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Kathleen
Master August 2012

Booking DJ without meeting?

Kathleen, on January 16, 2012 at 6:10 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 20

I have been e-mailing with a DJ that has been recommended to me by several people (my reception venue, and friends that have used him at their weddings). They all say he's great and a wonderful DJ. I've looked at his website ang blog and I've read even more reviews on WW, which were all great. But apparently, he don't meet with brides until 2 weeks before the wedding. This was obviously a red flag, but since he's so highly recommended, should I wave it away?

20 Comments

Latest activity by Kristen, on January 17, 2012 at 12:55 PM
  • Tiffany
    Expert September 2012
    Tiffany ·
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    I did not meet with our DJ, he was highly recommended through multiple reviews and websites. We will meet sometime during the summer so he can see the venue, but thats about it. Personal preference I guess, I have spoke to him on the phone, and through emails and like to think I am a pretty good judge of character.

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  • Mrs. S™
    Master October 2011
    Mrs. S™ ·
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    I wouldn't, but that's a personal preference. I couldn't imagine hiring someone for such an important task and cashing out decent $$ without having an opportunity to spend 20 minutes with them. But the DJ's character was very important to us. We nixed a few we met not because we thought they were bad at what they did, but they just didn't fit into the whole concept of our wedding. I just think it's a huge gamble.

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  • Heather
    Master September 2012
    Heather ·
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    I wouldnt and i couldnt imagine that, but our DJs are doing A LOT more than just playing music, we will probably meet a total of 4-5 times before the weeding (mostly bc im a control freak). it all depends on what you are expecting from them.

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  • John Ung
    John Ung ·
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    If you are willing to drive up and meet and the DJ refuse,,,then I think it's arrogant. he got popular so he don't need your business.

    if he is good and cheap then it's worth going by his rule...

    (not meeting clients may allow him to reduce cost and save you money)

    but if he is expensive,,, look elsewhere

    because of review and personal referral.. you can trust booking without meeting...

    without it... i wouldn't.

    Most of my clients book be without meeting.. because they read the reviews and saw my portfolio.

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  • NowMissyL
    VIP May 2012
    NowMissyL ·
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    I wouldn't, personally. I just don't trust people, to be perfectly honest, especially not people who work in the wedding business. Seriously no offense to any honest vendors! I've just heard too many horror stories to not check someone out before I hire them.

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  • Ashley
    VIP December 2011
    Ashley ·
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    Were you at the friends' weddings where they used this DJ? I'd be inclined to trust my friends reviews and just go with it - but I also trust my friends' judgements. Smiley smile Your venue is also prob a good resource - they're not likely to recommend someone who isn't easy to work with, and a bad DJ. They don't want to be the ones who recommended someone crappy. I relied heavily on my venue for vendor recommendations, and loved every one. I booked our DJ through a company, but we didn't meet our actual DJ until the day of. (We did correspond via e-mail and phone a lot, so I got a good feel for his personality ahead of time)

    If you're unsure, ask to meet in person beforehand. If he's unwilling, I'd move on & try to find someone else.

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  • Jennifer
    Super November 2011
    Jennifer ·
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    I didn't meet with my dj before booking him. But I loved his reviews, spoke with him several times, and loved that he had worked at my venue and with my DOC before (both giving him glowing reviews as well). Everyone loved him and through email and phone calls his personality clicked with me, what I wanted for the wedding, and he was very honest from the start. I met him finally a week before the wedding and have no regrets with booking him. However, I could have met him sooner if I wanted too, but our wedding was a few hours away from where we live, and I never had the time to visit with him sooner.

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  • Lisa Marie
    Super June 2012
    Lisa Marie ·
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    If it were your decision not to meet with him before booking, I'd say go for it. But I do find it a little bit odd that he doesn't want to meet with the brides until 2 weeks prior to the wedding. That would make me nervous.

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  • Falon Ballard
    Falon Ballard ·
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    Have you spoken with him over the phone at all? Sometimes it's a bit easier to get a feel for someone if you hear his voice and can have a real conversation. I personally would not book a DJ without meeting him or seeing him work (if you were at a wedding he DJed then that could take the place of a meeting). How a DJ speaks and carries himself is uber important when it comes to the flow and feel of your wedding. Also, keep in mind that venues sometimes recommend vendors that give them kick backs--their opinions should sometimes be taken with a grain of salt. Best of luck to you!

