Q: How do I search for a DJ?
A: First things first, don't ask an entertainment company representative or DJ "how much do you charge?"
You need to ask more important questions like- Do they have a contract, references, and how many years have they been in business? Are they insured and do they have proof of insurance? Can you see a video of their performance prior to hiring them? Do they have back up equipment on site (IN) the room at your reception?
Speak to the DJ that will be doing your wedding reception, DO NOT email correspond only. This is very important as the DJ announces your bridal party introductions, and coordinates the entire evening. You don't want someone that sounds like Mickey Mouse on the microphone, and your DJ's voice quality and experience makes a difference in the announcements.
After you have all of this information, and the music selection they carry, and any options you would like, then ask about the price. The price you will pay is proportionate to the experience, years in business, and overall quality of the entertainer or company you are hiring. Don't buy cheap! You get what you pay for in any service oriented business! If it looks and sounds too good to be true, it is!
Q: Should I go see the DJ at a Wedding first before I hire them?
A: Absolutely not! If an entertainment company or DJ offers this option, don't hire them and move on. Why? Because most if not all facilities frown on this practice and don't like uninvited guests dropping by at a Wedding Reception they were not invited to. It also shows a lack of good judgment on the part of the DJ and company the DJ works for in that they already have an obligation to the client that hired them that day, and ALL of their focus should be on that client only, not a prospective buyer dropping by.
You might also consider that the DJ has an entire room of prospective clients, so the DJ's performance that day must be perfect for his/her clients, guests, and to keep up the reputation of the DJ's company as they are referred by that facility. What you might see may not be what you would like anyway. The DJ should be doing what the client wants for their special day. This is why a video gives you a starting point to discuss what it is YOU want for your day even if you don't like what you see when you view it. See how much the entertainer/DJ is willing to customize his/her services for you.
Q: What does the DJ do at my wedding besides play music?
A: The DJ should coordinate with the staff at your facility before the day begins to understand the time line of events. Each facility is different and may have an alternate schedule or time line for each event. The DJ/MC should also suggest a meeting of the other vendors such as your photographer and video crew, so all are on the same page with regard to the schedule and what each vendor's obligation to you is for the day. The DJ/MC introduces the bridal party, and the first dance, the toasts and prayer, formal dances and bridal party dance, and the cutting of the cake and garter and bouquet toss.
Your DJ/MC will be playing music according to the time of the evening and the mood that needs to be set. Dinner and cocktails are a time for softer, more subtle background music so your guests can talk and enjoy the meal. After dinner and the formal dances, it's time to open the floor for dancing and celebration, and so the music and style will change accordingly, as will the volume.
A good DJ/MC will be doing quite a bit of work well before your Wedding day, and the total time the DJ is doing this work will sometimes exceed the hours in your whole day. So contrary to popular belief, a DJ spends hours preparing His/her documents, music, and schedule with you before your day, and the music used for your introductions should be special, not just thrown together at the last minute. So if your Wedding is scheduled for five hours, the DJ should be putting in an eight hour day minimum with set up and break down time, not counting travel to and from the venue. The DJ also spends quite a bit of time with you on the phone and in the office before your Wedding day going over all the details. If this is not the case, you did not get your money's worth!
One last very important fact: You will spend more money on the meal, cake, invitations, video, photography, and the facility than you would ever spend any other day of the year on any other event. The music and the talent of the DJ/MC can make or break your celebration. Don't cut corners on price here. It is a fact that at any price the entertainment at your Wedding is the smallest bill you will have for the whole day! Don't regret your choice, get a professional entertainer!