You may have asked yourself “what does a DJ do at a wedding besides play music?”
There are many additional responsibilities that a DJ must perform well in order to make your wedding day amazing. We are going to cover all of these responsibilities in this blog.
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
(Before The Big Day)
One of the most important duties of a wedding DJ is to assist the engaged couple in planning their music and master of ceremonies details.
This planning should begin before the DJ is even hired as they should listen to the couple about their wedding vision and share insight from their experience.
Once the DJ is hired, they will usually email the couple music and master of ceremonies planning forms.
These forms will help the couple record ideas for their music, special announcements and dedications.
The DJ should always be available to answer any questions the couple might have for their wedding.
About 30 days before the wedding date is the perfect time for the couple to send the DJ their planning forms.
Once the DJ receives this information, they will get in contact with the couple to review all of their music selections and MC information.
I always think it is a good idea to have this consultation at the wedding venue as it is helpful to look at the floor plan while reviewing all of the wedding details.
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
Set Up Equipment In A Timely Manner
A DJ should never be seen or heard setting up equipment once the official start time of the wedding has begun.
I’ll take this one step further.
The DJ should have the equipment for both the ceremony and reception ready with music playing before the guests arrive.
In addition, they should have the entire DJ area clean and organized.
This means that all equipment cases, totes and anything else used to transport equipment should be out of sight before guests arrive.
Provides Wedding Ceremony Audio Services
A wedding DJ will provide ceremony audio equipment at the majority of the weddings that they service.
This includes speakers, audio mixer, wireless microphones, computer and music.
They will also operate the sound equipment to ensure the audio mix is clear and easily heard.
Provides Music and Equipment For Cocktail Hour
It is not uncommon for the cocktail hour at a wedding to be in a different area than the reception banquet room.
With that said, the DJ should always bring an extra speaker and digital playing device to provide music during this time.
You may also want to ask your DJ to prepare cocktail music that is specific to your tastes as many will be happy to do so.
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
The Grand Entrance
After the cocktail hour, the wedding DJ will usually line up all of the members of the wedding party to prepare for the grand entrance.
While lining up the wedding party, they will do a quick review to ensure they pronounce everyone’s name correctly (also done weeks in advance at the DJ consultation).
He or she will give basic instructions to anyone giving a toast on how to hold the microphone and how to project their voice into the mic as well.
In addition, the DJ should use this time to review the order of upcoming reception events with everyone so they are prepared. For example:
- Grand Entrance
- Cake Cutting
- Toasts
- Blessing (if requested by the couple)
- Dinner
- First Dance
- Parents Dances
- Open Dance Floor
Finally, the DJ will make their way back into the reception area and cue the music for the grand entrance! Here we go!
Master of Ceremonies
After the grand entrance, the DJ will continue providing music and fulfill the role as the “Master of Ceremonies” in most cases.
This includes announcing all of the upcoming wedding events, introducing the guests giving toasts/speeches, occasional “story-telling” (just a few fun/brief sentences).
It is important that they speak with sincerity and refrain from making tacky jokes.
Although the DJ has the microphone, they must remember the wedding is about the celebration of the newly married couple.
DJs should never use this time to make the wedding about themselves. Too many of them do.
Get People Dancing!
(and keep them dancing)
We all knew this one was coming!
Yes! a wedding DJ must get as many people dancing as possible. I won’t go into all of the ways that a DJ can get people dancing in this blog.
(Click here for information on how to pack a dance floor)
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention they MUST interact on the microphone with the crowd.
It’s always nice if they occasionally get out from behind the DJ booth to take this interaction to the next level (they don’t want to over-due though!).
If the DJ doesn’t personally entertain in addition to playing music, then they are not doing their job in my opinion.
I will say some weddings have rowdier guests than others when it comes to dancing, however, the DJ must always take full responsibility for getting people to dance….it’s that simple.
Tear Down In A Timely Manner
Many banquet halls have vendor contracts. They especially apply to DJs during tear downtime.
Your DJ may need to sign a vendor contract or they may not be allowed to provide their services by the banquet manager.
Most wedding venues require DJs to have all of their equipment torn down and out of the building in less than an hour.
