Below are a few tips on booking a Mobile Disco & a Wedding DJ
Please remember when booking a Mobile Disco & a Wedding or Party DJ, you are paying for their experience and expertise to provide the right music for you and your party! The Party DJ & disco is probably the most important part of the function making your event really special. It may look easy, but being an all-round entertainer who reads the mood and plays the right tunes at the right time takes experience.
1: Available for my planned date?
Established DJs can be booked up for months if not years in advance for key dates in the calendar. So the secret here my friends, as soon as you have booked the venue, look to book your wedding DJ as soon as possible!
2: How Much?
A quality Wedding & Party DJ will cost on average between £350-£600 for the evening and there are other factors involved that will vary the price, like midweek functions, more lighting and sound, extras etc! Please remember, you generally will get what you pay for. It could well be worth spending that extra few pounds on the right DJ to make sure your event goes off with a BANG!
3: Do you have Public Liability Insurance (PLI)
PLI protects you and your guests against injury and damages relating to your DJ and their equipment. PAT is an electrical certificate that shows that the equipment is safe and is required to use and download digital music. Your venue will probably need proof of PLI & PAT. Do not rely on word of mouth, get your DJ to send you copies.
4: Meeting up?
Try to meet your booked Wedding or Party DJ first. This is the best way to get to know if they are right for you. You can also talk over you're Wedding first dance music choices and what you expect from your DJ on the night. There may be extra charges for this so make sure you find this out too.
5: Experience and Venue?
Ask the DJ as many questions as possible relating to you function and what you want to achieve, get a feel for their experience they have. Try to book a DJ who has played a similar function at the venue you have booked for your party. Most function DJ's will know most of the venues in their area but if not they may phone or visit the venue beforehand to check out where to set up, electricity supplies, parking facilities, etc.
6: Equipment?
Depending on your event, is the sound powerful enough and will it visually fit in? Without getting too technical a good DJ will have up to date equipment consisting of a digital play out system (laptop, hard drive player/reader), two full range speakers, four lights, well presented and unobtrusive. Also ask if they have duplicate back up equipment - (especially PA) because technical equipment will fail at some point and you do not want that to happen at your Wedding!
7: Contracts?
This is a legally binding agreement between you and the DJ so if something goes wrong you have proof of purchase? Also check the terms and conditions when signing and make sure you have access to them.
8: Should your DJ Play Requests & Playlist?
Yes and Yes!
9: illness or not able to make it on the day?
Most mobile DJ's will have a back-up plan and bearing in mind this is a one in a hundred thousand scenario your DJ will have a network of fellow DJ's to get your event covered, plus it would be in his best interest to send a DJ of the same quality as himself...
10: Lastly - If possible, book directly!
Some Mobile Discos in etc may sub contract jobs to fellow DJ's. Check that the DJ you are booking is the DJ that will be turning up at your event. If you going to book through an agency or use the in-house DJ at hotels etc, ask when the DJ is playing next so you can check them out first!