Things to Consider When Hiring A DJ

Rates in the DJ industry can range greatly. The best price is not always the best deal. Prices are based on talent, experience, services offered, job requirements, equipment and supply & demand. Surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more on entertainment in hindsight and made it their #1 priority. DJs with rock bottom prices do so by cutting corners which translates to more stress and less dancing. The last thing you want on the most important day of your life is an empty dance floor!

A full-service DJ company will invest anywhere from 12 to 30 hours into your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for 4 hours. Consultations, building playlists, preparation, set-up and tear-down, correspondence and paperwork all add up to the overall success of your event. Being that the music is consistently the #1 most remembered thing about a party, you should take the time to make sure your DJ meets your standards. Below is a list of questions to keep in mind when interviewing a potential DJ.

Will you act as MC and make all of the announcements?
Any professional disc jockey should be more than willing to act as your Master of Ceremonies and be comfortable speaking on the microphone. They should be willing to coordinate your event timeline as well as go over any difficult name pronunciations in advance if they will be making announcements.
Do you offer a written contract?
Every professional DJ needs to have a contract. If a D.J. does not offer a contract, that is a huge red flag and it would be wise to avoid that DJ. Without a contract, you have no guarantee that the DJ will show up to your event even if you pay him ahead of time. It also suggests that the DJ is not organized or professional.
How involved can we be in selecting our music?
This is a good question to ask because some DJs prefer to select most of the music while incorporating a small playlist from the client while others prefer to let the clients select the majority of the music while using their expertise to incorporate the songs together. Make sure you are comfortable with the level of involvement the DJ wishes for you to have.
What is your policy on drinking or smoking at events?
Any professional mobile DJ company should make it clear that they will not be smoking or drinking alcohol while they are performing at any event. The last thing a couple would want at their wedding would be to have an intoxicated disc jockey!
What kind of equipment do you use?
A professional DJ company should use name brand professional audio equipment and be able to tell you what brand he uses. DJ's should have minimum speaker wattage of 400 watts per speaker for a large event. If the DJ doesn't know what system he runs off of, this is a red flag.
Do you take requests from guests?
A DJ company should be willing to take requests from guests at the party as well as from the bride and groom in advance. He should also be willing to follow a do-not-play list if there is a type of music you absolutely don't want to hear. At family events like weddings, the DJ should have a policy of not playing vulgar music and the DJ should have clean radio edits of any possible vulgar music that could be requested.
Have you played at our venue before?
It is good to know that the DJ is familiar with the location of your wedding or special event. There may be specific rules or differences in power requirements, parking reservations, challenges with where to position equipment or even loading requirements or policies that the DJ can already be familiar with.
Can we visit the DJ at a performance?
Any professional DJ should respect the privacy of his clients and not have potential future clients stopping by at weddings or private parties to watch him perform. Professional DJ companies however should be more than willing to allow potential clients to watch them perform at any public events if they have any upcoming public parties.
Do you work exclusively for this company?
Hiring a DJ that works for multiple companies could be a red flag to avoid. Double bookings can easily occur if multiple companies book the DJ for the same day. Also, there is always the chance that a DJ leaves a certain company. Make sure you know the company's policy in this situation. Usually there is nothing more than a verbal agreement between a DJ company and an independent DJ which is a frequent cause of problems.
When did you start & how many events have you done?
Experience can make all the difference between a great night to remember and a disaster. Crowds of mixed ages can be difficult to accommodate with such different music tastes and it takes an experienced DJ to know how to handle different situations. Newer DJ's may be cheaper but it may not be worth it to you if the DJ doesn't have the experience to know how to keep the dance floor full. Be sure to hire a DJ who has done at least 100 weddings but 500 to 1000 events means they are more experienced.
Do you have a wireless microphone?
Some halls will provide you with a corded microphone while others will not or may not have a good-quality speaker system. It is a good idea to make sure your DJ has a professional grade wireless microphone system that you can use if the hall doesn't provide an adequate system. Shure is one of the best brand names when it comes to wireless microphones. Brand names are much more important when it comes to microphones than any other piece of DJ equipment because you can tell the difference very much so when using them. A poor brand name wireless microphone can give static, feedback, cross-talk with other wireless devices, weak distance travel and may not be heard in a wedding hall with 200 guests whereas a good microphone will work without flaw.
Do you have a light show?
Many DJ's provide some sort of light show option. Find out what kind of light show is included and if this suits your needs. Regularly, prices for light shows can range from $50 to $300 while some DJs may include a basic light show for free.
What types of events do you DJ for?
It is good to have a D.J. who is versatile and well-rounded in different types of events to ensure an even more successful night. At the same time, make sure that your d.j. is not new to your type of event you are booking him for. For example, a club DJ may be good at keeping the bridal party and your friend dancing to the hottest new music but may unintentionally exclude or embarrass your grandparents and younger guests.
Does the DJ have a searchable music database?
A music database can help customer with song selection and also make planning more convenient. Ask the DJ if you are able to see his database anywhere online.
What if there is an emergency and you have to cancel?
Every professional DJ should have a backup plan if something were to happen to them on the night of the event. Make sure they have another DJ available in case there is some sort of emergency and your DJ cannot be at your event. You need to feel comfortable that you will have a qualified DJ on the date of your wedding if an accident were to occur.
How do you engage the crowd if people aren't dancing?
A professional DJ is trained to know how to handle the situation of a dead dance floor. A dj is usually a skilled MC as well. Some disc jockeys prefer to energize the crowd to get them dancing while others prefer to use careful song selection. You need to know your DJ's style and make sure that it suits what you are looking for.
How willing is the DJ to respect your wishes?
This should give you an idea of how easy the DJ will be to work with you and accommodate your needs the way you want to customize your wedding. If the DJ seems to be skeptical or hesitant of your ideas, you should strongly consider looking elsewhere.
How promptly does the DJ return phone calls or Emails?
The speed at which a DJ replies to you may strongly indicate their commitment to your wedding and their profession. This also shows a DJ's organizational skills as well as their punctuality.
What will you wear to our wedding?
Make sure you know what your DJ will be wearing to your event so that he is dressed accordingly with the proper attire. His style should meet your expectations as well as the dress code.
When do you arrive to set up for our wedding?
Setup for a wedding takes at least an hour for most dj companies. A professional company will be setup well before any guests walk through the door. Make sure you know your dj's policy on when and how long it takes him to setup.
What planning tools do you use to coordinate my event?
A disc jockey should have some sort of event planner as well as a contract to show that they are prepared for the event. Anything less than this can suggest that you are not hiring a professional company.
Do you take any breaks?
One benefit of hiring a disc jockey over a band is that DJ's do not require breaks. It is rare to come across a DJ company that does take breaks during an event. Always ask questions to know what to expect ahead of time.

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Things to Consider When Hiring A DJ

Will you act as MC and make all of the announcements?

Do you offer a written contract?

How involved can we be in selecting our music?

What is your policy on drinking or smoking at events?

What kind of equipment do you use?

Do you take requests from guests?

Have you played at our venue before?

Can we visit the DJ at a performance?

Do you work exclusively for this company?

When did you start & how many events have you done?

Do you have a wireless microphone?

Do you have a light show?

What types of events do you DJ for?

Does the DJ have a searchable music database?

What if there is an emergency and you have to cancel?

How do you engage the crowd if people aren't dancing?

How willing is the DJ to respect your wishes?

How promptly does the DJ return phone calls or Emails?

What will you wear to our wedding?

When do you arrive to set up for our wedding?

What planning tools do you use to coordinate my event?

Do you take any breaks?