Booking tips
 
Tips for booking your wedding, civil partnership, or corporate DJ entertainment.
 
DJs in the entertainment industry vary enormously, some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain ugly! How can you tell if you have made the right choice? What can you expect to pay? What do you get in return? How soon do you need to book a DJ?  As people rarely book DJs on a regular basis, it is important that you know what to look out for when booking a mobile disco.
 
“Brian Mole was exceptional at returning calls and texts.... Thank you for completing a fantastic day”
 
Don't forget YOU are the client, it's YOUR party, and you need to make sure you are confident in your choice of DJ. Brian Mole will always be friendly and professional with his clients, and aims to provide 100% satisfaction.  Let’s start with a few essentials you need to evaluate your potential choices:
 
 

What you should be asking any potential DJ:

 

  1. Meet the DJ

    Can we meet you to discuss our function?  Beware of any DJ who will not allow you to meet.  I always offer to visit my clients.  This is important on several fronts - first, you will want to make sure that you are 100% comfortable with me as your DJ.  Then, we can also discuss your function in full detail, and any special or extra requirements such as themed lighting, PA for speeches or video projection.  This important meeting gives me a really good idea of what kind of music you like and how you want your event to run before you need to make any commitment to hiring me as your DJ.

  2. Get it in writing

    Do you provide a written contract? Any entertainer should provide you with a written agreement including a schedule of timing, location, costs, and who the DJ on the night will be for your event.  

  3. Music selection

    Can we request music selections, will you play what we want to hear? Have you been to a party where the DJ only played what he wanted? A professional DJ should be prepared to listen to his customers’ requests to play appropriate music for their party. It is important that you and your guests enjoy the music. Your DJ should have a comprehensive, legal collection of music at his disposal. Brian Mole encourages all his clients to supply musical suggestions which he will have ready for your event. This can be done at our planning meetings, by email, or using my exclusive online planning tools where you can hear samples of music as you make your selections.

  4. Who will turn up to DJ at my party?

    Will the DJ I was expecting be the DJ who turns up at my party?  There are many agencies and multi-operator companies out there, you may find that the DJ you book for you party will not be the one who turns up.  Dancemix provides you with a written contract stating who the DJ is at your party, so there are no nasty surprises.  Once Brian Mole is booked for a party, he will not be available for other inquiries.

  5. Experienced DJ

    Do you know proper etiquette and procedure for my party? A good DJ will have many years' experience in running entertainment for weddings, and other celebrations. Dancemix will discuss all the options at your planning meetings.

  6. Reliability, trust, professionalism

    Are you reliable, can I trust you to do what you say you will? This is a crucial requirement for your party; your entertainer should be punctual, and responsible. DJ's who actively participate in DJ Associations are generally keen to improve their professionalism and learn new skills, this also provides backup resources should any problem arise.  I have a 100% track record for being punctual and reliable.

  7. How good are your tools?

    Do you use professional equipment? A professional DJ should use professional equipment that is robust, reliable, and of good quality.  I use some of the best premium equipment available to our industry made by the likes of Pioneer, Denon, Bose, Shure, Beyer and Martin.

  8. Do you use a laptop to DJ?

    I believe in using the best tools available to a DJ, and although many DJs use laptops, I would rather use a pair of professional CD turntables and a professional mixer which have been specifically designed to perform the task in hand! A laptop is for checking mail, and office work!

  9. Are you licenced?

    Brian Mole is licenced by the MCPS to play music professionally on any format. Recent legislation has resulted in a ProDub licence from the MCPS which few DJ's have taken up. If your DJ plays on anything other than original CDs, they must have a ProDub licence, or they will be breaking the law, and may be refused by your venue. This licence allows me to dub purchased music onto any media of my choice such as CDR, DVD-R, hard disk, or memory sticks, which gives me incredible flexibility in my playback methods. This can be a good measure of how professional a DJ is, and will ensure that there is no last minute hiccup as a non-licensed operator could be denied access for your party leaving you and your friends in the lurch!

  10. Backup

    Do you have any form of backup with you? Even the best professional equipment can fail, so as to minimize this, your entertainer should carry enough backup equipment to be able to continue his work.  Some mobile DJ's carry very little or no backup, others leave their backup equipment at home. At every event, I have spare equipment for everything critical with me so that ‘the show can go on’ if something goes wrong.

  11. My venue has asked for a PLI certificate

    Are you insured? Every entertainer should be able to produce a certificate of Public Liability Indemnity insurance (otherwise known as PLI) on demand. Your venue management may need to see this in advance, it is not currently a legal requirement, but there is a very strong case for being covered. Brian Mole is covered with a £10M PLI policy which can be seen on demand.

  12. Electrical Safety

    Are you safe? Every entertainer should have his equipment tested for electrical safety on a regular basis. Typically, DJ's have their equipment PAT tested every year, and they should be able to produce a PAT test certificate on demand. Again, the venue management may need to see this in advance. Your entertainer should also expect your venue to provide a safe working environment, and a safe electrical supply. Dancemix equipment is PAT tested every autumn, certificates can be examined on demand.

  13. Dress code

    Will you be suitably dressed? Your entertainer should be presentable at your party. If you are holding a formal evening party, make sure the DJ can blend in with your guests with suitable clothing - smart, casual, suit or even black tie. If your evening party is going to be themed or more relaxed, make sure you let the DJ know what you expect him to wear for the performance. Whilst setting up and dismantling his equipment, your entertainer may need to be in casual clothing, but there is no excuse for a shabbily dressed DJ. Dancemix staff are always smartly dressed.

  14. Fees

    How much for a disco?  Whilst the cost of a DJ varies between £100 and £1000 for an evening, the national average for a quality DJ is somewhere around the £400 mark.  The cheapest DJ will seldom be the best choice, and numerous sources highlight the fact that in hindsight, many clients regret having booked poor value entertainment during and after their special event. Typically I will normally invest 10 to 20 hours preparation work in addition to the few hours that I shall be performing at your special event. My fees are based on the costs of running a high quality business which consistently exceeds my client's expectations (please look at the feedback forms on this website). As an example, an evening function within an hours' drive of Horsham will cost £395. This includes me as your DJ, my discreet state of the art Bose sound system, and a stunning light show for up to about 200 guests. Why not ask me to visit you for a no obligation chat on what I can offer you for your party?

  15. Does the price include lighting?

    My fee includes your choice of lighting as well as me as your DJ, and a state of the art sound system. I can provide various types of stunning lighting from club to none!

  16. Optional services

    What other services do you offer? Dancemix can offer many other services to enhance your party, ask about hire of PA and microphones for speeches, digital projection for your presentations or photographs, club PA upgrades for those events that require the extra 'oomph', programmable coloured uplighting for marquees, lunchtime setup and supply of cocktail music and background music during the meal, and specialist DJs. Dancemix can also offer a stunning new service for 2008; have you considered an illuminated dancefloor? More details are available on request.

  17. When should we make a DJ booking?

    When should you book a DJ?  The best DJs are seldom available at short notice, so it is essential that you inquire about availability as soon as possible.

  18. Can we just hire you for cocktail music?

    Are you having an exclusive drinks party, and would you rather have some perfectly mixed background music rather than music for dancing? Brian Mole will happily play the coolest jazz or music of your choice using the best sounding and discreet Bose sound system which is also ideal for these gatherings.
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