When you
plan a party of any sort, your objective is to ensure that YOU and your guests
all have a good time. Your choice of entertainment, particularly if you are
considering a DJ, is always crucial to achieving that. Your choice for your
wedding reception or special event will have a greater degree of effect than any
other factor, even the food or the banquet hall. Choosing a DJ can be a
difficult task, particularly from the aspect of what to look for and what to
avoid. The DJ you choose will be a direct reflection on you, because the outcome
of the party is dependant upon the DJ.
Below are
important points to look for before and when you contact a DJ.
Does the
DJ Service have liability Insurance?
All reputable DJ Entertainment services carry liability Insurance protection for
you and your benefit. My company is
insured for a million dollars in liability Insurance.
Return of your
phone calls or Emails promptly.
You should expect to get a call back or an E-mail back
within 24 hours. Many DJ's may be working and may not be able to return your
call within an hour or two. When You spoke was he or she a good communicator?
Did this person answer the phone professionally with the name of the company?
Is their
printed material neat, professional looking, organized and informative?
Always a sign of whether the DJ you are considering is truly a Professional. A
professionally drawn up contract should be sent to you with other pertinent
material upon initial inquiry..
Do you LIKE the
person that you've been talking to?
There is nothing worse in the world than having to do
business with someone you do not like. Choosing the person who feels right is
the most important factor in picking the right entertainer for your event. Don't
settle for whoever the service has available that night. You want better than
that don't you?
Is the DJ
knowledgeable about your type of event?
There are all kinds of DJ's.
Club DJ's, Wedding DJ's, Rave DJ's, the list goes on and on. Can the DJ you
interview handle YOUR type of event? Ask the DJ how many events of your type
that he or she has done. The DJ you choose should be very open about what they
can do for you and should volunteer information and display the knowledge that
they have developed through experience.
Do they have a
music list that shows you what sort of music is available?
You need to be assured that the DJ you hire has a sizable
and varied music library. Most professional DJ prefer their music be digital
(CD's and/or computer generated) for best quality reproduction. Home stereo
equipment is a sure sign of a less than professional DJ. If the DJ does not have
pictures, you should ask to set up a time to see the equipment in person.
Although there are many fine home stereo components made, they are not suitable
for commercial or repeated use and varying room conditions. The DJ should be
able to tell you what he/she uses and characterize the equipment as professional
grade.
Will the DJ offer
to meet with you before signing the contract?
A professional DJ will always want to meet with you a week or two prior to your
Wedding day or special event.
Is the DJ
flexible and willing to work with you?
A professional DJ will be more than willing to discuss your event at any time
before the event starts, and should display the flexibility to accommodate
changes and help you solve problems. Meeting your DJ ahead of time to plan your
event is of paramount importance to any successful event, especially true of a
wedding reception.
A professional DJ will
be more than willing to discuss your event at any time before the event starts,
and should display the flexibility to accommodate changes and help you solve
problems. Meeting your DJ ahead of time to plan your event is of paramount
importance to any successful event, especially true of a wedding reception.
Is the person that you signed the
contract with the person that will perform at your event?
This is THE most common complaint about the DJ
industry today. The person you meet turns out NOT to be the person that actually
does your event. Often, you are not aware of this. Ask the DJ you interview if
he/she will be the actual person performing, or is the event to be performed by
someone else. You need to know this UP FRONT before you sign a contract. Who
will be my DJ. The last thing you need is a total stranger handling your event.
We never over book and we never hand off your event to junior level associates.
We handle ALL of our bookings personally. Because we handle all of our bookings
availability is limited and you should book as early as possible to ensure
availability
When pricing your
DJ service, Is the price too good to be true?
It
seems that the DJ is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is
expended on a venue, food and clothing. This leads brides and party planners to
shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources. This
usually backfires when holding out for the lowest price. However, if you have
adhered to the guiding principals noted above, you will know to avoid services
that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level
of quality and attention to detail that EVERY client deserves.
You should
consider your DJ service an insurance policy that ensures that all of the other
money you spend will not result in bad memories or a less than enjoyable
occasion. You do get what you pay for. Good entertainment is NOT cheap, and
cheap entertainment is NOT good!! And yet many people will pay far more for a
cake, flowers, or food than they will for the most crucial ingredient at a
party, the
MUSIC.
The
Entertainment
is always what they will remember
the most and whether it was good or not.
A professional DJ
will possess All of the following skills and attributes. It's what makes him or
her worth the price. A truly professional DJ
