When on the search for a Dj for your wedding or other event there are some key items to consider. First and foremost you want a professional. Your Dj should be fully insured , should have some form of a contract, be able to provide not only reviews but references to past clients. Price is and always will be the deciding factor but it should not be the only one. A low priced Dj is not  always bad and a high priced DJ is not  always good. Make sure you do your homework and that before hiring a Dj or other vendor  meet with a few ,ask questions, and above all don't rush. Ask questions.  Below is a list of some of the most common questions  and my answers. Some may pertain to you some might not

​​What makes you different from your competitors?
All DJs are different and have a different style. I think what makes me different is I am very
flexible and give 110% to every event. I recognize that I am there to make your day go as smooth
and be as memorable as I can in the best way it can be. One way I do this is charge by the
event and not the hour; setting the entire day aside for you and significant other.
What do you do to motivate the crowd if nobody is dancing?
There are several things I do or can. Over the years I have learned to read people. I have gotten
on the Microphone to coax people into dancing but that doesn’t always work, usually changing
up the music will do it, or doing a line dance (like the cha cha slide, or electric slide for example)
or I will do a game like musical chairs to get the guests out of their chairs, or all of the above.
There are some guests that getting them to dance can be like getting water from a stone but
usually I do not, or have I had an issue with getting people moving. I have even in the past called
the bride and groom to the floor, and then called the guests out to dance with them. Simple yet
effective and I make it fun. I try to refrain from games at formal events like weddings, and always get consent from the newlyweds
What if something happens to you and you can't make it to the wedding?
I have never missed a wedding, but I work with a number of local  DJs and if I
absolutely couldn’t make it I have DJs I can call (as they do me) to cover for me. As a
professional I’ve been sick and still gone. (I do however inform the guests not to get too close
because it’s the courteous thing to do). I am 45 and started DJ-ing at 18. I ‘ve been doing
weddings since I was about 21. In my years I have never missed a show. With COVID I would discuss with the  soon to be married couple and discuss with them.
How do you keep your music selection up to date?
I pay attention to hit lists such as Billboard, Pandora, Tik Tok, YouTube  and Spotify I am a member
of 5 or 6 different DJ music pools, so I get a lot of my music from them, but I also use Google
play and Amazon to purchase my music if I cant find it on any of the record pools I subscribe to. 
When do you arrive to set up for our wedding?
Depends on the gear/package  I need to set up  for the DJ side of things usually 2 hours, with ceremony Set up I would add a half hour, and if a photo booth I add an hour (so with DJ, photo booth and ceremony sound I would, give or take arrive 4-4.5 hours to get set up done. I also will add time depending on venue add time for some extras such as up lighting  I  will normally  decent amount of time afterwards before the event starts to double check, relax and "gather my bearings" before your guests arrive. I try to start 15-30 minutes prior to start time so any guests arriving 
What will you wear to our wedding?
I wear black dress pants, a purple dress shirt ( I actually own 7)and a tuxedo vest. Unless told otherwise I will dress according to your plans and choice. One example is I did a wedding with a "Western" theme so I wore blue jeans cowboy boots, a cowboy hat 
What do you require from us?
I usually ask for a non refundable retainer of $200.00 , and of course  a contract (either electronically or in person)The retainer covers my time including any phone calls or conversations we may have as being a business I have overhead, also wear and tear on my vehicle  (mileage) on my vehicle for meetings and such related to the clients wedding. It also helps to  cover any other costs I incur before your wedding day such as music purchases. As your wedding gets 
close I have what I call a wedding planner I use to give me all the information I need to tailor your wedding or other event  to your plans and ensure I have all the details I need to not just do my job but make it the best day of your life.. 
Do you take any breaks?
No. If I eat I wait until all guests are served(unless told otherwise so I can be ready to do my job as needed once the newlyweds have finished eating.
What is your policy on alcohol or smoking during the wedding?
I do not smoke, and I think it is unprofessional to drink while working. I don't do it at my full time day job is so my thought is  why would I do it at any job. When I DJ even though I love what I do and it’s a passion of mine it is still a job that you are paying me to do and I am going to do it to the best of my ability
What kind of equipment do you use?

