Audio Equipment – The biggest trend with sound is getting the highest quality from the smallest, most portable units.  As most mobile DJs can attest, space is a precious commodity at the majority of their events.  Without the luxury of a whole lot of room for a large setup, amps and speakers that are more compact and easy to assemble, prop up on stands or fit into smaller racks are in highest demand.  Thankfully, this trend does not mean DJs have to sacrifice on the quality and sharpness of sound as these days even mid-level audio equipment is designed to provide crisp and powerful sound comparable to that of much pricier high-end units.

Currently, JBL is one of the trendiest brands in speakers while American DJ and Rane produce some of the highest quality and most used mixers.

Lighting – Great lighting that brings a discothèque feel to the dance floor is always on trend, but now it’s more affordable than ever for disc jockeys to provide it.  Most commonly known as cosmo balls or roto-balls, spherical rotating gadgets with red, yellow and blue lights that spin and dance across a dance floor, creating a full rainbow of colors, are finding their way onto more dance floors.  What’s so great about these lights is that not only are they affordable, they’re light weight, easy to set up and highly portable.  Plus, they eliminate the need for a bulky mirror ball.

Slightly more difficult to install, but just as trendy are lighting units that are hung from the ceiling of an event space and use roughly 20 small bulbs to produce beams of colored lights that crisscross in, out and all over the dance floor.  Like roto-balls, these units are more affordable than ever and equally as light and portable making them ideal for a wide range of events.

Currently, one of the trendiest and best performing brands in DJ lighting equipment is American DJ.

While purchasing DJ equipment is mostly a matter of taste and will vary widely from one DJ to the next, the popularity of some brands like Numark, Odyssey and all the other brands mentioned above will continue to remain strong.  No matter how fast technology advances, it’s always wise to pay attention to current trends in order to be ready for the best of what’s next.

Strategy #1 – Think Local.  Gas prices are rising dramatically thereby increasing travel costs for most mobile DJs.  The closer a DJ lives to the location of your event, the more likely the overall cost to hire them will be lower.  Finding a great selection of local DJs is easy when you consult a reputable agency.  All the best agencies will have websites that allow you to search for DJs by location.

Strategy #2 – Know Exactly What You Are Looking For.  When most people think of DJs, they think of the person who stands behind a booth and spins records while people dance.  But DJs can do so much more than that, including serving as emcees.  Make a list of services you will need a DJ to perform and consult agencies that work with DJs who specifically offer those services.  For example, if you are hosting a party with karaoke, there are DJs who specialize in this service, consistently updating and maintaining extensive karaoke music collections.  There are also DJs adept at hosting trivia games, video jocks and even DJs who do nothing more than provide announcements at events.

Strategy #3 – Stick to What You Can Afford.  It’s tempting to want to splurge on extra services that you may want, but don’t need.  For example, if you’re hosting an event where the DJ will be serving predominantly as emcee, you won’t have to worry about them bringing complicated equipment like turntables ideal for mixing and scratching, disco balls or LED lights that swirl across a dance floor.  A DJ with a nice set of speakers, an excellent microphone and a laptop would be sufficient in this case.  Only pay for what you need at a price you can afford.  All the best agency websites will let you narrow your search down by price point and all of their DJs will know how to provide you with the best entertainment experience focused on you and the needs of your event.

Strategy #4 – Get it in Writing.  You don’t want any nasty surprises when it comes time to pay your DJ.  At least a couple weeks before the event, draw up a contract that specifically states the services the DJ will provide and the full amount you and your DJ have agreed upon.  Both parties must sign this contract and abide by its terms.  Doing so will not only cut costs, but alleviate headaches after the event has concluded.

Follow all of these smart strategies and hiring a terrific budget DJ will be a snap!

Tip #1 – Experience – Everyone knows that the more you practice something, the better you get at it.  Performing as a DJ is no exception.  Booking as many gigs as possible will not only give you the practice you need, it will increase your popularity, strengthen your résumé and allow you to command a higher fee.  The hardest part is saying ‘yes’ to gigs that may be out of your comfort zone.  For example, perhaps you normally perform at weddings and private parties, but a request for your services at a corporate gathering has just come in.  Take that job offer as an opportunity to gain more experience and expose you to bigger and better opportunities.

