Questions you should ask a potential dj
There has never been so much information available to do the research you need to make an informed decision. I'm just going to touch on a few of the major points, but, I'll touch on a few points that may help you find the right DJ.
Things you should ask for in my opinion.
Talk to them. The DJ should be knowledgeable and friendly. You should feel good about the conversation and their discussion with you should prove that they will be the right fit for your guests and your family. Open, friendly, approachable and professional.
Ask for references from their last 3 events.
- Every event should be successful for a pro. There should be no hesitation. Make sure you make contact and ask as many questions as possible with those references.
- A good DJ is busy enough and confident enough to promote other good DJ's in the community. If a DJ starts bad mouthing other DJ's, you should move on. There are a lot of great DJ's in the area. When I'm asked why some are so much more expensive then I am, I tell the truth. Some have excellent reputations and have worked hard to be where they are and they can charge accordingly. I strive to be the best and my fees are affordable, but, I'm far from the cheapest. I'm told I should charge more.
- If you're having a backyard bash, that may not be very important to you, but, if you're planning a beautiful wedding that you'll look back on for the rest of your life, you may want to consider appearances.
- With pirating and the internet, anyone with an ipad can go rent a set of speakers and call themselves a DJ. You really do get what you pay for. It's not fair to profit from stolen music. I pay for a service called Content Unlimited. My main body of music comes from ERG Music, which is licensed by the AVLA.
- I carry liability insurance. You are protected.
- You know some of your guests will arrive early. You want your DJ ready with the mood set to the music you've planned. I'm early and ready before your first guests arrive.
- Cocktail hour and dinner can be a great time for a DJ to get to know the crowd they'll be playing for...to pick up on their vibes and also to get a feel for their tastes or take their requests prior to the dance. My package pricing is inclusive of this service.
- I tend to let the music speak for me by playing the right tunes and getting your party going. I work with the light show to provide excitement as well. I'll do your shout outs and make some short announcements, but, I let the dance floor do the talking! There are a lot of DJ's out there that do a show and provide some antics and laughs...they're really good, if that's what you're looking for at your wedding, that's great. If you weren't expecting your DJ to jump onto the dance floor and do a dance show and some karaoke, that might be awkward for you. There are also DJ's that talk a lot...They're well received by some people but it's not for everyone...
- A great DJ will mix up the music genres to see what works on the dance floor throughout the night and then hone in on what is working. They watch for cues throughout the audience and adjust themselves. I also work with your crowd and their requests to provide the interactivity that every great party needs from their DJ. I build excitement and get people singing out loud and dancing in the aisles. It's the music that they've asked for after all, and, it's played at the perfect moment! Loud music at the beginning of the dance can make the older folks leave early. The older generation are important and they really want to visit when they come to your special event, so they need to be respected. The louder newer music tends to get played more so after your older guests thin out but should still be played throughout if your guests are requesting it in order to keep them interested in sticking around.
- I provide a nice light show that's included in the price. It adds to the dancing atmosphere you're looking for. Some DJ's turn on all the lights for the dance and leave them that way the whole dance. Slow songs played with a huge light show rolling. I like to dim the lights for slow songs and build up excitement and stagger my light show according to the energy and genre of the music.
- A wireless microphone is included in the all inclusive pricing.
- I don't take breaks, I don't smoke, and, I make it a rule not to drink alcohol at any event.
- I provide premium professional equipment. I take care if it and keep it looking new. ( Some rental equipment can appear damaged, dented, or scuffed. If you're concerned over the image of your event, this won't be welcomed)
- There is back up and redundancy for everything at your event. Ask questions? What will you do if something breaks down?
- I'll dress to respect the event. Shirt and tie with dress pants for a wedding or to respect the theme of the event. Some operators dress in T-shirts with their business names and logos and jeans. That may be fine for some types of events.
These are just a few of the questions I feel are important to ask.