How to Choose Between DJs
“Awesome article on choosing between a band
and a DJ. My fiancée and I decided the
DJ route is the way to go for us, but now it’s my job to pick the most kick ass
DJ St. Louis has to offer. Do you have any tips on choosing between different
DJs. Oh, and none of them will let you
attend a function they are putting on, disrespectful to the clients (or
something like that).
You found some good news. Do you really
want to attend random functions of random people you don’t know, just to hear
the random DJ? I mean, yes, that would be helpful for your decision, and yes,
we (half-heartedly) recommend doing just that. But trust us–you dodged a
bullet. It’s sort of like if you go on a beach vacation and “forget” your
jogging shoes. Oh no, you can’t go jogging, you have to sleep in, instead.
Damn.
Plenty of experts suggest that you get
technical. They instruct you to ask your DJs about his sub-woofers, about the
specs of his lighting system, etc. Screw
that. You’re not really going to know what you’re talking about, and he’ll
secretly laugh at you.
Ask other friends who have recently gotten
married. Ask your other vendors. Hell,
as geeky as this sounds, even ask your co-workers. If all that yields nothing,
you’re stuck doing things the old-fashioned way: google.
And we know, we know, it’s a crapshoot.
When we just googled Best St. Louis wedding DJs, we got 87 pages of
shot-in-the-dark, standalone businesses. A better option: check out sites like
OneWed.com or MyWedding.com, which aggregate vendors and provide user
reviews. In this case, there’s something
to the wisdom of crowds. Call me lazy, but if I see one vendor who has 17 user
reviews with an average of 4.7, and they charge the same as the dude with only
1 rating (2 stars), well, that’s not exactly an agonizing decision. Why
over-think it, right?
How to Pick a Band or DJ for Your Wedding
Picking the right sound and mix of
entertainment on your wedding day will not only help set the tone but also
ensure your guests have a night to remember. Here, a few of the industry’s top
music experts share their advice on how to pick a wedding musician or DJ and
what to ask before you make a decision.
Match Your Band To Your Style
“When choosing a band, ask for their
song list and make sure that they specialize in the genres that you like best.
Find out their policy about taking specific song requests and what their
approach is to making announcements to make sure it fits in with your style
Pick A Genre
“Know what type of music you like and
what kind of experience you want your guests to have
Pay Attention to the Band Leader
“Always ensure the band has a very
experienced emcee or band leader that is a part of the band. This person is the
communicator for the wedding coordinator to the guests
Look for Passion
“I really love having true musicians
for weddings—working with a talented performer who might DJ on the weekends for
extra cash, or a bluegrass trio who loves random small gig
How to Choose Your Wedding DJ
It’s time to add another key player to your
supplier squad! You may have chosen your wedding’s key songs, but now you’re
going to need to hire someone to play them. Your wedding DJ will be responsible
for making sure the energy stays up from dawn ‘til dusk (and probably long after),
so you’ll want to find one with awesome emcee skills and a killer tracklist.
Sort out the important stuff
Step one is taking the time to write out
any wedding details that may affect your decision. Knowing things like your
venue size, venue style, budge and wedding theme will help you figure out
exactly what you’re looking for in a DJ. You should also note the genres of
music you love, your favourite artists and your most played songs – those will
come in handy when you start interviewing potential candidates.
Do your research
Now it’s time to do a little bit of
homework (it may not sound fun, but it is!). Scroll through our wedding
supplier listings, check out Instagram and ask your recently married friends
and/or relatives for recommendations – you’re sure to find a handful of amazing
options by the time you’re finished. Pay close attention to their reviews and
ratings – comments from couples who have used their services in the past are
super insightful.
Get in touch
Once you’ve selected your faves, start
reaching out. If you’re using WeddingWire, simply click the blue “Request more
information” button at the top of a listing and it’ll connect you right away.
