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This
is the first question you should ask if you are looking for the least expensive DJ you can find. Rates
for Phoenix wedding DJs can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. If all you want is someone to show up with a bunch of CD's or an iPod and some speakers, then shop for price.
2. How much wedding experience do you have?
All disc jockeys are not the same. DJs who work at clubs or do
school dances are usually good at what they do, but may not be the right
choice for your wedding. Don't forget that a wedding DJ must play music that
pleases everybody from Grandma to your little sister and then, as MC, he is
responsible for coordinating the entire reception.
3. How would you describe your style? Do you want your DJ to chatter like a game show host and lead the chicken dance with a hula hoop or do you want a more conservative DJ who reflects the class and elegance of your formal affair? Although most DJs can be versatile, not all DJs have the same style. You want to select a DJ who is compatible with the tone of your reception. Ask the DJ to describe his style. Often, a get-acquainted meeting with a prospective DJ will reveal his personality and style. Beat mixing is a skill typically associated with club DJ's. Songs with similar beats per minute (BPM) are blended together to keep dancers on the floor and sustain the energy of the party. Although beat mixing is less important to the wedding DJ, it is a skill that will enhance the energy of your reception. If your DJ has no beat mixing skill, there will be dead air or awkward transitions between songs and dancers will be much more likely to leave the floor. Ask a DJ what some of his favorite mixes are. A good DJ's answer might be "ACDC's All Night Long leading into Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer, both great dance songs at 120 BPM." Although there are some excellent part-time DJ's, a full-time DJ is often more readily available to respond to your calls and emails and can devote more time and energy to preparing for your wedding than a part-time DJ. If your first encounter with a DJ was his voice mail, chances are it won't be your last.
7. Do you have references and can they be contacted? Upon request, your DJ should be able and willing to provide names and contact information for recent satisfied clients. Beware of DJs who have glowing comments from former clients without identifying a specific date and location or agencies that use generic testimonials that may not apply to the DJ they send you. 8. Can we come to a wedding to see you in action? On the surface, this may seem like a reasonable request. Some DJ companies even claim they "have nothing to hide" and will invite their prospective clients to your wedding reception. However, most professional wedding DJs will not invite prospective clients to your wedding because they respect your privacy. It's not an issue of trying to hide something. Any DJ who has something to hide would soon be out of business.
A wedding reception is a private event intended exclusively for you, your family and your friends. The last thing you want or need at your wedding is a group of strangers (a future bride and groom with a Mom and a friend in tow) opening the door and walking into a hushed ballroom as your best man begins his toast.
Evaluate your DJ by visiting his website, requesting an information packet, arranging a personal meeting, and checking references from satisfied clients. A professional DJ should not use your wedding to market himself for future business. 9. Do you have a reception planning form and can we meet with you 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. Remember, your DJ is also your MC who will be coordinating all the events of your reception. The more your DJ understands about your preferences, the better job he will do.
15. How many songs are in your music library? In this era of digital music and instant downloads, most professional DJ's have a library of 10,000 songs or more. However, only 50 to 60 songs are actually played at a typical reception. So the important issue here is not how many songs a DJ has on his CD's or hard drive but rather, which ones he decides to play. Look for the DJ who emphasizes his programming skills in choosing the right songs for your guests rather than the DJ who focuses only on the size of his music library. This is a tricky question. 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. You should allow your DJ to use his judgment regarding requests.
17. Do you provide a written contract and require a deposit? Reputable disc jockeys document their services with a professional contract to insure accurate information and require a deposit to reserve your date. For prime dates, a non-refundable booking fee/deposit for 50% of the payment is not uncommon when the contract is signed and most reputable DJ's will require final payment a week or two before the wedding.
19. 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. 20. Are there any hidden charges like taxes or gratuities? In Arizona, there is no sales tax on services. Therefore, you do not pay sales tax on DJ services. Some large DJ companies encourage you to provide a gratuity to your DJ since what your DJ is paid may be significantly less than what the DJ company charges you. There are even DJ companies that automatically add a gratuity to the fee you are quoted. A reputable DJ will not charge you a gratuity or even imply that one is expected. 21. Why do DJ's charge so much just to show up for a few hours and play music? DJ's will have a variety of answers to this question. In general, a professional wedding DJ will invest many hours prior to your wedding in meeting, planning, preparing and consulting. On the day of your wedding, your DJ, attired in a designer tuxedo, will devote as many as eight to ten hours with preparation, travel, setup, performance and teardown of equipment. Your professional DJ will be using about $10,000 - $20,000 worth of equipment and relying on years of experience to insure that your reception is everything you want it to be. There's a lot more involved than just showing up and playing music for a few hours. 22. Are you licensed and insured?
Be aware that DJ's are not licensed. Anybody can buy some equipment and call himself a DJ. However,
a professional DJ will make the effort to belong to professional organizations, which set standards for performance and service. Organizations like the American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) insure that your DJ meets and maintains the highest standards of professional service and client satisfaction.
23. What if you are unable to perform due to illness or an emergency? In the unlikely event that illness or an emergency would prevent a DJ from performing, the DJ should take responsibility for securing a comparable replacement. A company with multiple DJ's should tell you they have back-up DJ's on call. If a DJ is a single operator, he should be a member of a professional DJ organization such as The American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) whose members are always willing to assist a colleague. When asking your DJ this question, just be sure he has a plan to cover such situations. Stay away from the DJ who doesn't. Some final thoughts on hiring your DJ Most
of the popular wedding DJ's get booked six to twelve months before
the wedding. In Arizona, spring and fall dates are the most popular.
When you're ready to hire your DJ, compile a list of potential
candidates by searching the web (do a Google search for Phoenix Wedding
DJs), review DJ websites, purchase a local bridal magazine like
Arizona Weddings, attend a wedding show, ask if your reception location has a preferred vendor list, and get recommendations from other vendors, catering directors and past brides.
DJ Billy James 602-992-0605 billy@billyjamesmusic.com
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