Tip #2 – Skills – Developing the unique talents and skills you already have is one of the fastest ways to earn big bucks.  First you must identify your strengths as a DJ.  For example, what sets you apart from all the rest?  Are you particularly good with banter?  Do you often make people laugh?  Can you speak more than one language fluently?  Can you adlib and narrate with ease?  Can you come up with fun games or contests to motivate people to get up and dance?  While all of these skills are great for DJs who will also serve as emcees, some may speak to your strengths more than others.  Use those skills at which you excel as often as possible.  By doing so, you’ll create a stronger impression in the minds of your audience and they’re more likely to remember your name when they go searching for a DJ for their next event.

Tip #3 – Marketing – So you’ve got the skills and the experience, now it all comes down to how you market yourself.  Creating and maintaining a website, Facebook page and a Twitter account are great places to start, but to get immediate internet exposure, it may be in your best interest to find a reputable agency to help market you.  An agency with a long history of working with DJs that specialize in your strengths and has a website that appears in one of the first two pages of a Google search and allows it’s users to search for you by location and price point is the best place to start.  To further enhance your marketability, you may even want to consider creating a distinct logo that you can include on your business card or fun swag items like pens or koozies that you can hand to people when you are out networking.

Taking these excellent tips into consideration will help you break from the crowd and earn big bucks working as a professional disc jockey.

1.  The recent recession put substantial strains on wedding budgets, which in turn made the affordability of DJs a more desirable attribute.  Unlike with a band, usually consisting of anywhere from two to seven members, when you hire a DJ, you are only responsible for paying one person.  Bands must be able to pay all of their members a decent amount to make it worth their time, especially if they’ve received offers to play other gigs on the same day.  They need to make enough to cover not only their performance, but the cost of travel to and from the gig and renting equipment if necessary.  With all of this to consider, it’s easy to see how the cost is often lower when hiring a DJ.

2.  Limited budgets have also led to a surge in renting smaller event spaces.  Bands with all of their equipment take up a large amount of space, and may require a raised staging area so that everyone in attendance can still see the band while the dancers are on the dance floor.  So when space becomes a precious commodity, hiring a DJ becomes an even more attractive option.  DJ equipment designers and manufacturers recognize this, so they are releasing more higher quality speakers, mixers, turntables, etc. in smaller sizes that can fit snuggly into portable racks and take up very little space when fully assembled.

3.  Increased demand for services beyond playing music has also lifted the popularity of DJs.  DJs often serve as emcees, introducing the wedding party as they enter the reception, announcing the first dance, father/daughter and mother/son dances, the bouquet toss and other activities such as providing toasts and narrating video or slideshow presentations.  On top of all of that, they can even provide a fun and exciting visual experience with colorful LED lights that spin and twirl in time with the music.

4.  Lulls kill any party, so it’s important to keep the energy up and more couples are learning that hiring a DJ means the music never has top stop.  When a DJ needs a quick break, they need only cue up an additional song or two so the dancers never have to leave the floor.

With ongoing economic instability and the continuous increase in the number of talented DJs available, the popularity of hiring these DJs for weddings is sure to rise even more.  To take advantage of this trend for your wedding, consult agencies that can refer you to the best DJs in your area.

Big Savings – Hiring a DJ has long been more affordable than hiring a full band.  But lately, as prices for the highest quality professional equipment come down making it possible for more people to afford pursuing a career as a professional disc jockey, the cost of hiring a DJ has grown more affordable than ever.  Great DJs are available to fit all budgets, but to ensure the biggest savings, remember to hire local.  With current high fuel prices, a DJ must consider travel costs when providing a quote for their service.  The closer the DJ, the bigger the savings!

A Complete Entertainment Experience – These days, it’s no longer just about the audio performance your DJ can provide, but the visual experience as well.  The latest in LED technology has a leg up on the classic mirror ball, using colorful roto-balls to spin a rainbow of lights across a dance floor, giving your event the full club effect.  The biggest benefit here is that more of your guests will want to get up and dance, and remain on the dance floor, thereby maintaining the high energy and forward momentum of your event.

Peace of Mind – Since the DJ you hire will be responsible for the bulk of your entertainment, you can relax and enjoy the event along with your guests.  If you hate public speaking, you can have your DJ make all of your announcements for you.  They will keep the party going with their upbeat personality, humor, wit and most of all, their ability to read a crowd and adjust their playlist accordingly.

