Tips for Hiring A Wedding DJ

When selecting a Wedding  DJ there are many factors to consider.  First of all you should know what your DJ looks like before you give them any money. Image and presentation are of the utmost importance on your wedding day.  You spent plenty of time and money to create the perfect Wedding dress and suit everyone up in the perfect formal wear and tuxedos.  Your venue, Wedding cake, limousine, flowers, photographs, jewelry and catering are all spot on.  The last thing you want is an inappropriately dressed Disc Jockey to be the center of attention on your Wedding day.
   Wedding DJs should be dressed in an upscale suit and tie.  Many Wedding DJs will dress in a tuxedo but this is not a good idea.  The last thing you want from your Wedding Disc Jockey is for him to be confused with members of the Wedding party or mistaken for the groom.  Wedding DJs who wear tuxedos also may risk upstaging the groom. Imagine the embarrassment if you hired a female Wedding DJ and she showed up at your Wedding wearing a white dress.  Wedding DJs should be entertaining, but should never steal the spotlight away from the bride and groom with poor wardrobe decisions.
     You should also be aware that the Wedding DJ inevitably will end up in your Wedding photos.  Avoid future embarrassment my making sure your Wedding DJ is photogenic.  The Wedding DJ will be in the spotlight (and therefore your photographs) for much of  your Wedding day.  Check with your DJ in advance about mullet haircuts, gaudy earrings/nose rings, unsightly tattoos or any other issues you want resolved before they end up in you wedding photo album.
   Hiring a nonsmoker to be your Wedding DJ is also a very good idea.  Ask yourself if you want a cigarette smoking DJ to be in your Wedding photos.  The Wedding DJ has to interact with many bridesmaids and groomsmen during the course of your wedding.  Some members of your family and Wedding party may have adverse reactions to smoke.   DJs who smoke also take cigarette breaks.  It is a very awkward situation when no none can find your Wedding DJ because he is in the bathroom taking a cigarette break.  DJs who go outside to take cigarette/cigar breaks often get behind in the music and have trouble keeping the dance floor full.
   Make sure your Wedding DJ doesn't use chewing tobacco.  A Wedding DJ who chews tobacco can be extremely offensive to guests and may put people off of their food.
    When hiring a Wedding DJ don't mistake age for experience.  If a Wedding DJ has been in  the business for 30 years, than he is probably not the ideal match for a bride in her twenties.  While it is important to get the more mature guests up and dancing for a few songs,  the music should be focused around the age of the Wedding party.  When hiring a Wedding DJ, try to hire a DJ who is near the same age as the Wedding couple.  This will help eliminate generational gaps.  Any Wedding DJ worth the paper he's printed on will have music from the 1950's to the present.  DeeJaying is not rocket science.
   Wedding DJs should not arrive on time for a Wedding.  They should arrive early.  The Wedding party has enough to worry about without wondering where the DJ is.  The Wedding DJ should arrive at least an hour  before your wedding to keep the brides stress level down. 
   Wedding DJs should always carry backup equipment.  Equipment failure occasionally happens.  Make sure your Wedding DJ is prepared for emergency.  A prepared Wedding DJ needs to bring a backup CD player and CDs in addition to their laptop computer.  Bringing a back up amplifier and speakers is a must.  Wedding DJs should also have a wireless power generator.  This allows the Wedding DJ to continue making announcements and playing music in the unlikely event the power goes out.  Wedding DJs should always carry two microphones, one of which needs to be cordless for making toasts and wedding announcements.
   Your Wedding DJ's voice is very important.  This is the voice you will be hearing in all your Wedding videos.  If you don't like your Wedding DJ's voice over the phone, it will be ten times worse over a microphone. 
     Always remember that you are paying a lot of money to hire a Wedding DJ.  A bridal survey in the USA Today last year said that the one thing that wedding guests remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.  The survey said that nearly two out of every three brides regret cutting corners on the entertainment.  Ask yourself if with the money you are spending on the Wedding venue, limousine, florist, photographer, videographer and Wedding dress, do you really want to risk hiring a clown to emcee your Wedding? 
   Take the time to find out about your Wedding DJ.  Hiring your Wedding DJ hopefully will be a once in a lifetime INVESTMENT.  Choose YOUR Wedding DJ wisely!