Picking a Wedding DJ when you’ve never heard them DJ
You Want Me To Do What Again?
Choosing a wedding DJ without ever seeing them perform can feel risky, after all, music plays a huge role in setting the tone for the day. And short of you attending a wedding where you’ve heard them play, it may seem like an impossible task to judge. But there are a few key points that you should consider that will go a long way.
Professional Referrals
One of the most sure-fire ways to begin your short list of DJs to choose from (or any other wedding professional for that matter) is to ask from the professionals you are already talking to. Typically this starts off with the venue, but also if you’ve hired a photographer, videographer, even a caterer; they will all have their experiences with DJs that can really help to shorten down that list.
Client Referrals
Short of considering someone relatively new in the DJ world, you should be able to find a number of reviews on the various websites that wedding DJs tend to be on. Google, Facebook, Zola, Wedding Wire, and The Knot are all sites with reviews that should provide some insight to what the couples think of their previous engagements with their selected DJs.
Social Media Presence w/ Video
In this day of social media you would be hard pressed to find a DJ that isn’t posting some type of quick video at an event. Scour their social media pages, see what kind of content they post. I happen to not only post some of these quick snapshots on my socials like Instagram, but I also post some “gig logs” of various events I’ve performed at. It can give you a real peek on how they DJ. I even have a video on “how I mix“. These sources can provide some great clues into what to expect from them.
What Not To Do
Over the years I have heard a strange request from potential clients; “can we stop by a wedding to see you perform”. This answer is simply no. Weddings are private events and you don’t want to put a DJ in a position to ask another couple to include you in their gathering so you can hear them perform. I personally have not experienced this, but I have seen it posted on places like Reddit and from random posts from DJs. It’s just bad etiquette to consider that as an option.
Gaining Your Trust
Besides all the referrals, all the social media posts, in the end it comes down to trust. Schedule interviews with all these potential DJs (and other vendors) and ask them questions to vet them out. In the end it becomes a question of who you trust on your most important day.