DJ Responsibilities
That depends on you, plus the quality of the DJ you hired. Both factor in equally.
First and foremost, you control the shots! You can request the Deejay to hold off on announcements, or give them full control within certain guidelines. This is most common. Most people have an idea of how they want their party to flow, and at what points certain songs or speeches need to be made. You can detail this for your disc jockey, preferably on paper, so there's no confusion, but verbal is fine if it's not too complicated.
Do you want your DJ to announce games, introduce the wedding couple, or perhaps make announcements about special guests, toasts, or maybe even pop quizzes about the VIP? Almost all DJ's enjoy highlighting these things. You have to decide if you like their voice, their style, and their particular vocabulary usage. Talking with them for 10 mins or so before hiring them is a great way to determine this.
Do you have a certain genre of music to be played for the kids or teens, then later need the classics for the mature guests? Not a problem! Are there some songs you loathe or love? You can nix the one and play the other several times, if wanted. Communication with your DJ professional is the key here.
You may find yourself needing to change up the order due to an unforeseen situation. A good disc jockey will be flexible and willing to make adjustments on the fly. It's also a great idea to make sure your pro knows who will be giving them instructions for your event. Too many bosses can create havoc.
The DeeJay you hire should have at least 20-30 paid events under their belt. Also, if you want a disc jockey for your wedding (or other specific event), make sure they have done multiple weddings before, not just parties. Weddings are usually more structured, and the brides typically have solid ideas on how the reception should go. It may be best to not leave it up to chance for the DJ to fill in. It's a great idea to give the prospective pro a couple of scenarios to see how they would handle that. Are they receptive to your suggestions or corrections? You'll be able to sense this in their demeanor, and responses.
Undecided?
Still not sure about who to choose to emcee your event? Why not ask them for referrals from previous customers? While not all customers agree up front to do this, some forward thinking DJ's will ask satisfied customers to be willing. Also, check out their reviews online. Are the negative reviews reasonable? Spend some time asking your would-be-hire about why this customer was unhappy and left them a poor review. Got some time to decide? Ask the DJ if you can attend one of their future events so you can see them in action. A short 20-30 mins seeing them working the crowd can do a lot to assuage your fears.
While we obviously would love it if you chose DJ Tempe, but either way, using these suggestions will help insure your special event will come off without a hitch!
Biggest Do of the DJ
A professional DJ will know how to read the crowd! They will scan the rom consistently to maintain crowd control. A true DJ will know that the crowd is everything that will cue your timing, songs, and experience. They watch what people are doing. Making eye contact with some of the dancers, having their head on a swivel. They are gauging the vibes of the crowd. If a track tends to create a bored environment, they know to switch it up. And when not to switch it up! We've all experienced a DJ who changed the song in the middle of an apex crowd hype.
How about a DJ who had his own playlist in mind, instead of the Bride's? There are some serious do's and don't when it comes to being a great disc jockey.
Think about some of the DJ greats: Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Porter Robinson, Paul Oakenfold, Martin Garrix, David Guetta. Not all of them play the same kind of music either! If you pay attention though, there is something they all have in common. They studied the crowd. They weren't enveloped in their own heads, trying to make amazing beats for themselves. They were there for the people. The crowd. The wave of rhythm that runs through the mob of people cheering at their music. They chased after the feeling you get when the beats have aligned with the pumping of your heart. The loudness in the dancing fans that happens when their happiness is exploding. True disc jockeys are looking for their way to imprint on the rhythm of our lives.
Sure, knowing the equipment is huge. If you can't turn on your turn table then we have bigger issues here. Engaging with and interacting with the groups of paying listeners is the real key here. When the career is on the line for an important wedding, quincenera, or live music event, they know that eye contact will be of utmost importance. Perhaps the bride has a specific list she wants played. Do they take a whim and base it off the vibin' after partyers? One look at the bride may tell them. Sure communication is great, but what if she is loving the hype and changes her mind? Another scan and eye contact told us everything. Another look around and DJ spotted the cake and a potential accident. Reading the room and the itinerary helps set the mood for an even better entrance.
So no matter how amazing of a professional disc jockey you are, if you aren't studying your music environment and emotional affects of your music, there won't be anymore parties for you. If grandma is upset about the volume of the music, be sure you're going to hear about it. If you didn't have a back up set list in case the music wasn't a cultural fit, be ready for some empty dance floors. All of these things can be avoided with a DJ who is ready to study. Ready to observe and prepared for the worst.
This site is managed by EG Lead Generation, a company that specializes in website building, SEO for any website, and more. Check us out @ EGLeadGen.com