Any consideration for a wedding dj should involve the hiring of a professional entertainer who is not only experienced but versatile. However, keep in mind, when looking at experience, more important are the number of performances completed versus the total years of performing. Skilled disc jockeys who are continually booked provide a better indication of their potential ability to guarantee a memorable affair.



Moreover, in most major metropolitan areas, such as Southern California's Inland Empire, the mix of wedding guests crosses not only every age but a variety of ethnicities. It's not uncommon at a reception to have guests ranging in age from toddlers to septuagenarians. Thus, a competent dj must be prepared to play music that appeals to several generations, without the appearance of being 'cheesy'. Nevertheless, the mere possession of big band, 40's crooners, 50's Rock n Roll, and the like doesn't completely ensure that the dj will successfully captivate the attention of a spectrum of ages. Critical is his timing and how he distributes his assortment of selections throughout the course of the reception. In order to gain some insight, question your candidate on how he would accomplish this feat.

Equally important is how the dj handles your guests' diversity. Obviously, it's not practical for a disc jockey to have a large selection of every culture's music. However, in a wedding market as large and competitive as Southern California's, it would be unwise to ignore the various Latin, Asian and Middle Eastern segments of the population. Popular, regional songs familiar to a group of guests played during a reception should generate a great deal of interest and appreciation. As a bride and groom who are interested in providing an enjoyable reception for all guests, extra emphasis placed on hiring a versatile dj who is great at handling diversity will guarantee that goal.

Today's qualified dj should be able to have an assortment of music that appeals to a wide majority of our expanding population. No longer can a dj afford to be identified only as a 'country music', 'techno' or 'top 40' dj. Those entertainers that don't want to meet the demands of our current growing diverse populations will continue to see their bookings decline. Any qualified dj will continue to grow their music collection with every performance. Hence, bridal clients should insist on their potential dj being able to provide feedback on how they can entertain a diverse crowd.

For example, ask questions:

How would you get my 70 year old grandmother and some other elder relatives on the dance floor for a couple of songs, without my younger guests losing interest?

Since there will be a few children in attendance, how can you involve them without playing any music that is geared specifically to kids?

I'm Irish American and my fiance is Cuban...how will you keep the dance floor full without alienating either of the two families?

In conclusion, a skillful dj will be able to provide answers to the questions above and those similar. If during the selection process, your potential dj is unable to outline steps or a plan of action to address your concerns for musically satisfying your guests, continue the search until you find one that can.