It is important that the DJ meets these terms as the banquet venue may charge the client, the DJ or both for this extra time.
Thank you for reading
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
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Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer.
Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist.
I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and have the honor to work with an amazing team of wedding DJs.
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How To Find A Wedding DJ
If you want to know how to find a wedding DJ that is perfect for your big day, this blog is for you.
There are many different options that will help you find the right DJ with the right personality at the right price.
I have listed several resources and links to help you get a great start in your search for your wedding DJ.
How To Find A Wedding DJ
Online Wedding Publications
If you want to know how to find a wedding DJ in a very convenient way, I recommend you do a search on some of the more popular online wedding publications.
These platforms include everything thing from DJ bios, past client reviews, pictures and videos of the DJ in action as well as their website and contact info.
It’s the closest thing to a “one-stop-shop” for finding the wedding DJ that is right for you.
Some of the most popular online wedding vendor publications include:
Social Media
Who doesn’t love social media? If you want to know how to find a wedding DJ and have fun doing it, social media platforms are a great place for this.
What I love about social media, is you have a chance to see how the wedding DJs you are considering interacts with the people on their business page.
It’s always a good sign when a wedding DJ replies to comments on his or her posts. It shows that they are personable and approachable.
It’s also nice to see if the DJ posts regularly as this often indicates they are providing their services on a consistent basis.
In addition, social media platforms allow you to follow a DJ to see them in action before even contacting them.
The most popular social media sites for finding a wedding DJ are pretty obvious, but I will list them anyway.
Internet Search Engines
If you want to know how to find a wedding DJ in a more specific and filtered way, search engines are great for refining your search.
You can search for anything via search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing. If you search for it, you will probably find something or someone that is related to your search.
Search engines provide both paid listings and organic listings.
It’s important to note that there is generally more competition to rank organically on the first page for popular keywords.
So if a DJ company is listed on the first page organically, then there is a good chance their website is a quality site with a good amount of traffic.
How To Find A Wedding DJ
Wedding Expos
If want to know how to find a wedding DJ or any wedding vendor for that matter, I highly recommend you attend wedding expos.
They are super fun and you can save a lot of time booking meetings with vendors because they are already present at the bridal show.
You can usually ask the most important questions for hiring your wedding DJ at the show.
If you’d like to go into greater detail about your wedding and the DJ services, you can also schedule a consultation right on the spot.
In addition, if you are looking to hire a wedding DJ, you can get a great feel for their personality while at the expo.
Many vendors also offer wedding show specials that can save you money as well!
Referrals
As the old saying goes “The best form of advertising is word of mouth.”
This also applies to being referred to a wedding DJ. A recommendation from someone you know is generally a very reliable and trustworthy source of information.
The person referring the wedding DJ may have already hired him or her and knows first hand if they deliver a great service and performance.
It is still important to do your due diligence and learn as much about the DJ as possible before hiring them.
The DJ may have been a great fit for the person who referred them, but he or she may not be a great fit for you.
Furthermore, be sure to take some time to ask your closest family and friends for wedding DJ recommendations.
They have your best interests at heart and want you to have a great DJ.
Local Listings
I love local listings like Yelp or Superpages. They are generally a little less cosmetic and get right to the information needed for contacting and hiring.
For example, when somebody contacts me via a local listing. I book that wedding almost every time.
If you don’t feel like sifting through hundreds of DJ profiles listed on online vendor platforms, then I recommend you cut right to the chase and contact a few of the highest-rated DJs in a local listing.
To be a little more specific in your search, I recommend you search for a local listing in the city where your wedding venue is located.
Not necessarily the city that you live in.
The reason for this is because the DJ is probably familiar with all of the most popular wedding venues in his or her area.
Thank you for reading “How To Find A Wedding DJ”
Please click the link below for more CC King Entertainment Wedding Blogs!
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Click the video icon below for more
Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer.
Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist.
I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and have the honor to work with an amazing team of wedding DJs.
Contact Us
Best Wedding DJ Questions
We have all heard the saying, “Your DJ will make or break your wedding.” With that said, it’s important to ask the best wedding DJ questions to ensure you hire the perfect DJ for your big day.
So without further ado, I have listed below the top 10 questions you should ask the DJ during the interview process.
