Hiring the right DJ for you special occasion is important regardless of whether it's for an 18th birthday party or for you wedding
. The trouble is there are often so many DJ's playing so many different styles all boasting different things so here's a breakdown of what to look for when booking a DJ.
Price
One of the most important things when booking a DJ is obviously how much they cost. Remember that you'll often get what you pay for so don't shoot straight for the cheapest. Be sure to ask whether the DJ charges for set up and take down time and whether there will be an increased hourly rate if the event ends up running past midnight.
Legal
There are two main legal advisories for DJ's PAT tested equipment and Public Liability Insurance (PLI). PAT testing is a requirement by many professional venues as it means that the equipment the DJ brings to the venue is proven to be safe and pass electrical standards testing. PLI on the other hand is to ensure that if anything goes wrong such as an attendee is electrocuted or trips over a cable and becomes majorly injured then the DJ doesn't have to pay for the medical expenses out of his pocket. Both of these are advised.
Style
You might think that all DJ's are suitable for all parties they might advertise this, but remember that they're biased and probably want as much work as they can get. The truth Is they're unlikely to be good at all styles. My advice is to try and book a DJ of a similar age to the person the party is for (ie. Don't book a 45 year old DJ for your 18 year old daughter's party!) It is especially important when hiring a wedding DJ to ensure that the DJ company are experienced in performing at weddings and have a large variety of backups to ensure nothing can spoil your special day.