Wedding Date And Venue
Its important to know the exact date and venue of your wedding before hiring a wedding DJ, especially if your wedding is during peak season. Great DJs book up fast, so make sure you have all the necessary information beforehand to ensure your desired DJ is available for your wedding. Fridays or Sundays are typically less busy, while Saturdays are the busiest day for weddings.
What Genres Can You Cover
What you need to know: Before meeting with any potential DJ or bandleader, have a conversation with your fiance to figure out the overall musical vibe you’re going for at the reception. Then, ask the DJ or bandleader what type of music and genres they usually play or specialize in to determine if they’re the right fit. For example, if you’re hoping to create a glam, Old Hollywood-inspired mood, then you wouldn’t want to book an indie folk band. DJs usually have a wide and extensive library of songs, but it’s still a good idea to ask about specific genres they tend to gravitate towards.
Do You Provide Other Services Such As Video Projection Lighting Photo Booth Ect
What you need to know: In addition to providing the music, some vendors can also provide additional entertainment services, such as special lighting and effects, fog machines, dancefloor and wall projection . Some companies also offer photo booth rentals that you can add to your package, so its always a good idea to ask about any other entertainment extras they might offer.
Check out our ultimate list of Melbourne Wedding DJs.
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How Many Members Are In The Band Are There Different Options As Far As How Many Musicians/vocalists We Can Hire
What you need to know: If you’ve decided to book a band for your wedding, you’ll need to know how many musicians and vocalists will be performing in order to make sure your venue can accommodate everyone comfortably. Also ask if they’re flexible about the number of musicians and vocalists you can hire. Booking a smaller group of band members might be a way to accommodate a tight music budget . If you’re hiring a wedding DJ, ask if they will be performing solo or if they work in tandem with a partner.
Wedding Dj Questions & Answers
Hiring a wedding DJ is probably the most important decision youll make in terms of its impact on the success of your wedding reception, so here are the most important Wedding DJ Questions and Answers I have to offer. Its important that you find a DJ that has a style and philosophy that matches your vision for your wedding to find out if Im a good match for you, read about me and why you should hire me. I would love to work with you to create the perfect soundtrack for your wedding, and help you throw a legendary party that is talked about for years to come Like this one:
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Youre Playing To A Mixed Crowd What Music Do You Have
A good DJ will keep the dance floor busy, but perhaps not with all of the people all of the time. Some guests may not have seen each other for years and just want to sit and chat. So if some people are just sitting down but having fun dont worry.
A good DJ will be able to read a crowd and blend different musical styles together. It is always a good idea to discuss what music you want to hear. Be aware that a DJ who plays only the latest banging tunes might be enjoyed by a younger crowd but it may mean older people leave early. If youre looking for a DJ who can mix well ask him or her for a demo CD of their own mixes.
You might like to give the DJ some guidelines or a list of 10 or 15 tracks to fit into the evening that have gone down well at previous family weddings. Couples who try and play list the whole night very often handicap the DJ who will be unable to fit in requests from guests or play a few of their own choices that they know will get the dance floor shaking.
Can I Have A Sample Of How You Mix Transitions From Song To Song
This is a VERY important question! Transitions are everything, and they can be kind of like a signature for each DJ ask to hear a sample to make sure things feel perfect to you so that you can rest assured there will be no awkward moments on the dance floor! AJ Williams, Founder & Creative Director, AJ Events
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Questions To Ask A Wedding Dj Or Band
Ready to add a wedding DJ or band to your vendor squad? Here are all the essential questions youll want answers to.
Music is an integral part of your wedding, so you need just the right wedding DJ or band to handle it. Hunting down the one can be a bit taxing, but in the end it all pays off. From asking about their tracklist to getting the lowdown on their entourage, these are all the essential questions you need to be asking potential music vendors.
How Much Do You Charge And Do I Need To Pay A Deposit
According to Bridebook, the average cost of a Wedding in the UK in 2019 was just over £16,000. The average spend for evening entertainment was £915. This varies by supplier and region. Inevitably some DJs will undercut and charge as little as £150, but when the average cost of a cake is £300 and a Photographer is £1100, I would recommend saving some budget for entertainment because the Wedding Reception is one of the biggest parts of your celebration and is often one of the lasting memories that guests have!
I have a range of three packages available to suit a variety of budgets and venue sizes, starting at £450. Fancy adding a bit more lighting or removing something else? Ill work with you to create a bespoke set-up and quote for you – after all one size doesnt fit all!
As with most Wedding suppliers, I will ask for a deposit to secure your preferred date. I will also supply a contract, to gives piece of mind that the date is saved and this is a firm booking. The balance is payable in advance of the event.
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Pricing And Other Business Details
How Long Have You Been A Dj
The number of years someone has been a DJ will give you some indication of their experience level.
