Hiring the wedding vendors is often a lengthy, complex process. You have to interview each potential vendor personally in order to determine if they’re the right fit for you. It’s important to ask the right questions, as that will help you find out everything you need to know about your vendors.
The venue and food are important, but it’s the after-party that most of your guests will remember. Hiring a good DJ is a great way to ensure that your guests enjoy themselves once the wedding toasts are given and the wedding dinner is eaten. Want to be sure you’ve got the right wedding DJ?
Here are a few questions to ask your wedding DJ:
1. ARE YOU A “WEDDING DJ”, OR DO YOU PERFORM AT ALL TYPES OF EVENTS?
This may sound like one of the silliest questions to ask wedding DJ, but trust us, it’s not. You want to find a DJ who knows how to put together a good wedding playlist – music that combines of romance, an upbeat party, and music everyone at the wedding (old and young) will want to dance to.
A wedding playlist is very different from the playlist at an awards dinner, a corporate event, or a birthday party. A DJ that specializes in wedding playlists is always the better choice over a “jack of all trades” DJ.
2. WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
Many DJs not only provide the music, but they also bring in their own sound equipment–potentially saving you a hefty sum for rental. The DJ may also be able to host/MC the event, often at no extra charge to you. They may even be able to offer HD video screens, party lighting, smoke/fog machines, and other important additions to your party.
Even if they charge a fee for the additional equipment, it’s worth it to kick things up a notch at your wedding party!
3. HOW DO YOU ENSURE THE MUSIC EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE FOR EACH COUPLE?
There is no “one size fits all” approach to wedding music playlists! You want a DJ who will deliver the party music you want, according to the vision you have for your wedding.
Whether you want a mosh pit, a waltz floor, or a techno/EDM dance party, the DJ needs to customize the playlist to meet your needs
This is one of the most important questions to ask a DJ for your wedding, as it will help you understand how the DJ works to put together a playlist. You want to hire a DJ who is flexible with the music, and who listens to your requests.
4. CAN YOU PLAY/NOT PLAY THESE SONGS?
Everyone has a few “must-play” songs, whether for the party itself, the first dance, the bridal march, or during the dinner.
Your wedding DJ should honour your request for songs you want played, but they should also listen if you ask them to NOT play specific songs. If a DJ isn’t willing to accede to your requests, you shouldn’t hire them.
5. WHAT SOUND EQUIPMENT DO YOU UTILISE?
You want to be sure the wedding DJ has all the necessary equipment for the event: speakers, mixer, turntable, computer, etc. However, you should also ask about back-up equipment, in case any of the regular equipment fails. When it comes time to party, a broken speaker can absolutely break the ambience.
Make sure the DJ has replacement parts or equipment, or else you may be forced to pay high rental fees for the venue’s equipment.
6. HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE/PUMP UP THE CROWD?
What fun is a party where no one is dancing or having fun? It’s the DJs job to get the crowd in the mood for fun, using games, party songs, and more.
Ask if they have a video or recording of their performance, so you can see how they pump up the crowd.
You want to see/hear them in action to be sure they’re able to handle the task of turning your wedding into one heck of a party.
7. HAVE YOU PLAYED AT OUR CHOSEN WEDDING VENUE BEFORE?
Even if they answer “no”, this isn’t a problem. You can simply ask them to accompany you on a tour of the venue so they can get an idea of what the party space is like.
They will need to bring the right equipment according to the space and layout of the room, so it’s vital that they see the venue where they will be DJing.
8. HOW DO YOU TREAT SONG REQUESTS?
There are some DJs that absolutely HATE song requests, as it throws off the ambience or “mood” of the party.
However, a DJ is there to make your guests happy as well as you, so it’s important to strike the right balance. Ask this question, and they’ll explain to you how they like to handle requests.
You may need to appoint someone to screen requests for the DJ, or the DJ may simply tell you that they like to stick with the playlist without taking requests. This is information you must know before the event.
9. CAN I HEAR SAMPLES?
You want to hear samples of the DJ’s mixing and blending skills, as well as their choice of playlist. Proper mixing and blending is so subtle you hardly notice it, as each song transitions smoothly into the next.
It’s very easy to tell when the songs aren’t mixed properly, so make sure to “audition” the DJ before the big event.
10. WHY ARE YOU THE BEST DJ FOR MY EVENT?
This is one of those surprise questions to ask wedding DJ that will give them a chance to tell you what they think is their best attribute or skill. Perhaps they excel at reading the crowd, they have top-quality sound equipment, or they are highly dedicated to your event.
Ask these questions to find out everything you need to know about your wedding DJ.
These questions will help you make the right decision of which DJ to hire for your big day!
