Dinner was great, too! The food was hot and delicious, and the MC kept the crowd in stitches. Even though you may never want to kiss your new husband again, especially if you hear one more spoon hitting a glass, it all went well.

So then why did everyone leave so early?
And why do you have this sinking feeling that the whole thing was a flop? OK, so the DJ played two songs that you all knew and then went into a very loud session of club mixes and rap.

You were willing to overlook his torn jeans, and red and pink Mohawk haircut, but it was a bit much when he decided to take to the dance floor after his 8th beer and treat us to his own form of dancing.

Sound familiar? Even if it doesn't, it can and does happen all the time. When planning a wedding or any party where there is going to be music and dancing, the DJ is often the most overlooked item. Why? Because most people feel that the DJ is the least important aspect of the whole night. Think again.

You could have the most perfect wedding ceremony, the most beautiful church or hall, the best dinner ever, and the most entertaining MC.

But the thing that most people will remember about your wedding is the reception, because aside from your immediate relatives and best friends, that is what most people look forward to when they are invited to a wedding. The food! The party! The music and dancing!

The fact is, if the food and/or the DJ is bad, this is what most of your guests will remember.
But if these things are good, your wedding or party will be forever remembered as one of the really great times a group of people had together.

So how does it happen that the DJ is so overlooked? One word - budget. By the time money has been put out for the "must haves", such as the wedding dress, tuxedo rentals, bridal party clothes and gifts, rings, flowers, church/hall rental, limousine, decorations, photographer, hair, invitations, food, wine, and honeymoon, there's not much left over for a DJ.

And unfortunately, you usually get what you pay for.

However, there are ways to ensure that you get value for your money. It's all a matter of knowing what to look for and asking the right questions.

The first thing to do is to look in the yellow pages under "disc jockey". It is advisable to start phoning disc jockey companies that operate in the same area where you plan to hold the reception, because some companies will charge travel time. If you do not have the yellow pages for the area in which you are holding the reception, your local library will.

Pick three companies that sound suitable and call.
If you get an answering machine, leave a message and give them an hour to get back to you. If they want your business badly enough, they will phone back within that time. If not, it is better to pick another company to query.

Some disc jockeys have full-time jobs elsewhere and consider the disc jockey business a sideline. You must decide whether you want someone who is fully dedicated to the business, or someone who is only doing it as a secondary source of income.

The first question to ask is obviously price.
The disc jockey company will need to know how many people will be attending, how many hours the DJ will be needed, and the size and location of the hall/venue.

The size of the crowd is not as important as the size of the venue, because the disc jockey will be more concerned with what kind of equipment he will need for your party, and this will be based on the size of the hall/room.

For example, if your party is going to be held in a smallish-type room such as you would book at a hotel or conference centre, you would only need a basic sound system. By "basic" I mean that it has to have more "oomph" than the system that sits in most household living-rooms, but it also doesn't have to have the extra amplification that would be needed for the bigger halls.

A basic disc jockey system consists of:
two good speakers, a heavy-duty amplifier, a mixing board, at least three CD players (in case one breaks down), and a professional set of music (more on this later).

If you are having a large reception and/or a party in an older, bigger hall, you will need a bigger system. In most cases this means that you need extra amplification added to the "basic" system.

Usually all this means is a more powerful amplifier and speakers, or some kind of "booster". There should not be a big price variation between the two systems, if at all.

The important thing is to make sure the disc jockey company has a system that is powerful enough to "drive" the venue.
The bigger the space, the more powerful the system needs to be. There are some instances where even a small space will need a more powerful system.

For example, I once did a party on a small cruise ship. The crowd only numbered about 100 and the room was fairly small, so we figured on our small system. Wrong!

What wasn't taken into consideration was that the room was on a ship, so it was long (the length of the ship) and low ceilinged. I was placed at one end and had the speakers positioned to shoot out sound the whole length of the room.

The trouble was, there was a tiny dance floor in front of me, a full bar in the centre that literally split the room in half, and tables and chairs filling up every other bit of available space.

So even when I pushed the sound to full capacity, I was only barely reaching the bar in the centre (after cutting through all the tables, chairs and bodies). The result was that all the people sitting near me almost went deaf from the sound, while those seated around the bar or behind it couldn't hear the music at all.

On top of that, I risked having the system blow on me and then there wouldn't have been any music at all. It's kind of hard to call in for a back-up system when you're on a boat.

Had we been able to take a look at the venue before doing the party, we may have decided on a different system (for example, four smaller speakers mounted on stands in each corner, using the two by the DJ to control the dance floor at a louder level, while the other two could be used to play music to the rest of the crowd and entice them onto the dance floor).

There would have been a minimal extra cost for this system, but at least it would have been a successful party.

For the client, it gives you a chance to assess the professionalism of the company you are hiring, plus an opportunity to check out their music selection, equipment, and sometimes even the appearance of the DJ.

For the disc jockey company, it gives them the opportunity to assess your full equipment and musical needs. The consultation should take place at a time that is convenient to you, even if it's a Sunday afternoon or a weekday night, and at a place of your choosing.

