MMDJ

The music is the major factor which sets the mood for your event. The Perfect event DJ will be flexible and able to read the energy of your event or party.

Choosing a DJ for your event can be difficult. You want the right kind of music and ambiance. The music is the major factor which sets the mood for your event. To ensure that you choose correctly here are a few things to consider.

Sourcing your list of potential DJ’s – It is best to get a list of potential candidates from people you know and other events you have attended. The venues may also be able to help with this list.
Meet them in person – This will give you an idea of their professionalism and music tastes. It will also give you an opportunity to discuss the theme and genre of music you prefer.
Request testimonials – An experienced DJ will be able to provide you with many names of parties or events they worked at.
Request their song selection – This is important, as you want a DJ with a larger selection of songs, so as to handle requests on the night.
Ask the DJ if they have played at you venue before – It is essential that the DJ is familiar with the venues and sound restrictions they have.
Check whether the DJ has the appropriate sound equipment for your event – Most professional DJ’s own their equipment and can cater to the size of the venue.
Enquire about lighting and stage effects – most professional event DJ’s will be able to provide these.
Once you have short listed you candidates, attend an event at which your DJ is playing at to gage their professionalism
Provide the event DJ with a list of your expectations – such as time of the event , event itinerary, location and set up time
Have a contract in place to document your negotiation and to avoid miscommunication on the night
The Perfect event DJ will be flexible and able to read the energy of your event or party. A good DJ will take requests from the crowd and also able to change the music up if the energy is low. It is the event DJ’s responsibility to keep the party or event fun, lively and everyone on the dance floor.

AUTHOR
Nariman Taweel

When interviewing Chicago DJ companies and bands for your wedding reception you should be extremely thorough in your search in order to find a professional and reliable business as well as the entertainer best suited to your tastes. Use the following questions to help narrow down the field.

1.Aren’t all DJ companies basically the same? How is your company different?
2.Will you personally be the DJ for our reception? If not, when can we meet the DJ?
3.Do you just play music? Do you also Emcee and coordinate the reception?
4.What type of experience do you have? How many weddings do you do each year?
5.Do you have references?
6.How would you define your “style”?
7.What do you do to motivate the crowd if nobody is dancing?
8.Do you provide a reception planner?
9.What do your packages include? Do you provide a wireless microphone for speeches? Are basic effects lighting included?
10.What package should I get? Do you offer lighting and sound upgrades?
11.What are your rates? Are there any additional charges?
12.What type of equipment do you use? Do you use professional equipment? Do you use CD’s or MP3′s?
13.Can we pick what music gets played? Will you be willing to play requests and discuss music ahead of time?
14.How loud will it be?
15.How long will the DJ play? Do you take any breaks?
16.What is your policy on drinking alcohol or smoking during the wedding?
17.What does the DJ wear? Will you be suitably dressed for our occasion?
18.Are you familiar with the venue? If not how do you handle coordination?
19.When does the DJ set up? How much time do you allow for set-up?
20.What if the DJ gets sick?
21.What if the DJ is no longer with the company or becomes unavailable?
22.What happens if something breaks? Do you provide backup equipment at my event?
23.How far will you travel?
24.Will you be available to answer questions?
25.What kind of customer service can I expect?
26.How do we reserve your service?
27.Do you provide a written contract?
28.Is a deposit required? If so, how much? When is the deposit due?
29.May I make partial payments?
30.When is the final payment due?
31.Is gratuity included in the price?
32.What do you charge for overtime?
33.How do we submit our information?
34.Do you have insurance? Can you supply me with proof of liability?
35.Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce or BBB?
36.Do you belong to a professional organization or trade group?
Questions to ask references:

1.Did the band/DJ show up on time?
2.Were they professional?
3.Did they return phone calls and communicate with you well?
4.Did they know what you wanted?
5.Did they play a good set?
6.Did they break down the equipment on time?
7.How did they interact with guests? Any problems?