I have top of the line equipment. I use brands such as
Denon, RCF, Mackie, etc.,etc.. I am constantly upgrading to improve performance
and durability along with reliability. I have  thousands invested in gear that I use, so the list
can get pretty long. Needless to say I use about 25%  of  my income from my DJ business to invest in
either new or improved equipment. I use 25% give or take for music,35% for random fees such as upkeep of website, gas, vehicle repairs and maintenance, the other 15% is my profit. 
Do you bring backup equipment with you or what do you do if you have problems with the equipment?
 I bring enough for 2 complete systems, (0r more) if setting up two
systems(ceremony) minus the speakers. The speakers I bring are self powered (built in amplifier) and  for most event sufficient to run with just one if I have to.  For Bigger events I bring more speakers. I bring enough that should I have an equipment malfunction there would be minimal downtime if  any at all. I  also work in IT (Bachelors degree in computer science)  and have been DJ-ing for a long time I understand the importance of redundancy and backups.
Do you set up a sign or banner with your equipment?
No not normally at a wedding.  My Laptop does have a skin (a sticker that
covers the lid of my laptop) though that has my logo on it,
Are we allowed to give you a list of songs we want played as well as song we don't want
played?

Absolutely; I am there working for you. A couple things though that I ask is if it’s a do not play
song can I play it if a guest requests it ,can I play it  or should I tell them its on do not play list and  possibly  have them check with you. Some songs are songs the couple would rather not hear, others like those played at memorial services, or that have a special meaning that isn't a  happy one In regard to a request list I ask that you keep in mind it’s a request. I say
this because there are only so many songs that can be played in an hour, I take requests from
your guest throughout the night and ensure that there is no dead air and I do my best to  beat match (mix)
so there is a flawless flow of music. If I am playing your requests and you are the only one
dancing; then I like to be able to switch it up to get people dancing. I once had a bride and groom
give me a list that was all very mellow and low-key music, not energetic music to keep people
dancing. I do however do my best to play as many as possible. I also suggest a must play request
list of 5-6 (give or take) songs. This makes sure the Bride and Groom get to dance to their
favorite songs, and gives me a sneak peak into  the type of music they enjoy
Why are your rates lower or higher  than others?
My rates are priced to pay my bills and still stay competitive , but my service and equipment are top notch. Music and DJ-ing are a passion for me. My fees pay my bills and support my family (see above).  Too many brides book based on price and don’t ask these questions, every bride wants something different, and every DJ has a different style, doesn’t make them a bad DJ if they are not on same page, but does make for a bad or poor event, resulting in a sad or upset bride and a DJ that doesn’t understand why they got a bad review. From experience I have seen some DJs that charge a low amount do an awesome job, and DJs that charge higher do
a horrible job. Every DJ has a figure he or she needs to make to stay in business. This can be related to overhead costs, equipment and much more. 
Will you be my DJ, or do you contract to someone else, or have an employee working for
you?

I am a fully legitimate business, but I do not contract my work out, and I am the sole owner. However as a growing business I may have  someone else do it, but not without your knowledge and with plenty of notice  so you can meet that DJ to make sure that he or she  is a match for you and your special day.
Can I give you a different song for each member or bridal couple of my bridal party for the
Grand Entrance?
Here is the thing, yes and no. Of course, I can do it, but I don’t recommend it.
The reasons are it leaves a lot more room for mistakes. Loading a large number of 10-30 second
clips usually also doesn’t sound good either . When I am DJ-ing and doing the MC portion on the mic I
have to say the names, play the music. When loading or switching tracks that quickly on an
introduction it leaves a lot of room for mistakes to be made. I can do up to 4, so maybe 1 for
parents, one for bridal party, one for best man and Maid of honor and one for you. In this case
though sometimes less is better.  The other thing to factor in when doing this is the venue and
length of entrance path to sweetheart or head table. Many venues in our area don't have a very long path from the entrance to the tables or dance floor so you might here a max of 30 seconds.