Thursday, July 23, 2015
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Getting Married & Need a DJ?
SOOOOOO, Who's getting married and needs a DJ. Well, here are 5 pointers to HIRING THE BEST DJ POSSIBLE!!!
Booking the Best DJ Possible
1. Not all DJ's are created equal. Many people think that all DJ's are the same and that they are just playing music, so why not go with the cheapest one. By the way, if we go on that logic, one could simply use a cheap boom box and save a ton of money, but seriously. While they all do play music, that is not everything a professional DJ does. The good ones understand pacing, keeping your event moving at a nice speed. They take requests and interact with the crowd therefore getting you more bang for the buck. They also do fun interactive games and give away cool prizes. This makes everyone leave with a nice memory from the event. Especially at events like weddings, a good DJ will coordinate the music with the other scheduled events, such as cutting the cake so the entire ceremony runs smoothly.
2. Ask for references. Make sure that whoever you end up hiring, you get a couple of references from the DJ or the talent company representing them. You can call the references and ask them about their event and if they were happy with the results of the DJ you are thinking about booking. By the way, a professional entertainer always has references, so if a DJ says they do not, that is an immediate red flag to us and it should be to you too.
3. Read the contracts twice. You are definitely going to want to read the contracts of the performer you are booking more than once. Why? Quite simply, there are often clauses buried in entertainment contracts that may entitle the performer to things you are not aware of, such as getting 50% of their fee should you decide to cancel the event after you have already signed the contracts, or even being able to take on a higher paying gig if one comes along before your event. Bottom line, read the contracts twice before you decide to sign, and make sure you understand everything clearly. Be weary of contracts that sound like a lawyers textbook. It should not be that confusing.
4. Experience Needed. Does the DJ have experience doing the type of event you are looking to book him for? There is a big difference between working a wedding and a company holiday party. The wedding requires rehearsals, coordinating other activities around the music and making announcements. A company party is more laid back and generally requires making sure the music never stops, it is high energy and very interactive. What kind of event are you having?
5. What's your budget? You are going to find that most DJ's can range in price from $100 an hour to more than $250 an hour. Why the big difference? Well, you are going to pay more for a DJ with more experience in your type of event, more credentials, and a solid client list. If a DJ is just starting out, they may not charge a lot because of their inexperience, but do you want the DJ getting their experience from your event? I doubt it. Generally, professional DJ's start at around $150 to $175 an hour. Anything much less than that, just keep in mind, you get what you pay for.
Booking the Best DJ Possible
2. Ask for references. Make sure that whoever you end up hiring, you get a couple of references from the DJ or the talent company representing them. You can call the references and ask them about their event and if they were happy with the results of the DJ you are thinking about booking. By the way, a professional entertainer always has references, so if a DJ says they do not, that is an immediate red flag to us and it should be to you too.
3. Read the contracts twice. You are definitely going to want to read the contracts of the performer you are booking more than once. Why? Quite simply, there are often clauses buried in entertainment contracts that may entitle the performer to things you are not aware of, such as getting 50% of their fee should you decide to cancel the event after you have already signed the contracts, or even being able to take on a higher paying gig if one comes along before your event. Bottom line, read the contracts twice before you decide to sign, and make sure you understand everything clearly. Be weary of contracts that sound like a lawyers textbook. It should not be that confusing.
4. Experience Needed. Does the DJ have experience doing the type of event you are looking to book him for? There is a big difference between working a wedding and a company holiday party. The wedding requires rehearsals, coordinating other activities around the music and making announcements. A company party is more laid back and generally requires making sure the music never stops, it is high energy and very interactive. What kind of event are you having?
5. What's your budget? You are going to find that most DJ's can range in price from $100 an hour to more than $250 an hour. Why the big difference? Well, you are going to pay more for a DJ with more experience in your type of event, more credentials, and a solid client list. If a DJ is just starting out, they may not charge a lot because of their inexperience, but do you want the DJ getting their experience from your event? I doubt it. Generally, professional DJ's start at around $150 to $175 an hour. Anything much less than that, just keep in mind, you get what you pay for.
Visit our site @ www.theplatinumgroup.net
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