What you should ask your Wedding DJ before hiring them; We at New Beginnings DJ'swant your wedding everything you want it to be, even if you don't hire us.So we have a developed a list of questions you should ask your DJ. By asking the questions below, you’ll know what to expect from your DJ and they’ll know what you expect from them. And by asking at least three DJs, you’ll be better informed to make the right choice. Let us explain some of the questions… A career DJ has much more at stake when it comes to providing full-time professional service. A DJ company with a solid reputation will not want to send another DJ to represent them. Once a DJ has gained experience and confidence, being an Emcee will come naturally to them. Before getting in front of your guests however, a meeting will be necessary to go over all the details in the wedding reception planner. It is common for the DJ to meet with you a few months before the wedding to go over the planner, and to keep in contact with you throughout the planning season. A good planner will have all the details of the ceremony and reception including names of the bridal party; the itinerary of events happening throughout the evening; type of music to play; and all other details that will ensure the evening's perfection. To be considered a professional, it takes some degree of training and experience. Inquire as to where they received their training; was it in a classroom or on the road? To be sure your DJ will not be unloading and setting up after your guests start to arrive, ensure they will be there at least one or two hours before the event is scheduled to begin. This gives time to setup and test all equipment. It is normal for a DJ to setup the equipment in street clothes, then to change to appropriate attire shortly before the ceremony/reception gets underway. Music is very important at your wedding reception. You have thought about the music you would like and probably imagined the evening as you would like it to be. Should the DJ not have a sufficient music library, you may find your guests aren't going to be on the dance floor as much as you would have like them to be. As a minimum, 5,000 songs is a reasonable library for a professional, and 10,000 songs is a very good-sized music library. But having the song titles may not amount to much if they are not the format you are looking for. Records scratch, cassette tapes are recorded in a specific order and the tape stretches over time. The best format is of course Compact Disc (CD). Songs on CDs are digitally recorded, so they are perfect virtually every time they are played. A new emerging format is called MP3. MP3 music is digitally recorded then ‘compressed’ to sound similar to a CD recording with slight degradation. Consider a piece of paper - if you scrunch it in your hand, then spread it back out again, it is still a full piece of paper but not exactly the same as before you compressed it. As the guests begin to arrive, and as they enjoy their meals it is nice to have dinner music playing. DJ packages generally include at least one hour of dinner (or cocktail) music. At this time, it is customary for persons seated at the head table to make speeches or to offer advice or good wishes to the new couple. For this, a wireless microphone is a necessity. A wireless microphone enables everyone to be more relaxed and comfortable as they do not have to stand up and go to the front of the room. And maybe an elderly or handicapped guest may have something to say - a wireless microphone reaches places a standard microphone cannot. Also, if you are hiring a DJ for your ceremony as well, make sure they offer a Lapel Mic for you and/or the Officiant. A Lapel Mic allows you hands free operation during the ceremony and your guests can truly be a part of your vows. One of the most common horror stories we hear of is equipment failure, and the DJ doesn't have backup equipment with them. It is very important that you hire a professional DJ company that offers back up equipment free of charge. Also, hiring a DJ company that has a back up DJ on hand is a good idea. After you have determined that a DJ has the right music, to ensure your guests are going to be up on the dance floor, you may want to have some effects lighting. Basic lighting is generally included in any entertainment package. This may include a mirror ball with a couple spotlights, or a similar effect. If the dance floor is large enough, adding effects lighting will generate a good deal of excitement on the dance floor. When operated correctly it also sets the mood for the song. Professional DJs charge accordingly. It is very, very seldom that a DJ will charge more than the market warrants. If you find a DJ charges more than their competitors, ask them why. And of course if you encounter a DJ charging significantly more or less than their competitors, we anticipate you will know why. One or more of the above questions will tell you why there are price differences. During the time that you book a DJ, you will need to reach them. Knowing they are available full-time without additional costs to you is comforting. A good website will enable you to send them questions or information anytime - day or night. A well designed website may provide extra benefits such as on-line planners, pricing or upgrade information. It is a good place to begin looking for the right wedding DJ.
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