1. What Is Your Experience?

This is a big first question that you should be asking. Who will my DJ be and what is their experience. If your DJ has only worked one type of event then their experience is going to be limited but if they have worked parties, bar’s, nightclub’s, private functions and many other events then they will be well seasoned with great mixing techniques and a huge library to be able to think quick and read the room. Ultimately you would want someone that has had to perform for different types of crowd’s in different situations.  

2. What Is Included in the Package And How Long Do You Play For?

Meaning what equipment comes with the package and how long do you play for. Basic package calls for at least 2 speakers some simple up lighting for mood and some dance lighting from up high facing down to the dance floor. Premium should offer more services such as more speakers placed throughout the room, lighting that is controllable to create scenes for different moments such as the bridal entrance or speeches or perhaps something to tie the DJ setup into the room so it does not stand out. The important part of this question is the timings. Of course, agree on the time the DJ will be playing from and to.  

3. If Your Equipment Fails What Is Your Backup Plan?

What happens if your computer crashes or equipment fails? This is real and if you have been doing this job long enough then you will have been faced with some sort of show-stopping technical crash. A computer would be a high-risk item to crash so do they have a backup? How do you play without one?.DJ decks, if they stop working then can you still operate from just the software on your computer. So ask them what are their technical backups, a photographer wouldn’t take one camera body to a wedding and a good entertainment service will have backup plans. I certainly have mine in place for a quick tech adjustment to keep the night rolling on.  

4. When do you arrive to the reception?

No doubt as a bride you have a day long time schedule going through your mind of when each service will be doing what. Your DJ will normally turn up about an hour and a half before the reception opens, enough time to load in, set up, test equipment and come and find you and ensure that everything inside the reception space is looking good and their music is good to go. If you would like your DJ to turn up at a particular time e.g. before the ceremony so that they can bump in and move their vehicle before the guests arrive then ask, they should be able to do this, you may have to pay a fee but in the long run having your wedding the way you want is something you don’t want to budget down on the little things  

5. Do You Take Requests On The Night?

Do they take requests? If you are paying them upward of 100 $ per hour to curate playlists and be there to play to your guests then they better take requests, sure if the song is going to flop and kill the vibe they don’t have to play it, but most of the time in my experience song requests at weddings have worked great, it’s sure to light up some of the dance floor for a group of people. Requests can also give the DJ some insight into what the guests will like instead of playing it safe and going with the classics. Some of the best sing-along moments I have seen have come from a request you would never have thought of. So there you go, if you are planning your wedding entertainment and are unsure of the process these are 5 things that you should be talking to the DJ about. Not on the night but before they are booked, after all you are hiring them to provide a service at your once in a lifetime wedding day. So be sure that you are hiring someone that will fulfil your requirements.   You can check out Simple City Music right here- https://simplecitymusic.com.au/ Simple City Music- “we take pride in our ability to bring professionalism and customer satisfaction to all aspects of our work. Whether it be curating the lighting & effects to set the mood or customizing your playlist to make sure we have the whole family dancing, we believe in ensuring every minute detail is taken care of to ensure your event runs just the way you envision”