wedding.
An experienced wedding DJ knows what to say and what to play during every phase of your reception. He's an expert at "reading the crowd." He knows what songs to mix together to keep people dancing. These skills are developed from years of experience at hundreds of weddings.
3. Can we come to a wedding to see you in action?
On the surface, this may seem like a reasonable request. However, many professional wedding DJs will not invite you to watch them perform at someone else's wedding because they respect the privacy of their clients. Would you want your DJ to use your wedding to market himself to prospective clients? Evaluate your DJ by visiting his website, arranging a personal meeting and reviewing comments from satisfied clients.
4. Do you have a reception planning form and can we meet with you in person
before our wedding to discuss it?
Experienced wedding DJs have a Wedding Reception Planner to determine the timetable of events for your reception and the perfect song to accompany each event. Your DJ should be willing to schedule an appointment with you a few weeks before your wedding to finalize reception plans.
5. Do you use professional equipment and do you bring back-up?
Professional disc jockey equipment is designed for heavy use and constant transport. It is not sold in home-electronics stores. Be sure your DJ uses professional equipment and has a back-up on site for every component to guarantee a problem-free performance.
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A professional DJ will not use your reception to market his services with a large banner or create an eyesore with dangling wires and a pile of empty equipment cases. Ask to see a photo of the DJ's setup at a typical wedding.
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You want your DJ to be set up, properly attired and ready to perform before your guests arrive. Therefore, expect your DJ to arrive one to two hours before his starting time. If unfamiliar with the venue, the responsible DJ will visit the site prior to your wedding day to insure everything goes smoothly on your big day.
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Your DJ should accomodate your wishes in dressing for your wedding. Typical options are a black tuxedo, a jacket or vest and tie, or a casual shirt. If your wedding has a specific theme (western, beach, etc.), ask your DJ to dress accordingly.
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9. Do you provide lighting and do you charge extra for it?
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Dance floor lighting and uplighting create a party ambience and motivate your guests to dance. In most cases, DJ's who include lighting in their packages are a better value than those who consider lighting an upgrade for an additional charge.
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10. How many songs are in your music library?
Most professional DJ's have a library of thousands of songs. However, only 50 to 60 songs are actually played at a typical reception. So the important issue is not how many songs a DJ has, but rather, which songs he decides to play. Look for the DJ who emphasizes his programming skills in choosing the right songs for your guests while incorporating your musical tastes.
In general, DJ's would like to say they would be happy to take requests and, in most cases, they do. However, your DJ's primary job is to keep the majority of your guests happy and keep the party going. DJ's know which requests will clear the dance floor and deflate the energy of your reception. Allow your DJ to use his judgment regarding requests.
12. Do you provide a written contract and require a deposit?
Reputable disc jockeys document their services with a professional contract to insure accurate information. A non-refundable booking fee/deposit is almost always required when the contract is signed and most reputable DJ's require final payment a week or two before the wedding.
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Some wedding DJ's will provide ceremony music services at the reception venue. A separate sound system for the ceremony is recommended. Ceremony services include appropriate music during the seating of guests, wedding party processional, lighting of the unity candle and the recessional. Wireless microphones are provided for the ceremony officiant and presenters.
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14. What are my payment options?
A professional DJ will have a variety of payment options to meet your needs. In addition to cash and a personal check, the professional DJ will be able to accept all major credit cards.
15. Are there any hidden charges like taxes or gratuities?
In Arizona, there is no sales tax on DJ services. A professional DJ should not add a gratuity to his fee or even imply that one is expected.
A professional DJ will have business liability insurance to respond to any claims resulting from his service. Many resorts require all vendors, including DJs, to provide a certificate of insurance.
17. What if you are unable to perform due to illness or an emergency?
In the unlikely event that serious illness or an emergency would prevent your DJ from performing, the DJ should take responsibility for securing a comparable replacement. Ask if he has a plan to cover such a situation.
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