Getting married is a big deal. When you have found the right partner, you are assuming you will only get one chance at having the perfect wedding. One of the most important aspects of the wedding reception is the entertainment. This is why it is important to find the right disk jockey to play and emcee on your special day. Unless you or your partner knows a good bit about the local music scene, it is likely that you won’t have much knowledge about local DJs who work weddings. The following are some general tips to ensure that you hire a great wedding DJ.
Create a List of Local DJs
The first step is to create a master list of all the prospective DJs to choose from in your local area. For example, if you live in Kelowna, you’ll want to Google wedding DJs in Kelowna.
From there, your next step is to move on to word-of-mouth referrals. These can come from family, friends or the people you already hired to work your wedding. Always give extra weight to the opinions of wedding vendors, especially if they regularly work events at the location of your reception. They will have seen some of the DJs in action and can tell you who puts on a good show.
Another way to help create your list is to look into local awards to find any award-winning DJs. This can ensure you not only have good music but a show-stopping performance at your wedding.
Pro tip: Don’t simply go for the DJs listed in a glossy book at the wedding planners. These are basically ads and may not have worthwhile options.
Check Out the DJ’s Website
Most professional wedding DJs worth considering should have some type of a website. Their site should have two important bits of information: a brief description of their style and some sort of pricing guide.
Any DJ you are considering hiring should have these two items on their website or at least be able to give you an example of them working. If a DJ doesn’t list a price, be prepared to be charged top dollar and have them try to sell themselves to you.
Most DJs will also have some way to check their availability on their website. Check their website or call them to make sure they are free on the days of your wedding. Once you have contacted them, pay attention to how long it takes to get a reply. If they are already booked or they don’t respond in a timely manner, then you can remove them from your list.
Interview Candidates
Once you have narrowed your initial list down, begin interviewing prospective candidates. Ask how long they have worked weddings or how they handle requests. Find out if this is their full-time job. The interview is also an opportunity to get on the same page with the DJ, so you can ensure they can help to create a memorable experience that fulfills your desires.
You can also use the interview to see their communication skills. This is important since they will be interacting with guests and taking requests during the wedding. You also need to address what will happen in case of an emergency and the DJ can’t be there. The last thing you want is to scramble to replace the entertainment at the last moment.
Hiring a DJ to entertain your guests on your special day is one of the most important tasks when planning your wedding. Making sure you get the right person for the job is a decision you will only make once, so it is important to get it right the first time.
