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 offer a written contract?
Every single 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 do you keep your music collection
up-to-date?
A professional DJ company should have some sort of music subscription or
cd purchase plan that they belong to. Be weary of hiring DJ’s who say
that they get their new music off the internet. This type of updating is
illegal in Canada and these companies can be shut down by specific
authorities in charge of this branch of the law. It is not worth the
risk of not having a DJ on your wedding date because their company has
been fined and shut down for copyright music infringement.
When do we need to submit our music requests
and event details?
You should give your d.j. at least two weeks to go over any special
music requests before your event. Extra details that may require special
rentals or online orders should be given at least two months in advance.
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. 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.
What is your policy on alcohol or smoking
during our wedding?
Any professional mobile DJ company should make it clear that they will
not be smoking or drinking 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! You may want to consider looking for a higher
level of professionalism if your D.J. company doesn’t enforce this rule.
What kind of equipment do you use?
A professional DJ company should use name
brand professional audio equipment. Avoid companies who run everything
off of a laptop. The quality and power does not compare to professional
grade amplifiers, mixers, speakers and microphones which are designed to
accommodate large groups and large halls. DJ’s should have minimum
speaker wattage of 300 watts per speaker for a large event.
How involved can we be in selecting music for
our event?
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.
Have you played at our reception site 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.
Do you act as the emcee 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.
How would you define your "style" when making
announcements?
Some Dj’s prefer to stay out of the spotlight and just focus on music
while others like to be the center of attention and act as a Master of
Ceremonies as well. Find out the style of your DJ and if it suits what
you are looking for.
Do you bring backup equipment with you to the
wedding?
Even the best disc jockey equipment can fail and it’s important to
have a backup on site. Make sure that your DJ has additional equipment
so there are no setbacks or surprises for your event.
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.
How long have you been a DJ and how many
weddings 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. Studies show that the music is the number
one thing guests will remember most about a wedding. Be sure to hire a
DJ who has done at least 50 weddings. More is always preferable.
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 “high quality” 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. Some DJ’s charge an
extra $50 to $100 per light while others include lights in the package.
How many weddings do you do each year?
Knowing how many weddings a DJ does every year can give you an idea of
their commitment to your event. A d.j. who only does a couple weddings
every year may be out of practice when your wedding comes along.
How many other types of events do you do per
year?
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.
Do you perform for more than one event in a
day/weekend?
Find out how many events your DJ does in one day. You will want to avoid
dj’s who try to cram in multiple events into one day or even weekend.
This can lead to dj’s who are exhausted once they finally get to your
event or dj’s who don’t really give you the focus you deserve for your
wedding or special event. Punctuality can become an issue as well.
What do you do to motivate the crowd if nobody
is 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.
What if something happens to you and you can’t
make it to the wedding?
Every professional DJ should have a backup plan if something were to
happen to them. 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.
Do you belong to any professional associations
or trade groups?
A professional association may not show the skill level of your dj but
it does show that your disc jockey is eager to expand and continue to
grow in his field of expertise. This can also mean that your dj is
insured and has backup dj’s and equipment if a failure occurs.
May we meet with you in person before we sign a
contract?
The answer to this question should always
be yes. Avoid companies who try to get you to book without meeting. This
either means that you aren’t worth their time or they have something to
hide. Sometimes a DJ company can become very busy during summer months
or distance can become an issue but they should at least provide you
with an option for you to meet with them.
Will you be the DJ at our wedding?
Make sure that you meet or speak with the
actual DJ who will be performing at your wedding beforehand. Beware of
some DJ companies who fail to mention but will charge an extra $100 to
$200 if you wish to actually book with the DJ that you meet with. If you
do not pay they extra fee, they may send a cheaper, more inexperienced
DJ to your wedding while they are performing at a higher paying event.
This is a common scam with some larger DJ companies.
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. You likely won’t want your dj to show up in jeans and a
tee-shirt at your formal wedding. Most professional dj’s will come in a
tuxedo or suit and tie. Make sure that the DJ’s style meets your
expectations.
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 when you set up and take
down your equipment?
Make sure you are satisfied with the DJ’s
attire during setup and take down times. Some disc jockeys may switch
from a suit to joggers and a tee-shirt for setup. This would not be
appropriate attire for a formal wedding and wouldn’t be very
professional. Make sure the DJ’s attire suits your needs during the
entire wedding.
Does the DJ have a viewable music database?
A music database can put music
availability into perspective for clients and also show the
professionalism and dedication of a certain DJ to his customers. This
also makes things much more convenient for clients regarding song
selection.
What makes you different from your competitors?
Any professional wedding disc jockey
service should be able to provide you with things that make their
company unique and should be proud to talk about their company’s strong
points. Some dj’s may take this time to bash their competition which is
considered to be very unprofessional. A DJ that bashes his competition
usually does this because he knows you would book with the other company
before his and for good reason. Avoid DJ’s who do this.
Can we submit a “Do Not Play” list?
Make sure your DJ is willing to respect
your music requests that you do not want played. Sometimes guests may
request songs that you have requested not to be played. Make sure you
know your DJ’s policy on this issue and that he will agree to something
you are comfortable with.
How long will you hold our date for us?
A respectable d.j. company should be
willing to hold your date for at least a week after meeting with a
client while you make your decision and not go and book someone else
before you’ve had a chance to decide. If by chance there is more than
one client trying to book the DJ for the same day, the DJ should be
willing to notify the competing clients that someone else is considering
booking as well.
What is included in the cost of my event?
Some dj’s will charge hourly while other
have packages at different price ranges. You need to know what you are
getting for the price of your dj so you can compare dj’s properly. If
you are paying for an hourly dj but other features such as lights, fog,
a wireless microphone and Master of Ceremonies Services are not
included, it can quickly raise the cost for that DJ that you thought you
were paying.
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.
How much of a deposit is required to secure our
date?
Any professional DJ will require some sort
of deposit. This is to protect both parties signing a contract that the
booking is secured and the DJ is obligated to be there. Deposits
normally range from $100 to half the cost of the total payment.
How much would you charge for overtime?
In general, a dj may charge anywhere from
$50 to $200 for any additional hours. It is good to know how many hours
of service you are receiving so there are no surprises down the road.
What do you require from us?
Every DJ requires a few things from a
banquet hall or couple in order for a successful night. Some of these
things should include a power source, a table, adequate shelter, a
wheeled cart for equipment transportation and any special music requests
for the night. For weddings, a DJ may also require a list of the wedding
party and any special formal dance song requests.
Do you require a meal?
Some dj’s request a meal while others will
demand it. Make sure you know the needs of your dj so you can prepare
accordingly without any surprises.
What sort of documents does the DJ use to
coordinate my event?
A disc jockey company should be willing to
meet with you in person to discuss all the details of your event. They
should have event planners and a contract. 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.
