I thought I would take a few minutes to say 'Hello' and to introduce myself on this forum.
My name is Scott, I live in Tamworth, Staffordshire and I own/run a full-time, Mobile Disco called SJS Discos / Wedding Disco Tamworth, with which I cover most of the East and West Midlands. I have been DJ'ing for quite a few years and 80%+ of my work is Wedding Receptions.
As well as my passion for DJ'ing, I am a Radio Presenter on a Community Radio Station in Tamworth and I also enjoy flying aeroplanes and I gained my Private Pilot's Licence in October 2009....anyways...
I am here to help you/give advice to you regarding DJ's and what to look for and what to look out for when booking one for your big day!
If you have any questions at all about anything DJ related, please:
Leave any questions you may have regarding DJs in here.
Hi Scott and welcome to this amazing site. Right i'll start the questions for you :-) Ive not booked my dj yet so apart from the things J mentioned earlier (insurance, back up equpiment, what to do if they dont turn up etc) what should i be looking for/asking when booking my dj?
UKBride moderator both on here and on facebook
For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart
It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.
If they use MP3's as their main music source, do they have a ProDub Licence, if required as per the rules of the Performing Right Society?
Do they offer a Pre-Event/Booking Meeting with you? If so, do they charge for this? - Some brides like to meet the DJ before they decide to book them.
Are they charging the right price? - e.g. If you send out 5 enquiries and get 4 back at between £200 - £300 and 1 back at £80, wouldn't you be a bit curious as to why they are charging such a low amount when the other DJ's are quoting you quite a bit more?
Will the DJ let you choose the music? If so, how much will they let you choose?
Will they send you booking forms, Terms & Conditions to sign and return along with a deposit to secure the booking?
Is there an extra charge if the DJ has to carry his equipment up stairs?
Does the DJ charge for an early set-up? - e.g. If your DJ has to set-up a while before your evening meal, then start the disco afterwards, will he/she charge you for the time that they are there 'Sat around'?
Ask to have a look at some recent customer Testimonials, if there aren't any displayed on the DJ's website. Also try and have a look at their pictures/videos if they have any - If people are dancing, it means they are enjoying themselves!
If you have a fairly healthy budget, you could always ask whether they offer LED Uplighting, Dance Floor Hire, Starcloth Hire etc...just to give your special day that extra WOW! factor.
I hope this has helped in some way.
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
Hi Scott
Our DJ is included in the venue. I'm a bit worried about it because the music for the evening is quite important to me, and I'm not sure what the 'norm' is for how much say you get in the playlist. How would you suggest approaching a resident DJ about this? Also (silly question) do you normally provide the first dance song if it's a bit unusual, or would they source that?
iv been lucky with ours hes basically told us hel play anything we want played,so wev ranged it from 80's to present day,then the kids have named a few songs and theres our first dance
CommentAuthorauntiewoo
Hi Scott! How do you do the hustle? Sorry-I really tried not to do that-just being facetious-the temptation was overpowering! Sorry :( xxx
Firstly, approaching the Resident DJ - I would ask the DJ (If possible) if you can arrange a meet with him to discuss your music choices, if you can't ask him directly, I would ask the hotel if they can contact him to help you organise this. As for how much of the music you can request depends on the DJ, some will let you request as much as you like and others will try and limit you.
Secondly, your first Dance. If you inform the DJ of your choice in plenty of time before your Wedding, then there should not be too much of an issue in obtaining the track. However, if the DJ doesn't have it and you have it on Original CD then, as a last resort, that could be an option. In the past I have had to pay £7.00 for a whole MP3 album, as the track wasn't available for single download....Luckily it was the Michael Buble Album! :D
Hi Auntiewoo,
I would never be able to teach you 'The Hustle' as I have two left feet and that is why I am a DJ and not a Dancer haha ;-) :D
However, this could help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustle_(dance) or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-FhczpCZ84
Enjoy! :P :D
I hope this has helped you both ;-)
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthor[SFc] Blaze
edited
Hi Scott
H2B and I have decided to invest in our own gear, We have purchased laser, smoke machine, t-bars, 4 x led par 64 and several others including moonbeam thingys (excuse i personally haven't a clue) . Would we need insurance as the venue haven't mentioned this to us. They know we are having a band and that we plan to do our own disco. H2B seems to think the venue would have liability cover included in our agreed price. Also H2B asks if we would need to have everything PAT tested. All lighting and band will be on a stage up out of the way of the guests.
I would definitely get Public Liability Insurance, just in case anything should happen - you don't want to be going to court because one of your lights fell on a guest and you have no insurance to deal with it! Also, I would recommend using safety chains as an added precaution, something like these will do the job:
I would think that the insurance policy the venue has is to cover them in case of an accident/incident, but you wouldn't be.
PAT Testing is not a legal requirement, however it is a very good idea to get it done. It doesn't cost too much and both you and the venue will know everything is electrically safe and will have a certificate to prove it. I pay about £65 annually to get about 100 items tested.
