Mr. Right IS Out There. Can You Find Him?
Back in 1984 when we started entertaining at events there weren't a whole lot of choices for entertainment. DJs were still considered second class citizens compared to live bands. Part of the reason was there wasn't a lot of DJ equipment for us to buy. So we ended up buying the same gear most bands used; it was big, heavy and very expensive.
Today anyone few a few extra dollars can buy an inexpensive DJ rig and start putting cash in their pockets playing at your wedding or company party. If they don't have your kind of music they'll just download it off the internet.
I guess that is where the influx of "bedroom" and Hobby DJs has come from. The combination of cheap, easily accessible DJ gear and "free" music means even the awkward neighbor kid can be a DJ, too. I mean, who's to say he can't?
Everyday we get inquiries from folks looking for Edmonton DJs and they all just want to know the bottom line: HOW MUCH? And that's a GREAT question. Really! But before we can just throw a number out we, as professionals, need to ask our customers a lot of questions. Can you imagine having a wedding today the way bands and DJs operated in the 70's and 80's?! No consultations, no choices, the band or DJ TELLING you what your first song is and the rash of "no show" performers meant you may or may not have a dance that night. NEVER AGAIN!
The Edmonton Wedding DJ Professionals at City Pro Entertainment have built a stellar reputation for outstanding results. Great customer service, pre-event consultations and on-the-dance floor fun have been our specialty for over 25-years. We could not have enjoyed this success without first carefully dissecting the "typical" reception dance and what made some Parties ho-hum, and what made the others SPECTACULAR!
We found that our results improved dramatically when we were able to involve our clients more in the music/reception planning. The more information we were able to acquire on our clients the more personal we could make the evening. Ho-hum turned to HOLY COW!
Choosing the right DJ for your event can take a lot of time- time many people don't have. Here are a couple of tips when hiring a DJ Edmonton DJ for any event:
1. Set A Budget. An average DJ in Edmonton will be priced between $700-$1300, but don't be surprised to hear prices as low as $250 or as high as $3000 or more. Experience, level of gear used, package selected, location and duration are all factors that contribute to an entertainer's price.
2. Do your Research. Ask your friends and family, co-workers and look to local or national DJ associations for recommendations, too. Ask questions and look for the answers you want to hear and make notes on possible candidates. We recommend calling at least 10 companies. Out of those make a shortlist of 3 companies.
3. Meet your top 3 picks in person. So much can be accomplished when you meet one-on-one: You can find out payment options, check out their gear, have them speak to you (do you want a DJ that will stammer and stutter when under pressure?), leave a deposit and find out if your candidate is a good personal match.
4. Ask to see credentials. Since it's so easy for any "Joe" to just go out and buy gear, download illegal music and claim to be a "DeeJay". Check to make sure that they are a licensed DJ with insurance and ask to see their AVLA license, too. Many Associations require DJs to have both Licensing and Insurance- Try the members of AAME.
5. Demand a Contract. You can imagine that after 25-years in business we've heard a lot of party horror stories. Being the music type business, we tend to hear those the most. Many local DJs have come and gone, and a few have been down right deceiving. Some have simply gone out of business without contacting anyone to advise them of the problem. We, often on very short notice, end up covering for these companies. Some were booked without a service contract. The client often paid the DJs IN FULL. Needless to say those clients we not very happy they had to learn a lesson in that manner.
I hope some of this information allows you to better choose a DJ that best suits your needs and not what someone tells you need. Please call 1-877-944-2776 or email us info@cityprodj.com
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