Hiring a wedding DJ or wedding Disc Jockey for your wedding reception can be tricky if you've never hired professional entertainment for an event in the past. Here are a few ideas, wedding DJ do's and don'ts.

Do ask what training and experience the wedding DJ has.

Do ask how many songs the wedding DJ has in his collection and how many he usually brings to an event.

Do ask the wedding DJ for suggestions on music. Your wedding DJ should have vast music knowledge.

Do consider hiring someone who specializes in weddings.

Do get a list of the equipment they use and perhaps even ask to see it. He should use professional-grade equipment.

Do check your local Better Business Bureau for complaints. If there have been complaints, consider the nature of the complaint and how it was solved.

Do insist that the wedding DJ has liability insurance. This protects him and you. Ask to see the certificate of liability.

Do ask if the wedding DJ is familiar with the venue and has been there in the past three to six months. He should be familiar with his work space
well before the event.

Do ask how many hours (including prep time leading up to the wedding, set-up, day of the event, etc) the DJ will be working on your event.

Don't hire a friend who dabbles in disk jockeying or would like to "try it out" for your wedding just because he's a music freak.

Don't book a wedding DJ without having a written contract. A contract protects both parties.

Don't accept verbal promises. Assume that if it's not in the contract, it's not going to happen.

Don't expect the DJ to read your mind. Discuss in detail how you both envision the day unfolding.

Don't ask to attend a private event to watch the DJ work. Ask for a video of his work or get references.

Don't select your wedding DJ on price alone. Consider experience, availability, prep time, and any extras provided.

Don't choose someone you aren't comfortable with during your initial meeting. If the DJ is dismissive or harried, move on.

Don't wait until the last minute to hire a wedding DJ. Some can be booked a year in advance.

Don't try to get an unrealistic bargain. It's good to shop around, but plan on spending 8 to 12 percent of your wedding budget on entertainment.

Don't hire a wedding DJ you initially have a hard time getting a hold of. If he's not returning calls when you're thinking of hiring him, it might get worse once you've hired him.

For help finding local wedding disc jockeys or wedding djs for your wedding search at Wedding Planning Links (.com).

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