They sat through the ceremony, pictures and speeches—so you owe your guests a night of gettin’ down with their bad selves. Finding a DJ that’s right for you and your guests is essential, and can be one of the most challenging wedding tasks. Apart from the few first dances, many couples leave the duty of selecting the main portion of the evening’s repertoire to the tastes of someone who doesn’t really know them. It’s your duty, as party hosts, to get your guests off their butts and onto the dance floor. We’re here to help you find the spin doctor who’s right for you.
Hitting the decks
Playing eeny, meeny, miney, mo through your local Yellow Pages is a dicey way to pick your DJ. If you’re looking for a place to start, ask around. Newlywed friends and co-workers are an invaluable source. Ask whom they used, how they found out about the DJ they hired and whether they encountered any problems. Even people who haven’t walked down the aisle are a potential wealth of information. They can fill you in on all the receptions they’ve been to and pass along what they liked or disliked about the DJs used.
Another great source is just a click away. The Canadian Disc Jockey Association’s website (cdja.org) is a not-for-profit association comprised of professional independent DJs across Canada.
Beatmatching
Once you’ve done a little research, create a hit list of five or more potential service providers. Even if you think you have found the one, never go with just one interview—you don’t know what you might be missing. When Torontonian Janice Wismer tied the knot, she relied on a bridesmaid to choose a DJ. Unfortunately, her friend went with the first pick on the list. The result: “I know that if I had met the DJs in person, I would not have hired them,” Wismer relates. “They came late, and were dressed like they were heading to a keg party after our reception was finished. The DJ ignored the songs I wanted played, and my reception sounded more like a rave than a wedding.”
Get your swerve on
Scott says another essential you must insist on is a contract.
“Make sure the special stages or requirements he/she wants at the function are listed in the sequencing phases of the contract,” he explains. “Whatever is important to you for the reception should be on the contract page.” For example, does the DJ require a stage, PA system, microphone, table, special sound or electrical equipment? It’s also a good idea to include set-up time and dress code in the contract. And just like any job interview, Scott says you should ask for references.
When you finally decide to hire a particular spinner, put down a deposit—this assures the date you booked the DJ for is truly yours, and the only person who can back out of it is you.
Money for nothin?
Most couples budget five to 10 percent of their total wedding allowance for a DJ. The industry standard is between $500 and $1,000 for an evening, depending on the hours required and the package. But price shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing between DJ services. Norman Shaw, owner of Hear…By Request Professional Music Production Inc. in Alberta, says, “I tell people to shop on personality. If you get along with the DJ and you’re comfortable he or she is going to meet your needs, it doesn’t matter if he’s the most expensive or he’s the absolute cheapest—go with that person.” On their website (hearbyrequest.com), they offer brides a DJ checklist breaking down different components of what you may require for your W-day to help you define the value of the actual package (for example, are they providing cocktail and dinner music or are they charging extra?). Shaw also suggests asking the DJ what he or she is giving you, in detail, with every package, because you may have to pay extra for certain services (i.e. if you want music during your receiving line). Most companies that handle weddings have an all-inclusive package, but beware of hidden costs.
Facing the music
When you’re ready to finally meet the prospects, go into the meeting fully prepared, which includes having an idea of what music you want played during the reception. When you meet, the DJ should go over what kind of music you would like played over the course of the evening. And although the DJ will ask for musical direction, most will not accept a playlist for the whole night. Your best bet is to put request sheets on every table, for guests to prompt the DJ to play crowd-pleasers, guaranteeing you and your party peeps a good time on the dance floor. Do let the DJ know your favourite songs, songs meaningful to you and your friends, tunes from your university years or clubbing songs you consider choice. When you meet the DJ always be prepared with your songs for your first dance, the father/daughter dance and the bridal party dance. There should be a written guarantee in the contract that the DJ will play these three songs—after all, they are the three most important songs of the night!
Word up
If you need extras, make sure you ask for them upfront. Most DJs will also provide MC services, if necessary, and many offer an all-inclusive package, where they will play through cocktails, dinner and the reception. In fact, Shaw includes all of this in his standard package. Many of today’s DJs carry projectors and screens for slide shows. The nice thing about this is they operate it, tie it into the sound system and set it up; plus it’s often cheaper than renting from the hall or hotel. Some also offer full light shows and pyrotechnics, but be prepared to pay a premium, as insurance on these services are quite costly. Now you’re well on your way to making a sound decision that’ll get you out on the floor to boogie the night away!
Songs guaranteed to get everyone groovin’, from granny to your flower girls:
“Achy Breaky Heart” Billy Ray Cyrus
“Dancing Queen” ABBA
“Everybody Have Fun Tonight” Wang Chung
“Hokey Pokey” (traditional)
“Macarena” Los Del Rio
“Stayin’ Alive” The Bee Gees
“Thank God I’m A Country Boy” John Denver
“Chicken Dance” (traditional)
“Time Warp” Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack
“The Twist” Chubby Checker
“Twist And Shout” The Beatles
“Y.M.C.A.” Village People
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