All of these benefits grow even bigger when you book a DJ through a respected agency with a long history of referring the best professional DJs.  Look for an agency that allows you to easily search for DJs by location, services their DJs can provide and price points and gives you a good description of the nearest available DJs along with their complete, up-to-date contact information.  Thoroughly research at least two or three encouraging prospects by reviewing their websites and Facebook pages and scheduling a face-to-face meeting with them and you’re sure to benefit from a fantastic experience working with your DJ.

Emcee Services – The classic definition of emcee is a master of ceremonies, but in the case of a DJ, this definition can encompass a wide range of activities.  The most popular services related to it can be found at weddings and corporate events.  At weddings, DJs introduce members of the wedding party, announce the first dance, the throwing of the bouquet and other activities.  At corporate events, they announce speakers, alert guests to changes in activities and narrate slideshow/video presentations.

Karaoke Services – Karaoke has gotten so popular in the past decade that you can find it in a number of unique themes and in some of the strangest places, even taxi cabs, across the globe.  Karaoke is also an inexpensive way to provide fun, interactive entertainment at any party.  DJs who can provide top-notch karaoke service constantly update and maintain their karaoke collections, they know how to work a crowd and encourage the most reluctant of singers to take the mic and they’ll often sing themselves when there’s a lull in guest participation.

Trivia Services – Trivia contests have become increasingly popular in bars, as recently addressed on the beloved sitcom, The Office.  But hosting trivia games at corporate functions as well as less formal affairs like Superbowl parties or any party related to sports, film or other forms of amusement with unique histories, is becoming an increasingly appealing entertainment option.  Thus, the demand for trivia jocks with terrific speaking voices, great senses of humor and quick wits have grown accordingly.

Visual Entertainment Services – To create that full disco feel, more and more event hosts are turning to DJs who can deliver a fun visual experience.  Colorful LED lights that can twist and turn along with the music are lighter to transport and more affordable than ever, which is why more DJs have incorporated them into their sets and can offer that service rather inexpensively for all kinds of events.

To find all of these popular DJ services, consult a reputable agency with a website that allows you to search by service and can provide DJs in the area of your event.  Begin your search by researching the agencies that appear on the first two pages of a Google search and focus on the agencies that have been around the longest as they are likely to have the most experienced, highly sought after DJs in the business.

Before the big event, the prom coordinator will have many requests.  It’s common for them to ask to see a playlist from a previous prom, homecoming or similar event in which a DJ has performed for a high-school-aged audience.  They want to make sure the music is both current and age appropriate.  They’ll also want to know how the DJ plans on handling requests.  Are requests just as welcome from faculty as they are students, will dedications be appropriate and how will the DJ decline a request that they know they cannot or should not play?  Sensitivity is important, so a per-established plan for politely handling requests is essential.

Other common requests before the big event involve equipment.  While the coordinator will give the DJ a ballpark estimate of how many students will be in attendance, the size of the venue and square footage of the dance floor, they may wish to see all of the equipment set up in its entirety before hand so they can be sure the sound will be powerful enough to fill the space and the lighting will cover the entire surface of the dance floor.

During the event it’s not uncommon for faculty or chaperones to ask for minor adjustments to sound and lighting, but the most popular requests a DJ will receive are, of course, song requests.  Song requests from this age group are predominantly mainstream hits currently on regular rotation on the top Pop/Rock, Hip-Hop/R&B and Country FM Radio stations.  Still, the occasional request for a classic from the past or a college radio hit will come up.  Invariably a handful of the song requests a DJ receives will contain songs with offensive lyrics.   While many of the Top 40 hits originally written with potentially offensive language have been re-recorded into cleaner versions, such as Cee Lo Green’s mega hit “Forget You,” most have not and those requests will need to be politely declined.

Perhaps the most popular request of all is mostly unspoken.  The faculty members want safe, fun entertainment for their students while the students just want to have a good time.  A terrific prom DJ is focused on the students and puts all of their energy into helping them make the most positive, unforgettable memories to last a lifetime.

When it comes to designing the perfect prom playlist, knowledge of the current Top 40 hits is key.  The best DJs recognize the popularity and influence of mainstream music on an audience of this age and will come prepared to play the hits in the three main genres of music most popular to high school students: Pop, Rock, Hip-hop and Country.

Teenagers are known for being some of the most reluctant dancers, especially when they are surrounded by fellow students who intimidate them.  If they don’t have enough friends in attendance, they may need that extra bit of coaxing to get them out on the dance floor.  Any experienced DJ who’s performed at proms recognizes this and will use their upbeat energy, laid-back attitude, humor and wit to ease the most reluctant of students out onto the dance floor.  They’ll even make a contest out of it if too many bodies remain standing with arms folded along the sidelines.

