Not All
DJs are Created Equal
Most
people only hire a DJ once in their life and most often
it’s for their Wedding Reception. Too often I hear
horror stories about how a DJ ruined a reception and in
this case, once is too many! As DJs, we only have one
chance to get it right! Take a look at some of the complaints
I hear or read:
The
DJ showed up late or didn’t show at all.
They
didn’t play what I wanted or played music that I
specifically asked them not to play.
The
DJ I hired wasn’t the DJ that showed up
The
equipment was nothing more than a home stereo system and
a few CDs.
Unfortunately
I could go on and on. Professional DJs have a not-so-nice
name for the DJs that fall into this category... "Bottom
Feeders".
Contrary
to popular belief, DJs are not all cut from the same fabric!
In most instances, you really get what you pay for. If
there is one area of your reception where you shouldn’t
try to cut corners, it’s your entertainment. Notice,
I didn’t say DJ, I said entertainment. The same
would hold true for a band, a harpist or a pianist if
you decided to hire their particular service to be part
of your special day.
Brides
and Grooms are willing to spend thousands of dollars on
food, drink and the banquet hall but try to cut corners
on entertainment. This could be a recipe for disaster.
No one will remember if the London Broil was overly cooked,
or how nice the hall was decorated, but most will remember
if they had a great time because of great entertainment.
I’ll concentrate more on DJ’s since that’s
where my expertise is.
Here
are some of the things that separate “Professional”
DJ’s from the “Bottom Feeders”:
Professional
DJs use professional equipment, not a home stereo.
Professional
DJs will meet with you and help you plan your reception.
Professional
DJs will have many references available for you to talk
to.
Professional
DJs WILL NOT subcontract out your event unless they tell
you at the time of contract signing.
Professional
DJs will be set up on time and ready by the time your
first guest arrives.
Professional
DJs abide by your wishes and not just play what “they”
like to hear.
Professional
DJs will have liability insurance.
Professional
DJs will not drink alcoholic beverages on the job.
Professional
DJs will not try to be the life of the party. The Bride
and Groom should never share the limelight.
Professional
DJs will not invite potential clients to watch them perform
at your event. A DJ cannot give your event 100% attention
if they’re trying to sell to others.
Professional
DJs will use contracts, to protect both them and you.
This
is not an all-inclusive list but just some of the major
discriminators that should help you secure the services
of a Professional DJ. I’m not saying that the higher
the price a DJ charges, the more professional they are.
You
have to ask yourself though, if the average price for
a DJ in your market is $900 and a DJ will undercut or
quote you $400 for the job, why is he willing to charge
so much less. We’re not all created equal! Use the
list to help you identify the professional DJ service
and save yourself the heartache of a bad DJ.
