Meeting your DJ

It is of little importance what kind of credentials or references a DJ company has, because it does not guarantee that the entertainment will be a success. Make sure you meet the person that will be the DJ at your event. When you meet, ask them how many shows they have done and how long they have been with the company.

Avoiding pitfalls

Many people have ended up booking someone who "seemed nice, only to have to pay for a disaster. Try and determine the person's attitude. A know-it-all attitude may result in conflict or disaster when the DJ plays a selection of personal choice rather than what your crowd wants. Make sure it is understood what your requirements are, what selection of people have to be entertained, and what is off limits, as far as selection of music, volume and behavior is concerned. This will prevent your DJ from getting drunk, or playing loud or improper music. Lastly, make sure that your DJ has the proper equipment to get the job done. It could be really embarrassing to have a massive birthday party, inviting a hundred people, and having your DJ arrive with a setup too small to provide enough volume.

The Venue

Make sure that the DJ visits the venue with the person in charge of decorating and layout. Plan for enough space, sensible placement, and a sensible distance from a power outlet. This will also be an indication to the DJ as to what size music setup should be brought along. If it is a large venue, make sure the power supply is adequate. A big system can demand a lot of power, and if you have food being prepared on the premises, it can be very draining on the power supply. If the power trips, the DJ equipment can be damaged, causing losses far more than you are paying for the service.

Get a contract

Getting everything down in a contract is essential. In the contract you have to specify the cost, working hours, venue, date, time, name of the DJ, and any reasons which the contract will be void. Specify fringe benefits such as food, drinks, and help to offload and upload. Make sure everything is in writing. If it is a very important event, such as a wedding reception, put down a holding deposit, with the understanding that if the DJ cancels, you have the option to find another DJ of your choice, and recovering the difference. If the person or company refuses this option, they are probably unreliable, and they do not want to commit themselves.

Know the music

This is an important event, so make sure you get what you want. Tell the DJ what kind of music you expect to be played, and in some cases even in what order. Remember the DJ is working for you, and you foot the bill, not the other way around. Make sure you get what you pay for. You might also want to make sure that their selection of music is up to date, especially if the event will include a number of young people. Remember your guests also should feel comfortable so make sure the DJ will accept their song requests too. Get some ideas from your guests beforehand, as the term "dance music", or "music you can dance to", has a different definition to every second person.

Most of all make sure the DJ has reliable equipment, and if need be a back up plan in case the worst happens, because you never know if the equipment will fail.

Plan properly, get the right people for the job, and everything will go smoothly.