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  • Len Woelfel
    Len Woelfel ·
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    When I started dj-ing weddings in the early 80's it was pretty common to not meet brides. I seldom met with clients until the day of. One phone call was all I needed. Now, it's much more common to meet before signing a contract. With the number of recommendations you've gotten, it seems pretty safe. On the other hand, given the amount of competition out there anymore, I'd think your dj would be a little more interested in getting your business.

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  • Kathleen
    Master August 2012
    Kathleen ·
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    If it wasn't for the reviews and referrals, I most definitely would not book without a meeting. I did go to the wedding of someone that used him and I did like him. I also don't think he'd really refuse a meeting, I just think it's not something they generally do.

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  • Yardiegirl
    Master September 2012
    Yardiegirl ·
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    I'm not paying for anything I haven't seen or heard. I went to hear our DJ play at an event before booking him.

    If you heard him and like him...then go for it. Just make sure the contract is up to par. Tell him you want to meet him to give him a downpayment to secure your date.

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  • SemiSweet
    Super March 2012
    SemiSweet ·
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    I did, we'll see how it turns out but since our wedding is so far away from where we live we just didn't have the opportunity. He does have great reviews and our talk on the phone was comfortable, so I personally, do not feel too worried about it.

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  • hippydog
    hippydog ·
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    If you have several referals for the DJ then you should book him..

    The BEST way to pick a DJ (besides seeing them at a friend or families wedding) is via referalls

    Not all DJ's meet with clients, as not everyone runs their business the same. (and thats a good thing!)

    Of course he should still have a contract (thats a given) :-)

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  • Jeanette
    VIP October 2012
    Jeanette ·
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    Ours is the reverse. We won't book without meeting the couple. I love our DJ, but the town were we are getting married is over an hour away so we had to drive down there to meet with him, I had seen him a 2 other weddings and I loved him. I talked to him on the phone and the whole bit. I would have booked him without meeting him if he had allowed it.

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  • P
    Devoted May 2012
    paulette ·
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    Talked and booked over the phone and won't meet until 2 weeks to the wedding. I had a list of questions he answered them. Would been the same in person. If I don't like u over the phone a face to face is not gonna change it.

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  • Owen O'Mahony
    Owen O'Mahony ·
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    I'm a DJ in NYC area (and getting married in June) -- as a DJ, I do have many couples planning their wedding from across the country. Sometimes they are willing to book right away but I ask if we can at least talk by phone. What if we're not a good fit? They request something I don't offer like a photo montage? etc. Seems dangerous to wait until 2 weeks out. That's when I'm prepping for your wedding...not getting to know you + your musical tastes. As a guy getting married, I'd never, ever hire anyone without meeting them first. Deal breaker.

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  • Larry  Williams
    Larry Williams ·
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    Here MAY be an issue... Your DJ may not "look" the part of a DJ. What I mean is (looking at me) he may be old or heavy or whatever... but is an amazing performer. I've been doing this for over 20 years, so I get it.

    I've heard through the grapevine, that SOME brides think I'm too old to be their "hip" DJ. Once I start the music, that all changes, but first impressions are important, so I understand.

    I do most of my correspondence with brides over the Internet, and typically meet them for the first time at the wedding. This certainly is a cost savings measure, since I live a long distance away from the big city where most of the brides come from.

    If you have glowing reviews, and a good rep over the phone, then feel safe with your decision. Always check out your vendors credentials, web site, references, etc... Make sure you have a binding contract too... that should solve all your problems.

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  • Abiti
    VIP June 2012
    Abiti ·
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    Personally I wouldnt book him. sounds too fishy for me. i dont know. i feel finding a dj should be the same as an interview to see if he is right for you. people are different and so just because he worked out for others doesnt mean he will for u. good luck!

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  • Kristen
    Master September 2012
    Kristen ·
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    I felt it was really important to meet with our DJ, just because I wanted to make sure our personalities meshed. He's going to be handling all of our announcements, all night, so I wanted to make sure he wasn't super cheesy, or had a funny voice, or just didn't fit with the style of wedding I want. I read lots of scary wedding DJ stories online though -- if you have personal recommendations from people you KNOW, it might be just fine to book him without a meeting! Depends on your level of comfort.

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