Proms are designed to be much more than an audio experience, which is why all the best prom DJs will come prepared with mirror balls and fun, colorful LED lights, which can twist and glide across the dance floor.  Not only do the lights serve to heighten the full entertainment experience, they are ideal for encouraging more students to get up and dance.

Being a prom DJ is not for the faint of heart.  It’s a tough gig and an even tougher audience.  DJs who specialize in proms are softhearted and thick-skinned.  They know when to take requests and how to gently decline those they know they can’t play.  And they can take any insult a guest can throw at them.  After all, they are performing for an audience of teenagers whose social skills are still developing so anything can happen, yet they take it all in stride.

Looking out for these important traits when hiring a professional prom DJ will ensure the students at your high school prom make fond memories to last them a lifetime!

First, consider the event you are hosting and what will be required of your DJ.  Beyond spinning music, will you need them to emcee any activities such as guest introductions, slideshow presentations, toasts, etc?  Will your DJ need to provide special equipment like colorful LED lights or smaller speakers, mixers and other equipment ideal for occupying the smallest possible space?  Next, consider your guests.  What age group or demographic do most of them fit into?  What language do the majority of them speak?  Use your answers to these questions to make a list of what you will require from a DJ.

Second, draw up a budget and decide what percentage of it you can afford to spend on entertainment.  For example, if you are coordinating a wedding, spending about 5%-10% of the total budget on a DJ is quite common.  For corporate events, a slightly higher percentage in the range of 10% to 15% is common depending on the extent of services required.

Third, if you’re hosting your event at a public venue, call the venue and see if they have any recommendations.  Then, ask any friends or co-workers if they have ever hired a DJ and where they found them.

Fourth, go online and look for agencies that allow you to search for DJs by location, specific services they can provide and price points.  Start with those agencies that appear on the first or second pages of your search as these are often the most visited by your potential clients.

Finally, choose at least two or three of the DJs recommended to you or that you found through an agency.  Visit their websites and/or Facebook pages to learn more about them and seek out their contact information.  Call them and ask for references.  Use those references to contact past clients and find out about their experiences.  Narrow your search down to two DJs and arrange to meet with them so you can gauge how well you will be able to work together.

While it’s possible to find local DJs in almost any neighborhood, it’s important to take the time to make sure you are getting exactly what you want at a price you can afford.  Follow these steps and you will not be disappointed.

1.  Knowledge & Skill – The best DJs are not limited in their tastes.  They know the most popular tunes in all genres, from country to hip-hop, from jazz to rock, from show tunes to pop, etc.  They know how to read any crowd and spin the tunes that will keep them out on the dance floor.  They’re well versed on the latest industry trends and they work with all the best equipment.  They also make terrific emcees, announcing guests, narrating slideshows, organizing dance competitions, whatever it takes to ease and entertain their crowd.

2.  Likeability – Great DJs have winning personalities.  They are fun, approachable and highly charismatic.  They know that spinning music is only a small part of their job, and understand they are there to entertain first and foremost.  The crowd feeds off the energy of the DJ and if the DJ gives the impression that he cares and is having a good time, so will the crowd.

3.  Work Ethic – As with any performer, the best DJs know that the show must go on no matter what.  They are always on time for every gig, and they’re set up and ready to perform the moment the first guest arrives.  They are also eager to take as many gigs as possible in order to increase their skills and build their referral list.

4.  Uniqueness – The best DJs know who they are and where their strengths lie.  They may have a signature style of dress, a great deal of humor or wit, multi-lingual capabilities, a talent for singing, the ability to put on an exciting light show to go along with the music or simply be able to provide the kind of off-the-cuff banter that encourages even the most reluctant guests to get out on the dance floor.  Whatever it is, it becomes their trademark and folks remember them fondly for it.

5.  A Genuine Love of the Craft – the strongest characteristic separating the best DJs from the rest is a genuine love for what they do.  They may not be the hugest fan of every song they spin, but you’ll never know it.  They appreciate the power of music and love the thrill of entertaining others and you can see the joy on their face whenever they perform.

As more and more wedding DJs enter the market, it gets tougher and tougher to compete.  Adopting these five characteristics will set a DJ apart and keep their weekends booked throughout the whole wedding season.