HOW TO HIRE A WEDDING DJ is a short piece about some small steps you can take to avoid common mistakes when HIRING A WEDDING DJ. Although we may have years of experience in the Edmonton Wedding market, HOW TO HIRE AN EDMONTON WEDDING DJ should only be taken as an opinion, not as the "law".
Many DJs at City Pro Entertainment have had the pleasure of entertaining at hundreds of weddings over the years. We've been lucky that we have been able to find great people who genuinely cared about doing a good job for their client. Year after year, event after event our DJs are getting rave reviews for their hard work and dedication.
Being Wedding DJ's for over 25-years gives us a unique perspective. We choose DJ's to work for us that embody our philosophy, share similar work ethic and enjoys performing in front of your guests. We've being doing that for 25-years; we know what to look for. But how can everyday folks who've never had to hire a DJ go out and hire a suitable DJ that won't disappoint them? Please read on!
Make It An Event To Remember
Interestingly, very few couples today do more than call a few DJs they've found online or in the phone book and then booked the first DJ that was priced the same as their budget. Is price all that matters? Do Bride and Grooms think that ALL DJ's are the same?
Much like everything else on their wedding day, Bride and Grooms make decisions based on their personal values. If A Bride really likes chocolate and satin you can bet there will be some special emphasis with chocolate and some spectacular satin.
What you experience at weddings is a representation of a Couple's personality. But it isn't realistic to expect a Bride & Groom to know how to get the best of every vendor. Let's assume I have never bought a Ferrari. I wouldn't know if there's more than one model, available options or even how much one costs. I think I'd be shocked if I walked into a Ferrari Dealerships to buy a car and expected to pay $5000. I also think the salespeople would laugh me out of the showroom.
But having been a fan of Ferrari's since my teens I know a "ball park" amount what a Ferrari costs. But even then there are many, many variables that can impact the final price.
This is no different for DJ's. Every one is different. Some are basic and others Deluxe. Some may cost more to have out of town and others may not travel at all. The key to making sure you get the best for your budget is RESEARCH!
So, without any further mumbo-jumbo, here are some key pieces of advise to consider when hiring a great Edmonton Wedding DJ:
(These are also very random tidbits, too.)
#1. Please know that the average rate for a DJ in North/central Alberta is $1000. The particular DJ you contact MAY be MORE or LESS- just get what you're promised in writing for comparison.
#2. Does your DJ belong to a DJ Association? It's a good question to ask because almost every DJ association in Canada has STANDARDS each DJ must abide by- like have insurance, have their music licensed, etc. But more importantly, being part of an Association means the DJ has a community of DJs available to back them up in an emergency. Everything from equipment to music and even DJs themselves can be backed up if ever needed.
#3. Experience. When I was younger and thought I knew how to rock a crowd I would have thought that experience wasn't a factor to being a good DJ. But what I have learned since then is that a Mature DJ has the best interests of all your guests, not just your younger ones. Experience also means the DJ has a better sense of what music played at a certain time in the evening will yield. The ability to read a crowd and build excitement and momentum on the dance floor is a skill learned over time.
#4. Confidence. Does your DJ seem at ease and answer all of your questions easily? If not, they may be lacking some key characteristics valuable in a great DJ. Not to be confused with ego, a confident DJ knows their ability and can communicate it well with you. There should be no hesitations to your questions and if an answer isn't known they should admit to not knowing and perhaps offer to contact you further with the correct answers.
#5. Public speaking. Does your DJ exhibit adequate public speaking? After all they will be responsible for communicating with your guests. If they cannot command the attention of your guests effectively, then they will never listen to what he has to say- like what the Bride and Groom will be doing next.
#6. Recent references. Can your DJ provide a few recent references to support their claims? Written testimonials can be easily fabricated and be decades old. The best reference is a one-on-one phone call or email.
#7. Does your DJ have the right gear? Most DJs profess to having the ability to accommodate any sized event. Sadly, this is rarely accurate. Today's average DJ speaker is barely capable of supplying adequate volume coverage to an area size of a small 100 person hall. What this means is many DJs are using inadequate gear at important events.
Not DJ related, but involves the DJ- When setting up your room layout try to have the DJ as close to the dance floor as possible. This isn't an ego thing, it's a "we don't want to blast music through 50 guests" request. I'm sure your guests will appreciate it, too. Not having a DJ right behind you means you can converse without having to yell. Having the DJ close means the DJ is closer to the ACTION on the Dance Floor- That's our job; to fill the dance floor; to conduct all activities on the dance floor.
