











|
Begin
your phone call by indicating the date, time and location of your special
event:
Do they have experience in the type of event
you're planning?
With sufficient experience, a professional DJ will be able to act as your Master
of Ceremonies and smoothly guide your celebration from start to finish allowing
you to relax and enjoy your party and guests!
With experience comes confidence and knowledge; many things can happen during
an event-some are expected, others are not. The experienced professional has
the ability to handle any situation which may arise and will be able to react
spontaneously to correct the problem as if nothing ever really happened. With
this same experience, your entertainer will intuitively know what music to play
at what time.
What type of music do they provide and will they play requests?
It's your party! Will your prospective music entertainer cheerfully accept
your suggestions? Do they provide a playlist with a wide variety of songs? Will
they play additional CDs that you may want to provide?
What is their appearance?
Find out ahead of time and make your preferences known! Different events command
different attire. And if you want them in a tuxedo find out if there is an additional
charge.
What kind of equipment do they use, how will it look, and what is their technical
expertise?
Determine if the disc jockey uses today's technology(compact discs, wireless
microphone)or yesterday's antiques? You are paying money for a professional and
they should have quality equipment and know how it operates. You are hopefully
hiring someone who takes their job seriously, so make sure they have made the
investment in quality equipment. There is a difference.
Do they have access to back-up equipment in case of an emergency?
Even professional equipment can fail on occasion, so it is important to know
whether your disc jockey has extra components, or hopefully another entire sound
system available to them. Any number of circumstances may arise between the time
you book your disc jockey and the date of your event.
Usually only the top-notch pros invest the extra money to ensure that everything
works on your event date. Booking a reliable Disc Jockey is a very important
decision for the success of your event.
Are they reputable and will they provide you with references?
Do local banquet halls, photographers, and caterers give you a good referral
of the company? Remember, if you receive references from a DJ, they're only going
to provide positive ones. Same thing with videos, etc.
Have they ever performed at your location?
It helps if they already know the place, how to get there, and they have a rapport
with the staff. This makes it less likely that you will have any problems.
Do they provide you with all the materials you need to plan your event?
You are paying not only for the performance,but also the entertainer's experience.
Make sure they are able to help you plan your event, saving time and ensuring
your expectations are met.
One of the clues you are working with a caring, experienced entertainer is the
actual paper work they send you. If the prospectus is carefully designed, organized
and informative, and the contract complete and easily understood then your search
may be over. The quality of their literature might give you some insight on the
over-all professional nature of their company.
Can you make a personal visit with them?
You should be able to schedule a personal visit where you can discuss want events
you want performed, music preferences, the schedule, and learn more about their
company.
How much do they charge?
Most reputable DJ's charge more than the part-timer who is looking to make a
few extra bucks on the side. Don't look strictly at how much they charge, look
at what you receive! Question a company that is very low in cost; if they don't
think they are worth it, maybe you shouldn't either. There's a good chance that
you are putting the success of the event in jeopardy just to save a few bucks.
If the company you are looking at is at the high end of the scale, ask them to
justify their cost. You might find that you are compensating the DJ for extra
equipment that is not needed or desired, or you might find that these added services
are worth the extra cost.
Be sure that you understand their basic fee level, over time rates, and due dates
for deposits and balances. Don't forget to ask what time they will arrive.
Finally, keep in mind all the time and money you have committed to your event
and the impact the DJ has on how everything turns out. It's true, you get what
you pay for! Is a bargain DJ really a bargain if you're not happy with the outcome?

Do they have a clear, concise, written contract?
Make certain you have a contract and that everything you expect is in writing.
Nobody will remember what they promised you ten months from now. Make sure dates,
times, deposits, balances, addresses and phone numbers are listed.
Are they insured, incorporated, or members of the local chamber of commerce?
A disc jockey who has taken the time to incorporate or insure their company demonstrates
that they take their business, and their customers, seriously.
DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM?
It really comes down to a matter of trust. Once you feel you've found
an established Disc Jockey in your price range with the services you like, make
your final selection based on personality. Do you like the person you are dealing
with? If you are dealing with an agent that merely markets other DJ services
find out who is accountable if problems occur.
Conclusion: These are just some of the
most important questions to ask to distinguish a true professional from an amateur.
Listen carefully to not only what an event professional says when you ask questions,
but how they say it. Do they speak with knowledge, passion and a desire to help
you create a successful event?
|