Best Wedding DJ Questions
1. Do you charge for set up and tear down?
Most weddings are about 6 hours long. A DJ may charge an hourly or flat rate.
However, depending on the number of services, your DJ and his or her staff may need about 2 to 4 hours to set up and 1 to 3 hours to tear down.
That is roughly 5 extra hours of service for set up and tear down that might be added to your DJ bill.
That could possibly be a large dollar amount or none at all. The main thing is to be sure you ask your wedding DJ about this possible charge so it does not come as a surprise.
2. Do you take requests?
The obvious answer to this question should always be YES. Can you believe that some wedding DJs don’t take requests?
This is a question that is often overlooked because most people assume that all DJs should.
You will also want to ask if there are additional fees charged to cover the costs of the DJ downloading your requested music.
It is very rare that a DJ will charge a music downloading fee, but it is still a good idea to ask.
If taking requests, your DJ will want to make sure they can get a Wifi connection at the banquet hall, just in case they need to download a song on-the-spot.
Your DJ should make these arrangements with the hall manager prior to your wedding.
3. Will you have a DJ assistant with you?
I personally do not like to have a DJ assistant with me for the entire evening.
They sort of “cramp my style” and I feel like they get in the way more than they help.
I do however recommend that wedding DJs have assistants to help with the setup and tear down.
This will ensure that all equipment is ready to go in a timely manner and torn down to meet the rules of the banquet hall related to closing time.
4. Will you invite prospective clients to my wedding?
This is one of the best wedding DJ questions to ask.
It addition to reading the DJs reviews, prospecting clients often ask if they can check out the DJ performing at a wedding prior to hiring them.
There is nothing wrong with people asking this because it’s a very fair and understandable request.
However, you will want to make sure that your DJ does NOT invite anybody outside of your specific guest list.
I have heard countless stories of a prospecting client swearing to “just peek through the wedding hall door” but somehow end up being a distraction to the DJ.
Yes, this does happen and the bottom line is your wedding is an exclusive event for your invited guests only. Your DJ must honor that.
5. Do you have videos of weddings you have DJd?
CAUTION: Videos can often be misleading. I personally love it when I see video footage taken from a smartphone that is under-produced.
Why? Because it’s an indication that you are viewing authentic video footage of the DJ performing at a wedding.
Beware of stock videos that were purchased or overproduced videos where everything looks scripted and rehearsed.
6. Can we meet our DJ prior to hiring him or her?
The necessity of asking this question may be of personal preference. I have booked several weddings via email without even speaking to anybody.
Personally, I think it’s important to meet your wedding DJ in person before hiring them. A DJ’s personality is such a HUGE factor in the art of DJing.
If you hold a meeting with the DJ, I would advise you to take note of a couple of things.
Do they talk too much? Why? Because this is often a red flag that they might talk too much on the microphone during your wedding.
Also, take notice of how they dress. Do they pay attention to detail? Are they a slob?
Always remember, if they look like a mess, then it a good chance they might make a mess out of your wedding too.
7. Do you have backup equipment?
This is another one of the best wedding DJ questions I am asked most frequently.
The obvious answer is of course YES. However, you should also ask if the DJ has a backup for EVERY piece of equipment?”
For some strange reason, a lot of DJs think backup equipment means throwing an extra speaker in the car. No, we also want back up mixers, microphones, computers, cables and amplifiers.
Your DJ should basically have an entire second DJ setup on hand because if any one of these components fails, it could spell disaster if they are not prepared.
I have DJ’d hundreds of weddings and I have had to resort to backup equipment many times.
I have always had what I needed because I have what I call a “backup for the backup.”
Make sure your DJ is one that is prepared to handle any and every unexpected equipment failure.
8. What will you be wearing to our wedding?
This is another one of the best wedding DJ questions you should ask.
Surprisingly, I have been asked this question only a few times. It is never to be assumed that your wedding DJ will dress in formal clothing for your wedding.
I have seen DJs wearing a T-shirt, tennis shoes and jeans while servicing a wedding.
Everybody has their own style, but I recommend you ask this question if you have a preference for what your DJ wears.
Furthermore, the standard wedding DJ attire should consist of dress shoes, dress pants, a vest or suit jacket and tie.
