Wedding Djs?

Question

What should I be looking for in a wedding Dj?

Answer 1

you get what you pay for. ask to see them DJ an event. You dont want an obnoxious DJ on the Mic trying to draw attention to himself. You also dont want a DJ w/ 1950's equiptment then looks like crap. Or one w/ a Neon colored sign that says "DJ Whoever". Bottom line--ask to see them work. And ask for 3 RECENT references.

Answer 2

Make sure they have done Weddings. Ask for references. Where are you going to have the reception at? Ask them to give you a preferred vendor list. They should have one. Make sure the DJ listens to what you want. I saw some DJ that played whatever songs they wanted and ignored the requests. Make sure before you sign anything that you read the contract line per line.

Answer 3

You want to make sure that they actually have done weddings before! Just because they are good club DJ's doesn't mean they are good wedding DJ's!

Make sure they have clean versions of the songs you want. You don't want to offend grandma or the inlaws!

Get some references from previous brides he has worked with!

Answer 4

In my opinion you should look to other people whom has used a DJ for anything. Your DJ should be well known and should have worked as a DJ for at least 5 years. This way you get what you want and they know how to please you. I recommend "Eclipse" DJ service from Alexandria, IN. He is very good. This is just my opinion.

Answer 5

As a Raleigh Wedding DJ with Stylus SE (and previously with other DJ companies) I can tell you there are a few things to keep an eye out for:

Previous Experience - Weddings are unique & aren't club shows - while most wedding DJs aren't great on the turntables, hiring a club DJ can be even worse in some cases because they have NO IDEA what they're supposed to do. Running a wedding requires a lot more than just making people dance. If you can get both then you're in great hands (just make sure they understand the flow of the event you're looking to create)

Emcee & DJ skill - This is the most crucial element - if they don't know what to play or how to play it (there are ways to 'hit play' wrong) then the event will suffer - and if they don't know how to use the microphone to effectively transition between key moments in the reception it's going to feel choppy & awkward.

Music Library - you don't need every song ever, but your DJ needs to have the best songs from ALL the different genres you'll want to incorporate. Stay away from Spotify or Itunes DJs - they're relying on the internet to perform their function and if there are connectivity issues you're done & the party's over. If I were picking a DJ for my own wedding right now I'd look for mixes more than I'd look for video. Mixes will showcase music diversity & transition skills, videos are usually highlighting one particular aspect.

Event Direction Skill - this matters more than you can possibly imagine & why it's better to bank on someone who's done this before. My average reception has between 30 and 65 different 'cues' or 'moments' we're looking to create, with a wide cast of people & other vendors (especially your photographer) involved. If your DJ is not good at this you're going to have issues.

Professional Approach - this is going to affect their interactions with you & the other vendors and affect how prepared they are for your event. If they're treating your event like a 'bonus' gig, you're going to get someone who isn't taking this as seriously as you are. A professional DJ is available when you need help and can offer solutions and advice to guide you throughout the process. I've seen a lot of clients almost sabotage their own wedding with ideas that seemed like a good idea at first - part of my job is to help clients see the bigger picture (i.e. don't put an hour of toasts while your caterer is waiting to serve freshly cooked food, don't do a 'fake' exit right after dinner).

Planning Help - This is where you're going to invest most of your 'pre-wedding' time so you can relax and enjoy the wedding itself. You need to make sure you've got a plan in place for the ceremony & reception, and that you've got input (as much as you want) in the music selections for the evening. I spend a lot of time making sure my clients are prepared for their event with a series of online planning tools and with in-person meetings. I find events go better when I understand as much in advance as possible. I like to 'humble brag' that I'm the best prepared vendor in the room and I have to be to ensure that the event becomes everything it can be. Preparation & planning are the key to a successful delivery.

Previous Reviews & Clients - someone already touched on this earlier but get a sense of how previous clients felt after using them for their services. I've seen some people do a great job at the event but do a terrible job leading up to it, others are great up front but can't really deliver the excitement on the dance floor. You're looking for a happy medium.

WARNING - if they're just starting out they aren't going to tell you outright by saying "Hey, I'm bad - but I'm cheap!" Dig a little deeper. DON'T expect to be an expert right out of the gate. Trust your intuition (unless you have a history of bad decisions) and work with a personality that makes you comfortable & excited about your event.

If you want some more advice you can find it on my tips & advice page here: http://stylusweddings.com/planning

Answer 6

ask for references.
our friend is a great dj. he's got an all digital setup. plays from his laptop. he's great with the audience.
can sing too. so he's a total package. his rates are great and he works with you for the price as much as he can with out going broke on the deal.
you want someone who looks nice/decent. not some fatty fatty dirty unlce looking guy.
you want someone who has a huge selection with a great variety. someone who can mix well and plays a good blend of dance, slow, other things. tell them if you want games or that sort of thing. you can plan when you want your 1st dance, daddy daughter, mom son etc dances with him too.
you also ask about clean up, set up, do they drink or need food

Answer 7

contact Black Tie Events, they are professional Dj/MC provider.