You want your wedding day to be perfect. This is understandable given the time and effort of organising a venue, the florist, food, guests and not to forget the rest. However, the most critical ingredient to ensure your wedding is a roaring success is the DJ. After all, once formalities are done, the DJ kicks the dance floor off and sets the tone for the rest of the night. Therefore, It’s important that you know what to look for when hiring a wedding DJ with these 4 key qualities:

1. Professionalism

Your DJ should show professionalism at all stages of their engagement; from the booking process to the last dance. A good DJ should be responsive to communication, arrive early at the wedding to set up, dress appropriately, and completely control when it’s their time to shine. If anything unexpected occurs, the DJ should have a contingency plan to respond to it so they can keep those tunes playing all night long.

2. A Listener

A great DJ listens to you and takes on your musical brief; they should never force their music agenda on you. If your vibe is 90s/early 00s pop, they should not play house music all night just because they want to hear it.

When you speak with the DJ for the first time in the organising stage, pay attention to whether they are listening. Ask how they capture all the necessary information to meet your music brief. For example, do they have a form to fill out where you can list your Must Plays and Do Not Plays? Do they have a phone number to contact in the lead-up? Are they communicating with other vendors on the night to make sure everything runs smoothly? Your DJ must show attention to detail and a willingness to listen to ensure a successful event.

3. Knows what to Play

A DJ must be able to read the room to ensure your guests come to the dance floor and, most importantly, stay there. This involves playing the right combination of songs to ensure they’re looking out at a sea of smiling faces and dancing feet. For this reason pre-prepared playlists are out. They must have an extensive catalogue of tracks and be able to seamlessly move between genres and artists to cater to their varying tastes. For example, what happens if you’re posse leaves to grab a drink, and your parents decide to come for a boogie? The DJ needs to be agile and respond with appropriate music choices. Most importantly, they need to keep it fun – like this!

4. Passion for their job

The DJ should always be smiling at your event, showing that they want to be there. This is key, as, after all, they set the tone for the night!

If your DJ demonstrates each of the four qualities above, odds are they’ll be the perfect addition to your special day. Check to see if the DJ also has great photos (videos are a bonus) and glowing testimonials that show they are tried and tested. If they tick that box, book them ASAP because it won’t take long for someone else to snap them up.

5. Would you like more information?

Thanks for reading my blog. If you are a Melbourne-based bride or groom looking for a professional DJ to ignite your dance floor, please get in touch with me. I’d love to be part of your special day, and if I am not available, I’ll be able to recommend some other great options. Take care, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

• Tim the DJ

Website: www.timthedj.com.au

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