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I want to keep this article positive, in line with my feelings about the profession of DJing. And that profession is a beautiful thing. It is filled with talented and outgoing people – I have one of the few jobs where my role is to spread happiness throughout a crowd and I play that role at a moment when most people are relaxed and ready to have a good time.

But sometimes I hear words like this, “You were the only DJs we met that weren’t old and fat!” Or this one, “You actually have a fun personality and you aren’t cheesy!” I don’t know the source of these sentiments but I am willing to admit that not all DJs are the same.

Here Are 7 Steps For Hiring A Wedding DJ.

1. Listen to your friends or other vendors when they refer you to a DJ

They have seen the DJ in action, they know your tastes by now, and they should be trusted. Our best clients always come from some type of referral.

2. Interview the DJ, not just the DJ company

Whether you do it on the phone or in person, always speak directly with the DJ you want to hire. Let the DJ walk you through his experience and style. I believe this is the best way to determine if the DJ is the right fit for you.

3. Check references – Not just numbers

Speak with or email the references, particularly Brides and Grooms, that have worked with the DJ you are considering. They will give you insights from actual experience. Also, whether a company has 1000 reviews or 10, it doesn’t mean one is better than the other. Check the BBB to read complaints, then check WeddingWire and Social Media.

4. Make sure to ask these nuts and bolts questions

“Do you have liability insurance?” “How many Weddings have you DJ’d?” “Have you ever worked at my facility?” “What types of music do you play at a wedding?” “May I see photos of your DJ Setup?” “What types of MC responsibilities do you provide and what is your style on the microphone?” These questions provide a lot of information about how much experience the DJ has and give you some insight into the hard to quantify “passion for the job” factor.

5. Make sure you allocate enough of your overall budget to the DJ

Hiring a Wedding DJ in Central Pennsylvania can be a daunting task and you’ll see thousands of DJs with pricing all over the map. You should figure on spending $1000-1500.00 for a really good, seasoned pro.

6. Review the contract

Make sure whoever you hire has a professional contract for you to sign. This should include the total fee agreed upon, the deposit fee, the performance times, the venue information, the Name of the DJ specifically, a short description of the services provided, and any service guarantees or contract riders. All parties should sign and retain a copy.

7. Go with your instincts

If you’ve checked into the company by doing some Google review searches, followed up with references directly from the DJ, and you have a great feeling about this DJ and everything his contract provides, you should move quickly to sign a contract and pay a deposit. The most experienced DJs book early.

So being a DJ for 10 years now, I’ve done my fair share of wedding ceremonies and receptions.  It’s got me thinking about ceremony music, when provided by the DJ.  I always seem to get the same question time after time.  “What type of music should we play for our ceremony?”  “We have no idea what to choose for the ceremony, Help!”   I can remember 5-10 years ago it was a no brain-er   DJ’s would always suggest the following:

“Bridal party can walk into Canon in D by Pachelbel, the Bride must walk into some sort of Bridal March and the exit as Husband and Wife should by Wedding March by Mendelssohn or a second choice of Spring (From The Four Seasons) by Vivaldi.

Flash forward 10 years now,  and that’s not the case anymore.  Of course you’ve probably seen the video on YouTube of The Best Wedding Entrance Dance Ever – Chris Brown – Forever when the bridal party is walking down the isle to Chris Brown’s pop song-Forever.  AND WHY NOT???

This might get all the Mother’s out there mad at me for what I’m about to say but your ceremony should match your personalities and musical taste, not follow an old standard rule of etiquette or tradition.  Why not get your guests off their seats and get them involved in some way? It sets a very fun tone and mood for the entire event.

In the last couple of  years, I’ve had a bride and groom exit to Kayne West’s “Gold digger” after they were announced for the first time as husband and wife! Groomsmen have walked into Survivor-“Eye of the Tiger”. There are no set standards anymore of what should be played at your ceremony. It’s okay to have a little fun right out of the gate.

So when you meet with your DJ to go over the all-important wedding ceremony music, whether you want your entrance to have a touch of elegance with a classical piece like “Canon D” or have everyone jump out of their seats with something like Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling,” either way it’s okay!  Oh, and by the way, these days, I don’t mind when a bride and groom ask the question “What type of music should we play for our ceremony?” I have an opportunity to get my creative juices flowing and their excitement for their wedding day grows to a whole new level!

A few months ago I was the DJ for a wedding where the couple had several unique ideas at their wedding, but most impressive was their very different approach to the Bride and Groom’s 1st dance.  Everything was prearranged with me, the Master of Ceremonies, so I knew how to organize this special moment to make it easy for the guests and perfect for the Bride and Groom. We had all the guests, 150 in total, come up to the dance floor and make a big circle around the floor where the Bride and Groom would soon bask in this beautiful limelight. Then, the guests were given candles to light from the unity candle.  The end result was truly moving. This was one of the prettiest 1st Dances I have ever seen in over 17 years of working as a Wedding DJ. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you may want to consider this idea. You will need to check with your venue first, and most likely you’ll need some type of fire permit. I can’t offer much more advice on that but I can tell you that a Candlelight First Dance is stunning and truly unforgettable! Just take a look at that photo again.

One thing we are often asked by our clients is “How much do I tip my wedding vendors?” Or, in our industry, “Should I tip my wedding DJ?” With wedding season upon us, here’s what we think.

There is no right or wrong answer here, but there are some general rules of etiquette and popular ideals about tipping wedding vendors. I found some blogs and websites that write on this subject and handle it very well. Find their links at the bottom of this post.

