DJ or Band… is there a question???

Both have their strong suits, but it really depends on you, your event, what kind of dancing is planned, your own musical tastes and what you want your guests to feel and remember when they leave.  A DJ isn’t the best choice in all cases, especially if you want a band look.  If your event has an all-country theme a country band could be fun since they will most likely have a wide range of material.  Likewise, if you have an event attended by people of all ages and styles and tastes, a DJ would work really well.

Pass on the iPod

Yes, budgets are tight.  But really… don’t use an iPod!  As more and more people own iPods, or similar portable music players, we get more and more calls from people wanting to rent just the sound system equipment so that they can plug in their musical device.  We STRONGLY discourage this since most machines either play one song after another with pauses in between or shuffle randomly.  This often leads to a clashing of music styles that can either quickly move people toward the dance floor or just as quickly away from it.  Occasionally someone will need to cue the different playlists, skip through a particular song or change settings, which will also require the attention of the bride or groom or party host or friend, creating a break in the festivities especially for those who would rather just have a good time.  It can be VERY affordable to hire a DJ and let them take care of everything from the music to keeping the festivities moving along.  We want to help you to stay within your budget so call us!  But please… stay away from the iPod.

Searching for “The Right” DJ

Picking a DJ for a big day?  Here are some things to keep in mind:

A good DJ is more than someone with a good collection of music.  They should have knowledge of all their music to not only handle guest requests but to judge appropriate songs for the audience and setting.  They need to know all the music plus all the words.  Older guests can become upset at the content of newer songs, usually requested by younger revelers who only know it as a recent hit and don’t consider all the lyrics.  Then there is the common complaint that the DJ only plays a particular style of music for most of the evening, like all contemporary hits or all country or top 40.  DJs should learn something about the age groups present and also musical tastes of the group they are performing for, but also have a wide range of music available.

Don’t burn out the DJ.  During the summer a DJ could probably work at parties around the clock.  But this is not what is best for you and your party.  Occasionally there are exceptions, like a mid-morning and mid-evening affair, but too many can drain a DJ… fast.  Make sure your DJ has only one thing to do the day of your event… YOUR EVENT.  That way they are not thinking about what they have to do after your party or that they are not tired from where they just came.  You want them to be well rested and enthusiastic about where they are.

Do your personalities mix?  Remember, your DJ is going to be with you for the entire event.  They need to represent your and your guest’s musical tastes.   Make sure they give you the time to get to know them before the day of the event!