Hiring the right DJ is one of the most important things to help ensure a successful event. Whether it’s a wedding DJ or just a DJ for a birthday party, the DJ will undoubtedly make a significant impact on how the event goes. Of course, if you’re getting married you’ll want to choose your DJ more wisely than if you’re just looking for a DJ for a young kid’s birthday party. But if you don’t have a lot of experience putting on events you may not know what to ask a DJ before hiring them. Here’s a list of the top 10 things you should ask your DJ beforehand: (and our answer to each question)
- What type of events do you mostly do?
- Do you have backup equipment?
- Do you have video from past events?
- Are you going to by my DJ?
- Do you have a wireless mic?
- What happens in case of an emergency?
- How do you plan the music?
- Do you take requests?
- How do you get the crowd dancing?
- Why should I choose you as my DJ?
1. What type of events do you mostly do?
You can tell a lot about a DJ by the type of events they do. It may seem like all events are the same and the DJ is just there to play music, but that’s far from the truth. A wedding DJ is going to have to have a different skill set than a club DJ. Wedding DJs need to be comfortable on the mic and know how to formally interact with the crowd. A club DJ may not need to get on the mic. And if he does, he may be able to have a drink in his hand while he cusses on the mic, depending on where he’s at. That would almost never be appropriate at a wedding! Not only that but the dress requirements are different, the music to be played is different, and the crowd is different because weddings tend to have a very mixed crowd, including children.
Part of the reason this question is so important is you want to get a good idea of the DJ’s experience level, particularly with your type of event. If a DJ has a lot of experience in one area but has never played for an event like yours, proceed with caution. Not only is the specific event type important, but it’s important for the DJ to have experience playing the type of music you’d like played. For example, if you’re getting married and would like Latin music played at your wedding, you need a DJ that is experienced in weddings and playing Latin music.
While it’s not a must, choosing a DJ that specializes in your type of event is one of the best ways to ensure it’s successful. After all, experience is the greatest teacher. Don’t hire a DJ to learn at your event.
Our answer: Most of our business comes from weddings. But with our network and resources, we can do just about any event.
2. Do you have backup equipment?
Backup equipment is essential for any DJ. All equipment will eventually stop working. You never know when it’s going to happen next. It’s only a matter of time. Even new equipment can have problems. That’s why it’s so important for a professional DJ to have backup equipment. Especially for everything that’s needed to keep the music playing. Two laptops, backup cables, and other gear should be close by just in case.
Our answer: Yes.
3. Do you have any videos from past events?
It’s important to see videos from DJs’ past events. It’s the best way to get a feel for the events they’ve done, aside from actually being there.
Our answer: Yes. You can see some of videos of our past events here.
4. Are you going to by my DJ?
Often times DJ companies will have more than one DJ working for them. That means the person answering the phone or emailing you back may be different from the actual DJ who will play music for you. Ask who your DJ will be and make sure to talk to them before you hire them.
Our answer: Email us or call (407) 860-8289 to find out who is available on your date.
5. Do you have a wireless mic?
Having a wireless mic is important for several reasons. Some venues or events simply demand the freedom to walk around without a cable. Audio cables can be a tripping hazard and look ugly in pictures and video.
Some times you need a wireless handheld mic and other times you need a wireless lav mic. Lav mics are tiny mics that can attach to a shirt. They’re essential for an officiant who needs his/her hands free during a wedding ceremony. The downside is they need to be set up on each person so some times they’re not practical. For example, when several people are speaking back to back, it’s best to have a wireless handheld mic to hand to each other when they’re done, such as during the toasts at a wedding.
Our answer: Yes. We have both wireless lavs and handheld mics.
6. What happens in case of an emergency?
Though the odds are slim an emergency will happen on your event date, it can happen. This is often overlooked because professional DJs will not miss your event for anything. However, some times things can happen outside of the DJ’s control. If they’re a solo operation, they may be unable to find a replacement, leaving you scrambling for a DJ last minute.
Our answer: We work with a good amount of DJs so there’s usually someone available in case of emergency.
7. How do you plan the music?
Professional DJs don’t just show up and play music. They need to prepare by finding out what kind of music you’d like played at your event. Ask your DJ this and see how they do it.
Our answer: We go through a pre-production process with each of our clients before their event. For weddings, we create a wedding plan that outlines the order of events and what music is to be played when.
8. How do you handle requests?
You may or may not want your DJ to take requests. Either way, talk with them and discuss it to make sure you’re both on the same page.
Our answer: We have a very large library of music that is easily searchable within our computer. Your guests are welcome to make requests.
9. How do you get the crowd dancing?
This is a good general question to ask since it’s the core of what a DJ is supposed to do. If they don’t have a good answer, it may be a red flag.
Our answer: It depends on the crowd. That’s why the pre-event planning is so important. Generally, the songs with dances that go to them get the people on the dance floor. Then we just keep them there. Getting on the mic also helps give the crowd the small push they need to get on the dance floor.
10. Why should I choose you as my DJ?
Another general question that’s often used in other types of interviews. The DJ may not have a good answer for this if they’re not used to being asked it. But it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Our answer: We strive to provide the best service for the best price. Our desire to excel drives us to exceed our clients’ expectations every time.