Frequently Asked Questions - The Disc Jockey Association of NZ guide to picking a great DJ!
Having
trouble finding a professional DJ that you feel you can trust?
This is a real challenge, because you can't generally see
a DJ at work at another event, party or wedding reception.
After all, you'd be upset if your DJ invited a couple along
to your wedding to do his sales pitch when he was supposed
to be giving 100% to your big day. Here's some important
questions to consider to help you in your choice:
Are they available for your date?
Begin your phone call by indicating the date, time, and
location of your special event. If they're not available,
no sense talking much further!
How long have they been a DJ &
how many events have they performed?
With sufficient experience, a professional disc jockey will
be able to act as (or assist) your Master of Ceremonies
and smoothly guide your celebration from start to finish
allowing you to relax and enjoy the party. With experience
comes confidence and knowledge too. Many things can
happen during an event- some are expected, others are not.
The experienced professional has the ability to handle any
situation which may arise and will be able to react spontaneously
to correct the problem as if nothing ever happened.
The seasoned professional will also know how to introduce
interactivity into the night in a tasteful and energetic
manner. With this same experience, your entertainer
will read the crowd and intuitively know what music to play
at what time.
What type of music do they provide
and will they play requests?
It's your party! Will your prospective entertainer cheerfully
accept your suggestions or will their ego make it hard to
accept requests? Can they provide a play list with a wide
variety of songs that you can choose from? Will they play
additional CDs that you may want to provide?
Let the DJ ask you questions also such as what you do or
don't want to hear. You want someone who takes an interest
in what YOU want. You want a DJ who is flexible, and has
a substantial selection, so that virtually any reasonable
request from your guests can be fulfilled, providing it
meets your acceptable music criteria. Many inexperienced
DJ's work on the principle that "it's gotta be LOUD to be
good, dude". A true professional will concentrate
on quality of the sound, not quantity and will spend time
on the night ensuring that your seated guests can still
talk comfortably while others are dancing.
What is their appearance like?
Are they well groomed? Your DJ should be freshly shaved
and clean with tidy hair. Will they wear a formal
dinner suit (tuxedo), business dress, tidy-casual, or a
Hawaiian shirt, black jeans and sports shoes? Find out ahead
of time and make your preferences known! Different events
command different attire, so if you want your DJ in a tuxedo
or a theme costume, make sure you know whether there is
an additional charge. Some DJ's charge more if you want
them dressed formally and most DJ's in New Zealand don't
even own formal wear!
What kind of equipment do they use
& what is their technical expertise?
You are paying money for a professional and they should
have new-looking, quality equipment and know how it operates.
Make sure it's predominantly pro equipment, not home stereo
or consumer grade. There is a difference! You are hopefully
hiring someone who takes their job seriously, so make sure
they have made the investment in quality equipment. If they
are using a computer or laptop, are they using professional
mixing/broadcast software, or a basic mp3 player such as
Winamp or MusicMatch.
Find out what your prospective DJ will need from the you
and your venue. Most DJ's will still require your venue to
supply them with a trestle table.
Do they have back-up equipment on
hand in case of an emergency?
Even professional equipment can fail on occasion, so it
is important to know whether your Disc Jockey has extra
components, or hopefully another entire sound system available
to them. Usually, only the top-notch pros invest the extra
money to ensure that everything works on your event date
and backup systems are in place. Booking a reliable Disc
Jockey is a very important decision for the success of your
event.
Will they personally be
the DJ for your reception?
If not, when can you meet the DJ who will work at your function
so you can feel comfortable with that person and make sure
you are on the same wavelength? WARNING! Some DJ's
will book your event and then pass it on to another DJ to
play your night. Some DJ's (almost always the cheap
ones) don't even bother to turn up! Make sure you
get what you are paying for.
Are they reputable and will they
provide you with references?
Do local venues, Hotels, Photographers and other event professionals
give you a good referral of the company? Remember, if you
receive references from a DJ, they're going to be only the
best ones. Ask to speak with other wedding professionals
or to see the references on paper if you're uncertain.
Have they ever performed at your
chosen location?
