5 questions to ask a Wedding DJ before booking

Booking a DJ or entertainment for your Wedding Reception can be nerve-wracking. It’s a party after all, and you want your guests to have an awesome time.

Whether that’s getting your guests moving on the dancefloor or sound tracking the evening with your favourite music, choosing a DJ can help make or break the event.

Here’s five essential questions to ask your DJ before you book.

How many weddings or events have you worked at?

Check how long the DJ has been working professionally, what type of events they’ve had experience with and check review or ask for testimonials. A DJ that describes themselves as a ‘jack of all trades’ may not have the necessary experience to keep guests of different ages at a Wedding dancing and entertained.

As a professional wedding DJ, I have been lucky enough to help hundreds of couples celebrate on their wedding day over the years. I have experience in the order of events, liaising with venues and other suppliers, I avoid cheesy announcements and know how to keep a mixed crowd of ages and tastes entertained all night.

After each event I follow-up with the client and ask for feedback. I publish all reviews on my website, and many clients also leave reviews on my Google business page and Facebook page.

How long will you need to set-up and what time will you arrive?

I like to leave plenty of time to set-up, particularly if I haven’t visited a venue before. One hour and 30 minutes is usually a good rule of thumb and allows time for me to make any adjustments to my set-up, replace a fixture etc.

Sometimes the time available might be shorter (e.g. 30 – 45 minutes) whilst a room is ‘turned around’, usually if the evening entertainment will take place in the same room as the Wedding Breakfast. I can tailor my set-up and timings to allow for this, just let me know!

Can I give you a playlist and do you take requests?

A DJ’s job is to entertain the Bride, Groom and their guests. Check if your DJ will take a playlist or requests from guests and how they will deal with any unusual asks or tracks that they don’t have in their collection. 

A playlist or request list can be helpful to give your DJ an idea of your musical tastes. I like to be fully prepared before an event and will ask about your favourite tracks, radio stations, artists and songs. I usually recommend providing a list of twenty to thirty ‘must-plays’ that I can work with and a smaller list of ‘no-ways’, tracks that you’d rather I avoid!

I’ll happily take requests from guests on the night and can usually accommodate this from my collection of 20,000+ tracks. If you’d rather I didn’t take requests on the night, just let me know. It’s your wedding day after all!

How much do you charge and do I need to pay a deposit?

According to Bridebook, the average cost of a Wedding in the UK in 2019 was just over £16,000. The average spend for evening entertainment was £915. This varies by supplier (e.g. DJ or 5-piece band) and region. Inevitably some DJs will undercut and charge as little as £150, but when the average cost of a cake is £300 and a Photographer is £1100, I would recommend saving some budget for entertainment because the Wedding Reception is one of the biggest parts of your celebration and is often one of the lasting memories that guests have!

I have a range of three packages available to suit a variety of budgets and venue sizes, starting at £450. Fancy adding a bit more lighting or removing something else? I’ll work with you to create a bespoke set-up and quote for you - after all one size doesn’t fit all!

As with most Wedding suppliers, I will ask for a deposit to secure your preferred date. I will also supply a contract, to gives piece of mind that the date is saved and this is a firm booking. The balance is payable in advance of the event.

Do you have insurance and is your equipment PAT tested?

Accidents are probably the last thing on your mind, but what if a guest trips over a wire? Check if your DJ has insurance. This will give piece of mind and is also often required by some venues.

I take pride in ensuring my set-up is neat and tidy with no unsightly wires or trip hazards. As a member of the National Association of DJs I have Public Liability Insurance (up to £10 million) and my equipment is regularly PAT tested to ensure it is safe and fit for purpose. I will happily provide insurance and testing documentation if your venue requests it.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of questions, but hopefully it will help you as you contact DJs for quotes.

Why not get in touch with me? I’ll happily answer your questions, including any that I haven’t mentioned above. I can also provide a bespoke quote, tailored to you.