A wedding is a VERY important occasion, and you dont want your DJs first wedding to be your own. Be sure to ask how many years they have been a DJ for and how many gigs have been wedding related. Some DJs may have a ton of experience as a nightclub DJ but might not have a good idea of what to play in a wedding setting.
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Collaborate On A Detailed Timeline
Your timeline is the script that your DJ will use to MC your event. Schedule check-ins to review the timeline as it progresses from a draft to final version. Ensure that it includes things like the phonetic pronunciation of each individual being announced and specific fade-out timings for special songs, like the First Dance. Give your DJ a draft of the schedule ahead of time so he can highlight risks or technical dependencies around the flow of the event and suggest edits as needed.
Tips For Hiring An Awesome Wedding Dj
Your wedding entertainment is one way you can make sure your guests have a blast. It can also be another way of adding your own personal touch to the event. Your wedding is a party, after all! You want to make it a kick-ass party that your guests wont soon forget. Whether your goal is to get people moving on the dance floor or to just have some great music accompanying the reception, hiring a wedding DJ can be a great option.
Unlike a live band, a DJ can play the actual recordings that your guests love and crossfade them so theres no awkward silence between songs. Which DJ you hire will depend in great part on what kind of music you want and what your guests will be excited to hear. If you want a dance party, youll find plenty of DJs who can give you one. You can also find DJs who will customize a playlist for you, whatever your tastes. Here are some tips to keep in mind when hiring a wedding DJ.
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The Context For Song Requests
As opposed to just a general list of songs you’d like to hear, Erica Taylor, co-founding partner of Tinsel Experiential Design, encourages her clients to provide some context. “For instance, ‘Hot In Herre’ by Nelly was our high school anthem and will keep my girls on the dance floor,” or “my mom just loves Stevie Wonder so she’ll get a kick out of anything by him.” This way, your DJ can also get a sense of what other songs, artists, or genres to play.
What Music Will Be Provided During Breaks
What you need to know: All musicians, and especially musicians and vocalists, will need to take breaks at some points during the reception. One important question to ask your DJ for your wedding is what type of music they usually play during those breaks so that everyone is aligned and knows what to expect.
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Do You Know Our Reception Space And Its Acoustics As Well As Its Power And Amplification Requirements If Not Will You Check It Out Beforehand
Your musicians may need an extension cord, a backup generator or additional supplies, which is necessary to know beforehand. If your potential band is experienced, they may be familiar with the wedding venuewhich is great! If it’ll be their first time performing there, though, ask if they’re willing to check out the space or connect with the venue’s staff to confirm if they’ll need backup equipment.
Can You Show Us Your Music Library Or Set List
Among the questions to ask a wedding band or DJ, this is a biggie. A wedding DJ will likely have a music collection you can browse through, while a band will have a list of songs they can perform. Ask if you can take a lookyou want to make sure theres a wide selection! Tip: some bands will be willing to learn a special song or two just for you. If you have something specific in mind but dont see it included on the playlist, dont automatically consider it a deal breaker. Ask if they would be willing to learn it for youyou might be pleasantly surprised!
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Is My Wedding Date Available
Youll have set your wedding date long before you try to book the entertainment so if you have your heart set on a certain band or DJ , then enquire right at the start of your planning process and see if you can hold a date for both the venue and the band as you decide. Try to book musicians at least six months before the date, as certain times of year get very busy.
Are The Ceremony And Cocktail Hour Included In Your Price
Many DJs offer the parts of the wedding a la carte: the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The main issue with this is, almost every couple needs a microphone at their ceremony. So you could book a DJ for the reception only, and then two months before your wedding someone at your venue asks you who is providing the mic at your ceremony. So please ask your DJ which parts of the wedding, and how many hours, are included.
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Can You Double As An Emcee
A lot of couples expect that a DJ will also function as a master of ceremonies , making announcements about when dinners ready or if its time for a toast. While in most cases this is true, its better to double-check with the DJ instead of assuming anything. On a similar note, do ask how they handle the crowds, or lack thereof, during the reception. Will they motivate your guests to get on the dance floor or do they simply switch up the music until the floor fills itself? This may be important if you have a certain atmosphere you want to create at your wedding. For example, a guy shouting, Lets make some noise! at a highly formal event may not be your cup of tea. In which case, asking ahead of time can prevent problems later.
Better Questions To Ask Your Wedding Dj
Ask questions that rephrase these: Is this DJ any good? Will they embarrass me? Will my guests dance? Are they quoting me a fair price?
So you’re planning your wedding and decided to hire a DJ. But how will you know if they are any good and if they are giving you a fair price? There are many articles like this online , but this one is different. I’m a DJ, and speak to a lot of couples. Most of them have no idea what to ask. In this article, I tell you exactly what to ask to make sure you get a good DJ.
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