Interviewing a Wedding Dj

Most couples that are planning a wedding have never hired a wedding DJ before.  This is a very important aspect of weddingplanning as your wedding DJ will be a significant influence to the success of your reception.

When beginning the process of hiring your wedding entertainment, we suggest interviewing a few different companies to see who fits into your wedding day vision.  However, this meeting can almost be uncomfortable for the couple if they don't know what types of questions to ask.  A great wedding DJ should provide you with enough information that would answer the most important questions before the couple even has to ask, however this isn't always the case.  This article is meant to give you a strong foundation of what information you should be looking for during the interview process.

First, it's a good idea to discuss with your fiance what you see for your wedding entertainment.  Do you want a low key event with not much interaction from your wedding DJ, just great music?  Do you want your wedding DJ to be highly involved in guest interaction - leading line dances, encouraging singing for kisses, starting a conga line, leading an interactive centerpiece give-a-way, etc.?  Or do you want your wedding DJ to fall somewhere in the middle?  Once you have an idea of what you are looking for, it will make the interview and decision making process much easier.

The next step is to meet with several different wedding DJ companies.  We advise couples to interview DJ's that are weddingspecific, as this type of DJ has many different responsibilities than a club or party DJ.  Review The DJ - So Much More Than Music to learn more about these responsibilities.

Once you have your meeting(s) scheduled, jot down these questions and bring them with you to make sure they are answered during your meeting.   Be sure to include any other questions to ask your prospective wedding DJ that may be a little more personal or custom to your wedding day.

Here are several important questions to ask:

• Do you specialize in weddings?
• How long have you been a wedding DJ? How many weddings have you done?
• What are the responsibilities of a wedding DJ?
• What is your style - conservative, interactive, etc?
• Can I provide a requested song list and a do not play list?
• Do you take requests from guests?
• Do you have dance floor lights?  Are they included in your price?
• Are your microphones wireless?
• Do you have a back up in case of an emergency?
• Do you have videos from weddings and testimonials/references that I can check out?
• What happens if you are sick on my wedding day?
• What are your packages and prices? Will you do overtime on the spot and what is the rate?
• How far will you travel?
• Do you provide a written contract?
• What will you wear?
• Are you insured?
• Will we meet face-to-face prior to the wedding?
• Do you have any planning materials for us?
• If I book with your company, am I guaranteed to get the specific DJ we choose?