How To Shop For Entertainment For Your Wedding Reception

By Ryan Burger
Given as a presentation at The Bridal Forum in Des Moines, Iowa

Picking out a disc jockey as entertainment for your wedding reception can be very key to the overall success of the event. Over the last nearly 15 years I have talked to hundreds of couples planning their wedding receptions. Depending on how they heard of us and what they are looking for they ask many different questions. Below are the questions that they should be asking before that magical question..."how much do you charge." These questions are based upon an article in DJ Times Magazine by Dan McKay (now on staff with ProDJ.Com), that appeared several years ago...called "Don't Hire A DJ Until You Ask These Six Questions."

Question #1: What type of party experience does your DJ have? Is he or she experienced enough to be able to handle gracefully any unforeseen circumstances, and help to emcee the whole night, not just the dance. They should offer to have dinner and cocktail music playing during the meal and work with the other wedding professionals such as the photographer and caterer.

Question #2: What types of events does your DJ regularly play? The correct answer of course is weddings. There are many disc jockeys out there who serve other "markets" and only dabble in weddings when one comes along. For instance, BC Productions does over half it's business in wedding receptions. You want an experienced professional like many of the DJs represented here today!

Question #3: Can your DJ supply local references? The real key to a disc jockey service is repeat business and word of mouth advertising. You can believe a person a lot more than a slick brochure sent to you in the mail.

Question #4: Is the price of your disc jockey a good value? Shop around but don't go for the bottom line. There are bargain basement DJ services out there and there are DJ services where you really get more than your money's worth!

Question #5: What type of equipment will your DJ use? Make sure it's all professional equipment, no home speakers and home-built lights. You are hopefully hiring a professional who takes his job seriously, make sure they have made the investment in equipment you don't have to worry about. You should expect the best!

And the last question...Will your DJ play a wide variety of music? You want someone who will entertain everyone at the reception and know how to gear the music to your guests. The music library should contain everything from big band, oldies and disco to the last dance, country and rock, and should be on digital compact disc. They should also offer to purchase any of your special songs that they do not currently have in their music libraries. Ask for a sample music listing. Make sure to ask any prospective entertainers these questions and many more. Make them listen to you and your concerns but also count on them for advice...remember they have helped engineer a few more wedding receptions that you will ever be involved in.

Ryan Burger is the president of ProDJ.Com Internet Services and BC Productions Mobile DJ Service based in Des Moines, Iowa. ProDJ.Com - http://www.prodj.com/  - is the largest site on the internet for people searching for a disc jockey.