Arm Yourself With Education: Questions To Ask Your DJ | D'Amico Entertainment

Today, it seems, that more and more DJ’s are popping up everywhere. Wherever you turn, someone who just got their laptop yesterday are calling themselves DJ “Fillintheblank” or “Whatshisname” Studios and that should scare you. It scares me. Not just for the state of my business, but for the poor people who turn the reigns of one of the most important events in their life… to a novice. 

Anyone can look great on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or have an amazing website -- it’s all laid out there for you. Anyone can afford the gear. It actually takes the work out of it for you. Most of all, anyone can do it cheaper. What you can’t put a price tag on however is doing it right. Nobody wants to do the legwork to make sure that what is essentially the cornerstone of your event is the best value for your dollar. What I hope to do is give you my 30 years of professional entertainment experience and arm you with the right information and questions to ask besides “How much?”

Here are some questions I’ve created to ask your entertainer that may take them aback -- and their answers may surprise you.

1. Were you DJing before 2004?  Why Ask: The advent of the laptop made it easier for everyone to be a DJ. It took off in 2004.
2. Can we see you perform live?  Why Ask: Anyone can get lucky and show you a video of their greatest hits. I know we put our money where our mouth is live at showcases at least a dozen times a year.
3. Ask about their music knowledge. Why Ask: If you need 50’s/60’s or Motown music and they come back with only 3 suggestions and get stuck, they may not know how to entertain an older crowd.
4. Have you played our venue before? Why Ask: Being a long standing professional, we’ve played all of the top venues here in NJ and the tri-state area. Odds are we will know your room, how they run their format, how to set up in the room and maybe even who the maitre’d is for your event. All of this adds up to the immediate success of your affair.
5. Is this your full time job? Why Ask: If this is how they make their living and they’ve been doing it a long time, its a safe bet that they are good at what they do.
6. How Much? Make this the last question. Why? Because the most important part about your entertainer is their personality…thats what makes your guests feel comfortable.. thats why people enjoy themselves at events across the country…you cant get to know whether or not the entertainer will be successful without getting to know them beyond asking “How Much?” Then…when all the criteria I’ve listed above sounds and feels right, the price will work itself out for you too.

Lastly, this part is for you the consumer. If you do your homework, and give your entertainer the information they need to make your affair a success…..show up…relax…enjoy your party… that’s all… we will take it from there.

- Chris D'Amico, Owner, D'Amico Entertainment

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