Ask the DJ if they have ever performed at your venue before.
It helps if they have a rapport with the staff, if they
already know the place, how to get there, what the
acoustics are like and where the power points are. Things
like this just makes it less likely that you will have any
problems.
How much do they charge?
Don't take a risk with the entertainment for your once-in-a-lifetime
event! Not surprisingly, most professional, reputable
DJ's charge more for their services than a hobby DJ who
is just looking to make a few extra bucks on the side.
Question a company that is low in cost... there's a good
chance you will be putting the success of your event at
risk in order to save a few dollars. Be certain that
you understand their basic fee, set-up times, overtime charges,
due dates for deposits and balances, and arrival time.
Also, keep in mind all the time and money you already have
committed to your event and the impact the DJ has on how
everything turns out. If the venue was average, the food
was ordinary, the speeches were too long, but the entertainment
was lively and phenomenal, your guests will certainly remember
your night as a success. The entertainment really can make
or break your event. If your workmate's "friend" will
do it for $200 less than a reputable, experienced, professional
DJ, think twice before jumping at the lower price.
Paying a little more for a much better disc jockey is usually
a great investment.
Do they require a deposit and a written
agreement?
If not, why not? If a DJ is serious about his business,
he will want an agreement and a deposit. The agreement
should offer a guarantee that he personally will show up
on the day and will perform for the times you have decided
on. If there's no deposit and no agreement, there's
nothing to bind him to your event. A professional
DJ will insist on a deposit to confirm your date and a contract/agreement
is your protection.
Do they offer lighting equipment
if you want it?
Can your DJ provide aesthetically pleasing additional lighting?
Modern effects lighting can really add to the liveliness
and energy of the night and makes the dancing just that
bit more special. Some DJ's still use floor- standing,
headlight-sized floodlights called lightboxes with a basic
chase pattern. These flood the room with light with no dynamic
impact and are clumsy, bulky looking lights. A quality
operator will usually offer a set of exciting controllable
intelligent effects that are elevated to avoid shining in
the eyes of seated guests.
How do they handle themselves on
the microphone?
Announcements should be clear, concise, energetic, polite
and not overdone. Usually your guests are not interested
in hearing a DJ "ham it up" over the microphone. Does your
DJ have any radio, television or acting experience?
Have they acted as Master of Ceremonies before and do they
have the wedding knowledge to handle last-minute changes
of plan? Talking well on a microphone effectively
is a skill that takes much practice and experience.
Listen to how they speak with you on the phone- are they
confident, eloquent and polite?
Are you comfortable with your DJ?
Once you feel you found an established disc jockey, in your
price range, with the music selection you like, make your
final selection based on personality. Some DJ's like to
steal the show. These DJ's are always on the microphone,
like to be very visible and very loud. The other end of
the spectrum is the DJ with a lack of any personality who
does nothing except play the music, while other companies
are an even mixture of the two. Usually you can get a feel
for style simply by talking to the disc jockey over the
phone.
Are they a member of a DJ Association
and do they invest in educational materials?
Being a member of an organisation of professional DJ's has
a number of advantages. Association DJ's can share experiences
with each other, help with challenges, offer advice and
discuss the latest techniques and technology. They have
invested time and money in their business, which indicates
that they are serious about what they do. There are numerous
publications and materials available to help DJ's strive
to improve and a professional DJ association is a great
place to improve their performance skills.
If the DJ you are considering is not a member of a group
or organisation, ask why not. Would you hire a Master Builder
ahead of one who wasn't affiliated?
Conclusion
These are just some of the most important questions to ask
to distinguish a true professional from an amateur. Some intrinsic
qualities (general hygiene, attention to detail, business
ethics, courtesy and politeness, the ability to spontaneously
change the master plan when required, etc) may be more difficult
to quantify unless you meet with that person.
One final suggestion is for you to carefully
listen to not only what an event professional says when you
ask questions, but how they say it. Do they speak with knowledge,
passion, enthusiasm and a desire to really help you create
a successful event? If so, you should book them quickly as
they will be in demand! |
