There are a variety of people and companies that provide mobile disc jockey services in this area. It can be very tempting to select the DJ who has the cheapest price. However, you should know that all disc-jockey's are not created equal. Listed below are a few things you should consider prior to hiring your disc-jockey.
1. Experience - The first thing to consider is experience. More specifically, experience in the type of event you are planning. For instance, if you are planning a wedding you would not want to select a DJ who mainly plays music for school dances. A lot of younger/newer DJ's start out doing school dances, and then venture into the wedding arena totally unprepared. In this example, the DJ will most likely not have the variety of music that is necessary to perform at weddings, nor will this DJ have the experience at professionally Emceeing a wedding. In contrast, if you are planning a school Prom, you will want to know if the DJ has all of the latest Rap/Hip Hop and Alternative rock music as well as a larger sound system and light show required for such events. Make sure that your DJ has has the skills and equipment necessary for the type of event you are planning.
2. Personality/Interaction - It is important for you to select a DJ who will provide the style and personality that you prefer. Do you want an energetic and fun DJ, or do you prefer that the disc-jockey provide a more low key approach? These are questions you should ask yourself, and the disc jockey, and make sure that you can match your needs and tastes to the ability and style of the disc jockey. The DJ Connection is capable of providing any style that you prefer. We are especially good at interacting with your guests and motivating people on the dance floor if that is what you desire. We have seen numerous occasions where we interacted and motivated the guests who would have otherwise been content with sitting in their chairs for the duration of the event. In fact, most other disc jockey's in the area do not offer an interactive and fun approach, so carefully question the DJ about their personality and interaction skills. If a more low-key approach is preferable, we are happy to accommodate that request. The important thing is, your entertainer should be flexible in adjusting the level of personality and interactivity to suit your needs.
3. Pre-Event Planning Services - Will the DJ/Emcee you hire to perform for your event provide you with the personalized attention you deserve BEFORE the event? This area is especially critical if you are planning a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or other event where there are numerous details that have to be planned and organized, in order to have the event run smoothly. If you want to fully appreciate the value of pre-planning a wedding, just speak with a bride or groom who's DJ waited until they arrived at the reception to determine the sequence of the reception formalities. Rather than dealing with the hassles and headaches of making last-minute decisions at your reception, don't you think it would be a good idea to have a comprehensive plan of your event in advance? We certainly think so, and in fact, our planning services prior to the event are a VERY important part of the service we provide each our clients. For weddings, make sure your DJ has a comprehensive wedding reception planner that allows you to plan and organize your reception. If they don't have one, this is an indicator that they may not do many weddings, or do not provide quality pre-event planning services that allow you to relax and enjoy your event.
4.Training - What kind of training has the disc-jockey received? Did the DJ just start their own business and learn by trial and error, or have they completed a nationally recognized formal training program that provides the information and skills necessary to provide outstanding performances. The DJ Connection's training program includes classroom instruction as well as on-the-job training. Once the training is completed, our DJ's take with them the years of experience we have given them through classroom and on the job instruction. This provides our clients with a first class level of service. As we enter the year 2001, you should know that our staff averages six or more years of experience. Because of the training they have received, they compare to Emcees who have over ten years of experience.
5. Music Library - This category is a distinguishing factor that drastically varies with people who provide this service. Quite simply, anyone can claim that they have a variety of music that includes oldies, country, Big Band, R & B, alternative, Latin, etc. The question is, are they really equipped to play the music that you want, and can they play most of the requests that they receive from your guests? How many selections does the DJ have?? This may seem to be a surprise to you, the layman, but if your DJ says they have 300 to 400 CD's, they are under-equipped, and will most likely not be able to play a substantial number of requests they receive. This driving factor is a major reason that some DJ's in the area charge $250 or $300 for their services. The budget DJ simply has not invested the amount of money necessary to provide you with a first class selection of music. If you are planning a wedding or other event where you expect a variety of ages and music tastes, it is important for you to select a DJ who has invested in a music library that allows him or her to play most of the requests received from your guests. At The DJ Connection, we carry a music library that is second to none. As a matter of fact, we play an average of 95% of the requests we receive, without any special preparation.
6. Equipment - Providing professional disc jockey services takes a toll on consumer grade equipment purchased at retail stores like Radio Shack or Circuit City. This is why your disc-jockey should have high quality, industrial equipment, that is designed for over the road use. Each of our sound systems has been designed to provide clear, distortion-free sound. While it is highly unlikely that your disc jockey will experience any equipment problems, you will have the peace of mind knowing that back-up equipment is readily available.
7. Contracts/Reliability - The importance of getting a written contract from your disc jockey cannot be overemphasized. We have heard of numerous horror stories of DJ's who canceled a booking at the last minute. In at least 90% of the cases we have seen where a DJ canceled at the last minute, one or both of the following factors were involved:
1. The DJ was a "friend" of the family.
2. There was no written contract.
The above statistics provides you with a lot of "food for thought". You may have a very capable friend who has offered to provide you disc jockey services at a discounted rate. The question you should ask is, do you want to take a chance on the DJ not showing up for your event, or canceling at the last minute? We think that it is imperative that you have a written contract with your entertainment. In fact, we have never heard of a DJ who canceled or did not show up to an event that signed a contract was provided for the event.
8. References - If you have never seen the disc jockey you are considering for your event, you should ask for references from both previous clients and from area banquet facilities. We think that the references from the banquet facilities are your best bet, since the banquet manager has probably seen the DJ in question on numerous occasions, and can give you a better idea on the ability of a DJ.
9. Appearance/Dress - Unfortunately, this is an issue that must be examined prior to hiring your disc jockey. It is still the norm to hear of a disc jockey who wore jeans and a T-shirt to a wedding or other similar event. We think that it is important to provide a professional approach in everything we do. This is why our DJ's wear a tuxedo to each formal event we perform.
As you can see, there are many factors that go into choosing your disc-jockey. Don't let price alone determine which entertainer you select. Because the entertainment makes or breaks most events, spending more for a quality entertainment service is a worth while investment to ensure the success of your event. We welcome any questions or concerns you may have about your entertainment needs.
