Investing in a professional wedding entertainer for your wedding celebration is one of the biggest decisions that you will make in planning your wedding! The entertainment can make your wedding experience fun and memorable or it can be a disaster. The choice is yours, so choose wisely. Here are the three most important questions I recommend you ask before you decide who is a good fit for what you are looking for.
1. What EXPERIENCE Do You Have As A Wedding DJ/MC?
This is the most important question to ask any DJ or DJ company you are considering. There are many different DJs in the entertainment industry. You have club DJs, Radio DJs, Karaoke DJs etc. Your wedding is too important to leave in the hands of someone that doesn't specialize in performing at weddings. A professional wedding DJ has many more responsibilities other then playing music, a professional wedding DJ must have certain skills to perform well at a wedding celebration. Like in most professions, a certain level of skill is required for qualify for the job.
In most wedding situations your DJ/entertainer will be responsible for making all the announcements which include the wedding party entrance, first dance, father and daughter dance, mother and son dance etc. Entertaining a group of people is a skill that takes time and experience to develop. The MC at your wedding is representing you on the microphone so choose someone you trust and who isn’t going to embarrass you or your guests.
The best way to determine if the DJ/MC is qualified to perform at your wedding is to ask these questions...
1. How many weddings have you done in the past three months?
2. Can you provide me with video footage of you performing?
3. Can you provide me with references from past three weddings ?
The answer to these questions should determine the level of experience your DJ has in the wedding industry.
2. Do You Have Liability Insurance?
Your wedding DJ having insurance is important not only too you but also to the venue that is hosting your reception. Most venues will want a copy of your DJs insurance policy to protect their property if the DJ damages anything while performing his/her duties during your wedding celebration. The insurance policy also covers you if you happen sued from your guests if they incur any injury due to the DJ and his equipment. Think about this... what happens if one of your guests has had just a little too much wine during your cocktail hour and as they are walking over to their seat trips over one of the DJs wire and breaks their leg. Who is responsible for damages and personal injury bill ? I know while planning a wedding no one really thinks about these things but it is important to consider when hiring your DJ. I have read and know couples that have gone through situations like this and to avoid liability on your part make sure that the DJ you are considering has insurance.
3. Do You Provide A Contract With The Terms And Conditions of Your Services ?
This goes without saying that any professional that you are dealing with should and would provide you with a written agreement, with the terms and conditions of the contract.
I’ve dealt with many couples that contact me a few days before their wedding because their DJ has backed out at the last minute and they had no contract with the DJ or the DJ company. If you don’t have a contract with your DJ or other vendors they can back out at anytime, there isn’t anything bidding them to your wedding date. Many couples will book their wedding DJ months in advance and verbally agree to a price and date for the wedding. In between that time your DJ may have been offered a better price for another wedding on the same day as yours, since there is no written contract or agreement your DJ may decide to go with the higher paying wedding. A month before your wedding your DJ isn’t answering any of your phone calls or emails and your wondering why, more than likely he or she has found a better paying wedding elsewhere and since there was no contract they are not obligated to you or your wedding date.
Things to look for in your contract...
1. Is a deposit required? If so how much?
2. What equipment is the DJ required to provide
3. Start and end time for service
4. How much extra does the DJ charge if they stay beyond the agreed upon time?
5. Name of the DJ that will be at the wedding, is there a backup DJ if the original has an emergency?
6. How long do you have to cancel the agreement before you lose your deposit.
These are just a few things to look for when reviewing your entertainment agreement.
I believe that if you go into your initial DJ consultation with these three questions it will help you determine if your DJ has the experiences, professionalism and level of commitment to your wedding celebration. Always remember when hiring any of your vendors especially your DJ it is important that you meet face to face if possible to build some rapport and develop trust. Meeting face to face can go a long way in determining who is the best fit for wedding celebration. If a face to face meeting isn’t possible consider Skype or FaceTime.
"Incredible DJs is a professional wedding entertainment company. We specialize in weddings and getting you and your guests engaged and involved in your celebration. We believe that every couple is different so every wedding should be different. If you have an upcoming wedding and you are looking for an entertainer, contact me personally so we can discuss whats important to you at your wedding and if we will be a good fit for each other"
Jean Mathurin aka JeanTheWeddingCoach
Office: 1-877-206-7923
Text: 571-429-3438
Email: 4incredibledjs@gmail.com
Web Site: 4incredibledjs.com