TEN TOP TIPS TO HIRE THE PERFECT WEDDING DJ

Apr 24
09:41

2012

John Cena Smith

John Cena Smith

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Here available top ten tips for hire the perfect Wedding DJ for make perfect your weddings.

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Booking the right DJ for weddings is key in making sure your day ends on a high with all your family and friends celebrating with you on the dance floor. To help you make sure you get it right here are ten top tips from one of our best DJs. Rory Gleeson has been a wedding DJ for nearly 10 years and has played at over 400 weddings.
1. Choose a full time DJAlways try and find out if your DJ is full time and is not a plumber during the week that does a bit of DJing at the weekend. You probably wouldn't choose a part time photographer or caterer. Choosing a full time DJ will ensure professionalism,TEN TOP TIPS TO HIRE THE PERFECT WEDDING DJ Articles experience and invariably ensure that he/she understands the importance of involving and interacting with your guests.
2. BudgetLike all wedding bands for hire, choosing the cheapest DJ is not a good idea. As with most things, you get what you pay for and this is certainly the case with DJs. A professional, experienced wedding DJ will not play for less than £350.00.
3. TestimonialsA professional DJ should be able to provide up to date testimonials to prove they are consistently doing a great job and that they are working regularly. Also make sure the previous clients/agencies are available to back up there testimonial.
4. Playing TimesAs a guide it is generally best to have your DJ play for a maximum of 3/4 hours. Have background music playing for a while beforehand and try not to have your first dance too early. A good guide time is be 8.30pm followed by the party music straight afterwards until 12/1am. Always give you guests a good chance to relax after the long meal and speeches before rushing into the evening event.
5. PlaylistWhen preparing your playlist for the DJ choose between 15 & 30 songs, any more than that and he/she will find it difficult to create a good mix. Explain what styles you like and do not like and also what songs you definitely do not want played. Don't go overboard with obscure/heavy songs that you may like but won’t necessarily get the party going. A decent mix of old and new goes down well and played by the right DJ would be blended seamlessly.
6. MeetingAlthough it will cost a little bit more, a meeting prior to the big day is always recommended with the DJ. You can make sure you are happy with their appearance, personality etc. I would always recommended meeting at the venue itself if possible so you can iron out any problems with the room/load in etc beforehand. If budget is tight a phone call to go through everything is a good second option.
7. Music MixDon't be afraid to ask the DJ to prepare you a mix of say 10 of your favourite tunes beforehand, most professional DJ's should have the capability of producing these mix cd's and it will give you a good impression of his mixing ability.
8. EquipmentCheck out the DJ's sound system and lighting system before you book. They should be able to provide photographs of their set up. Ask how loud the sound system is and if it will be powerful enough for your room/venue. Also enquire about the lighting they have, a decent wedding lighting rig would consist of 4 to 6 lights on a T'bar, anything more than this could end up annoying your guests, the lighting should be pointing onto the dance floor only not illuminating the whole room.
9. Safety Certificates/InsuranceMake sure your DJ has P.A.T testing stickers and certificates for all of his  electrical equipment. This will ensure he looks after his kit and that it won't blow up during your first dance. Also, any DJ worth his salt should have full public liability insurance up to £2 million.
10. Be Fussy, it’s your big day!!!
And the end of the day you are paying good money for a professional band for weddings so make sure he knows exactly what not to play as well as what you like. Have a long conversation with him about all aspects of the night, if you can't get hold of him or he doesn't return your calls then he probably isn't worth booking. This is one of the most important days of your life and you need to make sure it ends on a high with all your family and friends celebrating with you on the dance floor.
These lists are compiled from both personal experience and the excellent request lists given to us consistently over the years. Helping us to discover new and rediscover classic music that moves the dance floor week in, week out at some of the finest events across the UK.