Live Entertainment, Function & Wedding Bands, Jazz Bands & Mobile DJ's
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Live Music Management Ltd are the UK's leading provider of Live Entertainment, Function & Wedding Bands offering Tribute Bands, Mobile DJ's & Jazz Bands.
The wedding reception is the one time where guests can relax and enjoy a good time. Though they came for the wedding, the guests still expect a good dinner, great dessert, good company, and even better music. The perfect disc jockey will take over a wedding, getting everyone involved, and steer the direction of the reception by playing a variety of good music. Hiring the right DJ is critical to ensuring the flow of your reception will go by smoothly. Music can definitely make or break your wedding, and here are a few tips for choosing the right DJ:
Shopping for a DJ
It’s best to start the shopping process by asking around. It’s impossible to know whether a DJ is good unless you have a friend or family member that’s had a pleasant experience with a particular disc jockey. Otherwise, you’re left to watching hours of videotapes the DJ has supplied you from past weddings. Find a few friends that got married in your area and try to come up with a general consensus.
Price isn’t everything.
Remember that you get what you pay for. Though it’s a cliché, it’s certainly true when it comes to selecting a DJ. Didn’t you learn in business school that quality is always better than quantity? Don’t look at hiring a DJ as if you’re purchasing some tangible item. There are good disc jockeys and there are bad ones. Pay the extra money to get the quality entertainment. Also, if you’re thinking about hiring a DJ that a friend recommended then don’t hesitate to ask for a discount. Most DJs are negotiable with their pricing, especially if he is referred by someone.
Disc jockeys should be hired as a package. Keep in mind when you’re discussing hourly rates that you’re not only paying for the entertainment, but also the labor costs, operating costs, and stress of transporting and unloading the heavy equipment to and from your reception. Also, while we’re on price keep in mind that a DJ that charges you less may use cheaper equipment and their selection of music may be much smaller.
Interviews
Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few disc jockeys, begin the interview process. Once you conduct the interview, you’ll quickly see whether or not a particular DJ is the real deal or just a hobbyist. The first things you should listen for is their voice. Their voice should be very distinctive and rich in tone. Their words should be enunciated clearly and delivered sharply. If their voice sounds average then maybe their entertainment will be average. Don’t be embarrassed to ask the DJ, whether it’s on the phone or in person, to give an example on how they would introduce the wedding party. The DJ’s voice should command attention.
If you’re pleased with the voice then move on to the next subject. Another important aspect is their experience. You’ll get one of two responses: the DJ will proudly provide documentation to back up his claims or they’ll dance around the question. You want someone that has been doing it for years now. Those DJ’s that aren’t willing to honestly answer the question are not the right choice for you, and there are plenty more choices out there.
Don’t be afraid to ask the DJ for references. After all, what matters the most is whether or not the people who hired them in the past were pleased with the overall entertainment. Start with their past clients. Placing a call to the past clients will give you the opportunity to talk and discuss the type of music that was played and how the DJ did. After that, talk with industry professionals that have worked closely with the DJ such as catering managers, photographers, and hotel staff. They see DJs many times throughout the years and they know a good one when they see one. They have no objectivity, which is important when selecting a DJ. Most couples that have used a particular DJ have a biased opinion because they believe their wedding was perfect in every way, but an industry professional is not emotionally involved and will tell it like it is.
Ask the DJ for the opportunity to review his or her song lists and library. Most modern DJs have changed over to computerized music because it is cleaner and is of better quality. Twenty thousand songs is a good indicator that the DJ has a great variety and takes their job seriously. Once you receive the song list then review it and look for an overall theme. The point here is to make sure there is NO overall theme. You don’t want the DJ forcing their musical tastes onto their audience. This is your wedding, and they should play songs that fit your tastes. Also, ask the DJ if they have a problem with you not to play specific songs. For instance, at my wedding I respectfully requested that he not play the “Electric Slide,” “Brick House” or the “Macarena.” He told me he wouldn’t, but then to my displeasure he played them, making me very upset. Be sure that you don’t face this problem.
Those are just a few things to keep in mind when looking for a DJ. Make sure that he matches with your personality and they seem confident they can do a great job.
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