Want to hone your DJ skills?
Or maybe show them off?
Wedding DJs are in high demand these days.
Looking for more tips? Check out these 10 things you should know before youstart a business.
A wedding DJ is the focal point of great wedding receptions.
They set the mood, engage with the crowd and keep the couple happy.
They make good money, too.
But it takes a lot of hard work and planning to DJ a wedding.
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His first set of speakers and audio equipment came from a bar that was going out of business.
Sixteen years later, Smiths business has booked over 200 weddings.
Its a great gig if you love people and music, he said.
Did you know?
you could Get Paid Up to $140/Month Just for Sharing Your Honest Opinion
1.
If youre new to DJing in general, its a good idea to shadow a professional wedding DJ.
Search Google, Yelp or the Knot to find some in your area.
On the day of the wedding, show up early and stay for the entire event.
Observe how the wedding DJ interacts with the crowd and the key in of music they play.
Hone Your Skills
Practice makes perfect.
you’re gonna wanna be comfortable behind the booth before youre ready to book gigs.
Play for family and friends first.
Online classes are another way to grow your knowledge base.
Practice playing songs, using a microphone and flowing from one song to another.
Still, a good starting rate for a novice wedding DJ is roughly $500.
it’s possible for you to raise your rates as you gain more experience.
Additional services can really help add value, Smith said.
Consider add-ons that earn you extra money with minimal effort.
Unless you have someone else helping you, you want to keep things simple, he said.
Buy Your DJ Gear
A big hurdle for many new DJs is acquiring equipment.
It can cost a couple thousand dollars to purchase all your DJ gear.
Wedding DJ gear checklist:
On a budget?
Smith recommends looking for deals on sites like eBay and Craigslist.
Check out sales at your local music store, too.
You could even borrow equipment from a friend or neighborhood church for your first couple gigs.
Youll also need to be comfortable setting up and tearing down your own DJ equipment.
Buying music is important if you want to run a successful wedding DJ business.
Professionals caution against using streaming services like Spotify or YouTube.
It isnt technically legal and you shouldnt rely on anything that requires Internet access anyway.
Market Yourself
You have the gear.
You have a plan.
Now its time to get some customers.
Youll need to create a DJ website and social media accounts to attract potential customers.
Look at websites for other wedding DJ businesses to get ideas.
Word of mouth is huge in the wedding business, Smith said.
Its about who you know and who knowsyou.
Recommendations are everything, Smith emphasized.
Give discounts for referrals.
Youll want to create some business cards and maybe some flyers, too.
Leave a space in your budget for marketing costs.
Perhaps more importantly, get a list of songs theydontwant played.
The Chicken Dance, for instance.
Youll also want to create contracts you could customize for each couple.
Your business contract should cover things like cancellation fees and damaged equipment policies.
ensure to discuss these policies with clients during the initial consultation.
Finally, prepare to spend several hours communicating back and forth with the couple before the wedding.
Smith said he usually spends about 10 hours total preparing for the big day.
Dont slide your original deep house remix into the wedding playlist.
Remember, focus on the bride and groom not your personal taste in music.
Play music to match the festivities.
Break your songs into different blocks for the ceremony, cocktail hour, introductions, dinner and dance floor.
you could flex more creativity and play new music for the dance floor.
But remember: Youre playing for a diverse audience.
Dont be afraid to bust out crowd favorites like Dont Stop Believin and Livin On A Prayer.
People are at a wedding to have a good time, Smith said.
Your job is to play the right music and create a fun atmosphere for everyone.
Be On Time and Professional
You cant be late to the party when youre the DJ.
Get there early, set up on time and prepare for a late night.
Before the wedding, write out a script of everything you plan to say.
You dont want to butcher the best mans last name on stage.
double-check to bring backup chargers, cables and other necessary gear.
Things go wrong, break and run out of battery.
Dont let something unexpected (but easily preventable) ruin your wedding gig.
Be friendly, energetic and dont forget to smile!
Youll need to communicate with other vendors at the wedding, too.
Be observant, flexible and keep the party going.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