If you’re using another method, reaching out via their website or through email
is your best bet (no sliding into DMs – Those are easy to miss!). Remember to
ask key questions like, “are you available on my wedding date?”, “what is your
rate?” and “can I see a copy of your standard contract?”. If you’re satisfied
with their answers, book a meeting with them IRL or schedule a Skype call.
Sample their work
When you’re meeting with your candidates,
you’ll want to do a deeper dive into their work. Yes, you’ve probably already
sampled a playlist or two, but at this stage you’ll want to get a bit more. Ask
your potential DJs about their music repertoire and give them a bit of insight
into the types of songs you love. You’ll also want to let them know exactly
what you’ll be needing music and emceeing for (i.e. the ceremony, the
reception, dinner, the after party). This will help them customize a tracklist
just for your event.
Choosing your DJ set
Choosing your DJ set is the most important
part of preparing for any Stick It On party. Initially you might think it’s
easy, you’ll just stick three great songs down and that’s that. But will the
songs you choose fit the event you’re attending? Do the three songs work well
together as one set? How do you pick just three songs from the countless
hundreds that you love?
Once you start to think about choosing your
DJ set you’ll realise it takes quite a bit of thought. You may LOVE Rage
Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name of, but will it suit your friend’s
tastes? We know from experience that people who agonise over what to play are
the people that really get it. Have a dozen or so songs in mind to whittle down
to a final three . A three song set needs to flow – two up-tempo electro songs
followed by a slow acoustic track is going to sound strange. It will also break
up the rhythm on the dancefloor. However, a chilled out number flowing into a
mid-tempo tune finished off by a high energy anthem will work. That, ladies and
gentlemen, is how DJs build their sets.
The right songs for the right party…
You’ll know in advance the type of event
you’ll be attending and can make safe assumptions about what the atmosphere
will be like. Use that as your starting point for choosing your DJ set, and
ideas for the right songs will soon follow. You’ll probably change your mind
and start again, get frustrated and have your mind go blank – but when you
settle on your set, play it and the dancefloor responds it will have all been
worthwhile.
Tips To Pick Your DJ
Finding the right DJ is imperative to
ensure your wedding happens just as you planned. A great DJ can take your
wedding to a level you never imagined. However, a bad DJ can make it a
nightmare. Below are 5 tips to guide you through the process of finding the
perfect DJ for your wedding
Experience/Professionalism
One of the single most determining factors
in the decision making process should be experience. You can plan every detail
to the exact second, but no wedding occurs exactly as planned. There is a flow
to weddings and an experienced DJ will make any change or delay appear like it
was planned and rehearsed. In fact, a proactive DJ will anticipate common
situations and prepare accordingly. You spent hours upon hours planning,
scheduling and stressing about every single detail, the last thing you want is
to do is spend your entire wedding worrying that something will be missed. A
great DJ can put you at ease because he or she has all the necessary details
and the ability to improvise should things change or fall behind.
Price
Deciding a budget for entertainment can be
very challenging because prices can range anywhere from $300 to $3,000. Many DJ
companies offer various pricing packages along with a la carte options, travel
fees, and/or per hour add-ons. Similar to buying a car, you have to be aware of
what the overall price will be after all the add-ons, extra time, additional
audio system (for the ceremony, cocktail hour etc…), and additional fees.
Meet with the DJ and make sure he or she
will actually be you DJ
Make sure to meet with your DJ before you
book. You want to get a feel for his/her personality and mannerisms. Especially
if you want your DJ to also emcee the event, overall appearance and
professionalism is key. You should feel comfortable having conversation during
the consultation.
Personality/Emcee-ability
You need to make sure that the emcee you
hire for your wedding fits the style of wedding your looking for. One of the
best clues to discovering the right person is the first impression you get when
you meet. Some DJ’s try to be too outgoing, over the top and end up sounding
“cheesy”. Other DJ’s are more DJ’s than anything and have a hard time making
announcements and speaking in front of large groups. A good DJ/Emcee will find
a healthy balance between the two. For most weddings, the Bride and Groom just
want their guests to have a great time so the DJ has to know how to use the
microphone effectively.