As planners, we often see or hear the following statements when we are planning a wedding or event:
- Do I really need to hire a DJ?
- Can’t I just rent speakers and play off my Spotify?
- Someone can just set up the speakers.
Of course you could but let’s talk about why that isn’t the best idea. Being professionals in the industry, we know how a DJ can truly make or break your event. We often take sound at a wedding or event for granted…until it’s awful. Can you remember a time when the sound was terrible or not working? It’s very distracting and can completely ruin your guest’s experience!
Why hire a professional DJ
Professional DJ’s don’t just provide music, they provide:
- Professional and high end speakers for sound
- Sound board
- Cordless microphones
- A giant playlist for all ages and tastes
- Lights for ambiance
- And so much more!
Not only does the DJ provide these services, but they can also feed off the crowd’s energy. A true professional understands what kind of music is supposed to be played during certain times. For example, they won’t play 90s R&B hip hop during an afternoon Christmas party and they won’t play smooth jazz when it’s time to let loose and have fun on the dance floor.
Why we don’t recommend renting speakers
You came to us because we have seen it all! From our extensive experience, renting speakers can be a challenge and we advise our clients of this from the start. First off, most of the speakers available for rent cannot handle the amount of sound generated which can result in distorted sound and can put a kink in an otherwise flawless event. We suggest hiring someone who has professional sound equipment with the experience to use it. A professional DJ knows how to adjust for sound distortion, minimize feedback, and how to control the volume.
Why Spotify and iTunes doesn’t always work
Trust us, that fade out at the end of a song and the 2 second delay between songs on your playlist can make a dance floor scarce real fast! That is not what you want! You want the energy to stay high. Guests also can’t requests songs because the playlist is pre-determined and therefore set in stone. There are certain situations though that playlists can work – situations where the music is more ambience then it is to get the party started. For example, during cocktail hour or an early dinner is a perfect occasion for a pre-determined playlist. A great idea is using a playlist for dinner and then having your professional DJ arrive later in the evening just before the dancing starts.
Why great DJ’s have a higher price point
Have you heard the phrase, “you get what you pay for”. Well, you are about to hear it again! That same principle applies to professional DJs. A professional DJ understands how weddings and events work. They have tons of experience in all types of situations.
They know:
- When to load in so they aren’t lugging in speakers in front of guests in order to avoid disruption and distraction
- How to be polite to guests as they request songs
- How to dress appropriately for your event
- To have all items on hand to be prepared, such as extra cables, batteries, tape for cords, etc.
- To work with us as planners if needed. For example, when we need help calling tables for the buffet
Reviews
Always check out the DJ’s reviews. If a DJ was the one thing that made a party, people will talk about it. Guests always remember how an event made them feel. They may forget what the guest favour was, what the colour of the linens were but they were definitely remember how much fun they had or how relaxed they felt. Your guest will also unfortunately remember if the dance floor was empty, the energy was low and all the awkward silences at a cocktail party.
Want our recommendations?
Hiring us as your planner, we give you only the best names we love working with in the industry. Inquire with us about planning your event and get access to our golden book of vendors, including our DJ list. We promise you and your guests will have a memorable experience!
Photo credits:
Top row: (1) Wild Hearts Collective, (2) Isle & Oak Photography (3) Summer Rayne Photo
Bottom Row: (1) Erin Fraser Photography, (2) Lucky Booth, (3) Justin Lim Photography