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As a "DJ
Shopper," how can you be assured you're getting the quality you deserve?
Should you look for the cheapest
Disc Jockey in town or should you hire the best Disc Jockey available for your
special event?
Professional Disc Jockeys put a
lot of time into planning special events. Meeting personally with clients
beforehand, and carefully planning the event together should be a
priority. Disc Jockey and client should work together to fill out detailed
wedding planners in anticipation of your special event. This vital information
is shared with the other event professionals (Caterers, Photographers etc.) to
make the event a 100% success. You'll be able to relax and enjoy your big
day because all of the important details of the day have been taken care of by a
PROFESSIONAL Disc Jockey.
Professional Disc Jockeys who have spent and continue to spend the most amount
of time and energy preparing to meet client expectations, organizing music,
maintaining professional sound equipment, and staying musically current, most
frequently have the most quality to give when it comes to delivering a superior
night of entertainment.
Will you provide back up equipment and/or personnel in
case of an emergency?
Even professional equipment
can fail on occasion, so it is important to know whether your Disc Jockey has
spare equipment and personnel available to them (some local American Disc Jockey
Association chapters set up emergency networks for this purpose). Any number of
circumstances may arise between the time you book your Disc Jockey and the date
of the event. Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and special events are often once in a
lifetime opportunities. A professional will be prepared with a back-up system
and plan.
How many years of experience do you have?
Experience brings an
awareness of common problems and situations. Be sure your DJ has experience with
your type of event. A professional Disc Jockey will become involved with the
planning of your special day and will be prepared to handle all announcements
and special events on the day of your party. Also, be sure your Disc Jockey
works full-time as a PROFESSIONAL Disc Jockey.
May we call your references?
References are the most
reliable way to verify talent and levels of customer service. Disc Jockeys not
willing to offer references are clearly hiding something.
Can we meet face to face?
This is the best way to
determine the “weekend DJ” from the professionals. Ask to meet. Get a feel for who they
are. A real Disc Jockey company will be able to meet any day and any time during
normal business hours.
Sadly in most cases, you have no protection from the entertainment at all.
This is the biggest case in looking for a true professional. Make sure your
contract covers you from things like..
- The Disc Jockey showed up late.
- The Disc Jockey did not bring the music you requested.
- The Disc Jockey got drunk.
- The Disc Jockey company gave you some lame excuse why
the actual DJ you hired was not the one
at your event. (very common issue)
- The Disc Jockey brought friends.
- 100% refund on non working equipment.
With all
this being said, keep these tips in mind when shopping for your entertainment.
Do you have a signed agreement your
event will not be sub-contracted to another company or Disc Jockey who you have
never met? Do you have a written guarantee that a backup plan is in place if
there is an equipment failure? Do you have a money back guarantee if your
entertainer did not deliver what was promised on your contract? Should your
Disc Jockey company even offer a guarantee? YES, again what
protection do you have from the company. Remember, buyer beware.
For the most part, your professional Disc Jockey will be able to read your
crowd and determine the overall theme to follow for maximum flow. However, your
input is critical as your Disc Jockey has probably never met your guests and
needs to know what YOU like. Basically it is a mutually decided process.
One type of show does NOT fit all.
In most every case the client needs to remember to allow the event
processional I.E. the "DJ" to do the job they were hired for. Allow some freedom
to the Disc Jockey, this is what we do.
Keep in mind as you shop for the perfect entertainer for your
special day I cannot stress quality enough. If you take your car to a bad
mechanic and the mess it up, it can be fixed. If you call a bad Plummer to fix
your sink and it is messed up again, it can be fixed. IF YOU USE A BAD DISC
JOCKEY FOR YOUR WEDDING AND IT IS MESSED UP, THAT’S IT, YOU CAN’T FIX IT!
First of all, no entertainer who works on a professional level will charge
anything less than $750 to $1250 for a four hour block basic sound. The main
reason is that there is such a great deal of preparation which goes into making
your event exactly the way you intend it, a professional must allow for that
time to be allocated to each client.
You will notice those same companies charge in the range
of $395 to $595 (or less) for four hours. This is what many in our industry
consider to be the "bargain" event approach. Quantity. Not quality.
Next, check there web sites for content, recommendations and
REAL PICTURES, not Microsoft clip art and stolen shots from other companies!
These simple guides will ensure your evening is in the hands of a real
professional Disc Jockey.
Also, you have to
remember that all of the money spent, with the average
wedding price costing around $18,000 here in San Antonio, is
WASTED if your guests leave early because they are not
having a great time. If they leave just an hour early, you
have lost thousands of dollars. A professional
entertainers job among other tasks, is to keep the guests
there. The entertainer/entertainment will also set the mood
and the pace of the wedding reception. They can literally
make the night a dream come true or a bad nightmare you wish
you could wake from.
Your money back guarantee is granted by most contracts when the Disc Jockey
clearly violated the terms set forth on the sighed contract. Example:
- Disc Jockey got drunk.
- Disc Jockey was two hours late.
- Disc Jockeys equipment failed and was not fixed in
allotted time.
- Disc Jockey did not provide equipment you paid for on
written contract.
Of course acts of GOD and reasonable circumstances apply however your Disc
Jockey should assume fault if your event was ruined.
Again, if your contract did not cover this, the Disc Jockey company is
obligated to return NOTHING.
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