EDIT: Having just checked my testers current prices, I believe I actually paid £95 (After Discount) not £65...Sorry!
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorFaye
Hi Scott....
I havent even looked into a DJ yet as my wedding isnt until May 2012... are you able to send me a private message and discuss anything, as I presume you cover Birmingham!? xx
Just to let you know you can't leave PM's as you don't have all of the benefits of a bride member (technically you are a Supplier Member). This is done so Suppliers cant harass brides.
Raquel search for SJS Discos and email him, Scott can then reply to you!
Thats avery good rate for PAT Testing - can you PM me where your testers details
CommentAuthorx~Hails~x
edited
hi scott silly question. Ive been looking into wedding insurance from different company's and was wondering if the liabilty bit on there would that cover the disco or will i have to get a seperate one?
Oh and thanks for the tips above :-) all written down ready to ask when i find a dj.
UKBride moderator both on here and on facebook
For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart
It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.
If you're going to book a DJ, then any reputable company will have already have Public Liability Insurance, so you won't need to worry about covering the DJ.
I have just looked at a few Wedding Insurance policies and if, like Blaze, you are thinking of doing the disco yourself, you shouldn't need an extra P.L.I policy as most of the Wedding Insurance's cover "Your Legal Responsibilities." So, for example, you put a lighting bar on stage and it fell and injured someone, you should be covered by your insurance as it was you who put it there.
However, before making any final decisions, I would contact some insurance companies and ask them exactly what/who the insurance covers and who/what it doesn't cover.
Hope to have helped!
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorUKBride (Boss Man)
Bumping, please ask Scott any questions you may have about your wedding disco, thoughts, ideas or concerns!
Yes I do cover Coventry. Unfortunately, I don't think I am able to post anything to your wall as I am on here as a Expert/Supplier and so can't access your profile or send you PM's.
You should be able to find me if you search SJS Discos in the 'Suppliers' menu.
The biggest worry I have about the Disco is volume. Will we be able to tell the DJ to turn it down if we feel its too loud? Some of my relatives had to leave my cousins wedding due to over loud music.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
Absolutely! If it is too loud, just ask the DJ to turn it down. If he/she seems a bit hesitant, stand near them until he/she does!
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorMrs (Dove) Pidgeon
Thanks. I really want my parents and aunts/uncles to be able to enjoy themselves.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
CommentAuthorSolitaireEntertainme
I think also when you book your DJ it is worth mentioning your concerns to them too. Most professionals will be aware that there are older people and people who want to talk and not be blasted out by the volume and will use the volume accordingly. Sometimes it is difficult to judge when you are behind the speakers though, so a little word with your DJ should do the trick.
Our venue comes with a resident DJ (£320!!!!) if we want our own DJ we have to pay the venue another £150 (on top of dj fee's) for the privilege...my question is....can we ask our venue for a "sample" or "see resident DJ in action" before we commit ourselves to this, and what should their response be?
There is no reason why you shouldn't ask your venue to see the DJ in action. If you get the 'thumbs up' great, but if they say no, then you should ask why. However, if the venue agree to it but whoever's party it is says no, then the venue should respect their decision. I have had a couple of people come to see me working in the past, but I have always asked permission from the clients.
If you are unable to see the resident DJ in action, ask him/her (if possible) if he/she has any pictures/videos of them in action so you can get an idea of what he/she is like.
Charging £150 for not using the resident DJ is outrageous IMO, although it seems more and more venues are starting to do this unfortunately.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorxx MrsM2b xx
It does help Scott, thank you....Will keep you posted as I will probably have soooo many more questions for you! :D
Does a resident DJ do what you ask of them - ie: play what you want or what your guests request - just as if you were hiring any other DJ....or are they a law unto themselves...I am just worried that he will play c r a p that no one will dance too or enjoy! :-/
And my "gut" tells me that the resident DJ is the venue owner and I dont know why!!!....if this is the case, surely we have paid for the venue, so he should come free?????
CommentAuthorEriksfjord
Hi Scott. I wanted to put request cards on the tables for my guests - is this a nightmare for the DJ?
The resident DJ should be like any other professional DJ, so I don't see any reason why he shouldn't accept requests and play what you want. Most DJ's ask for requests as a guide to work from, but usually ask that the playing order is left to them, as getting people on the dance floor enjoying themselves is their job!
As for the DJ possibly being the owner and providing the disco free; the venue and the entertainment will more-than-likely be treated separately, so even though you are booking the venue, you will still have to pay for the DJ independently, even if he turns out to be the venue owner.
Hi Eriksfjord,
That is a great idea and something I do myself if the client agrees. On mine I have: Artist, Song Title, Requested By, Message.
Previous post updated with the information, as promised.