You can ask to go to the disc jockey's place of business, which is usually their home, and this way you can fully assess the music and equipment.

Or you can arrange to have them come to your home or a coffee shop that is close to you or your place of work. In this case you can ask them to bring the music with them, which will be a book listing all the music they carry in their selection.

If the disc jockey company wants to charge for the consultation, then you're barking up the wrong tree. If they're not confident that they can do the best job for you, then the only money they're expecting to make is from the consultation. Sort of like a literary agent charging a "reading fee" for looking at your manuscript.

There are no set prices in the disc jockey business.
A reputable company will charge $450 - $900 for a basic system. The price will depend on the company's level of service, expertise, size of music library, quality of equipment, reputation, as well as any add-ons to the system (like extra speakers) and what kind of party it is.

For instance, you can expect a lower charge for a retirement party in February than a wedding in June. Like most businesses, DJ's have their slow seasons and busy times. The high seasons are May to September (weddings), Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

You can expect to pay higher during these seasons because these are the "high-demand" times. So if you were to get married in January, you would probably pay a lower price than if your wedding were in May.

Some companies offer different packages, with add-ons like lights, mirror balls, fog machines, etc. These things just make the price higher and are totally unnecessary for most events, especially weddings. They are great, however, for school dances and theme parties.

Another thing that can vary the price quoted to you is the length of the event. Depending on the season and the equipment required, as discussed above, you should get a general flat rate from most of the disc jockey companies that falls into the same price range.

This flat rate should include setting up the show at a time that is convenient to the hall/hotel, background music while the guests arrive and also during dinner, the "core" songs, dancing and music until the end of the event (a time which should be made clear on the contract), and the clearing out of equipment afterwards.

Extra costs only occur if you decide to extend the time that the DJ plays.
For example, if you have stated in the contract that the event will end at 1 a.m., that is what time the DJ will play to.

If you decide, at 1 a.m., that you want to go longer, and it is okay with the hall/hotel, then the disc jockey company has the right to charge an extra fee. Usually it's about $40-50 an hour extra, and it must be paid up front.

You should ask how much this cost is in the consultation stage.
It is usually proper etiquette to also give the DJ a cash tip for agreeing to play longer.

It is a very nice gesture to give a tip to the DJ anyway, but only if he/she has made your event everything you hoped for. Just as you would with a waitress/waiter, you're not going to tip if the service was lousy.

Once you've established what price range you're looking at, which also answers the question of what kind of equipment is required for your event, the most important thing to know is what kind of music library the disc jockey company has.

Be sure to ask about the disk jockey's music library.
Be very wary of any company that says they use a mixture of CD's and/or tapes and albums. You will not get the same quality of sound from tapes and albums that you do from CD's.

Homemade tapes have a shelf life of only 2-3 years before they start sounding fuzzy, and albums (especially ones used by DJ's) tend to become very scratched.

Ask if the DJ will be using the Power Tracks or Promo Only sets of CD's.
These are CD's that are specifically marketed to disc jockeys and offer the widest variety of music you can get anywhere. Each CD has 15-20 songs on it, with original recordings of all the hits ranging from the 1920's right through to today.

Every category is covered, whether it's country or club sounds. Even standards like the chicken dance, polkas, Christmas carols, wedding marches, etc. are included. A full set of Power Tracks, for instance, comprises over 180 discs. If the DJ is bringing this set to your event, you can be sure that he/she will be able to fill over 90% of the requests.

This doesn't mean that a DJ who has his/her own collection of CD's cannot do as good a job. Many of them can. But if so, it is important to have a look at their collection and make sure it will suit your needs.

Another thing to consider is any "special" music requests.
For example, your first waltz at your wedding may be some obscure song by an unknown artist from Greenland. No one else will know it, but you and your future husband fell in love to it.

If you don't have this piece of music in your own collection, you must arrange with the disc jockey company to get it. You must also ensure that all the other important songs (parents' dance, cake cutting song, etc.) are in the DJ's collection.

Every professional disc jockey company will have a form
(usually part of the contract) that will ask you for the specific songs you need, what kind of music you require in general, and the age group of your party. They will then use this information to match up an appropriate DJ for your event.

Another thing to consider with any music collection that isn't professional is licensing.
The Power Traks and Promo Only sets are fully licensed by the Audio Visual Licensing Authority (AVLA) and are only sold to bona fide disc jockey companies.

Homemade discs and tapes, store-bought CDs and albums, as well as MP-3 discs and burns are not licensed for commercial use. Some disc jockey businesses will get a license from the AVLA to compensate for this, but most do not.

This means that if an agent from the AVLA happens to show up at your event and the disc jockey is using unlicensed music, that AVLA agent has the right to not only confiscate the music, but to shut down the show.

It is up to you, as the client, to ask as many questions as you can about the DJ who will be playing your event.

You want to be sure your DJ is familiar with the type(s) of music you want. Thankfully, most DJ's have a wide range of music knowledge, but there are a few who are only good at specific gigs.