Author: Mike D

A wedding can be one of the most important events of your life. From the flowers, to the dress and onto the reception, you want everything to be perfect. Your choice of music for the reception can make or break the whole wedding. That being said, how can you choose the right music and the right wedding DJ at a price that can fit your budget?

Wedding DJs can be found many ways. Often, they are found in the local phone book or have advertisements in wedding planning circulars. Some DJ’s will set up booths at wedding expos or have websites. Sometimes, you hear about a DJ by word of mouth. That’s all great, but how can you tell if a DJ is going to be worth your time and consideration? The first thing to look for in a DJ is professionalism. Chances are you will not be doing yourself a favor if you hire your niece’s boyfriend to DJ your wedding unless he has experience. A professional DJ will have up to date technology and equipment. He will have a professional appearance, including the appropriate clothing and grooming that fits the style of your wedding. If you want to have a 1970′s theme, the DJ should come equipped with bell bottoms and be ready to play a wedding disco . Part of a DJ’s professionalism is being open to whatever kind of music the bride and groom choose. If the bride and groom love country but the DJ is into hardcore death metal, the DJ should be happy and ready to play the selections of the soon to be newlyweds. Another part of the flexibility of DJ’s should be the ability to play a wide variety of songs upon request. With modern computer technology, songs are available almost immediately. If 200 rowdy guests are screaming for the chicken dance, a good DJ should be able to oblige.

Besides playing music, a good wedding DJ should be able to accommodate and facilitate wedding traditions such as the first dance for the bride and groom, the dollar dance, the garter and bouquet toss or whatever the bride and groom request. They should also be able to spend a good amount of time with their equipment without taking too many breaks, including taking advantage of the open bar or chain smoking.

With all the requirements for good wedding entertainment , how do you check out what a DJ does and how he does it? Some DJ’s play at local bars for special events that are open to the public. If you have a chance, go see how the DJ deals with hordes of drunken people. If you happen to be at another wedding with a DJ, you could always pay close attention to the music to find what you do and don’t like. If you happen to be brave, you could crash a reception to look at the DJ. If you are unable to see how a DJ performs live, check out his or her website. They may have samples of their work as well as rates.

With these tips, you are sure to find a wedding DJ that will make all your reception dreams come true.

MrDJ2010

Many brides struggle with trying to find the perfect entertainment for their big day. This is a very important decision, because the entertainment can make or break the entire evening. So how do you hire a wedding DJ? I have laid out 7 helpful tips below that will help you select the right company for your special day.

Friends don’t let friends DJ their wedding

Before we get into pricing, I just wanted to let everybody know that friends do not let their friends DJ their wedding. Instead, you should have your friend attend the wedding as a guest or even in the bridal party. Just because they are your friend does not mean that you have to let them DJ your wedding. They may give you a killer deal on the DJ package, but are they really professional DJ material? I am sure there are many people who know pro wedding DJs out there that would be the perfect match for your wedding. However, I have heard the stories many times where brides wished they would have spent $300.00 more instead of having their cousins friend ruin the reception with blowup guitars, rap, and cheesy announcements. A professional wedding DJ company will go over all the details with you ahead of time, so that there are no surprises.

See Your DJ in Action

Honestly, most wedding DJ companies that you might consider hiring will not allow you to attend a private function such as a wedding reception. When you really think about it, would like to have some guest come uninvited to your wedding just to get free drinks and eat your appetizers? A reputable company will focus all their attention on the client for that day instead of the next one being booked. To fix this problem online video demos come in handy. You can see event highlights of your DJ in action, and get a feel for how they will coordinate your wedding day while working with your vendors.

