I recently had the pleasure of meeting up with the brilliant DJ Mike Readings to chat a bit about being a wedding DJ and to ask him to give all you lovely couples some tips on how to choose and book your wedding DJ so that you can have the best wedding possible!
Choosing your DJ can make or break the vibe of your wedding day and I am very thankful I had a chance to sit down with Mike and have a little look at what a good wedding DJ looks like, how to book one, and what the music planning process is like.
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Here's what Mike had to say:
What makes a good wedding DJ?
A good wedding DJ has a plan, he or she is prepared, has a good system for building your playlists and is someone who has a process, making sure they have planned how they are going to serve you from the moment you book all the way to your big day.
Being relevant to the guests is also really important, making sure they are current and understand each couples needs. Taking the time to get to know them and figure out what they, as individuals, really want. You don't want a DJ that you just book and then don't hear from them until they turn up on the day!
Do different DJ’s have different styles?
Some DJ's do it as a hobby, some like myself are full-time, this can make a difference whether they focus on a particular style or are more experienced in a range of styles.
I think it's very important to ask any DJ what is their preferred style, you’ll be surprised how much you can learn from that question. Myself, I like to see myself as a Kisstory style DJ whilst I still make sure I'm accommodating for all the guests.
What particular things should couples be looking for when picking a wedding DJ?
Does the DJ offer to meet or speak to you before you book? - This is crucial! Make sure you get a chance to meet with the DJ before your wedding so that you get to have an influence on what sort of music they play. It also helps your DJ gets a feel for what sort of couple you are.
Does the DJ plan to meet you a month before to plan your evening?
Make sure they have all the necessary insurance and testing certificates.
Does the DJ harvest out their bookings to other DJs to make a profit?
A photo of your DJ.
Google and Facebook reviews - These are non-biased reviews that any of your DJ's customers have written, so these are the ones you really want to look at rather than any hand-picked reviews on their website.
Look at their website, social accounts - do they look professional? Do they look like they have much experience? Do they look well-liked?
Videos and photos of people dancing! No one wants an empty dance floor! So if a DJ doesn't have any photos or videos of busy dance floors they might not be the best option.
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How do you build your playlists? Talk us through the process.
I organise and plan my playlists with these 5 things in mind:
The first 3 seconds of a song is crucial. You want your guests to jump up and be ready to dance as soon as they hear the beginning of the song!
I have to think about and order the songs in the right keys & bpm (beats per minute - or in simple terms, how fast the songs are!)
Relevance to the guests - I think about the type of guests and the age of the guests and make sure there's music that they'll like!
Do not playlist - I make sure I have asked the couple if there are any songs that they definitely do not want to be played!
Making sure the songs have energy and are danceable.
How do you keep the dance floor packed?
I make sure I keep my head up, not always looking at the desk so I can gauge how everyone is feeling, looking for the body language of dancers as my cues.
Also, keeping the tracks relevant to the guests is a big part of making sure everyone gets involved!
What is your client experience like? Why do you think that’s important?
I make sure that people understand how important the wedding reception is. Sadly the reception can sometimes be quite low down in a couples priority list.
Normally my energy and enthusiasm converts them, but I do like to remind them that their wedding reception is the equivalent to their ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast all put together.
I also make sure that I get to know my couple and meet up with them if possible to chat through their likes/dislikes and what sort of vibe they're going for etc...
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What should a couple consider before choosing their DJ?
Are they willing to meet up before you book? Read: DJ Mike Readings Blog The importance of meeting your wedding DJ
Do they have plenty of reviews you can read/watch?
Do they have sample videos from past events?
Do you feel a connection with them?
How responsive are they in their communication?
What're their favourite genres to play?
What is unique about this DJ?
Do they have any ideas they can share?
How unique will your wedding be compared to the DJ's last wedding?
How will they orchestrate your first dance, cake cutting and grand entrance?
How will they make the end of your wedding EPIC!
Is there anything else you want them to know?
Food for thought:
Your aim should be: Guests leave your wedding reception either wishing they had done that at their wedding or they now plan to do that at their wedding!
If your guests were asked to write a review on social media about your wedding reception, what would they say?
Whereabouts are you based?
Stevenage - Hertfordshire (I cover Herts, Beds and Cams)
How can people get in contact with you?
Website - www.djmikereadings.co.uk
Insta : @dj_mike_readings
FB : DJ Mike Readings
Tel : 07515032355
Hopefully, you found this helpful! Don't hesitate to get in contact with Mike if you're interested in booking an amazing wedding DJ and don't forget that if you're looking for a fun and relaxed wedding photographer to capture your day on camera then I'm your girl!
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We wish you happy planning!
Just pop me a message here if you're interested, and as always, I'm cheering you on!
