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Choosing your DJ / Mobile Disco |
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With your
DJ often credited with making or
breaking a party one of the most
important things you
can do is spend time to consider
who to hire to provide your
entertainment. Here are a few
questions you can ask before
hiring a DJ. |
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1. Are
you available?
You should always start off by
indicating the date, time and
location of your event to ensure
that the DJ isn't already
booked. Saturdays tend to fill
up especially fast and a year in
advance is really not to soon to
guarantee the availability of
that perfect DJ. |
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2. How
much do you charge?
Probably the worst way to choose
a DJ is on price alone. With
prices starting as low as €250
for the night, it's tempting to
choose the cheapest one
available. However, when
considering the pricing of one
DJ to another, it's important to
make sure that you are comparing
apples to apples. Are you really
getting the same service? How
much experience does the DJ
have? Will he act as an MC or
just play music? Will he help
coordinate the event? How much
does he charge for overtime? How
much equipment will he bring?
Does he provide his own music
and how many songs will he have?
Does he have professional
equipment? The list goes on and
on.
Just remember to use your best
judgment and make sure that a
lower price is exactly that and
not a lower level of experience,
quality, planning and
commitment.
Professional DJ prices vary from
region to region, so be sure to
call around to get a good idea
of pricing in your area.
Remember, when it comes to the
success of your event, less
expensive does not always mean
better value! |
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3. Do
you use a written contract?
This is a definite must! If they
don’t use written booking forms
don’t hire them. |
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4. What
is the DJ's level of
professionalism?
As you speak with DJs, pay
attention to their
professionalism over the phone.
Did they just answer the phone,
"Hello?" or with their business
name? If you get an answering
machine or voice mail, does it
say, "Thank you for calling So
and So's DJ Service" or "You
have reached the Smith
residence...". Does the dj only
have a moibile phone with not
fixed business address?
This may sound like a small
detail, but their level of
professionalism and commitment
tends to spill over into their
performance at the event. You
want to hire someone who is 100%
committed to your function, not
just someone who
DJs as a hobby. |
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5. How
will the DJ be dressed for my
event?
Jeans and a T-shirt may be
appropriate for a summer
Barbecue, but certainly not a
wedding reception! Make sure
they will dress appropriately. |
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6. Do
you have experience with the
type of function I am having?
This is especially important.
This may be your first wedding,
but it shouldn't be your DJ's!
Your DJ should be able to act as
the MC, provide pre-event
planning and coordinate with the
other suppliers to make sure
that the event runs smoothly
from start to finish. A 21st
party DJ or a club DJ may not be
suitable for Weddings. |
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7. Do
you offer a written schedule of
events?
A written timeline will not only
prevent important events from
being missed, but allows
customisation also. |
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8. Do
you provide a music list and
take requests?
It's important that the DJ has
and plays some or most of the
music you want to hear; after
all, it's your party! |
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9. Do
you use professional sound
equipment and include special
effects?
Professional sound equipment is
a necessity! It will not only
sound better, but it's designed
to handle the stress of the day
to day performances and will be
less likely to break down during
your function. Also, confirm
that the DJ is not using
outdated equipment like
turntables, cassette decks.
Special effects e.g. lighting
may or may not be appropriate
for your event. |
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10.
What if something goes wrong?
Do you have backup equipment?
It's important that the DJ has a
plan in the unlikely event there
is an accident or equipment
failure. The plan should include
a DJ that is on-call, as well
as, onsite backup equipment. |
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11. Do
you offer a consultation at no
charge or obligation?
Many
professional DJs will typically
offer a free consultation where
you can get together and learn
more about their entertainment
company and of course discuss
what type of music is to played
at the event. |
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12. Do
you have references or
performance evaluation forms
from past events?
Feedback from past performances
is a good way to determine the
overall satisfaction of other
people who have had events just
like yours. |
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13. Do
you have full liability
insurance?
This is a must nowadays. Any
legitimate business person
carries liability insurance to
protect themselves along with
you and your guests. Some
locations may require your DJ to
have
liability insurance. |
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