Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and one of the key elements to making your special day perfect is selecting the right wedding DJ. A skilled DJ will not only keep the dance floor packed, but also ensure that the entire event runs as smoothly as possible.
However, with so many DJs to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why in this blog post, we’ll be covering the top 5 questions you should ask your wedding DJ to filter out of the bad and find the diamond in the rough that’s going to make your wedding day awesome!
These questions will help you evaluate a DJ’s experience, music library, special request accommodations, and backup plans. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for in a wedding DJ, and feel confident in your decision.
1) Can you provide references from previous weddings?
When it comes to choosing a wedding DJ, references and testimonials from previous clients can be invaluable. Not only can they provide an insight into a DJ’s performance and reliability, but good customer reviews can also give you an idea about their style, how good they are at keeping the party going, and whether they are able to make last-minute adjustments if needed.
However, as great as written reviews are, they’re a little limited in what you can learn. Therefore, we recommend that you follow-up with some of the DJ’s references in person or over the phone and ask them a few questions as well.
We understand it may be a little intimidating, but it’s important to remember that these people were in your exact situation just a short time ago, so are almost always very understanding!
Suggestions for how to follow up with references:
To get the most out of speaking with previous references, it’s important to ask the right questions and find out as much as you can. Some suggestions for things to ask include:
- How was the DJ’s overall performance at your event?
- Was the DJ able to keep the dance floor packed?
- How did the DJ handle any unexpected issues that came up during the event?
- Was the DJ responsive and easy to communicate with leading up to the event?
- Would you recommend this DJ to others?
Also, it’s a good idea to reach out to multiple references to get a well-rounded picture of the DJ’s performance.
2) Can you provide a detailed list of the music you have in your library?
Next, It’s important to ask for a detailed list of the music a DJ has in their library to ensure they have a wide enough variety of genres and songs to accommodate the different tastes and preferences of the guests at your wedding.
While a large song list doesn’t necessarily indicate whether a DJ is good or bad, it can be a great way of determining whether the DJ is actually going to be a good fit for your wedding.
Additionally, it’s important to find out if the DJ is willing to play specific songs that are important to you and your partner. This could include songs that hold special meaning to the two of you, or songs that are significant to your cultural background.
It should also be noted that a good DJ most likely won’t want to play at a wedding that doesn’t suit their style as it could lead to a negative experience for all parties involved. Therefore, you should always be a little cautious if a DJ suddenly changes their style to try and secure the gig!
3) Will you take song requests?
While many DJ’s like to take requests during their sets, some DJs do prefer having a premade song list to play throughout the event. It’s not a case of one method being better than the other, but it’s more just down to personal preference and what will be right for your wedding.
Therefore, asking if a DJ takes song requests is an important question to consider as this will give you an idea of the DJ’s flexibility and willingness to accommodate the musical preferences of your guests (which you may not want, especially if they have bad taste in music!).
4) Does your contract include an overtime clause?
Asking if a DJ’s contract includes an overtime clause is an important consideration too as it’ll give you the flexibility to keep the party going if you’re all still left wanting more!
While many DJ’s do offer an overtime clause, the pricing of this can vary, so it’s a good idea to read over the contract before racking up 3 hours overtime and realising that it’s charged at 200% pricing!
Additionally, some DJs will also have a maximum time limit for when the overtime can start and end due to sound regulations or other restrictions so you may also want to contact the venue and ask about their policy
And as always, despite being contractually obliged to commit to overtime, some DJs might not honour this request if they’re feeling tired or can’t be bothered to hang around after. Therefore, as we mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to speak with some of the previous guests to hear their options on the DJ and whether he stayed for additional hours or not!
5) What is your backup plan in case of equipment failure?
Asking about a backup plan in case of equipment failure is essential as nobody wants to be left with a silent dance floor.
A good DJ should always have a backup plan in place to ensure the show can still go on, even if something unexpected happens. This could include having back-up speakers and cables, or even another DJ on call who can help out at short notice.
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you’re really at the weathers mercy. However, just because it rains, doesn’t mean the wedding won’t take place, so you need to make sure that everyone has a backup plan for if things go south!
A good DJ will have already thought of this and should be able to outline exactly what steps they’ll take to keep the party going even if it starts to rain!
Not only will ensuring your wedding DJ has a backup plan help to secure a great night, but it’s also a great trick for catching out the less experienced and lower quality DJs out there!
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right wedding DJ is essential for making your special day perfect. Asking the right questions and understanding a DJ’s experience, music library, special request accommodations, and backup plans can help ensure that you make the best choice for your big day.
By asking these questions and following up with references, you will have a better idea of what to look for in a wedding DJ, and feel confident in your decision. Remember, your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and you want to make sure the music and entertainment are perfect.