Tips On How To Hire A Disc Jockey or Master of Ceremonies

The first place to begin planning entertainment for a wedding is to decide your budget. Too often this is done in hindsight with the realization that some things are just going to have to be eliminated or pared down. By starting with a realistic budget, you'll find yourself making better decisions with fewer regrets.

          Unfortunately, when the money starts to run thin, one of the more common places couples opt to cut back is on their reception entertainment. This has often proven to be a disappointing mistake. One way to think about your reception entertainment is to consider it to be an insurance policy on the rest of your investment. The fact is, it won't matter how beautiful your decorations are, how delicious the meal is, how artistic the cake is if your entertainment fails to meet your needs and expectations. The entertainment is the one factor that can "make or break" your event. While it's attractive to shop by price just as with every other wedding service vendor, price alone is not the definitive factor in this decision. All DJ services are not equal. You don't want to rush into this important decision based simply on price. Let's point out a few things that you'll want to consider:

Most everyone agrees that the entertainment can make or break any special event.  Until 20 years ago, live music was the only choice for special event musical entertainment.  Today, with the advent of Professional Mobile Disc Jockeys, people are able to hand-tailor their event with non-stop, unlimited, authentic versions of their favorite songs by the original recording artists.  With the multitude of Mobile DJ's you might have a real task selecting the one most appropriate for your special event.

Here are some helpful hints on what to expect when dealing with these entertainment professionals:

1. Just like choosing a doctor, lawyer, mechanic, or any service professional, finding a DJ by the age-old referral is the best place to start.  If you are fortunate enough to attend an event as a guest where you can actually see the DJ perform.... even better.  This will give you a chance to see him or her in action, handling the myriad of think-on-your-feet situations, which may occur at any event.  One indication of an experienced reception DJ is that he or she will have a thorough event planner for you to complete or that will be completed with you during a planning meeting. This will cover everything from the names of your bridal party, songs to be played for your formal dances, special requests, songs to NOT play, and many other factors that will help things run smoothly.
    

2.  Organizing, being tastefully informative, while motivating guests to participate in the variety of key events is the true talent of today's DJ.  The DJ should present themselves with a friendly, yet leadership-like personality to coordinate toasts, announce food service and continue as Master Of Ceremonies through introductions, special acknowledgments, raffles, awards, dance format, etc. If you cannot get a confident referral or you are relegated to choosing a DJ through publications or directories, I recommend taking the following steps.  First, call the prospective DJ and get acquainted or leave a detailed message.  Professionalism, or the lack of it, is usually easy to spot.  A loud, incomprehensible outgoing phone message, or a preoccupied "hello" without identifying the business usually means the DJ is not a professional. 
    

3. Many DJ's work only part-time.  They often are not very concerned with the success of your event and a less than enthusiastic attitude may be evident.  Conversely, full-time entertainment companies are more often committed to excellence.  They are genuinely concerned with the success of each event, which will refer them new and continuing clients.  They should gladly answer questions about experience, presentation, music, equipment, etc.
    

4. Musical diversity is the key.  This factor alone varies greatly amongst people who provide this service. Is their library all-digital?  Compact disc and mini-disc players are the medium of choice for mobile professionals who keep their libraries current. In addition, while it can be expected that any DJ have a variety of music that includes several genres, are they really equipped to play the music that you and your guests want? How many selections does the DJ have? While 300-400 CDs may sound like a lot compared to your personal collection that will almost always be insufficient for a professional. Even if the DJ is using primarily compilation discs, they will most likely not be able to handle many of your guests' requests. For a reception you expect a variety of ages and music tastes. The budget DJ simply has not invested the amount of money necessary to provide you with a first class selection of music.   Therefore, it is important for you to select a DJ who has invested in an extensive music library. A DJ should know what will keep your guests involved based on your musical tastes.  A Top DJ will perform at two or more events on most weekends.  I recommend that you schedule an interview at one of the DJ's upcoming engagements where you may meet him or her in person before hand.  This is suggested instead of viewing a highly edited promotional video where little truth can be revealed.   It is important for you to select the type of person who will provide the style and personality that you prefer. Do you want an energetic DJ who will interact with your guests, or do you prefer that the disc jockey provide a more low key approach and only make necessary announcements?  These are questions you should ask yourself, and the disc jockey.  Make sure that you have a match between your needs and tastes to the ability and style of the disc jockey.  A professional service will be capable of providing any style that you prefer.  They will keep perspective and perform knowing that it is YOUR day and not their show
   Summarily, your DJ, appropriately attired, should be able to greet guests, emcee, and coordinate and keep the dance floor energized simultaneously with ease.  Clearly, the DJ you select represents your taste in entertainment to all of your guests.
    

5. Yes, you can judge a DJ by his equipment.  Loosely wired consumer-grade stereo equipment on a banquet table, records in milk crates and homemade speaker cabinets are not the hallmark of a professional.  While there may be a few DJ's out there with a hot set-up and no personality, it is more likely that only top talent will have earned their way up to owning the finest in dependable, professional stage gear.  This should include a customized DJ console housing a multi-channel stereo mixing board, professional-grade, two-channel CD player, auxiliary cassette deck/CD player, as well as microphones, headsets and various accessories.  This should be coupled to a pro-series sound reinforcement system including 500-to-3, 000 watt power amps, sound imaging enhancers, a pair of full-range or satellite/subwoofer speaker enclosures, and a broad music library in road-worthy cases.  For most DJ's, the use of a wireless microphone is a must for remote toasts, organizing dance floor activities and generally opening up the room while communicating with guests and vendors alike.  A DJ assistant is also recommended as a team effort for larger scale events.
    

6. Your Disc Jockey should arrive at the event site an hour or so before your guests.  This allows ample time to set-up and sound check his equipment.  He may then go over the itinerary with other vendors so they are not scrambling to get things at the last minute.  In short, the DJ is at the helm, coordinating, announcing, and keeping everyone informed for a smooth, successful event.
    

        So, you know some of the criteria you need to consider. How do you go about gathering this information? Well, of course the best way would be if you have recently attended a party and liked the DJ that performed. However, if this is not the case for you, referral lists from venues and the Internet are where to begin. Be cautious of splashy ads…the biggest ad and the fancies website doesn't necessarily reflect the best quality.

        There is one great way you can decide if a DJ is right for you.  Talk with him or her.  Who would have thought it could be so simple!  Over the phone, or better, in person, you can get a good feel for the personality and style of the person you are considering.  Pay attention to your degree of comfort while in this person's company.  Listen to his or her voice tone and inflection.  These will be good indictors of what you can expect in terms of professional performance.  Pay attention to the questions that you are asked.  This will give you an idea of both how organized and how tuned in to your needs and expectations he or she may be.  Expect questions like where your event is located, number of guests you anticipate, and what type of atmosphere you are hoping to create.

        What should you talk about?  You want to be prepared with questions that address the criteria examined in this article.  That means you have to ask yourself a lot of questions first. Most important, you need to ask yourself how much is quality entertainment at your reception worth to you?  Comparatively speaking, your entertainment will be one of the least expensive factors in your reception.  It will be worth investing a bit more for a top-notch DJ.  It is one of the most important decisions you will make.  Years from now your guests will still remember that your party was fun!
I sincerely hope these guidelines help to insure that your special event is a success beyond expectations!

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