DJ Services: What’s on Offer and How to Find the Best

Posted by Daryl Thomas on January 6th, 2012
DJ Service

The demand for professional DJs has increased in recent years owing a great deal to the heightened level of service a DJ can provide.  Thanks to rapid improvements in audio and mp3 technology, today’s DJs can offer a sharper, crisper sound and manage much larger music catalogues.  But spinning music is only one of the many DJ services available.  Here are a few additional services a disc jockey can provide and how you can find the right DJ to fit your needs:

 

Emceeing – On top of playing music aimed at encouraging guests to dance, DJs hired to perform at weddings and other private events will often serve as emcees.  Their duties may include introducing the wedding party and/or distinguished guests, providing toasts, narrating video or slide show presentations, announcing contests and other activities or simply using their wit and humor to persuade reluctant dancers out onto the dance floor.

 

Visual Entertainment – While DJs are known predominantly for their auditory entertainment capabilities, many can also provide visual entertainment.  Using LED lighting systems, disco balls, etc., a DJ can create a colorful visual experience that not only correlates to the music, but enhances overall enjoyment for your guests no matter if they choose to dance or prefer to watch the spectacle unfold from the sidelines.

 

Karaoke Hosting – There are DJs who specialize in hosting karaoke at clubs, bars, private parties, etc.  They stay on top of the latest trends in music and equipment, and maintain extensive song catalogues chock full of past and current hits as well as classic sing-a-longs.  They will have the talent to ease the crowd and convince reluctant performers to jump onstage and whenever there’s a lull, they will grab the mic and sing until the next guest volunteers.

 

Trivia Game Hosting – In order to encourage more fun and socializing, trivia games are becoming increasingly popular at bars, pubs, etc, hence, the growing number of DJs who specialize in trivia game hosting.  They possess the quick wit, good humor and dynamic personalities necessary for entertaining the crowd and encouraging more folks to participate.

 

All of these DJ services and many more are available everywhere at anytime throughout the year.  To find the right DJ, it’s best to start with an agency that specializes in the services you are looking for.  The most reputable agencies will often come up on the first page or two of any Google search.  The best sites will allow you to narrow your search down by location and price range and list only DJs who have a long history of experience providing the specific services you are looking for.  From there, the best DJs will furnish you with a list of past clients to help you obtain reviews and check reliability.

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Ways to Ensure You Get the Best from Your DJ

Posted by Daryl Thomas on December 26th, 2011
meet-your-djs

So you’ve hired a disc jockey for an upcoming event.  Now it’s time to do everything you can to ensure you have the best possible experience working with them.  Here are a handful of tips to help you along the way:

1.  Confirm the date, hours and fee.  This may sound obvious, but it’s important that both you and your DJ are on the same page when it comes to date, time and fee and you clarify this information on the final contract that both of you will sign prior to the event.

2.  Go over the equipment and setup carefully.  Will the speakers provide enough sound to fill your space?  Will they need to bring along any extra lighting, fog machines, video equipment, etc.?  Make sure your DJ is bringing a backup system in case they experience any type of equipment failure during your event and don’t forget to provide them with enough room to assemble everything they will need without impeding on the space you will use to set up the rest of your event.

3.  Provide them with an over-all style of music you would like to have played at the event.  If you have any specific song requests, mention them up front.  If your disc jockey does not have all of your requests, they will buy them, but be sure to provide them with a CD or MP3 copy of songs unavailable to them on iTunes, Amazon, CD or Vinyl.  Also, clarify songs to stay away from or styles of music to avoid.  You may even want to come up with a strategy for handling guest requests.  For example, if you want to discourage requests from your guests, you should do it in the most positive manner.  Your disc jockey will know right away to say something along the lines of “Sure, if time permits…” etc.

4.  Make certain you have confirmed all of the DJ’s additional responsibilities.  Will they be narrating a presentation, announcing a dance contest, or just introducing the next person about to sing karaoke?  Whatever emceeing you’d like them to do above and beyond playing music needs to be explained in detail and approved by both parties when fees are established and the final contract is drafted.

5.  Remain friendly, polite and professional throughout all interactions with your disc jockey.  You’re much more likely to get the best from them if you treat them with respect and kindness.

Follow these steps and not only will you ensure a stress free working relationship, but you will help your disc jockey provide you with the very best entertainment, thereby maximizing the success of your event.

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Five Great Reasons to Hire a Wedding DJ

Posted by Daryl Thomas on December 18th, 2011
Hiring-a-DJ-Advantages1

Planning a wedding is definitely an arduous task, fraught with high expenses and hefty time limitations.  That’s why it’s important to take all the stress you are able to out of the process.  One of the wisest decisions you can make is to hire a professional wedding DJ handle your entertainment.  Here are five great reasons why:

1.  A DJ can do more than just DJ.  They can introduce members of your wedding party, announce speakers, offer toasts, and even narrate a photo-montage or video presentation.  They can emcee just about any activity you can think of, which takes a lot of pressure off of nervous members of the family who might otherwise have been given the job of speaking.

2.  They are skilled at keeping your guests on the dance floor.  A DJ knows music like no other and they know how to read a crowd.  When a song is not working and the dance floor starts to thin, the DJ can quickly switch to another track and pick things right back up again.

3.  A DJ can also bring along colorful lighting equipment and/or fog machines to further spice up the dance floor and offer extra visual entertainment for those who may not be physically able to dance themselves.

4.  When you hire a DJ, the music never has to stop and your guests can make requests.  Unlike with a live band made up of multiple members who will have to excuse themselves from time to time for a short break, a DJ can cue up multiple songs in a row in case they need to steal a moment’s leave.  And if you are open to allowing your guests the ability to request songs, a DJ is more prone to have that song in their collection than a band will be able to performing it.

5.  No matter what your budget, you can find an excellent DJ at a cost point you can afford.  There are agencies online that will even allow you to select a great DJ based on their price range.  And no matter what you pay for a DJ, you can bet it will be much more affordable than hiring a full band.
Whenever you hire a wedding DJ, you can feel positive that your wedding entertainment is in good hands.  And with that peace of mind, you have additional time to focus on having fun and making memories along with your best friends and family.

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