Prom DJs will often deliver the first live DJ set a person ever experiences and if not the first, certainly one of the most important.  Few memories are as powerful as those developed at one’s high school prom.  Who can forget the song they danced to with their high school sweetheart, a loyal friend or their crush at the time?  That’s why it’s so important to hire a prom DJ that can inspire the most positive memories.  But how can you tell if you’re hiring the right one.  Here are some clues to help you distinguish the best from the rest:

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!