Wedding DJ's Oldham
Why is there a big price difference on Wedding DJ’s in Oldham
There is a genuine and valid reason why there is such a large price range in wedding and party DJ’s. I have written the following article from an experience point of view and I suppose the most effective way to demonstrate my experience and offer confidence and assurances that you would be in good hands if you were chose my services for your event is to write this particular article from an advise point of view based on my wisdom and good business practices I adhere too. So if you are shopping around for DJ’s and comparing their services, prices and what would suit your event best, this article will certainly help you find and ensure you hire a reliable, experienced DJ with suitable equipment. Some of the basic elements to consider are a consolation prior to your event, PAT test certificates, PLI certificates, backup up equipment, vehicle insurance, breakdown cover, dynamic music ability and the standard of equipment that the DJ is going to use. I will cover all these basic topics below, which hopefully will give you some insight on how to book a professional DJ. Standard of equipment: The standard of equipment is often not very high on the clients list of considerations when looking for a DJ, mainly because most people assume all DJ’s will simply arrive with speakers, lights and music and the only difference is how it looks and how the DJ performs on the night. However, the quality and standard of the equipment is much more Important than one might first think. Sound quality, aesthetics and reliability really do make a difference to an event; especially in relation to the equipments performance, reliability and essentially the clients peace of mind. Speakers are a typical example of why the standard is so important. Naturally, speakers range in price, typically, the average wedding and party DJ will spend between £350 – £5000 for a pair of speakers. There is an old time saying ‘you get what you pay for’ and this is very true when it comes to loud speakers. Without getting too technical, projection of the sound, the actual sound quality, and power ratings play a very important role to your guests listening experience. We have all been to a party where the sound is ear piercing, the DJ announcements sound muffled or unclear and the sound frequencies omitted often leave guests unable to have a conversation, this is usually a sign of a low quality speakers. People also absorb sound, therefore, the more people there is, the harder the speakers will have to work, and low end quality speakers are not designed to be pushed to compensate which can result in speaker component failure. Speaker failure spell the end of your celebrations unless there is an adequate backup solution in place, but this begs the question, if the DJ has cheap speakers for the main PA, do they indeed have a decent backup or any backup provision at all? If your event has more than 180 people, the DJ will most certainly need a powerful set of speakers, or be in a position to add extra speakers around the room. Personally, for large crowd capacity, I opt for adding extra speakers around the room via wireless technology as I find a balanced audio via high-end speakers enables decent clarity and volume that still enables people to comfortably have a conversation. (The standard of the sound card, microphone and cables also play a big part in sound quality) FBT, HK audio, void and pioneer are just a few names of high-end speaker manufacturers. Now here is the dilemma when shopping on price or if you are limiting your budget, if a DJ is charging a low rate, how can they fund and buy high quality reliable equipment? People love music and the listening experience and quality is so very important. DJ consultation: Initial consultation on the phone leading to a full consultation in person is very important, especially for weddings. Often bride couples don’t realise how much there is to consider, and unfortunately, some DJ’s don’t realise the importance either. Not only does it give the DJ and the client chance to find out more about each other’s personality, there’s also the advantage of covering important items so everything runs perfect on the day. For example, setup times, general timings, music selection, cutting of the cake, encouraging guests to take pictures, first dance details and whether to invite guests onto the dance floor, communication with the photographer to discuss their preference on the DJ’s lights and settings, breakfast music, using the DJ’s PA, speeches, ensuring the guest book gets singed, important announcements, last song, special song request, etc. Considering and configuring all of the above mentioned items could result in misunderstandings or even missed if planning without prior agreement and planning. From my experience, an in-depth meeting in person make a real difference, and then on the day couples can simply relax and enjoy their special day. Backup equipment: I can’t stress enough how important backup equipment is, even the best equipment can go wrong and it’s unforgivable if there is no backup provision in place. Beware of the DJ that uses the family saloon car to transport their equipment as this often means it’s impossible to carry spare backup equipment due to space, it’s also illegal to use a non commercial vehicle to carry sound and light equipment (see correct vehicle insurance below) With this very important note in mind, and especially if your event is a wedding, I’m sure I don’t have to remind you how your big day or party could be ruined if you choose a DJ that does not have a real backup plan in place and something does go wrong. PAT test certificates: (PAT) Portable appliance testing is the term used to describe the examination of electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they are safe to use. Not only do PAT test certificates demonstrate that all cables and electrical equipment has been tested and deemed safe, it’s also a certificate that most venues insist on the DJ having in order to work on their premises, don’t get caught out, always ask your DJ for their certificates. Public liability insurance: Most hotels and wedding venue’s now insist that the DJ has valid 10 million pound public liability insurance in order to work on their premises. Don’t be caught out on the last minute, always ask the venue what cover is required and then ask your potential DJ if they can email you a copy of their certificate. The venue will usually insist on seeing a copy of this certificate before they allow the DJ to enter with their equipment. Correct vehicle insurance: Upon first reading this headline, you may not be too concerned about your DJ having the correct vehicle insurance, but it’s worth mentioning that if the police pull over the DJ for a spot check on their way to your event and they do not have the correct insurance cover on their vehicle, the police will seize the car. DJ’s can get cover on their cars for travelling to and from a place of work only, but NOT for transporting their sound and light equipment if they are using a car. For transporting equipment legally, DJ’s should use a van with the appropriate insurance. A Van will also enable to DJ to carry backup equipment and most professional DJ’s will also have break down cover to help ensure they get to your event come rain or shine. Asking your potential DJ about what vehicle they use may help give you some peace of mind. Experienced DJ: As I hope you can appreciate from this article, over the years I have gained good business practice to work in accordance with the law. However, there’s more to being a DJ than operating as a serious business. Being adaptable and knowledgeable with the music selection forms the core part of what a DJ does. Reading the crowd and the dance floor certainly requires experience. Being dynamic with music choices to suit the current atmosphere and clear and concise communication skills over the microphone are also key elements in making sure your event goes with a bang. Some DJ’s are more suited to playing one type of music, however, today’s audience at a wedding or party require total flexibility and a good sign of flexibility is being able to switch to any style or genre of music from any decade to the very latest songs and the ability to mix if required. Some party’s may only require one sort of music, for example, a 1970’s themed event may require little or no mixing skills. It’s often a good idea to ask your DJ a few questions to see how adaptable they are willing to be, for example, I was recently asked to perform at a 60th anniversary and the clients asked me if I could do some barn dances before the Buffy, but later on the couples daughter and friends wanted some old skool dance tunes mixing. The night went as planned and everyone had a great night, in fact, my willingness to be so flexible is probably why they booked me during the initial telephone conversation. I’m not the youngest DJ on the block, but my experience has helped me to form a solid working format for every occasion, I personally love weddings as they are my specialty. I hope, if you have read this far, that this article has been useful and gave you confidence when shopping for your DJ. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions |
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