#1:
Who
am I Talking to?
Are
You the Person that will be Providing Our Music and Entertainment?
(Very Important!)
Will the person you are
talking to and
meeting with be the Disc Jockey at your event? If so, will they
guarantee this by putting it in the contract? Disc Jockey Companies
may sign for your reception and then send out a
any Disc Jockey, one who doesn’t even really
work for the company you hired, to cover your reception. Without any
advance warning, your reception is then put into the hands of a
total stranger who may be less qualified and who might not fully
understand exactly what kind of a reception you have been hoping and
planning for. Some have even gone so far as to show up for the grand
entrance and/or dinner, and then duck out for another reception,
leaving their "assistant" to finish the job. This highly unethical
bait and switch routine has given the Disc Jockey industry a bad
reputation.
#2: Is
this your Business or Hobby?
Can they meet with
you at your convenience, even if it is during the day? Do they have
the time to return your phone calls promptly? This is the most
common problem in the Disc Jockey industry. They don’t really
have to care if they do an outstanding job.
#3: Will
you Meet with us in Person for Details and Help us Plan Our
Reception?
Are they willing to meet with you ? Will
they take the time to meet with you multiple times, if needed? ·
Will they help you plan your reception to be exactly the way you
want it to be?
#4:
Will
you Coordinate our Entire Reception For Us?
Do they
work from a format to ensure that your reception will flow smoothly? ·
Are they willing to work with your other vendors and keep them
informed? Most Disc Jockeys will tell you they coordinate the
events at your reception. To verify whether they actually do or not,
ask to see their detailed format sheet and timeline, which they should be using at each
event to make sure everything is in place and all the events will
flow together smoothly.
#5: What
do you Offer that Makes Your Services Unique or Better?
Do they
have creative ideas for customizing and personalizing your
reception? Will they keep your guests’ attention where it
belongs—on you? Will they incorporate your ideas with the
personality and style you desire? Unfortunately, many people think
that Disc Jockeys are a dime a dozen. However, based on the way most
Disc Jockeys promote themselves and perform, this misconception is
very understandable. If you want your reception to be unique and
memorable, then you should find a Disc Jockey who is unique and
memorable as well. Each Disc Jockey will have their own personality,
skills and ideas. So, take the time to find the person who will best
meet your needs.
#6:
What
are your Business Policies?
Do their standards meet
and/or exceed your expectations? Some Disc Jockeys are
notorious for doing the most inappropriate things at wedding
receptions. Things like helping themselves to the open bar, hitting
on your Maid of Honor. If they don’t have standards that govern
their behavior, they are telling you that just about anything
could happen at your reception.
#7:
Should I Expect any kind of Surprises or Hidden Charges?
Do they charge extra for basic equipment such as a cordless
microphone? · Are there additional charges for planning meetings or
set up time? · Will they buy any music they may need for your
reception at no extra cost? It is all too common to find Disc
Jockeys who will have extra "hidden charges" for things that should
be included as a normal part of their service. They will charge you
to bring a cordless microphone or additional speakers. They also
have loading fees for stairs or even an extra charge for additional
planning meetings. If they were already charging a professional
price for their service to begin with, this wouldn’t be necessary.
#8: What
is your Entertainment Experience?
What is their
entertainment background? Is their entertainment experience
limited just to Mobile Disc Jockey work? In order to provide the
best quality entertainment possible, each Disc Jockey should be
actively seeking to improve and broaden their entertainment
capabilities. Most Disc Jockeys aren’t fulfilling this important
detail because they fall into the categories described by Questions
#1 and #2, and therefore, don’t really care about improving their
services. People tend to become what they are committed to becoming.
The same is true for Disc Jockeys.
#9:
Do
you have the Skills to Deliver Announcements that are Clear and
Direct?
Do they have any public speaking experience
outside of Mobile Disc Jockey work? Do they have any speech and/or
vocal training? Are their announcements direct and to the point? If
you’ve ever seen someone try to get a crowd’s attention without the
proper vocal skills, then we need not say more. Or when they do open
their mouths, they don’t know what to say. Words like "uh" and "um"
get used too much and then your guests are left asking each other,
"What did he just say?" The person you choose as your Disc Jockey
will be your spokesperson and will be representing you to your
guests.
10: Do You Have Back Up Equipment and
Are You Insured?
11: Do You Have References That I May Speak With?
Most Important!
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We hope this information will help you find qualified and |
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professional entertainment for your event. |
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