Choosing a DJ - I am clueless

buttrflyah · July 2011

Photographers stand out to me. Wedding DJs do not. The only time I actually recall the DJ from all the weddings I've been to was the one that played MULTIPLE Disney songs (eek!). Other than that, they all sound the same to me.

So how do I pick one? I don't need uplighting, just music. A friend recommended her DJ (Elite Sound Entertainment) but other than that I am not sure where to start! My only criteria are: Budget around $2k, need some spanish music to be played, NO group dances.

Any advice/recommendations?

Pharo47 · July 2011

Not sure if Elite Sound will do a wedding for $2k. They are pretty steep. I'm using Premier Entertainment in Rutherford and they seem pretty confident that they can handle my wedding which is also going to have latin music

I added in a percussionist (to add to the latin flair), uplighting, TVs etc. I'm paying more than 2k but you can get solid dj and MC package for that cost at Premier. Ralph the owner is very easy to work with.

eleven29 · July 2011

Check out Danny C Entertainment. He is amazing - our dance floor was PACKED all night by everyone young and old, I have never seen a party like the one we had at our wedding! He's under $2,000, has been in the business for like 25 years and really knows his stuff. Good luck!

peaches178 · July 2011

Do you just want them to play Spanish music or do you want them to know Spanish music? There's a big difference. Some DJs hear "We want you to play Spanish music" and they'll break out the Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, etc. but those aren't the artists that are really going to get the Latino crowd up and dancing. People will dance to it, but depending on where your Latino guests are from you're going to want what my FI calls "the good stuff." For salsa that'd be bands like Grupo Niche and El Gran Combo, for cumbia maybe you'd be looking for Lisandro Mesa and Carlos Vives, for merengue maybe Elvis Crespo or Grupo Mania... stuff like that.

Also, do you want your DJ/MC to be able to speak some Spanish?

The points above are ones that we really had to consider a lot when looking for a DJ and one of the problems we found was that so many DJs who claim to know and play Spanish music didn't really get that there are different types of Spanish music.

Just wanted to throw that all that out there as something to consider when looking for a DJ.

Also, this review site may help you get started with your search: http://nnjknottievendors.weebly.com/music---djs.html

LADY324 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_choosing-dj-am-clueless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:e0dfe5f2-daa9-420e-a3ed-d1cd914cb6cfPost:7d39ccf2-8f6c-4b3f-806c-43c821cd81de">Re: Choosing a DJ - I am clueless</a>:
[QUOTE]Check out Danny C Entertainment. He is amazing - our dance floor was PACKED all night by everyone young and old, I have never seen a party like the one we had at our wedding! He's under $2,000, has been in the business for like 25 years and really knows his stuff. Good luck!
Posted by eleven29[/QUOTE]

This is who we are using too he played at FI's cousins wedding about 9 years ago and was awesome then too!

Eleven29 I am glad to see your review did you post your wedding review yet?

banole · July 2011

I just booked my DJ last night so I am so excited. I am using Jam Studio in Rutherford and they start prices at $995.

When you look for a DJ think about what kind of party/mood you'd like to set. Do you want it elgant/Classic or wild and crazy? How much interaction do you want the MC to have in the crowd. Can you meet the DJ before the party? How many years of experience did the DJ/MC have.

Hope that helps

kristen8040 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_choosing-dj-am-clueless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:e0dfe5f2-daa9-420e-a3ed-d1cd914cb6cfPost:7d39ccf2-8f6c-4b3f-806c-43c821cd81de">Re: Choosing a DJ - I am clueless</a>:
[QUOTE]Check out Danny C Entertainment. He is amazing - our dance floor was PACKED all night by everyone young and old, I have never seen a party like the one we had at our wedding! He's under $2,000, has been in the business for like 25 years and really knows his stuff. Good luck!
Posted by eleven29[/QUOTE]

<div>BTW I saw your pictures on his FB, it looked like an awesome wedding!</div>

MCRM22011 · July 2011

Mystical Entertainment in Nutley. I cannot tell you exactly what they charge because my FI is friends with the owner so we are getting a major deal. However, they have been in business for 10 years and the owners are multi-ethnic. I know on their website it says that they speak Spanish. It would be worth looking into them.

http://partiesbyme.com/

lleatham · July 2011

We're using Elite Sound for cocktail hour and the reception and we're paying a little over 2K. I think the pricing also depends on which DJ/MC you use. Mikey B was the only DJ we met with...def got a good vibe and decided to go with him.

kasabby · July 2011

I am using DJMC Entertainment out of Belleville, NJ. They dj'd a friends wedding of mine and they did a great job. I really liked them. Not sure about the spanish music though.

RosannFell · July 2011

I used Bob Albrecht from Fantasy DJs for my wedding - he was really great at my wedding and the price was great too - definitely can make your budget!

melissa721 · July 2011

I looked at the videos of people doing their thing at different weddings. I saw how many people were dancing, the style of the DJ/MC. That's how we chose.

KH 2012 · July 2011

what month are you doing? we are using elite entertainment in eatontown- 2 DJ package for $1200. they have a website u can make ur playlist

TripleJTobe · July 2011

Elite will definitely do your wedding for 2K- you can actually get them for under that. They talk a really good game, but when we were meeting with DJ's I had gotten them down to around $1800 for DJ & MC. I was also able to negotiate big time on all the lighting I wanted. The key, as with anything, is to do your homework, get comps from competitors and play hardball. In the end we went with Gemini Productions (who were amazing!) b/c we got a better vibe and they basically gave us everything we wanted and threw in extra things for a great price. Plus they don't put a ton of glue in their hair lolol I'm sorry- I couldn't resist! lol

DoubleAS · July 2011

Elite Sound's packages start @ $2200 w/ no extras and dependant on the DJ/MC... but you can def work on that price. I am using them (JB/VinnyT) but chose a ton of lighting extras and a photobooth but they totally worked w/ me too.

eleven29 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_choosing-dj-am-clueless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:e0dfe5f2-daa9-420e-a3ed-d1cd914cb6cfPost:86038a50-3447-403b-91eb-9043e30d36ff">Re: Choosing a DJ - I am clueless</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Choosing a DJ - I am clueless : This is who we are using too he played at FI's cousins wedding about 9 years ago and was awesome then too! Eleven29 I am glad to see your review did you post your wedding review yet?
Posted by LADY324[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Nope, not yet -- I have to find time to sit down and do it ASAP! :)

</div>

eleven29 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_choosing-dj-am-clueless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:e0dfe5f2-daa9-420e-a3ed-d1cd914cb6cfPost:7665c537-7b87-41a7-8f38-0399b201a854">Re: Choosing a DJ - I am clueless</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Choosing a DJ - I am clueless : BTW I saw your pictures on his FB, it looked like an awesome wedding!
Posted by kristen8040[/QUOTE]

<div>Ahh thank you! It WAS awesome (of course everyone says that about their wedding, but he definitely helped it to become a true party!)</div>

Jessadams1 · July 2011

If you just want music and no bells and whistles elite sound is about $2500. They are great though!

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