From personal experience:

• It feels great to be tipped, no matter the amount, as a show of appreciation for the hard work and dedication that we gave to an event. A card is also a nice gesture, but when something comes along with that card, we feel like the client really understood how much goes into what we do.

• It is also not uncommon for a client to send a card in the mail, after the wedding has passed. We’ve gotten them weeks and even months later without ever expecting them, what a nice surprise! Truthfully, if your DJ does an excellent job, you’ll know it because you and your guests will have danced your legs off and everyone will be elated. If the event runs smoothly, it’s generally because the DJ kept things running that way. In that case, a thank you card, a tip, or a host of referrals is so greatly appreciated.
• And finally, how much should you tip? Well, it’s safe to say that if you plan on tipping, you shouldn’t tip one single person less than $25.00 and it’s very rare to see anything over $100.00 per person. I have had a $400.00 tip once in my career, and I was stunned, but it was a very special circumstance and the client was given a low price contract for services to begin with.

We believe tipping should always be at the client’s discretion and we believe that is the most common practice among Ross Productions DJs. I never work for a tip, nor do any of our DJs or Entertainers. We know our clients are paying us well and expecting the best from us, and we are always committed to delivering that level of service.

This past weekend I received a very generous tip from my clients. These were clients who asked for my professional help on a dire matter only 2 days before their wedding. The matter had nothing to do with my services, nor was it in my contract to help these clients with this matter. However, when I offered my help, I simply did what I would expect any DJ or Entertainment service to do when called upon for help. I helped my client. But my efforts apparently did not go unnoticed and my clients were very kind to me in return. This is something that many clients do and we are always greatly appreciative. We also understand that many clients do not have tips in their budget, or do not feel it is necessary to tip on top of the contract price for services provided. We want our clients to feel comfortable in knowing that we work as hard as we can night after night to give a unique and great service to them without regard for gratuity.

I think it is important for our clients to know that all tips or gratuity given to the DJ goes directly to the DJ. If there is an assistant to the DJ at your event, the tip will be split accordingly. The company has no interest in the gratuity given to a DJ, performer, technician or entertainer.

For a more detailed approach to tipping Wedding Vendors see this website:

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/tipping-wedding-vendors

The Bride and Groom First Dance is one of the happiest moments of the entire Wedding Reception. As you plan your wedding, it’s one of the many little decisions you’ll make along the way.

The placement of the First Dance in the schedule is a personal choice. In most cases the First Dance follows the Grand Entrance into the reception room pretty much immediately. When this is done, the meal usually follows and open dancing is scheduled later, this can allow the Bride and Groom to have their special moment as soon as they enter, with all eyes on them, and it also relieves the stress for the rest of the evening because the hard part is over, now it’s time to let loose and have fun. You can break that pattern if you need to and we’ve seen the first dance influenced by the logistics of the event location and the style of the event. Some Weddings are very non-traditional, or have longer receptions, and it’s often appropriate to hold the First Dance after the meal.

Even if you do not like to be in the spotlight, our suggestion is to keep in mind that this is one moment your guests will want to see and it is one of the most memorable moments of your wedding. We suggest taking a few dance lessons to ease the pressure and loosen up for the dance. If you aren’t the dancing type, don’t try to choreograph a complex Sir Mix-A-Lot surprise dance routine, it will seem too arranged. But dance lessons can definitely help you to look and feel as natural as possible for your First Dance.

But what song to use! With so many songs to choose from, how do you decide? The First Dance song is a very personal choice. My suggestion is that you grab your iTunes or CD collection, sit together for an evening, order in, and listen to a lot of your favorite songs. Look up the lyrics on Google if you don’t know them and think about what the song is saying to and about you as a couple. Is the song easy or possible to dance to? Get off the couch and grab your fiance and dance! Find out if you want to dance to this song by dancing to it in your living room, in a very private and intimate moment, you’ll know if you want to share this with everyone you know and love.

Once you’ve chosen the song, let your DJ know immediately. Then they’ll be able to have the song prepared and backed up on 2 computers or a CD player, ready to play at the right moment. A DJ will be able to accommodate any song request you provide in advance, but it will work a little differently if you hire a band. Make sure they can handle your song request or consider picking from a list of songs they suggest – otherwise, have them play the original recording for your First Dance. It’s your choice because it’s your wedding.

We’ve seen a lot of First Dance Songs and you really can’t go wrong with those classic choices. I am also pleasantly surprised by an obscure song selection.
The most requested 1st Dance Song? I would have to say it’s “At Last”, by Etta James, but a few others that keep coming up are “Better Together” by Jack Johnson, “Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, and “I Could Not Ask For More” by Edwin McCain.
Here’s the list of the last 15 songs chosen for the Bride and Groom’s First Dance at receptions DJ’d by Elegant Event:

1. Just Because – Nikka Costa

2. I Finally Found Someone (Bryan Adams & Streisand)

3. Your Song – Elton John

4. Be Mine – David Gray

5. Backwards and Forwards – Aztec Camera

6. At Last – Etta James

7. Better Together (Jack Johnson)

8. Crazy Love (Ray Charles)

9. I Could Not Ask For More – Edwin McCain

10. Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

11. I Could Not Ask for More – Sara Evans

12. Lost In This Moment~Big & Rich

13. The way you look tonight by (various artists)

14. Making Memories Of Us – Keith Urban

15. You Are My Home – Vanessa Williams and Chayanne