How do I find a DJ for an event?

If you want to know how to find a DJ for your event you need to consider a few different things. Firstly, what kind of event are you holding and how big is your budget, because these two things will decide the type of DJ you require and how much should be allocated to spend on a DJ. After all if you only have a small budget, you still need to consider other things like room hire, food and snacks. We are going to go over some things to consider to help you find a DJ for an event that you might be planning.

Deciding On The Type Of DJ

DJ’s come in many different shapes and sizes. We’re not talking physically of course, we mean different DJs cater to different styles of music, and different types of events. For a wedding, you’ll want a DJ that caters to weddings or has a lot of experience with them because your wedding day is one-time only and can’t be gambled with. A wedding DJ will also have a diverse selection of music for all ages, so you need someone who is adaptable and familiar with the traditional formalities. If it’s just a birthday celebration or house party however, you could consider hiring a club DJ, who usually specialises in one or two styles of music, but does it really well. This will go down better with a younger age group or a group that you know will love this particular DJs music. The disadvantage however is they may be not accustomed to DJing for private events and not as professional. The other con is that club DJs don’t usually come with a full set of equipment, because the clubs they normally DJ at have the equipment provided, so it’s not something they invest in. If you need someone who is more flexible however, carries a wide range of music, is happy to take requests and has a complete DJ setup with lighting as well, then maybe what you’re looking for is a mobile DJ. A mobile DJ is someone who sees DJing as more of a full time career and comes to your location with everything supplied. They’ll usually dress more formally too so they’ll fit the part. Try to find a professional mobile DJ with at least 5 years experience if you want to guarantee they know how to work a crowd and react swiftly to please everyone.

Where To Find A DJ For An Event

Google

So once you know what type of DJ you want then you know where to look to find a DJ for your event. The most common place to look, and most probably how you found this article is to go and search on Google. This can be a good way to find a wedding or mobile DJ and can give you plenty of choices. The down size however is that there is a little bit of luck involved as you have not seen the potential DJ for yourself. So make sure you read their reviews and look at both the good and the bad to make the best choice.

Ask A Friend

This could be a more reliable option if you know someone who has either seen a DJ for themselves or hired one for one of their events. Word of mouth is going to increase your chances so why not think about some friends you know who might know a DJ or have hired one that they can recommend. You can also speak to your venue cause they probably know a good DJ they’ve seen at their venue and have a recommended suppliers list.

At A Club Or Family / Friends Event

Probably one of the best ways to find a DJ for an event is to see one for yourself. Perhaps you are at a club you like and the DJ plays really good music, just walk up and ask them if they can do private parties and they’ll probably say yes. Alternatively the next time you are invited to a family or friends event pay attention to the quality of the DJ and if they do a good job, go up and ask them for a business card. When you’ve seen a DJ for yourself, you can rest assured that the DJ will likely do as good a job at your upcoming event.

Things To Consider When Finding A DJ For An Event

Look At Their Website

First impressions last, so take a look at their website to find out what they are like. A poorly designed website can be a reflection on the quality of service you should expect to receive. How is the site laid out? Is it user friendly, or does it confuse you? What kind of music do they offer? Do they have any testimonials from previous customers? A professional and established DJ will have a good website hands down. Sure it’s possible that a good DJ might have a poor quality website or not one at all, but unless your willing to take chances on something that could make or break your event, having a good website will give you the confidence to dig deeper.

Request An Info Pack & Review Their Follow Up

Once again a professional DJ should have already put some thought into their packages. If you enquire through their website you should expect to receive some kind of information brochure, or pricing table, PDF or something you can read and learn more about what is being offered. So complete their enquiry form and request a quote, and take note of how long they take to follow up with you. A professional DJ will get back to you within 24 hours at least but you can give them a little slack on the weekends because they could be busy. But if you don’t have a follow up by email or phone within a few days then you should being to wonder about their level of professionalism. Look for a DJ who is responsive, sounds confident on the phone and has great customer service.

Get A Few Quotes

After you have spoken with the DJ or DJ company you should have received a quote, either by email or over the phone. We suggest you get a few quotes just so that you can compare one with the other, and see how what they are offering and the price they are asking for compares. Obviously you are not simply looking for the cheapest DJ, because unless they are a friend, a cheap DJ usually means they are not very busy or don’t value themselves so they offer a cheap price just to get your business. If you only have to pay just a little bit more for another DJ who seems a lot more confident and professional, it’s worth paying the extra money to make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing. A well established, professional DJ will most likely have a mid to high price because they are simply in demand and so they have to charge more accordingly. On the other hand you don’t want to choose a DJ simply because they are the most expensive either because you could just end up with someone who is only charging a high rate because the other DJs are, and not because they are genuinely worth it. You’ll have to use your own judgement here to choose the best quote with the best value.

Questions To Ask Your DJ

How many guests do you have coming to your event? You may need a bigger speaker system for a larger room and more lighting if the venue is dark or doesn’t give off much light. Dominic Smith