9. Will you drink alcohol while DJing our wedding?
The answer to this must be NO. The reasons as you can already imagine are countless, so I will just make this one short and sweet.
If the wedding DJ you are considering says anything other than NO politely say “Thank you for your time, have a great day and goodbye.”
10. Do you have DJ insurance?
The answer to this question must be YES. We have all seen the YouTube videos of wedding bloopers.
We also know that accidents are never planned.
The financial investments made to make a wedding a great success are massive.
You will want to protect your investment by making sure that ALL of your wedding vendors have insurance.
Most accidents occur when vendors are setting up and tearing down their equipment.
Furthermore, it is a great idea to have an appointed person be present at the banquet hall during vendor set up and tear down to keep an eye on things.
Thank you for reading “Best Wedding DJ Questions”
Click the video icon below for more
Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer. Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist. I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and I have the distinct honor to work with an amazing team of Michigan wedding DJs.
Contact Us
How To Pack The Dance Floor
And there it is! The number one question I am asked as a wedding DJ. “How do you keep the dance floor packed?” After all, the main reason you hire a DJ is for them to entertain and get people dancing. On that note, the DJ must take full responsibility for how the guests at a wedding respond to them by either dancing or not.
There are also a few things the newly married couple can do to support their DJ in packing the dance floor at their wedding reception.
With that said, I’ve put together a complete guide that includes tips for DJs and newlyweds on how to keep the dance floor PACKED all night long.
Tips For Engaged Couples And Newlyweds
Hire the Right DJ
There are so many experienced DJs with great reviews.
More importantly, you must hire a DJ with a proven track record that matches your personality and style.
A DJ must connect with their clients and “get in line” with the vibe and energy of the crowd.
They may have the DJ skills, but if they cannot connect with the guests they are serving, people won’t dance. It’s that simple.
Collaborate
Upon booking your wedding DJ, he or she should send you DJ planning forms to help guide you in selecting the music for your wedding.
Be sure to take the time to fill these forms out including your top song picks and special instructions.
This will help your DJ get a feel for the type of crowd they will be entertaining.
It will also help them prepare the most appropriate music in advance.
You DJ should always make themselves available to make music suggestions at any time.
They should also schedule at least one DJ consultation to review all of your selected music before your wedding day.
Create An Environment That Encourages Dancing
There is a very popular sign that DJs love to see at a wedding.
It is often located in the bathroom hanging on the mirror. It reads: “You look perfect, now get back out there and dance.”
Little gestures like this help set the tone for a fun night and help keep the dance floor packed!
Furthermore, it is so important to hire a DJ that understands that not only must they play great music, but create an environment of positive energy and fun for everyone to share.
Lighting
The proper lighting will help keep the dance floor packed at your wedding.
Furthermore, once the dancing segment of your reception begins, it is important that the reception area lights are dimmed.
There are a few reasons for this.
First, when the DJ fires up the dance music, if the venue’s lights also dim at this time, it sends a signal that it’s showtime and the dancing party has begun.
Second, people who may feel self-conscious are more likely to dance if they are not seen so clearly with bright lights.
Lastly, the dance floor lighting and uplighting can be seen more clearly which makes for a more dance club-like atmosphere.
How To Pack The Dance Floor
Tips For Wedding DJs
Personalize, Personalize, Personalize!
I still remember as a kid I hated going to weddings and I couldn’t stand wedding DJs. Why? First, I knew the opening song they would play would be “Celebration.” Then they would slow things down with “Lady in Red” and close with “Last Dance.”
I’m not saying these are bad songs, but it’s so important to remember all of your guests are attending your wedding to celebrate YOU and your husband or wife.
You want your music and dedications to reflect your specific tastes and personality.
It will be so refreshing to everyone attending your wedding and further remind everyone of what the day is really all about: The celebration of YOUR marriage.
Give Shout-Outs!
I love giving shout-outs to people during the night. It’s one of the best ways to fire up the crowd and personalize my DJ services.
Here is a really fun thing to do when planning your music.
As early as possible, ask several of your guests for a song they would like played at your wedding and never mention it again so they forget about it.
