What's Right For You?

Diane with DJ Scotty Whaley at the Club Summit in San Jose

Do you want to hire a Band or a DJ? How do you decide?

BAND Pros:

• There is nothing like live music if you want great sound quality.
• You can choose a band based on the particular style that feeds your taste.
• If the band is good enough, live music can be very exciting.
• A band can be more flexible with speed and tempo of certain songs that may fit something specific you'd like to do.

BAND Cons:

• Most bands don't have a very large song database.
• They usually don't sound like the original artists.
• If the band need to take a break, the music stops as well.
• Bands can cost much more than a DJ.
• Without a really good sound man, It can seem more like a concert then a wedding.

DJ Pros:

• Most DJs come with a very large song database and can play just about anything to fit the varying tastes of your guests.
• They can cost less than a band. But the really good ones shouldn't cost THAT much less.
• Good DJs are interactive and can get out on the dance floor while the music is playing to bring the party to life.
• Your special requests will be sung by your favorite artists.
• The music never has to stop if the DJ needs to take a little break.

DJ Cons:

• The tempo of the music cannot be changed.
• Contracts can be misleading in terms of the exact DJ that will be be at your wedding. And you could get stuck with a bad one.
• It might be harder for a dj than a band to get the crowd's interest.
• You might not like the styles of music that are being played. Some DJs play what THEY like instead of what YOU like.

Your wedding, anniversary, retirement party or 50th birthday doesn't happen every day. You want people to remember this day for all the right reasons. Choosing a DJ or Band for your wedding reception or other event is one of the most important decisions that you can make. Everything else can be perfect, but if the music is not great, the party will not be successful.  It is not usually considered that 90% of the success of an event falls upon the shoulders of your choice in entertainment. Everything else can be disappointing, including your meal. But your guests will hang in there if the entertainment is good. And selecting the right entertainment can be difficult. The competition is thick, all promising they are the right choice for you. So, how do you choose?

Put the pleasure of guests first!

Money

This is a tough economy and we're all trying to save a buck. But don't look for the best deal with that being the only thing in your mind. In looking for the cheapest DJ or band, that's exactly what you'll get. What you'll get is a DJ that will not satisfy the guests at your wedding. What you'll get is a band that won't care who they satisfy beyond themselves. Many events come with a wide range of ages in attendance. Any decent band that can keep kids to seniors interested will be expensive. Period. And any decent DJ who can keep the attention of all those ages should charge you what that's worth. If you think this is expensive, think about your food bill and bar tab. Any decent restaurant or hotel will charge upwards of a least a few hundred dollars for a large appetizer tray. And that's only a portion of the meal. Think of how much your restaurant is charging you for your meal. Any good venue will charge you from 20-30 dollars or more per meal. And you'll pay that without thinking about it. Champagne toast? It's extra. You want wine on the table? It's extra.  You want soft drinks served to your guests? It's extra.  And if the wine is bad, nobody's really going to care. But if the entertainment is bad, everyone leaves.

You can still hire a band for your event

You will find several bands in your area. Some specialize in formal events like weddings, others are used to the Night Club environment. Still others specialize in outdoor events like festivals. I recommend contacting a production company that has different bands to choose from to find one that's right for you.

But

Beware of large production companies!!!There are several production companies out there. And many won't lose a moment's sleep for taking large amounts of money from you to send you a DJ or a band that's not worth a fraction of what you paid for.  This happens so often and I wish I list these companies with neon caution signs. But sadly I can't and for obvious reasons. But I believe you should always get what you pay for .

I know a few trustworthy production companies and can help lead you in the right direction.

If it's a smaller company you'd rather try, I can help you with that too.

If you go it alone, keep in mind the the age range of your guests and try to find a Band or DJ that is not afraid to cross over music styles and eras. These Bands and DJs are around, but don't come cheap. Any really good band will have to charge you enough money to pay not only all the people in the band, but also the setup and breakdown crew. This is why DJ's became so popular at formal events because one man can charge a lot less than 4, 5 or more. But live music definitely has it's place. And if you hire a band you want to be sure it's a good one.

If you want a DJ, these questions can help you to find a good one.

1. Are you interactive? An interactive DJ is a better DJ. Your guests will have a better time with a DJ that's not afraid to get out in the crowd to do special skits or teach line dance, etc.

2. What kind of equipment will you be using and do you have an emergency back-up system? 

3. Are you insured? (This protects the DJ company, and you in case of the unexpected.)
4. Do you belong to any professional association, such as ADJA (American Disc Jockey Association) ?
5. Are we guaranteed the DJ of our choice? If so, get a written contract which includes that DJ's name! Many people hire a DJ company because they saw a particular DJ work an event. Then they are disappointed to see that they were given an entirely different DJ that may not be as good.
6. How many years of experience do you have? A successful DJ learns with time. Under 5 years is probably not enough to be considered for a high quality event.
7. May we call three references? Or, may we come to see you work? And good DJ will not be afraid to share references with you. As a matter of fact, they should be willing to provide a complete sheet of satisfied customers. You should also either go see them work or in the very least you should be provided with a video.
8. How will you be dressed? This is very important. If you are having a formal affair, do you want your DJ showing up in jeans and a t-shirt? Of course not. The DJ's attire should fit the event. Tuxedo for a wedding, Hawaiin shirt for a Luau, Flashy shirt for a night club party...and so on.
9. How early will you be there to set up? Most DJs need a 45-60 minute set up time, which is usually considered the "start time" and is added to your fee.
10. Will you allow requests and do you have a large CD collection? A personable DJ won't mind keeping your guests happy. - Note: Keep children from trying to play with the DJ's equipment. The equipment is quite heavy, there are very hot lights and there are wires connecting everything. A happy and carefree DJ is a better DJ!!!
11. MOST IMPORTANT....What happens in the case of an emergency...if you get sick or can't do the show for any other reason...who does our event?  Do you have an emergency, contingency plan? Are you involved in a network of DJ's that can fill in for each other at a moment's notice?

Ask these questions and get the answers put down in a contract! Be aware of a DJ that won't make a promise in writing!

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? Copyright, DiRhody (Diane Scanlon) - Wedding Pictures courtesy of David Photography - Rocky Hill, CT