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Yes

The Myths In Hiring A DJ

In the scramble to sign clients, businesses will often make statements, for whatever
reasons, that may cloud the real issue at hand. It happens in the DJ business as
well. While we believe the real issue in hiring a DJ is the client’s ability to properly
interview for the level of professionalism and service she requires, some consumers
find themselves misdirected by red herring arguments. Below are 10 arguments that
we have distilled from other DJ sites. Though they may seem legitimate at first,
they may tend to persuade you away from the real issue.

Myth #1 – A full-time DJ will take your event more seriously than a
part-time DJ.
It is NOT about full-time vs. part-time. The real question at hand is whether the DJ
is professional enough to regard your event in a way commensurate with your needs
and wishes. “Part-time” does not equate to “hobbyist” as some might suggest.
Sure, there are hobbyists out there, or those who DJ “just for fun” or those who DJ
on occasion for friends and family. But you don’t want this guy to do your grand
event! On the other hand, if a part-time DJ is registered with the state as a
business, uses contracts, has insurance, uses professional grade gear, and buys his
music from legitimate sources, you can bet he has put the requisite time and money
and effort into his business to be considered worthy of performing important
milestone events for his clients. If you determine the DJ you are interviewing is just
a hobbyist, give him the boot and look for a real DJ business person!

Myth # 2 – A DJ must have a storefront so you can view his gear
before signing the contract.
This argument is nonsense! You want to be sure the DJ has professional grade gear
in good condition, but the need to have a storefront is superfluous. I have more
business sense than to pay rent on a storefront in the remote chance that a client
wants to see my gear. In all my time as a DJ, I have never been asked to offer my
equipment for approval, but I am prepared to do so. If you really want to see what
equipment I will use at your event before you sign the contract, I will load it into my
van, bring it over to your house, and set it up in your back yard. We can have a pre-
party party! You should make sure the DJ you choose is using professional DJ gear,
but don’t require him to have a storefront!

Myth # 3 – A DJ must have a storefront so the client can get in touch
with him, rather than just a PO Box and an email address.
This storefront argument is a bit more legit than the previous one, but it is still
superfluous. This argument is intended to keep you from hiring a fly-by-night DJ
who ruins your event, and then disappears afterwards and is left unaccountable. Of
course you should be concerned with that! But again, if you do your job in
interviewing the DJ, you will not end up with a fly-by-night operator. Check his
credentials; ask for a copy of his insurance policy; ask for references. Those things
will affirm his legitimacy whether or not he uses a P.O. Box and an email address.



Myth # 4 – It is a waste of money to hire a PC DJ because all he will
do is cue up a music list on his laptop and then play Solitaire all night.
There are several formats a DJ can use these days: Vinyl records, CDs, or MP3.
MP3s offer several conveniences that the other formats do not, and in some ways,
makes the DJ’s job easier. But because the DJ no longer looks frantic behind his
console does not mean he’s just taking it easy. This argument is often used in the
iPod wedding debate as well. “Why should I pay $$$ for the DJ to cue up a music list
and then play Solitaire for the next 4 hours, when I can just get an iPod?” But this
argument discounts the fact that the DJ is still reading the dance floor, still searching
for the perfect song to play next, still monitoring the sound quality, still beat
matching and segueing, still fielding requests, and still shaping the night. You can
be assured a PC DJ is employing all the requisite skills that another DJ using a
different format is employing. Trust me; what goes on behind the console is more
demanding than it looks, regardless of the format.

Myth # 5 – You cannot use a certain DJ if he does not have the music
you want.
The real question is, will the DJ go out and buy the music you want? If he will,
there’s no problem. Look, no DJ will have every type of music ever made. I am
often asked if I have ballroom styles, or Irish music, or Italian music, etc. If I don’t
have the music, my response is always, “No, but I’ll go out and get it for you!” We
have a budget for new music; and buying special requests is one way DJs add to
their music libraries! In the interview, ask your DJ what kind of music he has, how
much he has, and if he is willing to buy special music for your event if he does not
have it. But it is unrealistic to assume any DJ will have every piece of music!

