Are you in the market for a DJ for your wedding or special event? The first question you might have is “how much?” While staying on budget is important, there’s so much more to consider when selecting an event DJ. What exactly are those factors? We’ve got you covered!
Some Fast Facts About DJ Services
Typically, DJ services range from $1500 and up for a professional, full time, dedicated DJ who pays for his music and has insurance.
A DJ can be your Master of Ceremonies and make all your announcements. He can assist with a timeline and order of events although this is NOT his job a professional understands more than just the scope of their own job. (The timeline is the job of the wedding planner. You should have one! It is mental peace of mind insurance.)
Questions for a DJ
Here’s some of the questions to pose to your potential event DJ:
1. How long have you been a professional DJ?
First up, it’s important to ask how long they’ve been a professional DJ. Experience and expertise are key, so make sure your DJ has the skills to provide excellent service!
Being a professional DJ requires a certain level of experience and expertise, so you’ll want to ask the DJ how long they have been working in the field. It’s important to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide an excellent service.
2. Do you have insurance and may I get a copy?
Professional DJs should also have proper insurance in case of any accidents or unexpected situations. And yes, it happens. This one event I was working as a planner and the DJ was a friend of the family and they assured me repeatedly that he was experienced and had been doing this for friends’ parties for years.
I told them parties and weddings are two completely different things and again mentioned my anxiety and reservations about not using a professional. They assured me I was worrying about nothing. Well as the day approached my anxiousness grew since he was extremely hard to get a hold of, didn’t return our calls, and was prone to texting only.
I texted him that it was making me very nervous that my clients would not get the experience they were hoping for. He texted back “we’re good we’re friends.” UGH! The knots in my stomach were swirling. Now I trust my vibes all the time, they have never been wrong ever, so I called my clients and again voiced my concerns, I even told them I had bad vibes.
Again they assured me all was good. The night of the rehearsal we waited over an hour for him to show up and he had no equipment. He said he was just going to tell them the song and then they would walk down. WHAT???? HOW??? At what point in the music, how was I supposed to remember his words and not the sounds I usually use? Ok Tonya, calm down it’s fine, they are low key, they keep saying this it’s fine.
The next day at the wedding again late, he finally gets started and my bride walks down the aisle and everything goes ok whew. I get the couple set for pictures and leave them in the capable hands of my assistant and off I go to make sure everything is ready for the grand entrance. I arrived and the DJ helpers, people, servers, and the venue coordinator were all in a huddle, my “spidey senses” began to tingle.
I make my way to the front and oh my goodness! The patio window where the DJ was to set up had major cracks all through it. Apparently the base speaker was put on this wheely contraption to make transport easy, well it was so easy it flew down and right out the window.
Guess what? He didn’t have insurance even though he told me he gave it to the venue. Who ended up paying you ask? Thankfully, the couple bought liability insurance!! It was an avoidable disaster, and did they really save money? You decide. Make sure to request a copy of the insurance policy to ensure that your DJ is properly covered.
3. Do you have any references from past clients that we can contact?
References from past clients can also be an important indicator of a professional DJ’s level of experience. Ask the DJ if they can provide you with references so that you can speak with their past clients before hiring them.
4. Can you help us create DJ sets (fancy word for playlists)?
Lastly, ask the DJ if they can help you create DJ sets. This is a fancy term for playlists, and it’s important to make sure that the DJ is familiar with the process of creating musical sets that will keep people engaged and entertained throughout your event. You will also want to share your genres of music you prefer listening to.
5. Where do you get your music?
If your DJ says they have gotten their music from:
- iTunes
- Youtube
- Spotify
Know that this is a RED FLAG! These are all illegal avenues to procure professional music! Buyer beware!
