Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring A Wedding DJ For Your Tucson Reception
The term “Professional DJ” or “Professional Entertainer” will often mislead potential entertainment shoppers.The term “professional” however will only indicate that a specific entertainer/dj will charge for their services. In no way does it indicate their level of skill or qualifications for helping you to make your reception a FUN and memorable experience.
Unlike many service “professionals” such as... for example; a “Licensed Contractor”, a “Doctor” or a “Lawyer”...there are no licenses issues to entertainers or dj’s that will verify their degree of professionalism.
Therefore it will be all up to you to discern through careful questioning, whether or not your potential entertainer/dj will have the skills and talent necessary to help you create the Tucson wedding of your dreams.
So if you’re ready to go “entertainment” shopping, below is a list of some helpful questions and guidelines that will help you to evaluate and choose entertainment that can help you to make your Tucson wedding reception the “Best Wedding Reception Ever”.
VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ! Can the DJ/Entertainer readily give you a price quote over the telephone?
If they can...then you are speaking to a “Gig” DJ. This type of DJ will provide a generic “one size fits all” type of performance suitable for school dances, birthday parties, etc., but is usually not the best choice for
a complex formal event such as a Wedding Reception. A professional “Wedding Entertainer” will likely need to meet with you in person in order to gather all the details of your event, and to get a feeling for needs and goals, before they can give you a price!
How long have they been in business?
This will give you some indication as to experience. But don’t completely rely on this as it will not indicate as to how much of that experience is with weddings.
Are they a full-time entertainer, or is it a hobby or supplemental income to their real job?
If only working part-time this will indicate that they will have little time to devote to the care and planning of your overall entertainment experience. Also, those who depend on their service for their living are likely to be far more concerned about the success of your event as they count on your praise and referrals.
What type of tools and support do they offer for the planning of your event?
A professional wedding entertainer understands the importance, as well as the difficulties and stress often involved in the event planning process. Professional Wedding Entertainers will typically have available to you all of the tools and support necessary to help you completely plan your event. Ask them what type of support is available... and it’s always a good idea to make a quick visit to their website before calling. (NO website... OR a poorly designed website is a pretty good indication that they are not a serious professional!)
Are they a “Single Operator” or “Multiple DJ” Company?
The “single operator” is often the best choice as they will likely take your event more seriously. A company with “multiple” DJ’s usually works on the “quantity” rather than “quality” principle. They routinely employ “part-time” (amateur) DJ’s whom they quickly teach basic skills and concepts and then turn them loose at your event. These are typically college students, etc. who are looking to make a few extra bucks on the weekend while working towards their real career.
Are you able to meet with the “actual” DJ/Entertainer who will be at your event?
If you choose a “Single Operator” then this is not an issue. However, a company with “multiple” DJ’s may not even assign a DJ until shortly before your event, and that assignment may be based upon availability rather than compatibility. You will definitely want to meet the individual who will be performing at your event to ask questions and make sure that you feel confident in their ability to help make your event entertaining.
How many songs will be available for guests requests?
During the average reception of five to six hours, it is unlikely that there will be more than 100 songs played during the course of the whole evening, and this includes background music. So why is a large selection of music important? Guest interaction...........the more music available the more likely it is that guests personal requests will be filled, and the more likely the DJ can appeal to the wide array of tastes and styles of a vast audience. For example: A DJ with 25,000 song titles is 500% more likely to be able to fill requests than a DJ with only 5,000 song titles. What is a good recommended quantity of song titles to have on hand? That is something that many DJ’s debate. For reference purposes, I have more than 200,000 songs available that you can search on my website, and I carry to each event more than 40,000 song titles from all styles and genres, and it is extremely rare that I cannot meet a request.
Will they require a table for setup?
This may seem to be an odd question, but it can tell you a lot. You probably know little about sound equipment, and can truly care less. But in the case of your event, almost everything entertaining will likely have to travel through the entertainer’s sound equipment. And it can vary from what sounds like a cheap “boom box” to a “live orchestra”. Most professional gear is designed to be rack mounted (below left). Whereas lower quality gear will normally need to be spread out on a table (below right).
Which of the above two DJ Setups shown above would make you feel more confident about the quality and professionalism of their service?
What is their backup plan?
Your wedding cannot be redone if not done correctly the first time. I’m sure at one time or another you have discovered for yourself that all electronic equipment will eventually fail, particulary when working with computers. A Professional Wedding Entertainer is prepared and will have a backup for each piece of equipment (including computers) that could bring your show to a complete halt if it were to fail. Don’t overlook this question...I’ve heard horror stories from very unhappy brides because their entertainer did not have a backup piece of equipment.
Are they using computers or do they still rely upon CD’s to make music?
Computers have a tendency to crash and CD’s skip. But the advantages that computers offer in terms of real entertainment performance far out ways there vulnerability, as long as there is a backup. Make sure that if they are using computers that they will have no less than two computers set up and running at any given moment so that they can easily switch mid-performance should a problem arise. If they are still using old technology (CD’s) just be aware of request limitations and the liklihood of less personal interaction due to the program limitations of the CD medium.
Do they use iPod technology for their music programming?
Oh boy...here we go...talk about shortcuts! Let's just say...good for jogging...BAD for your event. If they depend on this technology...quickly move on!
Also, take a look at their advertising (yellow pages, website, brochures). If they advertise as a complete entertainment company, listing that they do school dances, proms, corporate events as well as weddings, this will indicate that they are likely a “Gig DJ” and will offer a generic service at best for your reception.
The quality of their marketing materials; website, flyers, brochures, business cards, etc. will be a indication of the level of commitment to their service. If what you see appears amateurish, their service will likely reflect the same.
I sincerely hope that you have found this information to be useful...and I wish you "the Best Wedding Reception Ever".