Things You Should Know Before Hiring a DJ For Your Wedding Reception
The results of an interesting survey published in the St. Louis Bride & Groom magazine showed that as many as 78% of all brides surveyed immediately following their wedding reception were unhappy with the entertainment provided at their reception.
The same survey also showed that when asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
* *Sources: Simmons 2001, USA Today 2002, National Bridal Service 2001, The Knot 2002, St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine 2008
My intention here is in no way to make you leery of every DJ you speak to, but rather, help you to become an informed entertainment shopper. Remember, every DJ you speak to wants your business; you have the power... use it wisely!
The most common error made by brides and grooms when shopping for entertainment is in thinking of a DJ as if he or she is a product. This is what I like to refer to as the Wal-Mart mentality, and it’s perfectly understandable how we got that way.
When shopping for laundry detergent you can save a lot of money by choosing the generic or store brand laundry detergent. Many of us have even come to learn that many of these products are actually the same product made by the same manufacturer, only with different labels. And you've probably discovered your laundry comes out just as clean as when purchasing the name brand product.
However, unlike products, DJ's are individuals with different levels of commitment and different levels of experience using equipment with different levels of quality. The variables within this range are seemingly infinite.
Your challenge here is twofold...
The first part of the challenge will be up to you to discern what level of importance you place upon the entertainment at your wedding reception. If you are planning a quick in and out wedding reception and involving your guests in an exciting and memorable afternoon or evening is not a part of your plan, then you might simply choose a DJ based upon the lowest price.
If however, a fun, exciting and memorable wedding reception is your plan... then there are a few things you should know.
When first meeting with a bride I typically discover that they are completely unaware of the types of options available to them. Most brides are usually surprised and excited to discover that the entertainment can go well beyond the music.
A DJ is a DJ…is much like saying a car is a car. Corvette, Mercedes and Porsche drivers might find that statement offensive as they know from experience that not all cars are created equal.
There are DJs, wedding specialists, and even the next level of wedding entertainment...the Wedding Entertainment Director. The difference between them is the level of experience and the level of commitment to a particular wedding event.