15 Questions to Ask a Wedding DJ Before You Book

Every wedding DJ has a good demo reel. The difference between a professional and an expensive risk is in the answers to questions most couples never think to ask. These are the fifteen we would ask if we were booking for a friend, with the answer you want to hear. We answer all of them on our wedding DJ page and at the consultation.

The people

1. Who exactly will be at my wedding? Some companies sell you the owner’s reputation and send a subcontractor. You want the name of your DJ and MC, and to meet or speak with them before the day.

2. Is the MC a separate person from the DJ? At a wedding of 150 or more, one person cannot mix music and run a room at the same time. A dedicated MC who handles introductions, toasts and the timeline while the DJ plays is the professional standard.

3. What is your MC style? Ask for video. Some MCs are hype men; some are hosts. You want one whose energy matches your room. (Ours are hosts, and bilingual when the guest list calls for it.)

4. How many weddings have you done at my venue? Knowing where the booth goes at Weylin or how the balcony tables hear at The Plaza is not something to learn on your night. See our venue list.

The music

5. How do you plan the music with us? The right answer is a planning meeting, a must-play and do-not-play list, and a DJ who then reads the floor rather than running a fixed playlist.

6. Will you take requests, and how? A good DJ filters requests against your do-not-play list and the mood of the floor rather than playing everything handed to them.

7. Can you handle our culture’s music? If your wedding has a Latin block, a hora, Bollywood, Greek or Caribbean sets, ask for examples of weddings where the DJ did it well.

8. Do you offer live musicians? A saxophonist, violinist or percussionist over the DJ set is the upgrade most couples wish they had known about.

The equipment

9. What is your backup plan if equipment fails? Redundant laptops, mixers and speakers on site, not in a van across town. Ask directly.

10. Do you provide ceremony and cocktail hour sound? Separate systems, wireless microphones for the officiant and readers, and someone operating them. It should be in the package.

11. What lighting is included and what is extra? Basic dance lighting is usually included; uplighting, monograms and intelligent light shows are usually add-ons. Ask for photographs of their lighting in a real room, not a showroom.

12. What does your set-up look like? A skirted table with cables showing is the single most common complaint in wedding photographs. A designed booth or façade is worth asking about.

The business

13. Are you insured, and can my venue have the certificate? Most New York venues require liability insurance from vendors. A professional has it ready.

14. What happens if the party runs late? Know the overtime rate and how it is agreed on the night, before the night.

15. What is in the contract? Names of the DJ and MC, hours, equipment, ceremony sound, lighting, overtime, cancellation terms and the deposit. If it is not written down, it is not booked.

One more

Ask to speak with a couple who married in the past year at a venue like yours. Reviews are useful; a conversation is better. Our reviews and awards are public, and we are happy to make the introduction. When you are ready, check your date. If you are still deciding between a DJ and a band, start with our DJ vs live band comparison.