Type of DJ/Personality

This will make or break the DJ Company that you hire for your wedding. No two DJs are the same and with that said not every DJ is created equally. Some DJs will do any and every type of event, while others specialize in weddings. When you first talk to the DJ over the phone, get a feel for how they present themselves during the conversation. Are they energetic? Are they passionate? This is what you can expect from them on your wedding day. Some DJs spend 30 seconds on the phone while others take the time to understand what you are looking for so they meet your expectations. When you hire a wedding DJ you are also hiring the master of ceremonies. They will be your spokesperson for the evening representing both of your families. It is a wise idea to go with a company that has good chemistry with you and your fiancé.

What Does Price Really Mean

Every couple wants their wedding day to be perfect, and they also want to save as much money as possible. So what does price really mean when hiring a wedding DJ? I am sure you have heard the old saying you get what you pay for, but quality entertainment does not cost it pays. If you skimp a couple of hundred dollars on the entertainment your guests might not stay long enough to get your money’s worth from the hall, your photographer might not take above average photos, and that late night snack tray might go to waste as well. When guests look back on your wedding day 10, 15, even 20 years from now, do you know what they will remember… if they had fun or not!

So we know that going with the cheapest might cost you the most stress, but the most expensive does not mean the best either. Sometimes you are charged for setup and teardown, online planning, travel, and the list goes on. It is best to work with a company that can compromise with your budget. A company that does not have any hidden costs and gives you the most bang for your buck this typical price range will usually fall between $795-$1295. Sometimes pricing can go over this range if you factor in custom options including Wall Accent Lighting, custom name monogram, and remote sound.

References References References!

By far one of the most important areas to spend your time when figuring out how to hire a wedding DJ is feedback and testimonials. References should be recent, from within the past 6-12 months, and you should be given an adequate amount of them for the type of event you are considering (EX. you should not be given a list of corporate referrals for a wedding reception they are completely different). If you are given a list of over 15 satisfaction surveys, contact 3 or 4 random brides and really listen to what they say. Ask them why they hired the DJ company, how the wedding DJ did at their wedding, and their overall impression. Any wedding DJ that is serious about your business will have nothing to hide and will provide references upon request.

Talk with Several Companies

So you talked with one wedding DJ Company now guess what? Talk with another and another. The best piece of advice is to consult with several wedding DJs before making a decision on which one to hire. This will also give you a better understand of what you are looking for immediately! You will be surprised at the way some entertainers carry themselves. Just imagine how they will handle your ONE wedding! Keep notes of all conversations and prices quoted for your wedding. Narrow your selection down to 2 or 3 ideal companies and make your decision from there.

What about the contract and payments

Finally after you have your sights on a particular wedding DJ, enforce what you want with a contract. All the stipulations should be discussed before hand and all the important details should be included (location, date, time, # of guests, names, and phone number). When going over the contract, also talk about how are payments made. Most wedding DJ companies accept a 50% retainer at the time the contract is signed to reserve your date. Usually the outstanding balance is due the night off. Majority of the time, payments can be made in advance if you are more comfortable with that. Will your DJ accept a personal check, if so who is it made out to? Small things like this will tell you how flexible a wedding DJ is, (this is a biggie when it comes to weddings). At most weddings the timeline will jump around plus or minus 10-15 minutes. Your wedding DJ will have to adjust to these changes without hesitation.

How do you Hire the Right Wedding DJ

This all depends on how you take the advice from this article. Every bride and groom is different and this means that they are looking for different qualities in a wedding DJ. The best approach to take when interviewing wedding DJs is to get a vibe of how they view you as a person and a client. Wedding receptions should not be done in a cookie cutter fashion. When weddings are personalized to what the bride and groom want, then this means that they hired the best wedding DJ available

Robert Reno

Author

The number one thing people ask when selecting a dj for their wedding is how much do you charge. This may not be the question you should be asking. Here are 10 things to ask when selecting your dj for your wedding.

1.  Do you offer MC services?

Not all djs offer the Master of Ceremonies service in their price. You will want to pick one that offers this service so you or the person you select won’t be struggling to find the right things to say at the right time.

