Are your weddings coming up? Are you far along in your planning stages but not so far that you still find yourself ironing out the occasional detail? I’ll say this now, and you probably won’t believe me. But this period, happening right here right now? This is one of the most extraordinary periods in a person’s life. The space between planning your wedding and getting to live it may seem not easy now, but please believe me when I say. You will look back on this time and cherish every second of it. At no other point in one’s life is one so confronted by the immensity of their existence and what they mean to the greater social fabric of their community when a person decides to share their life with someone. It’s only at this transitional moment that you begin to realize. Not only are your loved ones important to you, but how important you are to your loved ones. We are social beings, and we must respect that by letting our loved ones know how much of an impact they’ve had on our lives. A general philosophy that I keep close to my heart is. “If you love someone, give them a hug and tell them!”
Now I know what you’re thinking. Ok, that’s all sweet and sentimental, but how does this apply to my wedding? Well, I’ll tell you! Giving back can take many forms, and one way to show the guests at your wedding how much they mean to you is to have a fantastic reception! As we all know, a great wedding reception needs an excellent wedding dj. But what qualities coalesce to make that DJ amazing? Well, strap yourself in because I’ve ventured to find the answer by creating this ultimate guide on some of the most important aspects to consider in your search for the perfect DJ!
Sometimes the power of a performer is unquantifiable. It’s just a feeling you get. A vibration they give off that you and their audience tune into. They’re the kind of people when they walk into a room. You take notice.
Whether we explicitly recognize it or not, we are highly tuned to a treasure trove of tacit signs and signals between each other. Maybe it’s a stern and straightforward look that says, “Don’t mess with me.” Perhaps it’s a warmth and a smile that is simply infectious. However you slice it, there’s a universe of meaning rippling right under the surface. Now to you and I, that language might be something abstract. Something that we may not fully understand or only have a passing familiarity with. But for an artist? An artist is fluent in this language! They masterfully employ this lovely lexicon to convey messages that affect us to the core of our being. Now, as we probe our subject deeper, for some of us, another question may arise. “Yes, this is all well and good; art is one of the most powerful forces in existence, but what does this have to do with finding a wedding DJ?” Well, my response is simple. Everything! You see, a DJ is an artist of the highest caliber. A DJ keeps themselves entirely in tune with their audience so that they can meet the emotional needs of the dancefloor and keep the party going. Finding someone who has the heart and skill to attain this is no easy task, and in an interview, you can’t exactly ask that they throw down on the spot. So we’re confronted with yet another question. What are some telltale signs that an entertainer is exactly who they say they are?
Well, that can be a bit of a thorny subject. Still, one easy trick is that when you’re interviewing a potential candidate, pay special attention to their body language and the little details in how they conduct themselves. For example, when they entered the room, they flashed a smile? Do they stand up straight and look you dead in the eyes as you converse? If so, these are all great signs that this is a professional who has done this before.
When you’re interviewing someone for the express purpose of performing in front of hundreds of people, there is a vast pool of people that just so happens to include your closest friends and family. It’s usually a bad sign if they already seem anxious. While a certain level of nervousness is normal during an interview, the simple reality of the situation remains if a person can’t be captivating when it’s just you and them one-on-one. Why would you expect them to be compelling when it’s 100 on one? That seems like you’re setting yourself up for a disaster! That’s why I always advise any interviewer in a situation like this to pay special attention to the applicant’s body language and confidence level. When you’re an entertainer, you’re well aware that you need to put your best foot forward in an audition. And if your applicant isn’t trying their hardest, it’s time to move on. On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, if you find yourself interviewing someone who lights up the room, can make you laugh, and holds a magnetic personality? Well, I’d say make them the front runner in your search because some people have it, and I’ll bet dollars to donuts that if someone is making you laugh even after seeing ten other applicants previously, then chances are they might have it.
As we’ve stated previously, it’s not an option in these situations to have an actual audition. I.e., no one will get up and DJ for you for free for an hour. But don’t worry because there’s a solution! If this is genuinely trying to make it as a DJ, someone who spends countless hours pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into their craft. Then it’s highly likely that they have a Mixcloud! Mixcloud is a fantastic platform that DJs can promote themselves and share their mixes with the world! This is probably the most effective way to confirm your applicant’s skill level. Asking for a link to someone’s work has the additional benefit of being an excellent way to weed out some of the chafe from your list of applicants. If someone is claiming to be a professional in their field but has almost no online presence in this day and age? That is a huge red flag! Don’t even allow those people to waste your time. If you have an applicant that shows consistent growth and interest in their career and another who can’t even be bothered to spend 15 minutes making an account on a website? I don’t mean to be rude, but I know who I’m choosing!
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