TIPS FOR HIRING A WEDDING DJ – PRICE vs. PROFESSIONALISM
Did you know that most couples spend less than 3% of their wedding budget on entertainment? In a survey of thousands of brides, when asked what they remembered most about their reception, 80% said that it was the entertainment or lack thereof. When asked if they had to do it over again, 80% said that they wished they had done a better job choosing professional entertainment.
Your DJ can have a tremendous impact on the success of your reception.
When shopping for a DJ you should consider several factors before signing a contract.
How long has the company/individual been in business? Do they have wedding experience?
Tunes by T recently celebrated 25 years providing worry-free wedding celebrations. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone who has entertained at more wedding receptions than we have.
How will my DJ be attired?
Our standard wedding apparel is a tuxedo unless otherwise specified.
Is the DJ’s sound system adequate enough to handle my event?
Many DJ services have their employees transport the equipment in their car. Most cars aren’t big enough to transport speakers adequate enough to handle even a medium-sized reception hall. Every Tunes by T system is equipped with State-of the Art sound systems including sub woofers to ensure highest quality sound.
Will the DJ set up the equipment before the guests arrive?
Tunes by T will always set up prior to guest arrival.
Will my DJ have a professional looking set up?
Many DJs will simply set their equipment on whatever table happens to be at the hall. Tunes by T has custom built consoles to house our equipment. We also custom skirt our console to match the room décor or the bridesmaid’s dresses. (see picture in portfolio)
What color are your extension cords?
I know this may seem like a silly question, but think about it. If you’ve booked a classy reception hall, do you want to see fluorescent orange extension cords and gray duct tape everywhere? We pay attention to these small details. We use only black extension cords and black residue-free professional gaffer’s tape.
Is this a part-time job or “hobby” for my DJ?
This is a full-time profession for Tunes by T. Receptions comprise about 70% of our work. We are usually available to answer your calls and emails very quickly.
Will my DJ play the music that we want to hear?
Many services may not even ask you for your input on the music. Others may ask you for a few titles and then fill in with whatever they want to play. With Tunes by T you can pick every song that is played for your reception. You can also let us know how you’d like us to handle requests from your guests. You can even let us know what specific songs or types of songs you don’t want hear. If you’re not sure what your guests will enjoy, leave it to us. Music is why we’re in business and why we’ve been so successful. We have a knack for knowing what songs will pack a dance floor and keep it filled.
Is your music library current?
Our music library is updated weekly. We typically have about 99% of the requests that we get. If we don’t have it we will get it. If we can’t locate it we will ask you to bring it. We will be happy to play it for you. Click here to view playlist.
Will my DJ be advertising their company at my reception?
You will not see any advertising or signs on our equipment. Nor will you hear us promoting our business over the microphone. It’s not about us, it’s about you.
Will my DJ be cheesy, vulgar or tacky? Will they try to “steal the show” by talking on the microphone excessively or wearing goofy costumes?
We speak on the microphone only when necessary to make sure events flow in a smooth fashion. We don’t like to talk over the lyrics of a song. We will never use profanity on the microphone nor will we ever encourage inappropriate behavior by your guests. You won’t see us put out a tip jar. We consider ourselves fun and outgoing in a tasteful manner.
Do I have to worry about explicit lyrics being played?
All of our music is “radio” friendly. If you’d like to set tighter restrictions on the music we can certainly accommodate your wishes.
Will the music be so loud that my guests will have a hard time conversing with one another?
We do our best to keep the music at comfortable listening levels. This is especially important during the social/dinner portion of your reception. Typically the music will be louder once the dancing begins. Enhanced music levels encourage a fun, energized party atmosphere. We try to concentrate the music on the dance floor once the dancing has begun. If at any time you think the music is too loud, let us know and we’ll adjust accordingly.
Do you bring lighting?
Lighting is provided at no additional charge and is optional. We recommend lighting to add excitement to the atmosphere and energize the dance floor. We don’t recommend smoke or messy bubbles or sirens or strobe lighting.
Will my DJ smoke or drink on the job?
Tunes by T employees maintain their professionalism by refraining from cigarettes and alcohol.
Does the DJ take breaks?
We never take breaks unless you want us to. The music is delivered non-stop. One of the benefits of hiring a DJ is that we can change the music up instantly if it isn’t working.
Does the DJ ever bring a friend or “date” with them to keep them company?
Tunes by T only sends trained staff members to your event. Friends or dates will only distract the DJ’s attention away from where it needs to be.
Can I trust that my DJ will refrain from “flirting with” or “hitting on” any of my guests?
That type of behavior is totally unprofessional. You will not see that with Tunes by T.
Most DJ’s I see usually just sit down and play the music. Is this normal?
Any DJ who takes their job seriously should be standing and attentive to the flow of the reception and the dance floor activities throughout the event.
Do we have to feed our DJ?
No. Feeding the DJ is strictly optional.
Does the DJ bring back up equipment should the need arise?
We bring a minimum of three self-powered speakers. If one should fail there would only be a minimal loss of sound. Currently our music library is filed digitally as mp3s and played through a laptop. Should that system fail, we bring a complete backup music library on CD with a professional dual CD player. In addition to a wireless microphone we always carry a wired microphone as well.
Do you have back up DJ’s should the need arise?
Even though we are a relatively small operation, we always have back up DJ’s on staff. All of our DJ’s work for Tunes by T exclusively. They are personally trained by owner T. Campbell and work only with company owned equipment, music and transportation of equipment.
How do we know who our DJ will be?
We send out DJ’s based on your preferences. We will discuss with you the type of personality that you prefer and go over your musical tastes. We will then match up a DJ who we feel will best suit your needs.
Can we meet with our DJ ahead of time?
Certainly. In fact, we encourage you to meet with us even before you select a DJ service to see if you think we’d be a good “fit”.
Have I forgotten to ask anything?
I know it’s hard choosing the right entertainment without knowing anyone in the business. Everyone can look good on paper. I strongly encourage you to ask around. Ask your friends and colleagues. Talk to other service professionals that you are working with. Banquet managers and photographers have probably seen and heard more DJ’s than anyone. If you choose a DJ service based on price alone you are setting yourself up for disaster. We are not selling “things”, we are selling fun, memorable experiences. This is a one-time deal. Don’t take any chances.
We are proud to offer you a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with our service we will gladly refund your money.
Thank you for taking the time to read this report. I hope it helps you in deciding reception entertainment that is right for you. If you have any more questions please feel free to email or call. Good Luck!
Sincerely,
T. Campbell
Owner – Tunes by T
3458 Every Rd.
Okemos MI 48864-4308
(517) 347-7565
1-800-44-TUNES (88637)
www.tunesbyt.com
5.0/5.0
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