Wedding Disc Jockeys

Hiring wedding DJs is just as important as hiring the right photographer for your wedding. A wedding DJ must be able to pull off all of the music without a hitch and offer music that you and your guests enjoy. Moreover, wedding disc jockeys must have fairly incredible, outgoing personalities.

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Wedding Disc Jockeys Introduction
Hiring wedding DJs is just as important as hiring the right photographer for your wedding. A wedding DJ must be able to pull off all of the music without a hitch and offer music that you and your guests enjoy. Moreover, wedding disc jockeys must have fairly incredible, outgoing personalities. Remember: you, your family members and your friends are going to be listening to the DJs interjection in between music selections. If you get DJs that are boring or that prattle on about nonsense, you can imagine that both you and your guests are going to grow bored fairly quickly.

Considering that wedding DJs take up a significant cost in terms of overall wedding expenditures, you are going to want to make sure you are getting all you can for your hard earned dollar. When you talk to DJs you will need to ask serious questions about their practices. You will also need to get a feel for the DJs personality. Is the DJ friendly? Do they seem able to communicate effectively? Do you think that the DJ is someone your friends and family will like?

When it comes to interviewing disc jockeys it is a good idea to interview several. By interviewing several different wedding disc jockeys you can ensure that you locate the one you will be most comfortable working with. Also, conducting several interviews will ensure that you get the very best offers available. You may find a DJ that offers a certain package for a certain price. If you approach another contract disc jockey with that price, they may be willing to match it to take you on as a client.

How to Hire a Contract DJ
When seeking disc jockey entertainment there are several paramount considerations. When first visiting an entertainment company, make sure you know exactly who the disc jockey is going to be. The person you first meet may not be the disc jockey that appears at your wedding. Some companies have more than one DJ and they alternate jobs. If that is the case, make sure you get a chance to meet and interview the person that will be doing the job that day. Then you can ensure that you know precisely whom you are dealing with. Remember: the disc jockey you interview may have a totally different method of operations than the contract disc jockey that actually arrives. Be sure to know what your dollar is paying for.

Find out how much experience the contract disc jockey has before you sign on the dotted line. How many weddings has the disc jockey performed? How many years has the disc jockey been in business? Does the disc jockey have any valid references? These are all important considerations to take under advisement before hiring disc jockey entertainment. Meanwhile, assess how the disc jockey works: can the disc jockey get your guests interested in dancing and having fun? No one wants to hire a DJ only to find that no one dances at the reception! See if you can witness the DJ on another performance before you hire them. Some people are happy to allow someone to watch the DJ in action so they can determine whether or not they want the DJ’s services.

More Hiring Tips
When interviewing DJs it is important to see if they will dress in attire that matches the theme of the wedding. If the wedding is formal, you will want a DJ that appears in formal dress. Some DJs may charge extra for formal attire. This should be worked out before the contract is signed.

Long before signing any contract, you are going to want to discuss a number of professional issues. Ask the disc jockey whether or not the company has the proper insurance to cover accidents. Imagine having a disc jockey show up to set up equipment at the reception. While carrying in the incredible amount of equipment they have, they unintentionally damage some property. Who is going to pay for the damaged property? If the disc jockey doesn’t have the appropriate insurance policy in place, you are going to be held responsible for the damaged property: certainly an issue that you want to avoid. Weddings are expensive enough without having to pay additional fees for unexpected accidents.

Next, be sure to question how the disc jockey entertainment professional makes his musical selections. Do you get to choose the music that is lined up for the special evening? If so, how much of the music format do you get to define? Does the disc jockey have enough material to accept requests and are they completely familiar with today’s popular music? Will the disc jockey have enough material to keep all guests satisfied? These are some pretty important questions and considerations that simply cannot be overlooked.

Alternatives to Hiring DJs
There are some couples that prefer to have live bands at their reception to hiring wedding DJs. Even when hiring live bands there are some important things to consider. First, the couple should be completely familiar with the band that they are working with, their style and their music selection. Second, couples must realize that there is more room for error when it comes to a live band playing.

The couple to be wed need to consider if all of their guests are really going to enjoy a live band as much as they do. Also, will the live band have enough diversity to keep the guests from growing bored with the wedding entertainment? Further, will the live band take responsibility for all of the wedding announcements that are required? A lot of things that DJs do will be required of the band selected. Will the band dress in appropriate attire and does the band offer a contract? Again, as it is with DJs, hopefully the band has insurance to cover any unexpected accidents. These are all things a couple needs to look into if they intend on booking live entertainment for their wedding day.

Essentially, making the choice between hiring a professional live band or disc jockey entertainment is a major decision. The couple will ultimately want to make the choice that is most comfortable for them. Finally, cost may be a consideration: live entertainment may or may not cost more, depending on the band hired. If the couple is on a tight budget such additional costs must be reviewed and taken into advisement.

Commercial DJs
Commercial DJs will play popular tunes at weddings. They usually have an extensive musical library, one that the couple can choose different music from. While it is important that the couple select a good deal of music for the reception, by no means should they pre-select all the music to be played on the day in question. A couple will certainly want to select the song for the first dance of the bride and groom, the dance between the father and daughter, and the dance between the groom and his mother.

