#1: Does he over-book events and hire sub-contractors?

This is where the Disc Jockey or Disc Jockey Company signs for your reception and then sends out a completely different Disc Jockey, or one who doesn’t even really work for the company you hired, to cover your reception. Without any advance warning, your reception is then put into the hands of a total stranger who may be less qualified and who might not even fully understand exactly what kind of a reception you have been hoping and planning for. This highly unethical bait and switch routine has given the Disc Jockey industry a bad reputation.

#2: Is this his full time career or his part time hobby?

This is the most common problem in the Disc Jockey industry. There are numerous Disc Jockeys who are billing themselves as "professionals" while they are working full-time in some other field. They don’t really have to care if they do an outstanding job or not, because they still have their regular job to fall back on. One of the best ways to spot these "part-time professionals" is by looking at their prices. A full-time professional Disc Jockey (who isn’t overbooking and sub-contracting) cannot afford to cover his business expenses and make a livable wage for less than $1,000.00 per wedding reception. If the Disc Jockey tells you he is doing this full-time, but his prices don’t match, he is probably practicing overbooking and sub-contracting, in which case you’ll most likely wind up with a part-timer at your reception anyway. Another clear sign of a part-timer, is the Disc Jockey’s inability to return your calls promptly or meet with you during the day. Wedding Receptions require full-time attention!

#3: Will he meet with you in person to help you plan your reception?

This is where you are told to do your meetings on the phone or you are asked to fill out the paperwork yourself and send it back with a signed contract and a check, before you even get to meet with a real person. Would you sign a contract for something as important as a wedding reception without a face to face meeting? This practice is very common among companies that overbook and sub-contract because then you have no idea what your Disc Jockey even looks like, and so you'll be less likely to spot the bait and switch.

#4: What will he do at your reception that makes his service unique?

Unfortunately, many people think that Disc Jockeys are a dime a dozen. But, based on the way most Disc Jockeys promote themselves and perform, this belief is very understandable. If you want your reception to be unique and memorable, then you should find a Disc Jockey who is unique and memorable as well. Each Disc Jockey has his own personality, skills and ideas, so take the time to find the person who will best meet your needs.

#5: Does he coordinate your entire reception for you?

Most Disc Jockeys will tell you they coordinate the events at your reception, but the true test is asking them for the checklist they keep at each event to make sure everything is in place and all the events will flow together smoothly. If they don’t have a checklist prepared, then they aren’t really prepared to coordinate your reception events. Whether the Disc Jockey wants to coordinate or not, when things go wrong, he is the first person everybody looks to for direction, answers, and for someone to blame. Disc Jockeys already have the responsibility, so they should act accordingly.

#6: Will his attire be appropriate for your reception?

Disc Jockeys may not give a lot of thought to their attire. If they don’t wear a full tux outfit, complete with a jacket, then they haven’t given much thought to the impression they will be making on your guests. The Disc Jockey will be representing you at your reception, so his appearance should be very professional at all times.

#7: Does he have company standards that govern his behavior?

Some Disc Jockeys are notorious for doing the most inappropriate things at wedding receptions. Things like helping themselves to the open bar, hitting on your Maid of Honor or playing a song by 2 Live Crew when your Grandma finally gets out to the dance floor. If they don’t have written standards for their behavior, then they are telling you that just about anything can and will happen at your reception.

#8: Are there any hidden charges?

It is all too common to find Disc Jockeys who will have extra "hidden charges" for things that should be included as a normal part of their service. They will charge you to bring a cordless microphone or additional speakers. They also have loading fees for stairs or even an extra charge for additional planning meetings. If they were charging a professional price for their service, this wouldn’t be necessary.

#9: Does he have a wide base of entertainment experience to draw from?

In order to provide the best quality entertainment possible, each Disc Jockey should be actively seeking to improve and broaden their entertainment capabilities. Most Disc Jockeys aren’t fulfilling this important detail because they fall into categories #1 and #2, and therefore, don’t really care about improving their services. People tend to become what they are committed to becoming. The same is true for Disc Jockeys.

#10: Does he have the skills to deliver announcements that are clear and direct?

If you’ve ever seen someone try to get a crowd’s attention without the proper vocal skills, then we need not say more. Or when they do open their mouths, they don’t know what to say. Words like "uh" and "um" get used too much and then your guests are left asking each other, "What did he just say?" The person you choose as your Disc Jockey will be your spokesperson representing you to your guests. Choose wisely.

Whether you hire us or someone else to provide the entertainment at your wedding reception or event, we believe this questionnaire will help you find the most qualified and professional Disc Jockeys around.
- DJ Dr. Drax

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