20 Questions to ask a DJ

1. Do you provide a written contract for your services?
a. This should be YES without exception! Never take their word for it. Get it in writing!

2. How many wedding receptions have you performed at?
a. Generally speaking, the more experience, the more money a Disc Jockey is worth. You should look for DJs that have performed at more than 60 weddings as a starting point (takes into account at least 3 years experience at 20 weddings per year)

3. May I see you perform at a wedding reception?
a. This answer should be NO. Should your DJ allow a stranger to "pop-in" and watch even a few minutes of your big day and give the impression that they care more about the "next sale" rather than the party in front of them? Eagles Wings Entertainment strictly follows this policy.

4. How much do you charge?
a. Looking for value is not always the best coarse of action. As a rule you normally get what you pay for. The one thing people always remember for years after the wedding is how much fun they had at the reception dance. Experience, Professionalism & High Grade Equipment are your best value. You should be willing to spend at a minimum of $ 600.00 &  a maximum of $ 900.00.

5. Are you limited to only 4 or 5 Hours because you have another wedding?
a. In most cases this should be NO! The Bride & Groom dictate the number of hours at a reception, as is stipulated in the Contract.

6. How early do you arrive prior to a wedding reception?
a. Arrival time is generally 60-120 minutes prior and setup is complete before stated contract time.

7. What do you wear to a wedding reception?
a. The DJ should always dress in appropriate attire according to the event and the wishes of the client. Tuxedo for formal engagements.

8. I've heard horror stories of drunk DJs, DJs that smoke like a chimney. Do you do either of those?
a. This should be an ABSOLUTELY NOT! Professionals do their job. They don't smoke and drink. Eagles Wings Entertainment strictly follows this policy.

9. Will the DJ act as a master of Ceremony?
a. This depends on the style of services the client wishes to have.

10. Are you able to play continuous music?
a. Yes...the music never stops.

11. How much music you have?
a. This should be a significant amount with over 5,000 songs. Roughly you can fit 70 songs into a 4 Hour time frame. Professional DJ’s also have a music back up, either a second computer or CD’s.

12. Do you use any theatrical lighting?
a. Depends again on the client's wishes.

13.  Are there any special needs for your equipment?
a. Other than the normal precautions for any electrical equipment, no.

14. How many breaks will you take, how often, and for how long?
a. I do not take breaks during your reception as the music remains continuous.

15. What is the payment schedule?
a. Find out when payments are due including the procedure for cancellations.

16. What happens if you get sick or some tragic event happens in your life, do we have a backup?
a. Good Disc Jockey services ALWAYS have a backup plan or two. The BEST DJ services have this pointed out in their contracts.

17. Do you Sub-Contract your work out?
a. You want to make sure which Disc Jockey you are paying to have service your wedding reception - This should be NO!

18. Do you need to be fed at my wedding reception?
a. This should never be required by your DJ professional, however it is always a nice gesture to make sure your DJ is fed so they can give the best performance possible. A DJs normal day, given a 5 hour reception with setup and travel time if roughly 7-9 hours.

19. Why is your price higher to play on an island?
a. Any island that is not connected directly to the mainland takes a lot of extra time to prepare for and is costly to service. The price should include transportation to the wedding and any incidentals associated with that.  ( Example: Washington Island )

20. What does your equipment consist of?
a. Only professional Disc Jockey Equipment. Names include Mackie, Berhinger, Shure, Yorkville, Chauvet, BBE, American DJ.