HIRING A DJ 101

A LITTLE PREPARATION TODAY MEANS NO HEARTACHE TOMORROW


You're having a party. It could be for work, a community fundraiser or maybe even your own wedding. It doesn't matter what the function is, all that matters is that you take a moment to read the next few sentences.

 

There are HUNDREDS of DJS IN EDMONTON to choose from. There are a few things you can do to make sure that the DISK JOCKEY you hire will provide an evening of fun and memorable entertainment. Welcome to HIRING A DJ 101....

 

#1. EDMONTON WEDDING DJS are NOT ALL THE SAME. Sure DJs might all have big speakers, crazy bright lights and enough fog to choke Godzilla. But the one thing all entertainers have that set them apart is their PERSONALITY. Personality is what a DJ really brings to the table: Wild, conservative, easy-going, reserved, outgoing etc.. Their PERSONALITY is what you are really hiring and therefore no two entertainers will likely provide the exact same service, therfore, it's safe to say their prices are going to be different, too.

 
Their knowledge is also a key ingredient to making a great & fun evening. A DJ boasting about their 99,999 song library definitely has a big music library, but are there any songs in that list YOU like? Make a sample list of songs you'd want to have played and submit them to the DJ. If they are not willing to play a good portion of your list maybe finding a better candidate is your best bet.
 
#2. EDMONTON DJS VARY GREATLY IN PRICE. From $250 to $2500 and up, you can typically find a number of DJs at any price point. The area average in Edmonton is about $800 with above average to GREAT DJs in the $1100 to $1600 range. Expect to pay a Premium for the best DJs.


Being an EDMONTON DJ for over 25-years I can testify that when it comes to DJs, "You Get What You Pay For"!


The problems our industry faces can be primarily traced to the public perception that DJing is a hobby; something we do on the weekends for beer money. While this might have been true 20 to 30 years ago, and some still does today, the majority of EDMONTON WEDDING DISC JOCKEYS treat entertaining as a serious enterprise. Its the few hobbyists you need to weed out of your search that will cause you the most grief.

 

 

#3. DJs aren't all GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKERS. In fact, some are downright SCARED to have to speak to your guests. Now, that's a problem especially if you want them to interact with your guests or handle any announcements. Your first conversation with them should tell you what sort of DJ you have- try to pick one that is outgoing, sincere and excited to be helping you on your wedding or party day.

 

#4. Not all DJs are good BUSINESSMEN/WOMEN. Why is this important? There are many aspects to running a DJ business that many simply overlook. WHAT IF your DJ got sick on the day of your reception? Is there a "Plan B" in place? What if the only way he could get a replacement DJ was to hire the only DJ left in Alberta that weekend? What if that DJ charged double what your DJ Charged You? Would your original DJ cough up the money NO MATTER WHAT the situation was to cover your event?

 

What if his vehicle broke down? Did he charge you enough to cover small incidental expenses?

 

What if you want to cancel your event? Did he save your deposit money so he could refund it?

 

Did he even use a contract that clearly spelled out what his cancellation policy was?

 

A smart DJ/businessperson would be able to put you at ease by having all that information and policies in place to cover such emergencies.

 

 

 

 

There are some aspects of any WEDDING DJ IN EDMONTON you should look for before even considering them for your short list:

1. EXPERIENCE. This will probably determine about 90% of the overall cost of your DJ. The more experience they have the more seamless and polished the entertainment portion of your evening will be. They will know how to use music and vocal skill to encourage your guests onto the dance floor for dancing and for traditional wedding activities without resorting to antics or screaming.

 
An experienced mobile DJ will cater to all your guests and can identify when to change music when something isn't working. CITY PRO ENTERTAINMENT has a team of skilled wedding entertainers each with no less than 10-years of performing experience. An experienced host will in almost all cases be able to perform calmly under any circumstance- weddings can often present demanding situations that were neither planned, nor intended to happen. But a skilled host will have the experience drawn from many past events to give them direction to offer the best possible solution.

2. ACCESSIBILITY. In today's hectic environment we all expect speedy service. The age of instant gratification means we want answers and we want them now. Not every DISC JOCKEY SERVICE operates full-time like City Pro Entertainment. But every business should return your call or email in a quick and timely manner. 24-hours is the maximum time you should have to wait to get a reply (unless you sent one in on a weekend!) - after all, if you book someone and have to make changes or to get information from them, the last thing you should have to bear is a lengthy wait.

You should also be able to meet with your selected host as often as it takes for you to feel confident that they have all the information needed to make your event run successfully. Any business that refuses to meet with you should be reconsidered for the "don't use" pile.

3. CONTRACT/SERVICE AGREEMENT. Contracts are part of our everyday life. You should make sure any WEDDING DJ you hire uses a contract. The contract is intended to protect both you and the business you hire. It should identify what you're paying for very clearly- if it's vague you should demand to have it revised until you are satisfied anything you were promised is written down and agreed to.

At the very least a contract should:

1. Have your name and contact information like address and phone numbers. It should also have the business' contact information, too. In the event you change any of your details make sure to contact all your vendors to make sure you have all the most recent information offered- You're paying huge money- most calls are free and can avoid huge catastrophes.

2. A contract should spell out exactly what you're paying for. When you hire CITY PRO ENTERTAINMENT your contract will indicate exactly what you get- from the name of your DJ to how many hours of service, type of light show and even any add-ons you've selected. DEMAND to have anything a business has promised you written down in the contract.

3. Terms of an agreement should explain what the contract binds you to and what you need to do to cancel it if its an option. The terms should explain any limitations of liability in the event of cancellation by either party as well. Remember to read this very carefully and if anything doesn't make sense make sure to ask the vendor to explain it to you until you are satisfied you understand it completely.

4. Price. The contract should spell out exactly what the agreed price is. It should also indicate a rate for going past an agreed time of service and its' cost. Things like deposit amount, any payment schedules, balance due date and overtime rate should all be included on your contract. If not, make sure you get it added.

 

5. Call only one Company: City Pro Entertainment 1-877-944-2776 or write   info@cityprodj.com



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