Hiring a Respectful Professional DJ

So you want to hire a DJ? Where do you start? First start by sitting down with the person you will be spending your life with and decide what you want in a DJ entertainer. What sort of event are you having? A quiet get together, a very high end, white glove affair, or a real blow out party? Now that you have decided how you want you reception to go it's time to find an entertainer.

Ask friends and family for recommendations. Usually they will have similar taste in music as you and have seen the DJ they are recommending in action. If they can't help try the web, wedding publications, or better yet, The American Disc Jockey Association. AMERICAN DISC JOCKEY ASSOCIATION - Professional Disc Jockeys, emcees, KJ's, eve

After getting a few names give them a call.  Do they get back right away? Did they even answer the phone? Did a message say "for Joe's car wash dial one...for Mobil Joe the DJ dial two..." or did you get a real live person who could answer your questions, offer to meet with you, and serve you like a professional?

Interview them. Personality is a key factor in choosing a DJ. You need to like your DJ. You need to looooove your DJ. He will be a key factor in the most important day of your life. Why spend it with someone you don't like or worst yet, someone you've never met. That brings up another question. Do they subcontract? After spending time meeting with the person whom you think is going to be your entertainer, does a strange person in a tux introduce himself at the reception as your DJ? Ask about getting the specific entertainer you hired and if they can't come, ask about refunds. Make sure this is on the contract.

Let's talk about price and value. Professional Mobil DJ Entertainers are not only the music. We are planners, on-site coordinators, MCs, entertainers, technicians, music specialists, comedians, dancers, singers, actors, and crowd motivators. When you look at it in that perspective, you should wonder why you are spending so much on the food and not on the DJ.

In the past, the perception of the DJ was "CHEAP." Today some well-known professional DJs are getting as much if not more than bands. Our popularity has put us in high demand.  The average cost of a wedding is between $15,000 and $20,000. Why in the world would you not want to spend at least ten percent of your budget on the entertainer that will be responsible for the success of eighty percent of your wedding day? Be careful of the "Econo-DJ."  If he could demand a higher fee, he would. Why doesn't he? Low self esteem, split loyalties, double booking, sub contracting, is this a part time hobby? The Econo-DJ can't possibly give the same level of value and service as the seasoned professional.

Contracts are a must. As with any contract make sure EVERYTHING you spoke about is in writing. Verbal agreements are not binding. If for some reason you need to make changes after the contract has been signed I recommend you call and discuss the changes with your DJ and have him send another contract with the changes. This protects not only you but the DJ as well. Changes can be initialed on a contract but I prefer a new contract.

Your Wedding day is a very important very special day in your life, a day that should fill you with happy memories. A bit of planning and careful selection of not only a professional DJ Entertainer but photographer, caterer, limo service.

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