How to Choose Just the Right Disc Jockey for your Wedding
by Paul Shupe
Choosing a DJ for your function is one of the most important decisions you can make to ensure the success of your event. Everything else can be perfect, but if the music isn't good, the party will fizzle. There are over 15,000 DJs in America -- all promising they will do a great job for you. So how do you pick the right one for you? This article will provide some guidance to help you make the decision easier.
With so many DJs around, how do you tell which one is best? Probably the worst way to choose a DJ is on price alone. Some DJs are more expensive than others. Prices can range from $500 to $2,000 and more for a four-hour event. That's quite a difference, and it would be very tempting to choose the cheapest alternative. If that's all you can afford, then you have no choice. But, consider the law of supply and demand. There is a reason some DJs charge more money than others. They are usually worth it. More expensive DJs tend to be the more experienced DJs. Generally the DJs on the low end of the price scale are new to the business, and trying to get established. There is probably more risk entrusting your reception to a less experienced DJ.
As you speak with DJs, pay attention to their professionalism over the phone. It tends to spill over into their DJ style. The most important thing to ask about is their experience with your type of event. Because you are planning your wedding, it would be normal to expect your DJ to have performed at many weddings. A number in the hundreds is actually common for a DJ who is well established. DJs with less experience might also do a good job. And they'll usually cost less. If you talk to one who sounds interesting, ask them for references. Get four or five names and phone numbers of people who have recently hired them. Call these references and ask about the DJs performance. Any DJ can easily give you two or three names. Always ask the DJ about their policy on requests. The best DJs will take requests from the audience and work them into their routine. However, do not expect the DJ to play every request. Many request are simply inappropriate for the mood of the event. A good DJ is not a jukebox. He will blend requests with songs he feels will properly motivate the crowd. The practice of good DJing requires good timing, and this takes experience. Forcing a DJ to ignore his or her instincts by making them play every request will result in an "uneven" (and less fun) party. On the other hand, the DJ should try to play as many of your audience's requests as possible. Try to get a feel for their philosophy of requests as you interview them. It is also appropriate to give a DJ a list of 10 or 15 songs you "must have".
Many DJs boast about the number of songs they have. While variety is great, the fact is that they will only be able to play about 60 or 70 songs in a four-hour show. Having the right 60 songs is a lot more important than having 20,000 songs your crowd doesn't what to hear. After you tell the DJ what type of party you are having and who the audience will be, ask them what type of music they would suggest.
Many DJs also boast about having great equipment. Unless you are familiar with professional audio gear, you probably won't know the difference between which brands are great and which are budget. However your DJ should at least have professional grade equipment. If they list brand names you are familiar with at the local electronics retailer, that may be cause for further questioning. Home stereo equipment is not designed to stand up under 4 or 5 hours of high volume use. It can easily fail in the middle of your party. For example, typical professional DJ power amplifiers usually have 200 to 400 watts per channel.
With a few of these points in mind, you're sure to find a DJ who makes your wedding a big hit.
- Paul Shupe is with Paul Shupe's Disc Jockey Productions in Buckeye, AZ, and has been a WedPlan Member since Feb 2004.