When selecting music for any dance it is important that you pay attention to the lyrics of the music as much as you pay attention to the tune, if the song has lyrics. The wrong lyrics can prove to be disastrous! It is important that the lyrics suit the moment: there are songs that are specific to situations; for instance, the father and bride dance should have a song with lyrics that pertain to both the father and daughter.

Allowing commercial DJs to select some of the song music will ensure a good mix in the songs selected. The DJ should be completely familiar with the traditional tunes played at weddings. Further, they should have such selections in their extensive music library. If you are not sure if the DJ has all of the popular wedding selections asked for at receptions, be sure to ask in advance.

Disc Jockey Entertainment Routines
Most disc jockeys will plan to arrive at your reception about an hour to an hour and a half before the reception begins. This gives DJs ample time to set up all of their equipment and to get their music selections prepared. Many DJs have all of the sound equipment needed for receptions, including speakers and microphones. Some microphones are wireless and can be used by the matron or maid of honor and best man to make toasts.

Some DJs will introduce the parents of the bride and groom as they enter the reception area. Also, when the bridal party arrives at the reception they are typically introduced to the guests as they enter the reception. The DJs that are hired will introduce each of the bridesmaids as they are accompanied by groomsmen, followed by the maid or matron of honor and the best man, as well as the entrance of the bride and groom.

If you do decide to have a buffet reception instead of a sit down dinner, the DJ is going to need to know. The DJ can make sure that your guests remain orderly when it comes time to get food. The DJ will announce the different tables that can go up to the buffet, thereby ensuring that there is no crowding in line. In regard to dining, you may want to speak with the DJ about playing some nice quiet music during the meal. Many DJs play soft music or instrumental music while people are dining.

The individual responsible for the disc jockey entertainment will also provide special music for special moments during the wedding. For example, the appropriate music will be needed when the bridal bouquet is tossed, when the garter is removed, and when the wedding cake is cut. Again, this is something that you should discuss with the disc jockey in advance.

DJs and Appropriate Music: Finding Lyrics For Song Selection
When looking for the right songs to choose couples will want to closely consider the lyrics of the music they select. The wording must be precise: one lyric out of place and the entire moment that the song was selected for can be ruined. So what happens if a couple likes certain music but they do not necessarily know all of the words associated with certain songs? How can you find out what the lyrics are to popular music?

Some CDs are sold with lyrics inside their jackets and this is a good place to look, that is, if you already own the CD. Paying for CDs just to get lyrics is kind of silly and a waste of money. Instead, flip through your current collection to see if you have lyrics on hand. If not, it is time to ask the DJ if they have lyrics to the popular tunes you are considering: they may have them on hand for you to review.

The Internet is an excellent source for researching song lyrics. In fact, there is really no cost to you when you search for lyrics online. You can view the lyrics and read them to assess their poetic quality to determine if they really are acceptable for your wedding or reception.

Music, the Disc Jockey and Your Wedding
There are some disc jockeys that will happily provide the music for your wedding in addition to providing music for your reception. Of course, there are additional fees associated for the additional work involved. Nevertheless, hiring a DJ that will do both jobs will take care of all matters pertaining to music and you will not be forced to seek out someone to provide music at the wedding.

The music that pertains to your wedding is divided into four categories that the DJ is going to need to be prepared for. You will need to choose music for the prelude, the processional, the recessional and the postlude sections of your wedding ceremony. First, the prelude involves about a half hour of time before the bridesmaids and the bride walk down the aisle. It is meant to get guests relaxed and to keep them entertained as they wait for the wedding to begin. You will need to keep the location in mind when choosing music so that you can make selections that are appropriate.

The next stage is the processional and that is where the bridal party begins to enter the area where the wedding is taking place. Usually the music will start softly as the ushers, bridesmaids (accompanied by groomsmen), the ring bear and the flower girl make their entrances. By the time the flower girl walks down the aisle, the music crescendos, working toward the moment when the bride will enter the room. A separate selection is then used for the entry of the bride.

After the completion of the ceremony, the recessional is performed. Once the bride and groom share their first kiss as husband and wife and the completion of their marriage is made known, the recessional begins. The recessional should have happy, lively, and jovial music as its selection. Finally the recessional is followed up by the postlude: this music should be soft but celebratory and is played until all guests have left the building or they have worked their way through what is call a receiving line where the couple shakes their hands and thanks them for their attendance.

How Much Does a Disc Jockey Cost?
The cost of a disc jockey varies from one entertainment service to another. The price usually ranges from 300 dollars and up. What causes the price to vary is whether or not the disc jockey is providing the music for the wedding and the reception, if the disc jockey is required to wear formal attire, and how long the music must be provided for.

There are directories available on the Internet that you can use to find wedding disc jockeys in your area. You can also spend some time comparing the packages offered and the prices. Again, you will want to interview several disc jockeys to ensure you are getting the very best deal for your money. Bear in mind the personality of the disc jockey, their style, and their music format and then take costs into consideration.

Your reception will be a fantastic event if you take the appropriate measures in choosing the right disc jockey entertainment. The DJ can make or break an event. An important event like a wedding reception is nothing to take a chance on: research the DJs you choose carefully.


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