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorxx MrsM2b xx
What a swizz.....lol......thanx 4 the advice Scott :D x
CommentAuthoryvonne
hi scott... we are having the venue's resident DJ as it is included in the package. the hotel wedding co-ordinator said they would play our kind of music and not what they want. but could we malke a list of all the songs we want played, like loads..or would he just want an idea of what type of stuff we like? xx
Try and see if you can speak to your DJ and ask him how many requests you can submit. Failing that, I would make a list of "Must Play's" and maybe "Play if possible's" plus "Do not play's", however bear in mind that the average song is about 3:30mins so the DJ will only be able to play around 15 - 20 songs per hour, so for a 5 hour disco you will need about 100 songs. - On the disco forum I am a member of, there are frequent posts about brides giving DJ's a list of about 200+ songs!!! :D
Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I would let the DJ choose which order to play the music and also add in songs that will keep the dance floor going, after all that's what they're there to do!
Not sure if this question is allowed but wanted to ask what you think is a reasonable price for a DJ? I know many charge for set up/clear up and a minimum of 3 to 4 hours and then an extra charge per hour but would like to know the sort of prices we should pay for a good DJ?
Unfortunately, I don't cover Shropshire as I live in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
HI Kimi,
Depending on what level of service and experience the DJ/Disco offer then you can expect to pay around £275 - £500. I get asked quite a lot why DJ's charge so much for 'button pressing'...here's a few examples (Reputable DJ's Only):
1.) When you request songs, the DJ has to purchase any songs they don't have and also has to purchase new songs to keep their library up-to-date.
2.) Every year the DJ has to re-new their Public Liability Insurance, get their equipment Portable Appliance Tested and also have to buy a ProDub Licence (If needed) All these costs soon mount up.
3.) Overheads - Many DJ's are full-time and their business is their main income. However, as well as earnings their are costs, such as buying music, P.L.I, P.A.T and ProDub as mentioned above, but then there are also other expenses such as buying/repairing new equipment and other costs related to running a business.
4.) The DJ's time. If, for example, you book a DJ for your reception to play for 5 hours, the DJ will in fact be on-site for around 7.5 hours as they have to set-up, do the disco, take-down. As well as this, there is a lot of thought and effort that goes in to the event whilst the DJ is at home, such as sending out booking forms/contacts, looking through your requests and making a 'rough' playlist so they have a good idea what to play at your reception, taking the time to meet you, if they offer a pre-event meetings and also making sure the equipment is in perfect working order. All of this adds up and I know of many DJ's, including myself, who put about 10-15 hours work in to the disco, if not more, and that's before actually doing the disco on the night itself.
In the end, the DJ has to cover his expenses otherwise there would be no point in them taking on a job, as it would cost them more money to do it than they would get for it.
I advise that you contact quite a few companies, when you come to book a DJ and be weary if you get a quote back for less than about £200, as too me that would seem like the DJ has little or no expenses, which would set alarm bells ringing for me.
If you have any questions or concerns about anything DJ related for your Wedding Reception, then feel free to ask.
Regards,
Scott.
CommentAuthorDrunchPunk
Hey, I've had a quote for a wedding DJ, and it's £350, seems like an absolute rip-off to me!
But I met this bloke in a pub, he reckons he'll do it for about £60, seems like a bargain! He's going to send me through his insurance details and stuff, but his fax is broken at the moment.
You may think this is a bit biased towards higher priced DJ's, and you might be right, but I don't like the industry I choose to work in being dragged down by people who are more dodgy than Del boy Trotter and call themselves a Professional Wedding DJ. Anyway:
Considering us Professional DJ's have to buy RELIABLE equipment, buy Music, ProDub Licences (Possibly), Public Liability Insurance and have our equipment Portable Appliance Tested annually, as well as covering fuel costs plus other DJ'ing related expenses and actually earn a bit of money, I can't see how a DJ can work for £60!
I'll use myself as an example:
Most of my work is £350 if not more, depending on what the Bride & Groom require. After my expenses (Only DJ'ing related) are taken away (see above) which can be as much as 1/3 of that sum. - It's not just a case of turning up and DJ'ing for however many hours, I usually do around 15 - 20 hours of preparation at home for each Wedding.
So, say after expenses I earn £250 ÷ (20 hours + 5 DJ'ing) = £10.00 per hour .....It's not a lot once you think break it down and that is what I have to live off. Would you do all that work to live off that?
In the DJ'ing industry, people that charge ridiculously low amounts are referred to as "60 quid Sid" Here's good website, designed by a fellow DJ, who I know quite well, that will get you an insight what you can USUALLY expect from them: www.cheapdisco.com
...On the other hand he may be a good DJ and you might have a great night.....but what if he doesn't turn up? Or a piece of his equipment breaks? - Does he carry back-up equipment? Is he registered as a business with HMRC and does he pay tax?
Have you seen any pictures of his set-up?
One piece of advice, don't 'cheap out' on Wedding Entertainment, whether it's a DJ or a band, as there was a survey released a while ago that showed that a large number of Bride's wished they had spent more money and booked a different DJ/band for their Wedding as they can make or break the final part of the big day!
![[SFc] Blaze](http://www.ukbride.co.uk/images/%24scgV8604lDZrEKZApkdvgPjQ/normal/32x32/sarah-bennitt.jpeg)
