hiring a DJ shouldn’t make you stress out

here are some facts that most people don’t think about

(commentary by Aaron Schumacher)

E-Mail the Editor: aaron@jazzitupproductions.com

****the expressions in this commentary our the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily

reflect the views of Jazz It-Up Productions, its affiliates or entertainers****

 

· DJs aren't all made from the same mold

 

Just like your favorite fast food joint to a restaurant they both can make a cheeseburger but its how they go about it that’s important to the outcome.

 

· radio DJs (are they the same as a full time mobile DJ?)

 

Some people think that the radio station DJ they usually listen to would be the best choice. This might be false. There are defiantly different conditions involved with DJs in different industries. DJs on the radio or in a club defiantly have a different view of things than a mobile DJ. Remember that on the radio or in a club the DJ has much more help at his/her disposal. They usually have computers, sampling machines and back up studios and air conditioned studios. The same DJ in the field as a mobile DJ probably wont be able to do the great job you hear on the radio. Oh and as for music selection, most radio DJs don’t pick their own music anyways, they follow what's called “traffic logs”. These traffic logs are usually put together by a secretary of the radio station or a program director, ect. Forget asking a radio DJ to “read the crowd”. Most radio DJs probably have never seen their audience. Put the same radio DJ in a live situation and you may have a disaster. You may be better off hiring the program director.

 

If you think that the DJ you hear on the radio will be the DJ at your event just because you hire the radio station DJ service, YOU ARE WRONG! Most radio stations sub their mobile work out to DJ companies such as www.radioparties.com, please research this for yourself. Its confusing to the customer but you in no way are getting the DJ you hear on the radio. You might have to pay up to a $500.00 surcharge to get the personality you hear on the way to work every morning.

 

Be smart, every company is out there to make a buck and rightfully so, its business. Some companies like ourselves do the same with integrity, professionalism and good ethics.

 

 

· club DJs (are they the same as a full time mobile DJ?)

 

Club DJs are a bit different than a mobile guy but use some of the same luxuries of the radio DJ. Club DJs have the same guaranteed advantages as the radio DJ because everything is already set-up and installed in the club they are working in. They usually also have computers at their disposal. Most spin vinyl (records) but still have many other forms of media.

 

· rave DJs (are they the same as a full time mobile DJ?)

 

The Rave DJ is probably the closest thing to the professional mobile guy because he is also mobile. That is where the comparison ends though. Not speaking generally most Rave DJs are in to lifestyles that are unbecoming to what you would want at your wedding reception. They usually always spin vinyl (records). They usually have no other forms of media other than drum machines.

 

· national companies (what is this all about?)

 

Well a national company is an office with a great interactive web site more or less. These companies reside wherever, lets say New York for my example. So you come a crossed this DJ company that you can book, pay for and a local DJ is assigned your event. Some customers are smart about this and can read between the lines to know that it is simply a big sub contracting firm but others don’t know this. DJ’s in different cities and states enroll with these companies for the hope of extra work. They are matched up with customers like a dating service for the event. I want to say that there are two companies that I know of that are reputable and make things clear to the customer that the event is being subbed out to a company local to them. This can work out just fine. My problem are the companies that tell their sub contractors they must say that they are the national company to the customer or anyone that asks at the event falsely leading them to believe that they have hired a mega DJ chain. Always check to see that your show has been subbed out or not. Depending on the contract you sign most companies will not obligate themselves to fill you in on this important information.

 

· DJs that are a friend of the family (are they the same as a full time mobile DJ?)

 

I don’t want to say to much here because I feel that it is self explanatory. I know that a lot of people are on a budget or promised uncle Ed that you would have him show up with his hi fi system and collection of polka. Home systems are completely different than professional equipment. Professional equipment is designed for the road and is built very rugged. Home equipment is not designed for the stresses of a live show. Professional amplifiers have cooling fans while most home receivers don’t have any cooling system. Oh and what about that oversized collection of uncle Ed’s polka selection. Usually the home guy wont have near the selection that a professional has.

 

· mobile (part time) DJ (are they the same as a full time mobile DJ?)

 

All mobile DJs are not the same as well. You have your full time guys and part time guys. Lets talk about part time mobile DJs. While a lot of part timers use some of the same equipment as the full timers other things are lacking. Part timers usually do this on the weekends while having a full time job. They lack in music, experience and emergency knowledge for obvious reasons, they don’t do as many shows. For the part timer this is more of a hobby. Do you usually use hobbyists for important things: landscaping the yard, building an addition rebuilding your car engine. No, so why would you want a hobbyists handling the most important day of your life. I am in no way saying that these aren't good people with great intensions but just be smart about it.

 

· mobile (full time) DJ (are they the same as a full time mobile DJ?)

 

So now we will talk about the full time mobile DJ. This is a guy that like you with your full time job puts his all in to it. Usually if someone invests in a business to make a living at they are going to be good. This person puts great expense into music, systems, system maintenance, vehicles, lighting, lighting maintenance, advertising and most importantly time for you the customer. Don’t you hate it when you call any kind of business and get a machine or the person you are trying to reach isn't available. This rarely happens with the full timer. I can tell you that for me this is my livelihood. I have invested a great deal of capitol and time into our company. I care a great deal about comprehensive services for our customers and always put my all in to every performance.

DJs Aren’t All The Same

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