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How to Choose a Disc Jockey
Written by DJ Peace (Mark Thomas), Awesome Entertainment

Choosing a DJ for your wedding reception is one of the most important decisions that you can make. Everything else can be perfect, but if the music is not great, the party will fizzle. Selecting the right DJ can be confusing. There are thousands of DJs in America, all promising they will do a great job for you. So How do you pick the right DJ?

If you have been to a wedding or party where the entertainment was awesome, find out who the DJ was and book them. If you have not seen a good DJ recently, ask your friends and work associates for a good reference. If these suggestions bring no results, your next step may be turning to your local professional disc jockey association.

The benefits of hiring a DJ belonging to a professional association can be numerous; Higher standards, a willingness to network, learn and share ideas with other DJs and a support system in case of unexpected injury or illness. A DJ active in an association also shows he cares about his business which usually means he cares about what happens at your wedding.

Another good source for quality DJs is wedding magazines and internet bridal sites because the companies listed usually specialize in doing weddings. Separating the wedding professionals from the "backyard" DJs can help you avoid becoming a wedding horror story. We've all heard the nightmare stories about the DJ being late or not showing up, never speaking to the audience, playing innappropriate music or having equipment failure, ending the party prematurely! Obviously, you want to avoid these problems.

Upon finding several companies that you like, how do you tell which one is best? Remember, you want to choose the entertainer that offers the specific package that matches what you desire; Be careful not to become a victim of a "swap meet" price war in which you become the casualty by not getting what you wanted. Think about it, if a DJ keeps dropping his price to get your business, he may not be very good. Most professional companies rely on referral business and maintain a certain pricing standard. Many times it is worth that extra hundred bucks or so to insure you have a successful event.

It is important to create a rapport with the DJ over the phone. Pay attention to their manner of speaking and attitude, their personality tends to spill over into their DJ style. How are they at returning phone calls? Were they prompt in sending the information you requested? What does their promotional materials look like? If you have that "feeling" in your gut someone is wrong for you, trust your instincts and move on.

Here are a few questions you may want to ask before hiring a disc jockey? These questions were created by the Professional Association of Disc Jockeys which is a Los Angeles area chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association.

1. Do you use professional equipment and provide an emergency back-up system in case of emergency? (This protects your "once in a lifetime" investment")
2. Are you insured? (This protects the DJ company, your guests and you from the unexpected)
3. Do you belong to a professional trade group or association? (Gives you an indication as to how serious a DJ is about his business)
4. Are we guaranteed the DJ of our choice? (Make sure to do a written contract with the DJ's name included in it)
5. How many years of experience do you have? (Knowing common situations/problems can help keep your wedding running smooth)
6. May we call three references? (It is always a good idea to get past client feedback)
7. How will you be dressed? (If you are having a formal affair, do you want your DJ showing up in jeans)
8. How early will you be there to set up? (typically 45-60 minutes is allotted before the actual start time)
9. Will you allow requests? (A flexible DJ will keep your guests happy)

It is your wedding day, why take unnecessary chances when there are professional DJ companies who go that extra mile to make sure your wedding runs smoothly no matter what happens! I'd like to thank Jorge Lopez at J&M Entertainment in Santa Clarita, California for helping me create this article.