7 Things Your Disc Jockey Doesn’t Want You to Know

Special Thanks to The DJ Company for guest writing this article. You'll find some really great information regarding how to go about booking a vendor for your wedding day or any other event.

DO YOUR RESEARCH
Written reviews and posts on popular wedding websites are very easy to manifest. If someone or something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do your research, ask for references. But always keep the notion in the back of your mind, “is a company really going to give me a bad reference to contact?” Simply put, when doing your research and verifying references, go with your gut; do you feel comfortable giving this person/people the responsibility of entertaining your wedding guests?

MAKE SURE YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
Sounds obvious, right? Did you know that over half of the disc jockeys in the Hudson Valley have a “day job?” In fact, most of them offer a much lower cost for their service simply because this is a “hobby” for them and is the means to make a “couple of hundred bucks” over the weekend. Do you really want one of the most important days of your life in the hands of someone who does this “just for kicks?” Which refers us back to our first point, do your research and feel comfortable with the person(s) that will be entertaining your reception!

COOKIE CUTTER DJ’s
This phrase has so many meanings. Did you know that dozens of disc jockeys in the Hudson Valley have preset “playlists” and have even pre-recorded hours of music? Referring back to our first point two points (do your research and hire a professional), make sure your comfortable with your disc jockey’s musical knowledge, experience, music library & have he/she explain to you HOW they are going to customize the musical programming to best fit YOU and your guests!

WATCH OUT FOR EXTRA CHARGES
The most common way that a Disc Jockey can literally “CON” you out of couple of hundred dollars is to tack on fees, taxes, etc. (1) it is illegal for a DJ to charge you TAX. [Disc jockeys provide a service, not a product. A service is not taxable] (2) A base price may look appealing, but many disc jockeys will charge travel fees, setup fees, etc. So, do your research, hire a professional and scrutinize the details of your contract.

SOLO-OPERATORS VS. MULTI SYSTEM COMPANY
What does this mean? Basically, are you hiring a “one man company” or a company with multiple disc jockeys? The benefit to a one man company is you obviously know WHO your DJ is going to be. There are two major problems: (1) What if your dj (the only dj the company has) is sick or is somehow detained? Will a stranger you never met be showing up to your wedding day? (2) Many solo operators (not all) fall under the “I do this as a hobby” category. A multi system company (a company with more than one disc jockey) will not only allow you the opportunity to meet your entertainer, but choose the person who best fits your needs. Furthermore, in the event of an emergency, a good (multi system) company will have a backup entertainer on standby. Whether you’re looking into a solo-operator or multi-system company, be sure you ask about back equipment and staff. Do your research, hire a professional.

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIABILITY INSURANCE
This is a very useful tool for the consumer. Why? It’s not just for the protection of you and your guests! Many catering facilities mandate that all vendors carry insurance simply to help “weed out” the non-professional vendors. Those who DJ as a “hobby” tends not to bother “wasting” money on insurance and other necessary expenses. The truth is, should someone sustain an injury from a faulty piece of disc jockey equipment or what-have-you, the primary insurance policy would be that of the catering facility; but the simple fact that a company goes far enough to maintain a certificate of liability insurance, proves to the catering hall that they are professionals who take many of the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and successful event.


IT’S NOT QUANTITY, IT’S QUALITY
Again, this phrase can have many meanings. But the bottom line is simple. Don’t be fooled by a sales pitch such as “A Spectacular Light Show with 8 Lighting Effects” or “An Amazing Sound System with 6 Speaker Surround Sound.” Make sure your entertainer explains the technology he/she uses and what it is that makes it so “spectacular” or “amazing!” Can your entertainer control the lighting to spotlight a grand entrance, create an intimate “look” or energize the dance floor? Can he or she design the sound based on your reception room’s acoustics? Do they have the necessary equipment to prevent a microphone from feedback and/or enhance the overall audio quality so that it doesn’t distort or become overbearing for guests?


The DJ Company is dedicated to providing you with premium entertainment for your wedding day. To learn more about The DJ Company, you can speak to one of our professionals and/or request a press kit by calling 845.268.2477 or e-mailing info@thedjco.net