What’s an event without good music?

A good DJ is as important to a party as the decoration of the hall or the dinner menu. Choosing a DJ for your event is one of the most important decisions that you can make. Absolutely nothing can go wrong on this day and proper planning is essential. The entertainment can make or break your event. If the venue was average, the food was ordinary, the speeches were too long, but the entertainment was phenomenal, your guests will remember you night as a success. Likewise, if the venue was beautiful, the food was great and the speeches funny, but the enteratinment was lousy, your guests will remember your night as less than spectacular.

Separating the professionals from the backyard DJs can help you avoid becoming an event horror story. Nobody wants an irresponsible music person who shows up late or not at all, doesn't interact with the audience, plays inappropriate tunes or uses faulty equipment without backups. Once you've got the selection narrowed down to a few candidates it’s important to keep your focus on the type of entertainment you want -rather than try to get the DJs into a price war. 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. It’s worth a few hundred dollars to make sure you’re getting a quality entertainer.

Another way to narrow the choice down to one is by developing a rapport over the phone and paying attention to their attitude and way with words. Their personality tends to spill over into their DJ style.

Consider more than price

Avoid those who don't return calls quickly or fail to send you the information you requested. Most importantly, trust your instincts. If you have that feeling in your gut someone is wrong for you ... move on. The biggest error committed by most brides and grooms looking for a DJ is the phone book price comparison. A guaranteed recipe for disaster is calling every DJ in the book and booking solely on the lowest quote. Do your research on the company. Ask for references and talk price after all your other goals have been met.

Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00 with an average of $1,600.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. Surveys conclude that 93% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight.    

A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for "4 hours". Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.

Ask about the DJ’s presentation. Ask them to explain how they will handle the details of the introductions, first dance, cake cutting, bouquet & garter and special requested dances. You want to be comfortable with the DJ’s style and personality.

How long have you been a Disc Jockey?

Experienced Disc Jockeys have the knowledge of common problems and situations. Make sure to hire an experienced DJ to host a wedding celebration. A less experienced DJ may be adequate for a school dance or a back yard party. DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE on your "once in a life time" event.

What will you be wearing for our event? 

Your Deejay should be dressed to fit your event.  Some DJ’s wear suits or tuxedos…but don’t count on it unless you ask. At Encore Entertainment we usually wear a Suit or Tuxedo, depending on your preference.

What's the size of your music library and what format is it in?

Can you choose from a song list. Can you choose a "no play" song list. Does the DJ have a wide variety of song selections? Can the DJ play songs to suite the tastes of ALL your guests (maybe two or three generations). A library of 10,000 song should be the absolute minium (comparable to about 600 CD's).

What format is your music in? Most modern, professional deejays have made the transition to digital music. This is an expensive transition so it's one way to weed out the amateurs from the professionals. Digital music stored on a computer in MP3 format eliminates the issue of scratching CD's or music skipping in the middle of an important dance. At Encore Entertainment we have been using digital music in the MP3 format for the past 6 years.

Are you the DJ that will be performing at our Event? 

Make sure you ask who will be performing at your wedding and that you meet and consult with this individual. You aren’t just hiring someone to play music; you’re hiring a personality that will interact with your guests. It’s important you ensure their personality fits your expectations.

Are you insured?

Homeowners and businesses carry insurance to protect themselves from the unforeseeable.  Much the same way, a Professional Deejay will carry liability insurance to protect you, your guests and the deejay.  

Encore Entertainment carries a $1,000,000 liability policy.

What type of equipment do you have?

A Professional DJ should have professional sound equipment - not "home consumer" gear. You’re looking for brand names like JBL, QSC, B52, Mackie, Bose, Shure, AKG, and Sennheiser.  Professional sound equipment is very expensive thus lower-priced DJ’s may not be using top-quality gear.  Be sure that the DJ’s speakers and sound system will accommodate your reception location. (loud enough but not overpowering!)

Check out our Equipment page to see the type of equipment we use at Encore Entertainment.  Everything is professional quality.

Do you carry back-up equipment?

This is a must. Absolutely nothing can go wrong during your once-in-a-lifetime event.  Equipment failures are rare but they do happen.  Ensure that your Deejay has back-up equipment with him.  Some deejays advertise they have equipment “on call.”  In the event of a problem, would you want to put your event on hold for an hour while equipment was being delivered? 

At Encore Entertainment we take this issue very seriously.  We provide two independent systems at every event.  If there was an issue you and your guests would probably never know.

How much time do you allow for set-up?

You want to make sure your deejay has every set-up and ready prior to your guests arriving.  Set-up time varies by the event and the equipment required.  Make sure your deejay has planned for this.

At Encore Entertainment we arrive between 1 and 4 hours prior to the event start time.  While sound equipment may take less than an hour to set-up, some of our extensive lighting packages take 2 to 4 hours or more.

Do you belong to any professional organizations?

A good DJ will be known in their own town, so ask the DJ if they are members of a Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If so, contact the Chamber of Commerce or the BBB and inquire about their standing.