Next, submit their song requests to your DJ with their name attached.
On your wedding day, the DJ can give them a shout-out when playing their song and they go CRAZY when they hear it and so do all of their friends and family members!
Mix it up
One of the biggest mistakes a DJ makes is they don’t read the crowd.
They often think if people are not dancing they need to turn up the volume and intensity to motivate people to get off their seats. WRONG!
I always tell the DJs I train, “If people are not dancing, they are trying to tell you they don’t like what you are playing or how you’re performing.”
With that said, the DJ needs to try a different approach.
For example, maybe they can play a couple of slow songs, come out from behind the DJ booth, get some crowd participation and so on.
Always remember, you are paying your DJ to MC your wedding and keep the dance floor packed.
You have every right to ask them to mix things up when what they are doing isn’t working.
Take Song Requests On-The-Spot
What better way to know what type of music the people at the wedding want to hear than to take requests.
People in the crowd are walking directly to the DJ and they tell the EXACT song that will get them dancing.
In addition, when one person dances, many of their friends will join in.
If a DJ plays song requests consistently throughout the entire evening at a wedding, it will almost always guarantee that the dance full will remain full.
There are actually some DJs out there that do not accept song requests and I think that’s a huge mistake.
Play The Right Song At The Right Time
It is one thing to have a playlist of great songs. It is another to play the right song at the right time.
A DJ could play a particular song early in the evening and find that nobody is interested in dancing to it.
Then later in the evening, the crowd is begging him or her to play the song again.
What changed? The fun answer may be that the people at the wedding had a few more cocktails, but it’s more likely that the DJ played the wrong song at the wrong time initially.
I actually have playlists of songs that go over very well at the beginning of the dancing segment of a wedding reception.
I also have a playlist of songs that work great in the latter part of the evening.
With that said, there are never any absolutes and the DJ should always use their best judgment to determine the best time to play a particular song.
Build Momentum
This important factor to keep the dance floor packed should be addressed when interviewing your DJ.
I’ve seen it countless times, the dance floor is rocking, people have their hands in the air and are begging for more!!
What does the DJ do next? They do the unthinkable and play a slow song only to lose all momentum.
Don’t get me wrong. Slow songs should be played during wedding receptions.
However, if something is working, the crowd is simply telling you to keep doing what you’re doing until the dance floor says otherwise.
People do start to get physically tired from dancing.
Your DJ must watch for these signs of fatigue and then it’s at this time, they should switch things up and “bring in the fresh feet” as we say.
Dance Floor Killers
Family Photos
Visualize this for a moment. The dance floor is PACKED and suddenly the DJ announces “All of the bride’s family members please meet in the lobby for a family photo.”
Guess what happens next. Almost half of the people on the dance floor leave the floor. Shortly after, the DJ announces “All of the groom’s family members, please meet in the lobby for a family photo.”
At this point, the DJ has lost all momentum. Many of the guests will also leave the wedding after the photos are taken and the DJ will have an uphill climb for the rest of the night.
It’s always a good idea to ask your photographer if it’s possible to take these pictures during cocktail hour.
Family photos outside of the reception area during the dancing segment of the evening is a DJ’s worst nightmare and should be avoided at all cost.
Frequent Smoke Breaks By The Hosts With Guests
This is one of the most unique factors to be addressed to keep the dance floor packed at a wedding.
It is extremely important to understand that the newly married couple are like a magnet. Wherever they go, their guests will follow.
In other words, if a bride or groom are outside smoking for the majority of the night, two things will happen.
First, a very large group of people will follow them outside and many end up leaving the wedding.
Second, several guests inside will feel the couple is neglecting them and they will also leave early.
The Music Is Too Loud
Nothing will discourage guests at a wedding from dancing like music that is too loud.
Not only does it make the music sound horrible, but music that is too loud literally causes physical pain.
If a DJ’s goal is to have an empty dance floor, then blasting the music at extremely high levels is the way to have one.
If they want to have a packed dance floor, then the DJ must keep that volume at a level that is fun and energizing while remaining comfortable to the ear.
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Click the video icon below for more CC King videos!
Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer. Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist. I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and I have the distinct honor to work with an amazing team of Michigan wedding DJs.
Contact Us