A Better DJ and Photographer

"Meeting your DJ is highly over-rated!"

IN TODAY’S ECONOMY MEETING YOUR DJ IS HIGHLY OVER-RATED

And so is talking to 3 of his clients!

First let me start by saying you can call my cousin Linda, my Aunt Penny, and my next door neighbor… and they will all tell you that I was the best DJ they have could have ever had for their wedding, sweet 16, and company party. If that’s not enough for you call my best friend in New York and my best friend in California. There, now you have 5 great references! If that isn’t enough for you my mom and all 4 of my sisters all have different last names. Get my point? If you ask a DJ for references they are NOT going to give you people that were not happy, so don’t waste your time!

We get calls all the time asking “can I come to a wedding that you are doing and see your style?”

Do you want strangers showing up at YOUR wedding and taking YOUR DJ’s time when he should be entertaining YOUR guests? I didn’t think so!

We currently operate in 36 states and will be nation-wide by the end of 2011. We meet with our clients before the event less than 1% of the time, and we work every single weekend!

Our simple but complete planner helps brides and hosts/hostesses easily plan their event and we always go over the music with them and their DJ the Monday or Tuesday before the event.

So how do you select a great DJ?

Well, let’s start with a self answering question… how much experience do you have hiring a DJ?

We have done tens of thousands of weddings, parties, and corporate events. By the end of 2011 we will have hired 300-350 expert DJs in a 2 year period! I’m going to share with you the questions that WE ask our prospective DJs:

-How many years experience do you have? (don’t hire anybody with less than 10 unless they have extensive experience)

-How many (whatever your event is) have you done? (we hire only DJs that have done at least 100 weddings or 25 sweet 16s)

-How much music do you have? (hire DJs that have at least 30,000 songs and the ability to purchase EVERY song on your request list)

-How much power does your system have? (require at least 350 watts per channel RMS (which means constant power)

-Do you bring lights (require at least 2 moving lights for the dance floor)

-Do you stay current with the top 100 songs (require DJs to have the top 100 from each decade plus the top 100 from each of the last 10 years)

-Will you MC the celebration? (look for is a strong clear voice)

-Do you bring back-up equipment? (require back-ups for the entire system)

-Do you have dependable transportation? (must be yes and with a back-up plan)

-Will you be set up with music playing before our clients’ guests arrive? (have your DJ arrive at least an hour before your event and be ready to play music ½ hour before)

-What kind of music do you play (the right answer is whatever music you ask for and plenty of great music to keep your guests dancing)

As you can see these are all questions that can easily be answered on the phone!

There are only 3 kinds of DJs, good ones, great ones, and bad ones, and it’s pretty easy to figure out which one you are dealing with based on their answers to those questions.

A great DJ USUALLY does this full time! They don’t work a day job and will offer to email you a planner that will make it easy for you to plan a time-line for your event and choose your requested music. He will be confident and have suggestions based on many successful events that he has already performed at and he will have a top of the line sound system with back-ups and an extensive music collection! He will be booked for every weekend in the current month and have several events booked in the next 6 months. It will be obvious to you that this DJ will still be in business 5 years from now. He will probably tell you that if you want to book him get your deposit in as soon as possible, and at the same time will not sound desperate. You will like him and know right over the phone that this is the DJ you want! Book him now!!!! Don’t let somebody else get him for your date.

A good DJ probably has a day job but seems organized enough to be able to perform to your specifications, but lacks the input based on extensive experience. He will have a decent sound system but is probably not on top of keeping his music selection complete and up to date. He will have 1 or 2 events booked for this month, done 10-25 weddings, and probably sound like it doesn’t matters to him if you book him or not. You will probably like him but at the same time have a feeling that you can do better. Save his number in case you procrastinate too long and all the great DJs are booked for your date so you end up having to use him.

A bad DJ will seem lost or confused, will need to hesitate and think of the answers to your questions, will probably have lousy sound equipment and maybe 5-10,000 songs. He will sound desperate to book you and may offer a big discount if you do it right now. You will get the feeling that you are going to have to coach him all the way through your celebration, and you’re right! This person doesn’t DJ very much unless they have some $50 club gigs. You are better off renting a system and hooking up your Ipod than you are hiring this guy. There is a pretty good chance that by the time your event comes along this guys is out of business and has sold his system.

READ THIS PART CAREFULLY

In today’s economy many independent DJs are going out of business every day! See for yourself by checking Craigslist for how many DJ systems are for sale. Even if you meet with your DJ 6 months before your event, that doesn’t mean he will exist when it is time for your event. If you lose your DJ you also lose your deposit! We get at least 2 panicked calls a month from brides the week of their wedding that can’t find their DJ. For this reason we do not assign DJs to our events until 2 weeks to a month before the event, and we have back up DJs in every location we serve.

