Written by
Brian Harrell (DJ since 8th grade!)
© 2007-2015 Brian Harrell
This will weed out the amateur DJ's within minutes!
To
find a DJ for your event anywhere in the USA - Click Here
How to hire a DJ for your event - Hiring a quality wedding DJ
Use this to find the best DJ
quickly!
#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. If
previewing by video remember to watch how the DJ interacts and not just
that a group of people are dancing. See how clear the DJ talks and does what
they say enhance the experience?). 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
nice to send clients to interrupt another private event. With the Internet
it is very easy to see a preview of the DJ in online video. Ever been
to a dance with a DJ and it was really bad where the DJ was not doing a very
good job? It is usually avoided if the client had seen the DJ on video
BEFORE they hired them or it could be that the company showed a very good DJ on
video but did not guarantee that specific DJ on their event. These are
very critical things to watch out for. Even if you can't see
a DJ performance before you book them, at least meet with them (preferred) or at
the very, very least talk to the exact DJ that you are looking to hire for your
event. If budget is an issue and you
need to hire someone at the lowest price, the company will probably not be able
to give you an idea who the DJ will be, or the quality.
BIG TIP: Always guarantee who will be your DJ in the contract and
see a performance of them (or at least talk to or meet them) before hiring that specific DJ.
#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 DJs 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.
BIG TIP: Here is the key to getting good, accurate references: Ask
the company for references on the exact DJ that you are looking to hire through their
company and make sure you ask for references on the most recent 6 events they
have done (best if you get referrals to customers who have hired them over the
last 3 months). This way they can not hide behind the "top 10" reference
letters of the last 10 years.
#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. Find out exactly what
experience in the type of event you are having that your specific DJ has.
#5. How many songs do you
bring to your shows? A top professional
should show you a sizeable song list (at least 50,000 songs from oldies to new
music for weddings). The DJ should have the styles of music you want at
the event. If a DJ says they don't have a song list, they probably don't
have what you need or are hiding something.
*** BE CAREFUL *** of the DJs that charge very little ($200-500 for a wedding)
as usually they have sub-standard equipment and copied all the music off the
Internet (free) or bought illegal hard drives of music. They are regularly
being shut down in court due to copying music. You would not want to
hire one and then they don't show up due to violations like this.
#6. Sound and Lighting
Systems: Minimum for a 175 person event would be 200
watts per channel sound system (stereo), Colored lights (4 or 8)
that chase to pre-set patterns or to the beat, and maybe a few more special
effects lights, laptop and DJ software, mixer, microphone. 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. Some DJ services go really crazy on huge sound & lighting
systems. (BIG TIP:) 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.
#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 and save some money or just go with the cheapest DJ (they are all
the same, right?)
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 music at their wedding or special event,
and they wish they could go back in time and do it right.
#9.
The Contract. Does
the contract guarantee my exact DJ (best option) but for a slight discount you
can have the company assign someone who matches your audience and music styles. A better contract also lists the equipment in
general, sound
system, lighting, types of music at 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. If you are spending over $800
for a DJ then you need to know who the DJ is before you book with that company
and make sure it is in writing in the contract.
Article written by Brian Harrell
www.brianharrell.com
To
find a DJ for your event anywhere in the USA - Click Here
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