Written by Brian
Harrell (DJ/Events Manager - Since 1982)
© 1997-2004
This will weed out the amateur DJ's within minutes!
To
find a DJ for your event anywhere in the USA - Click Here
Print this and use it to shop for a quality DJ!
Updated June 2004
#1. How do I know what a quality DJ is?
If you are truly looking for a top
professional, you need to take time to investigate a company and their DJ's.
Some companies allow you to pick the exact DJ and some pick the DJ based on your
needs and type of event.
If you pick your exact DJ and have seen their performance, you can be pretty
sure of the quality you will get.
If you allow a company to pick the DJ for you, then you need to be very careful
to check into the experience of the person that is choosing the DJ for
you. What is that person's qualifications? Are they a DJ? How
long have they been a DJ? What makes them an expert on choosing the DJ for
your event?
One way to determine if one company is better than another is to ask for a list
of their DJ's and how much
experience they have, and how long have they been with that company. If
you find a company that does not
know how many DJ's they have, how long they have worked for them or their
experience levels individually (not company-wide), then stay far away from those
companies as they don't even know what they have "in stock". Those
type of companies also will not match up the proper DJ to your event with a very
high success rate. The better companies should ask you what type of DJ you
want, music styles, interaction and then they should within seconds know which of
their DJ's by name to start telling you about. You'll know a better
company when just after you explain what you want, they can then tell you right
then which DJ's match your event.
#2. Always see a
Performance. It is best to see a performance of
the DJ service to get a feel for the quality of the DJ's at that company.
Many have video demos and on-line video demos to preview the quality. It
is very easy to get into the DJ business so you have to look at the proof a
company offers. Most do not allow live previews at an event as it is not
very nice to send clients to interrupt another private event.
#3.
References:
Even if your friend says the DJ he or she saw was great, it may not be the type
of DJ that fits what you like. Check at least 5-10 references on the DJ or
service you are looking to hire (either names and numbers or written comment letters). Remember
that DJ’s can give you a really good sales pitch, you need
to check references to assure that what they are saying is true. Any
reputable DJ service will have plenty of reference letters on hand to show you
the quality of work they have done. No references? Don't book them.
#4. What training does the DJ have?
Ask how many shows the DJ will have that will do your event? A DJ
will have a basic idea of what to do at a wedding after 25 shows with a
very good trainer and about 100 shows without any training. Still, the
more shows over 200 you have done will give you a much better DJ as they will
know how to read a crowd and know exactly what song to play next based on the
crowd reaction to the current song.
#5. How many songs do you
bring to your shows? What Format? A top professional
should show you a sizeable song list (at least top 3000 songs for shows requiring
40's to current Top 40 mix). The DJ should have the styles of music you want at
the event. If a DJ says they don't have a song list, let them show you
their CD's. Most professional DJ's have song lists using software like Music
Database 2000 or similar. If they can't show you their song
list, they are not prepared as a DJ company for weddings and shows where basic
top 40 hits are played. Club DJ's and other event DJ's playing one style
for non-wedding events probably do not need to show you a list of songs.
*COPYRIGHT WARNING * Be cautious of
duplicated CD's , Mini-Disc and Pirated MP3 song collections.
I agree that it is hard to ask a DJ service, "Do you duplicate your music
among all your systems?".
Most of the problem companies are larger and have all the same music per show on
duplicated CD's or duplicated hard-drives on a PC. It is hard to check
these items but just to be wary that some are not legally buying a copy
of the music per DJ system. If someone says they can get any song you want
as they can get it from "Napster" or similar MP3 web sites, it
would be best to stay away from that company. Serious DJ's buy their music
and don't
pirate it from the web. A question that
can be asked of the DJ service is, "Do you subscribe to a DJ or radio music
service for each of your systems?". If they don't have a master copy
for EACH DJ system they own, they are in violation of US Law. There are
many DJ's that have created their own CD's from 45's, LP's and CD's where the
artist had only one hit song. This type of custom-creation of CD's just
makes sense to save weight and space. Most of these DJ's will usually show
you their "master" music collection to prove they have the
masters. Many DJ's subscribe to a
"DJ-Only" or "Radio-Only" DJ music series for EACH system they send out.
Some of the best are www.tophitsusa.com
or www.promoonly.com .
#6. Sound and Lighting
Systems: Minimum for a 175 person event would be 150-200
watts per channel sound system (stereo), Colored lights (4 or 8)
that chase to pre-set patterns or to the beat, a mirror ball, 2 CD players or
turntables, mixer, microphone, and optional tape deck upon request. Most DJ's should have at least a 15" bass speaker and horn
per side (channel) for groups under 175 guests. If you are having
a lot of top-40 or dance music you will need much more bass such
as another (2) 15" bass speakers or a 18" subwoofer for better
sound. Most DJ services go really crazy on huge sound & lighting
systems, REMEMBER, it is the DJ and not the
sound/lighting system that makes or breaks a show unless your event needs both.
Get a
good DJ first, and then if you like a lot of lights and fancy
equipment, spend more for those items. Currently , some DJ's use computers
to play all their music from and those work pretty well when it comes to
technology in 2003.
#7.
Does the
company really take time to find out your needs? A good DJ
company will start the conversation by asking you what your type of event is, #
guests, location and type of DJ you want. They should ask you how much
interaction you want from the DJ, sound and lighting, and at least what
kinds of music you want played. If they start the conversation by spewing
out all the types of shows they offer, they are clearly not listening to the
client and usually do not have the client in mind at the event either.
They should ask what your needs are and then tell you which packages they offer
can supply those exact needs. If they do not ask questions about the
type of show and DJ style, they they do not have your needs in mind.
#8.
I could
hire my friend to DJ and save some money.
Yes, you can. Unless your friend is a professional DJ, it will be a disaster the
same as if you did your own dental work. A DJ is a professional that
knows through experience which songs to play when, and how to professionally
interact with the crowd to keep the music and dance floor full with all guests
having a great time. This only comes from training and experience with
being in front of people and an extensive knowledge of music and equipment to
make a successful event. There are thousands of people who thought
they could just hire a friend to play CD's at their wedding or special event,
and they wish they could go back in time and do it right.
#9.
The
sales pitch. You can find great quality DJ's at www.alltimefavorites.com
NATIONWIDE.
Over 1200 quality DJ's on our website. We refer you to them directly in
our directory
#10.
The Contract. Does
the contract guarantee my exact DJ or minimum DJ experience level or a date at
which I can choose my DJ? A better contract also lists the equipment in
general, sound
system, lighting, # songs brought to the show, styles of music brought to the
show, DJ Name performing the show OR style of DJ wanted including description of
the interaction level you want, Cancellation Policy, What if a DJ
is sick policy, Statement that they are insured (if they are), and other special
details discussed between the client and DJ. You, as the client, can ask
for anything you talk about to be put into that contract to guarantee that is
the way you want it. If they won't put it in writing, then they
probably won't do it at your event.
To find a DJ for your event anywhere in the USA - Click Here
Take a moment
and let me know if
these comments helped you pick a better
DJ by E-mailing at [email protected]
Some comments will be posted as feedback on this page.
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All other rights are reserved. (C) 1997-2001 Brian Harrell
www.alltimefavorites.com
Your Source for DJ's NATIONWIDE
Last Updated 25-Jun-2004 06:11 PM -0500
(updated as needed)