So how do you safely hire a great DJ? Go with a DJ company that has many great DJs, is very organized, work every weekend, and sounds like they have the expertise to place you with the perfect DJ for your event. Trust their expertise in screening and hiring DJs… after all, they have a lot more experience at it than you do!

Michael Yanko

Co-owner

A BETTER DJ AND PHOTOGRAPHER

"Your DJ will be the most important part of your wedding reception!"

The most important part of your wedding only takes about 6 seconds... and that part is free! That's when you say "I DO"!

The most important part of your reception starts before you enter the reception venue, and continues until the very end... that's your DJ!

DJs don't just show up and play music for 4 hours. Your DJ will spend many hours prior to your special day; preparing your music, organizing a schedule, coordinating your special songs with you, putting together your introduction list, testing the discs, packing equipment, loading equipment, unloading equipment, setting up the system, and straightening up their area, all before your reception even starts.

Your cake cutting ceremony may last as long as 5 minutes, the food you choose could last as long as an hour, your dress, flowers, and table decorations will be beautiful. All of these things will create your ambiance, but they won't entertain your guests!

Your DJ will start playing background music before your guests arrive. They will have your bridal party introduction music cued up and ready to go, and have your introduction list within easy reach so that it is ready to go for your grand entry. Now it's time for your DJ to become the MC... "Ladies and gentleman, if you would please rise and help me welcome... for their first public entry... MR & MRS ____ _____!

From there you will be guided into your 1st dance, (depending on your schedule) and then dinner will be announced. During dinner soft background music will be played and you DJ will probably host the toasts.

After dinner your DJ will MC the other traditional dances... father/daughter, mother/son, and/or any other special dances you have requested... then it's time to get the party to started!

THE ENTERTAINMENT IS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT TO YOUR GUESTS.

Your DJ will have coordinated a song list with you of your special songs, and will mix in songs they know will fit just right for your guests. Your DJ will MC special dances, and also keep an eye on the schedule to include and MC your traditional special events; garter toss, bouquet toss, catchers' garter ceremony, and cake cutting. Your DJ is basically the host of your reception!

At the end of the night your Dj will play your last dance, thank you and your guests for a great evening, and shut down the system. Then they are back to packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking again!

You will probably spend more on flowers than you do on your DJ. You don't need to do a lot of shopping around to find the right DJ. Once you find one that you are confident in, hire them! Don't lose them because you are holding off and trying to get a cheaper one... get the good one!

To sum it all up, a month after your wedding your guests won't remember the cake, the food, the flowers, or your table decorations, but they WILL remember what a great time they had celebrating your wedding and being entertained by the fabulous DJ you chose!

13 TIPS FOR HIRING A DJ

Verify that:

1. Your DJ has a lot of experience hosting your particular type of event.

(ex. We have hosted thousands of events and hundreds of weddings)

2. Your DJ's system has enough power for the venue that your event is scheduled in.

(ex. All 8 of our amplifiers are 3,000 watts, we have many different sized speakers)

3. That your DJ will bring back-up for every crucial component of the system. (ex. We do!)

4. That your DJ will bring all of the music that you have requested in advance. (and will have a 2nd copy of important wedding songs) (ex. We have access to over 2 million songs on CD and 30,000 on karaoke disc)

5. That your DJ has a strong voice and is willing to MC your event.

(ex. talk to us!)

6. That your DJ has a back-up plan in case of sickness or any other emergency.

(ex. we have 9 DJs)

7. That your DJ will arrive in time to be set up BEFORE your guests arrive. (ex. we arrive and hour before your event!)

8. That your DJ does not charge you for set up and tear down time.

(ex. our price is all inclusive)

9. For events with over 75 guests your DJ will have an assistant or MC. It is not possible to keep the music going non-stop and be able to handle crowd requests and manage timed events (especially wedding receptions) properly with only 1 DJ.

(ex. We always bring 2 or more for large events)

10. That your DJ will provide a contract that includes their cancellation/reschedule policy.

(ex. If you need to cancel just give us at least 30 days notice and your deposit will be applied to a future event)

11. That your DJ is easily available by phone to help you coordinate your event planning.

(ex. We have at least 1 person available 24 hours a day)

12. That your DJ really loves doing this... if they don't have fun... neither will you and your guests!

(ex. we love to entertain and it shows!)

13. That your DJ does not have an attitude that indicates that they may be difficult to work with.

(ex. We pride ourselves on our ability to make new friends out of your guests... once again, we love to entertain and it shows!)

Remember...

This is YOUR special event!!!

The DJ is the most important part of your event... and your wedding will be the most important event of your life!!!

Don't get a lousy DJ just to save a few bucks!