Official Entertainment

Prompt return of your phone calls or emails.
You should expect to get a call back or email back within 24 hours. The only exception may be weekends when most DJs are performing. Official Entertainment usually will return your call or email back much faster.

Willingness to meet with you and present his/her service.
Will the DJ try to meet with you soon, or is he/she just trying to book the date sight unseen? Is their material neat and professional looking, and is their presentation organized and informative?

Is the price too good to be true?
It seems that the DJ is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a venue, food and clothing. This often leads brides and party planners to shop for the cheapest price possible because of lack of resources. This often backfires when holding out for the lowest price. However, if you have adhered to guiding principals noted here, you will know to avoid services that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level of quality and attention to detail that EVERY client deserves!

Do you LIKE the person that shows up?
There is nothing worse than having to do business with someone you do not like. Choosing the person who “feels” right is the most important factor in picking the right entertainer for your party or reception. the DJ you choose should be very open about what he/she can do for you and should volunteer information and show you that knowledge base.

Does the DJ have a music list that shows you what sort of music he or she has available?
In some fashion, you the client, need to be assured that the DJ you hire not only has a sizable collection, but has a variety of music, especially for wedding receptions, where many different styles of music and guests will be in the same room together.

Does the DJ use professional grade equipment?
If the DJ does not have pictures of his or her gear, you should ask to set up a time to see the equipment or see pictures of the DJ’s set up. The DJ should be able to tell you what he/she uses and characterize the equipment as professional grade.

Will the DJ offer to meet with you AFTER signing the contract to plan your event?
A professional DJ is ALWAYS willing to discuss your event at any time before the event starts, and should display the flexibility to accommodate changes and help you solve problems. Meeting or phone conferencing your DJ to plan your event is of paramount importance to a successful event such as a wedding reception.

Will the person that you interview be the person that will perform at your event?
This is THE most common complaint about the DJ industry today. The person you meet turns out NOT to be the person that actually does your show. Often, you are not made aware of this. Ask the DJ you interview if he/she will be the actual person performing, or will someone else perform the event. You need to know this UP FRONT before you sign a contract.

You’re engaged, congratulations! Now what? If you’re like most brides you’re probably overwhelmed with all the planning that goes into creating a fairy-tale reception. Did you know that finding the perfect DJ is one of the biggest responsibilities you have? THAT’S RIGHT! “One of the biggest responsibilities”. Let me prove it to you. Ask yourself what would you love to hear as your guests are leaving? Could it be…?

“WOW that was the most fun I’ve ever had at a wedding, your reception was absolutely beautiful, every detail was perfect!” If that’s what you want to hear, then finding the best DJ is the most important job you’ll have when planning your reception. This is because the DJ has one of the biggest roles in creating your perfect day. You need to place a lot of TRUST and CONFIDENCE in this person. Why, you ask? Well consider this; you’re probably going to spend thousands of dollars on a reception site, catering, flowers and a photographer to name a few expenses. While all these components are important, what do you think most people remember about your reception? Here are the most common top 3 answers:

1. the Fun
2. the Food
3. the Location

Keeping this in mind, let me ask you this; if the location is breath-taking and the food is “to die for”, could a bad performance by your DJ sour the whole day? Conversely, if the location poses logistic problems and the food is just o.k. could a spectacular, fun-filled, jammed packed dance floor make up for those problems?

If you answered yes to both questions you now understand how important the DJ is. The reality is, you spend so much time and money to create the perfect reception it seems ashamed to ruin it by choosing the wrong DJ. So what’s a nervous bride to do? Get the best DJ now!

I know that if you’re reading this your in the process of gathering information. Booking your entertainment should be a top priority. Doesn’t it make sense that the best DJs book early? (as early as 12-18 months in advance) This means you need to find someone now. The less time you have, the more you need my help.

I’m a retired DJ of 25 years and my goal is to help you understand the DJs role by revealing a DJ secret that most people in the business don’t want you to know.

DJ Secret #1: The majority of brides’ think the DJ’s role is to make a couple of announcements and play good music. This is because that’s all they see. While these are very important to the success of your reception they only represent one-third of the DJs responsibilities. The other two-thirds of the DJs role happens behind the scenes. Helping you plan and managing the flow of the day’s events is just as important as playing the right music. Consider this; the function manager’s role is to make sure the food is hot and on time. That’s their job. When the food service is finished they’re gone. But the DJ is there from the beginning to the end. The timing of the food is only one of a number of factors the DJ needs to consider. A keen awareness of every aspect of your reception is the key to maintaining a flow that results in a packed dance floor the rest of the night. You might be asking yourself “how does a DJ prepare for all these factors?”

The best DJs begin their preparations far in advance. Over the course of several conversations with the couple, the DJ should have a good feel for what they are looking for. The final details will be carefully choreographed at the planning meeting with bride a week or so before the reception. Here is where the bride discusses her vision of the perfect reception (order of events, music, announcements, etc…) It is the DJs responsibility to work with the bride in developing a time-line for all the special moments. Together the bride and the DJ should have a clear understanding of exactly when these moments will take place. If the DJ did his job correctly the bride should leave this meeting 100% confident that the DJ will make her vision a reality.

Carrying out your vision the day of your reception takes a team effort.

The best DJs contact the bride’s wedding vendors before the reception to go over the agenda. This is where any conflict with food service or photography issues should be discussed. By doing this the DJ can avoid any obstacles that could cause the reception to get off schedule. You can bet a wedding team that understands and agrees on the bride’s vision will work more smoothly behind the scenes to make it happen.

What does this mean to you? You should be looking for a DJ who can reassure you they represent your needs behind the scenes; that they are working for you. I can tell you this; there will always be wrinkles at the reception that the vendors must work out. But a wedding team (led by the DJ) that is on the same page will handle it without you ever finding out.

Article by: Michael McCarthy