2.  Does your price include setup and takedown?

Some djs will use some of the time booked for setup and takedown. Look for a wedding dj that does the setup and take down without using up your precious dj time.

3.  Do you charge a retainer? And when is the balance due?

Most respectable disc jockeys charge a retainer. They will also present and sign a contract with you. If a wedding dj doesn’t present a contract, this should raise a red flag.

4.  Can we select what style of music to be played?

You should be able to select a a good size playlist from their song library. If you want a song not on the list they should be able to get the song for you.

5.  Can I see your song list and make a “do not play” list?

You may not want certain songs played at your wedding. Most wedding djs offer this service but it but it never hurts to ask.

6.  Are you available for my wedding?

The wedding dj service you select may not be available for your date. It is always best to book your wedding dj in advance to make sure you get what you want.

7.  Can we meet the dj before my wedding?

Your DJ should be in contact with you in less than 1 week after they receive your signed contract and retainer. At that point you will share contact information with your DJ who will be in touch with you around 2 months before your wedding day. At this point you will set up a time to meet one on one and plan out the events. You will talk about music selections, formalities, time lines, announcements, and more. This session can last around an hour. This will make your event go smoothly and ensure that your event is a success.

8.  What is the total cost for X hours?

Although this question is practically a no-brainer, we thought we should include it for the questions list because some wedding djs may add the setup and takedown onto their price.

9.  Do you DJ for X hours or does X hours include setup and takedown?

Some djs will charge you for 4 hours only for you to see that one hour has been used up for setup and takedown. This could present a major problem financially and emotionally on top of the normal stress occurred at your wedding.

10. What is the minimum time charged?

Most wedding djs have a minimum hour’s requirement. Most is 4 hour, although respectable wedding djs will be at your wedding for up to 6 hours figuring in 1 hour for setup and 1 hour for takedown but only charge you for the 4 hours so you have the full 4 hours of dj’ing excitement.

Daniel Bennett

Do you know what is the key to becoming a successful DJ? Well it is the ability to produce great music mixes that bring the dance floor alive. And in order to create the right kind of music you have to invest in a range of advanced DJ equipments.

If you are just a beginner to the world of mixing and turntables, you are most likely awestruck by the well-established disc jockeys that have the ability to set the floor ablaze with their highly energetic music mixes. OK so you may not have the same range of talents as these DJs, but you can make up for your lack of experience or talent with the right kind of DJ equipments. Next time you visit a night club or disco, just make a trip backstage to check out the DJ equipments, and you will be amazed at the wide range of DJ equipments that are used to churn out those masterful mixes. Although, a novice in the field requires some time and practice on the turntable to somewhat master it, there are other DJ equipments that are not as difficult to learn. And as you advance as a DJ, these equipments will help you to create better music. As in any business you have to make some initial investment in this world of music mixing, as DJ equipments are the basic tools to give you a head start in this trade.

As a DJ, you can manipulate the equipments in a number of different ways. Not only can you rock the dance floor with beats and rhythms, you can also synchronize the music smoothly from one track to the next.

As a DJ, your goal is to make the crowd come to its feet and rock all through the night. At the same time you have to keep the energy level of the dance floor at a point that it can sustain over a longer stretch of time. You have to maintain a musical consistency throughout. As a DJ it is in your hand to keep the tempo alive without annoying a portion of the crowd.

To accomplish all these goals, DJs must be well versed in the advanced technological features of their DJ equipments. You need to be really familiar with your instruments like the back of your hands to use them to their fullest potential.

In the end, it is your skill as a DJ that will be appreciated by both the crowd uninitiated in the art of DJing, and also by those who do have some idea about the workings of a DJ. So make the best use of your DJ equipments and enjoy the wide appreciation from the audience for making them rock and roll throughout the night.

About the Author

If you are looking for high quality DJ Equipments to rock the dance floor, go take a look at http://www.cheapdjequipment.info and http://www.cheapdjequipment.info/cheapest-dj-equipment.html.