Do you have any advice on what to look for while booking a DJ?

loopla

I'm really stumped on this so I am coming to this section of the forums to ask.

I would like to hear any advice you can give about what to look for in a DJ so that you know they are a good match for you. For some reason I am finding this really difficult. I am absolutely clueless. 

I want to of course be sure everyone has a really great time and is on the dancefloor. But I feel like the only kinds of DJs that can do that are ones that talk a lot and are really clubby? Or am I totally wrong about that?

And what if I don't like clubby loud talkative DJs? Would someone that is a little more toned down be better for me but not as good for my guests to get them dancing if they aren't?

bsn1752

For me - I relied heavily on word of mouth and online reviews.  Your local board is a great place to ask for recommendations, weddingwire.com is good for real reviews.  From there, I met with only one DJ because I was able to narrow it down enough, and we really clicked upon our meeting.

jessicabessica

Ask the DJ what s/he does to get people on the dancefloor and to get them to stay dancing.  Tell the DJ some things that you want to include and see if they are enthusiastic, have suggestions about how to build on your ideas, or have done it before.  I don't think you're limited to a "clubby" DJ--we almost hired a great DJ that seemed really wonderful and extroverted, but not inappropriately loud or chatty (we didn't hire him because we decided on a band instead). 

The first time we met DJs was at a wedding expo in our area.  While the expo was kind of overwhelming, we talked to 3 different DJs with very different styles, and it gave us a good idea of things we wanted and didn't want. 

If your wedding is in Boston, you probably have a lot of DJs to choose from.  Check reviews, and post on your local board for reccs.  FWIW, the DJ we liked a lot was Dan from Northeast DJs (based in Portland, ME, but I'm sure would travel to Boston). 

fallbride1109

I agree with the PP--check reviews, your local board, etc.  For me, it was about the DJ understanding how I wanted the reception to flow, the vibe I wanted, etc.  Our DJ really seemed to get that and we booked him on the spot even though he was the first one we met with.  He was a rec from my local board and had 100% positive reviews on Wedding Wire.  And he ended up being great.

DeadUtopia

We actually just booked ours today! For us, the entertainment meant a lot to us and we wanted to make sure that we got someone capable. Budget was a concern for us, but we also know from friend's weddings that you normally get what you pay for. Our DJ company has 2 dj's that do weddings, and they each have at least 10 years experience which is an important factor. You don't want a 'weekend' DJ, you want someone who has good equipment, a good musical selection, and does this sort of thing professionally, not as a hobby. Online reviews are always helpful as well as local bridal shows where you can get the chance to see their set up and meet the DJ's. As far as the "clubby" vibe, my cousing's wedding DJ was a primarily country dj who was pretty soft spoken and not loud or obnoxious at all and he kept people dancing all night long and I don't even favor country all that much. At one of my friend's weddings, she had the typical loud clubby DJ and it was completely horrible: bad music, annoying, and totally obnoxious. It just depends on the DJ themselves, make sure you meet them and that you click with their personality before you hire anyone. Also, since your in a big city, check local websites (google: Boston weddings) and you'll be able to access lots of vendors, reviews and prices; before you even need to speak to anyone you can let your fingers do some research. Good luck!!

sklink0486

Reviews from weddingwire, etc. People usually write in depth reviews of the DJ's. At least for my area. You'll get an idea of what the DJ is like before you even talk to him or her.