Myth #6 – The DJ needs to be familiar with your venue or you should
not hire him.
Again, this comes down to professionalism and customer service. No DJ can be
familiar with every venue. But a good DJ and one who takes your event and his
business seriously will visit your venue before hand and make a site survey. When I
am confronted with a new venue, I make a point to visit the venue ahead of time
and talk with the facilities manager. I find out the load-in arrangements, scope out
the outlets, eye-ball the size of the dance floor, the height of the ceiling, and the size
of the room, and assess the acoustical properties of the room. Only then will I know
what to expect the day of your event, and what kind of sound equipment I will have
to bring. It doesn’t matter whether I’ve been to the venue before. I will find out
ahead of time! Make sure your DJ agrees to do the same, but it is a myth that he
needs to have performed at your venue in the past.

Myth # 7 – Multi-ops serve you better than single-ops.
A Multi-op (multi-operation) is a DJ company that serves as a booking agency that
sub-contracts events to other DJs. The theory is, they are better able to handle your
event than a single-op b/c they are generally bigger and have more resources. If
your contracted DJ suddenly can’t make it to your event, a multi-op has the
resources to supply another DJ at the last minute. At first this argument sounds
good. But any single-op DJ who is a professional business person will put forth every
effort to bring about the results you are looking for on your wedding day. All the DJs
I know, whether they are single-op or multi-op, network with other DJs and can
arrange for a fill-in if an emergency materializes. Face it, emergencies happen. But
a good DJ will plan for contingencies.

Myth # 8 – Single-ops serve you better than Multi-ops.
It’s obvious this argument can go either way. A single-op, because he is able to be
more focused and is more hands-on can give you much better service than a sub-
contracted DJ from a multi-op who you have never met, and does not know your
needs. At least that’s the theory. This is where your interviewing skills come in.
Before you contract with a big multi-op DJ company or a single-op DJ sole-
proprietorship, you need to carefully assess your potential DJ. Make sure you are
comfortable with his level of professionalism. The burden is on you to pick the right
choice.

Myth # 9 – DJs who cannot provide a promotional audio or video tape
are hiding something.
Audio or video tapes used as promotional items cannot offer a true assessment of
the DJ’s abilities. In order to do that, the sample would have to comprise more than
just a few minutes of activity. You cannot assess a DJ’s skills with a 5-minute audio
or video clip. For one thing, any savvy business person would edit the tape before
sending it out to make sure it presents his company in the best light possible. You
don’t send out a business letter without spell-checking it first, right? It’s the same
with an audio or video sample. You will get the best 5 or 10 minutes of his night
without regard to the rest of his 3 hours and 55 minutes. References may be a
much better tool by which to judge a DJ.

Myth # 10 – Unless you hire from a wedding “guild” or hire a “wedding
entertainment director,” you are really just hiring an “average” DJ.
There is a new movement in the DJ business for us to join a guild and obtain a
certification as a “Wedding Entertainment Director.” Many of us debate whether this
guild and certification is legitimate or is a way for the organizer to enrich himself
with membership and certification fees. Those who join the guild are often wooed by
the possibility of charging more for their services because they can claim to be a
“certified DJ.” Further, the guild members may attempt to persuade you to hire only
from the association, calling themselves “certified” wedding “experts” or “specialists”
or “directors.” They may say you will be disappointed if you hire outside the guild,
since everyone else is just an “average DJ.” This is a scare tactic and you should
recognize it as such. There is no central agency out there that certifies DJs. In
regards to this argument, like all the others, the burden is on the consumer to
interview their prospective DJ to be sure you are getting a professional that can best
accommodate your needs. But don’t be fooled into thinking there are “certified” DJs
out there and non-certified DJs. There are only varying levels of professionalism and
that should be one of your primary concerns.

I hope I have helped you see past some of the arguments you might come across
while searching for your DJ. Your event is important and will require a lot of expense
and time and effort on your part to make it the day you’ve always wanted. Further,
you will be putting the DJ in charge of a significant part of your celebration and he
will be responsible, in large part, for the success of your event. Look past the
obfuscation and ask the right questions. It doesn’t matter if your DJ is full-time or
part-time; it doesn’t matter if your DJ has a storefront; or if he has a video, or is in
the guild, etc. If he has the level of DJ skills you are looking for, and if he is a
professional business person you can probably count on him. Interview for your
needs and hire a professional. You will have less concern when your special day
arrives.