For example, you do not want the 20-year-old club DJ doing your father's 80th birthday party. Nor do you want the more mature DJ doing the high-school teen dance.

If you want a lot of country music played at your event, make sure you will be getting a DJ who knows country music. I have heard horror stories of events where country music was required, and the DJ played one Shania Twain disc all night because that was all he/she knew and had.

You also want to ensure that the DJ will dress appropriately for the occasion.
Showing up in jeans and a lumberman shirt for a wedding is not appropriate, and certainly not professional.

Another thing that you should discuss in your consultation is the type of venue that your event will take place at. Describe it in as much detail as possible so that the disc jockey company representative will know what type of equipment will be required.

If you can, also go into detail about how you plan to lay out the room, because this is also very important.
For example, I recently did a wedding in a large hall. They had placed me on the stage, hovering over the head table, with the speakers pointing out to all the other tables.

To the far left of the stage was a huge empty space, almost another room, that they decided would be the dance floor.

As soon as I walked in I saw that there would be a problem and I suggested to the people setting up the hall that they put the head table and other tables in the space to the left and leave the space in front of the stage for the dance floor. They said no.

So after dinner, when it came time for the first dance, everyone gathered in the room to the left. One minute into the song, I had at least four people come up to the stage to say that they couldn't hear the music.

When I turned it loud enough to reach the other room, the people who remained sitting at their tables in front of me complained that it was too loud.

After the third song, everyone promptly got together and moved all the tables and chairs into the space at the left, leaving the space in front of the stage as the dance floor.

It took about 40 minutes to do this, which seriously cut into the party. This could all have been avoided had there had been a consultation to discuss the layout of the room beforehand.

Another common mistake concerning layout is putting the DJ directly behind the head table, with a speaker at either end.
For one thing, people like to take pictures of the head table, and no one wants the DJ to be part of the shot. Also, if background music is required during dinner, this is the worst place to be playing it.

In order for the music to be loud enough for all the guests to enjoy, the DJ usually must drown out any hopes of conversation at the head table, as well as all others in close vicinity.

And because most wedding parties put their parents and grandparents closest to the head table, this is where most of the complaints will come from.

A good rule to remember is: the older the person, the softer the music.
It is also important to note that people with hearing aids are particularly sensitive to loud music and should be placed as far as possible from the speakers.

To get the maximum enjoyment from the music, it is advisable to give the disc jockey company as much information as possible about the layout of your room and then listen to their advice about where to place the DJ. You will avoid many, many problems this way.

To establish a good working relationship with your DJ, there are a few basic rules of the game.
If the DJ is providing background music before and/or during dinner, feed them! Some disc jockey companies are now putting it into the contract because it is so often overlooked.

There is nothing worse than showing up for a gig at 4:00 in the afternoon to set up, watching a crowd of people eat a wonderful dinner while you play music for them, and then listening to your own stomach growl until 2 or 3 in the morning (when most DJ's get home). A happy DJ is a fed DJ.

Eating is one thing, but drinking is another. Some people feel that the more their DJ drinks, the better the music will be. Wrong! It's fine to offer the DJ a glass of wine with dinner, but nothing more.

Having an inebriated DJ is not only inexcusable and very unprofessional; it can also be your liability.
If your DJ gets into a car and causes an accident after your event, you could be held liable, depending on the venue and the circumstances. If your DJ is drinking at your event, you should report it to the disc jockey company.

The DJ is also responsible for ensuring that he/she play the music that you and your guests request, to the best of his/her ability. At the same time, you must also respect that your DJ knows what he/she is doing and is trained to read a crowd and play accordingly to try and make the event as fun for everyone as possible.

Especially at a wedding, this means that a wide variety of music is necessary in order to please such a diverse crowd of people.
The older people will ask for waltzes and 40's and 50's standards, while the younger group will ask for current club hits and radio tunes.

In between will be the disco, rock, Latin and country requests. The thing to remember is, if your crowd is happy, you should be happy. Telling the DJ to switch to ACDC when the entire room is in the middle of doing the Macarena is just plain silly. Sure it's your night, but do you want to be the only one who thought it was fun?

On the other hand, you have a right to be mad if your DJ has been bopping behind the machine to Tupac Shakur for the last 10 minutes while your guests have been leaving en masse.

It is the DJ's responsibility to encourage requests from your guests in order to get a good idea of what kind of music they like.
A really good DJ even plays all the requests, smoothly segueing from one type of music to the other without making it glaringly obvious.

Your DJ is just that: a professional music player. They are not responsible for the lights, moving the tables and chairs, holding onto other people's drinks, or looking after your guests' children (all things that have been asked of them, believe me).

If your DJ is professional, good at what he/she does, and happy (meaning fed and treated with respect), then your event will be remembered for a long, long time after as a really good time, and all the credit will go to you.

If you don't take the precautions to get a good disc jockey company and wind up with a lousy DJ, your event won't be remembered (unless as a disaster) a year later, and only you will recall that at least the ceremony was great (if it was a wedding). Okay, so maybe your mother will remember the ceremony too.

© 2000 Linda Enos, May not be duplicated or distributed without permission.