When you plan a party of any sort, your objective is to
ensure that your guests have a good time, period. Your choice of
entertainment, particularly if you are considering a DJ, is crucial to
that end. Who you choose for your wedding reception or special event
entertainment will have a greater degree of effect than any other
factor, such as food or location. The DJ you choose is a direct
reflection on you.
Here are some important points to remember when you
interview a DJ company.
Prompt return of your phone calls or Emails: You should
expect to get a call back or an Email back within 24 hours. Many DJ's
are out working and may not be able to return your call within an hour
or two. A DJ that does not return calls within a reasonable amount
of time is not someone you want to deal with.
Willingness to meet with you and present his/her
service: Will the DJ try to meet with you soon, or is he/she just
trying to book the date sight unseen? Is their material neat and
professional looking, and is their presentation organized and
informative?
Is the price too good to be true? Sadly, the DJ is often
the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a
venue, food and clothing. This often leads brides and party planners to
shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources.
This often backfires when you hire a DJ who will meet a very low price.
However, if you follow the guiding principals noted here, 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!
Do you LIKE the person that shows up? 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 party or reception. The DJ you
choose should be very open about what he/she can do for you and should
volunteer information and "show" you that knowledge base.
Is the person knowledgeable about your type of event?
There are all kinds of DJ's. Club DJ's, wedding DJ's, Rave DJ's…the list
is endless!! Can the DJ you interview handle your type of event? Ask the
DJ how many events of your type that he/she has done.
What sort of documents does the DJ use to procure your
business? Nothing gets done these days without paperwork. We do not buy
cars, houses, or even a PC without some paperwork. In a good interview,
the DJ should show you several documents. First and foremost is a
planner. This planner should impress you enough to the point where you
begin to understand that the DJ you are hiring is a professional, and is
capable of handling your event. A sample copy of the CONTRACT to be used
should be available as well as a schedule of pricing information. A DJ
may also give you a list of references. CALL THEM!! Ask if there were
any issues or problem areas when the person dealt with the DJ. Of
Course, you will most likely not get a bad reference, but you should be
able to note consistency between what the DJ tells you in the interview
and what his/her clients have told you.
Does the DJ have a music list that shows you what sort
of music he or she has available? Many DJ's do not use music lists,
others do. In some fashion, you the client, need to be assured that the
DJ you hire not only has a sizeable collection, but has a variety of
music, especially for wedding receptions, where many different styles of
music and guests will be in the same room together.
Does the DJ use professional grade equipment? If the DJ
does not have pictures of his or her gear, you should ask to set up a
time to see the equipment or see pictures of the DJ's set up. Although
there are many fine stereo equipment 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. You should not recognize off the shelf
stereo components from Best Buy or Circuit City in use at your
reception.
Will the DJ offer to meet with you AFTER signing the
contract to plan your event? A professional DJ is ALWAYS 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 to plan your event is of paramount importance
to a successful event such as a wedding reception.
Will the person that you interview be 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 made aware of this. Ask
the DJ you interview if he/she will be the actual person performing, or
will someone else perform the event. You need to know this UP FRONT
before you sign a contract.
CONCLUSION:
Consider this when selecting your DJ service: You should
consider your DJ entertainer as THE insurance policy you buy 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!!
Yet, many people will pay far more for a cake, flowers, or food than
they will for one of the most crucial ingredients at a party - the
music. When was the last time you saw a cake reading a crowd and
spinning a CD, motivating a dance floor crowd, or making announcements
in a dignified elegant way? Further, when was the last time you heard a
guest tell you "Boy, that prime rib was great, I can't wait until I go
to another party to have that again"? No, that DOES NOT HAPPEN. Instead,
they mainly talk about the music that was played, and whether they had a
good time or not. A PROFESSIONAL DJ can help you ensure that your guests
have a memorable time. Your DJ, if you have chosen a good one, will
display many of the following skills and attributes before and at your
event:
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