With so many Melbourne wedding DJ options at different prices, it can take time to determine who is the best for your special day and who will nail your wedding dance floor.

One of the best ways to identify a top Melbourne wedding DJ is to ask them, "What equipment do you bring?" If a wedding DJ has invested in high-quality equipment (and importantly, they use this equipment at weddings), it is safe to say they value quality and professionalism. This is the DJ you want! "But Tim, I don't know anything about DJ equipment?!" I hear you and understand – it's something you're not expected to know. I'll walk you through some of the leading equipment a DJ will bring below and spell out key things to look out for when searching for your perfect wedding DJ.

Speakers

Quality of sound is an absolute non-negotiable at a wedding. Imagine you've found the perfect venue and fallen in love with its style and aesthetic, only to find the DJ arrives with beaten-up speakers that could be of better quality and push sound that barely fills the room. If this occurs, it's also likely that the sound quality will be tinny and not conducive to dancing. Therefore, ask your DJ what speakers they use – they can answer this quickly (if they can't, get out of there!). If you can, get the brand and model names and do a quick Google search. Generally, the cost of good quality speakers should be over $4000. If your potential DJ uses Behringer or Alto speakers, I'd recommend keeping searching as these are poor-quality speakers notorious for being cheap and likely to blow. Brands of high-quality speakers/PA equipment are QSC and Bose.

To save you from asking questions, I've included in this blog what equipment I bring to weddings. I bring two QSC K12.2 speakers (with a QSC KS112 sub, depending on venue size).

DJ Decks

While a wedding DJ doesn't have to bring a cumbersome setup (such as 4 turntables and a mixer), ensuring they bring a good quality DJ controller is important. There are many great controllers out there suitable for weddings (with too many to list), but if a DJ is rocking up with beginner decks (such as a DDJ-200, valued around $290), it's a good indicator they're more of a bedroom DJ and won't expertly work a dance floor. Again, as a general rule, you'd want a DJ who has invested in a good quality DJ controller, which typically costs over $3000.

What do I bring? I currently use a Pioneer XDJ-RX3. I love this controller because it allows me to mix music with a laptop or USB. I like using my computer as the bigger screen allows me to search for the next song more easily. But if something were to happen to my laptop (such as a spilled drink), it's not a problem as this DJ controller also takes USBs. Therefore, it provides a great backup option and extra security to ensure music is always ready for your dance floor. Not all DJ controllers have a USB input, so it's always worth asking your DJ what their backup option is if something happens to their laptop.

Microphone

A quality wireless microphone is commonly overlooked, but I can't stress just how important this equipment is. If a DJ has a poor-quality microphone, it will likely not be loud or clear enough, drop out, and be prone to causing speaker feedback. A good microphone is even more important if you have a wedding videographer, as they "tap into" the audio from the DJ's microphone (for example, at speeches). So, if the microphone is crackly during speeches, it will also be the same in the video. 
To avoid this, ask your DJ if they provide a wireless microphone and, if so, what brand. Shure microphones are one of the best brands known for their reliability and durability, making them a great choice for a wedding to ensure clear, crisp audio. If they use a Shure, that's a big tick, but there are other good options out there (such as a top-end Sennheiser). An excellent wireless microphone setup should cost at least $900.

What do I bring? I use a Shure GLXD24+/B58 Handheld System with a BETA58A Vocal Microphone to ensure crisp speech audio.

Lighting

Adding lighting can certainly enhance a fun, vibrant dance floor. However, beware that dance floor lights provided by DJs are different! Check out photos and videos of your potential DJ in action and check if their setup matches your ideal aesthetic. There are so many different lighting options, such as T bars, up lights, and pixel tubes, so consider which ones you like to look best when booking.

What do I bring? I love using my Astera Pixel Tubes for weddings. They come in a set of 8 and are versatile. They're battery-powered so that they can be placed anywhere and can be controlled wirelessly with a dedicated app. I can choose any colour to suit the room and coordinate it to light up with the music. I can't recommend these lights highly enough and have a featured blog about the importance of having great lighting as a DJ.

There are no second chances when it comes to your wedding day. Therefore, it doesn't hurt to ask this key question to ensure you're getting a professional who uses high-quality equipment.

Looking for a DJ to ignite your dance floor. Get in touch. I'd love to be part of your special day, and if I am not available, I can recommend some other great options.

Tim the DJ

Website: www.timthedj.com.au/ 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/timthedjsax/