9 Reasons Why Hiring an Amateur Wedding DJ Is a Huge Mistake
What most couples who are planning a wedding don’t know is that saving money by hiring an amateur DJ for your wedding comes with a high price tag. Before you make a decision that you regret, here are some things you need to know.
- There’s a high probability that a cheap (or free) DJ will not be in business by the time your wedding arrives.
Many low-priced DJs are not charging enough to support their own businesses for the long term; you’re just financing their hobby. Meanwhile, your wedding is 6-12 months away or more.
We’ve received those calls from desperate couples who had a “friend of a friend” DJ cancel on them last minute. It’s not pretty.
- Amateurs are less invested in their performance than a wedding professional.
The amateur DJ is doing it “for fun,” and if something goes wrong, it’s not a big deal. A wedding professional, on the other hand, risks his entire reputation and livelihood with every performance. One bad review can destroy his business and he knows it.
Would you rather have an entertainer who is 100% invested in his business and performance on your wedding day or someone who does it as a hobby?
- A wedding is a unique event that require the skills and experience of a wedding specialist for a smooth, flawless ceremony and reception.
It’s about more than just playing music. Your wedding DJ is responsible for coordinating the timeline, orchestrating the introduction and flow of events, working with your other vendors, managing the guests, reading the crowd and making sure the right song is played at just the right time.
Even a DJ who is quite experienced in the club setting will be at a loss because they simply aren’t familiar with the flow of events and how to prevent disasters when something goes awry.
Are you willing to place the outcome of your wedding in the hands of someone who doesn’t “do” weddings for a living?
- Your guests will not dance without an experienced entertainer who can read the crowd and keep the momentum going.
You have to play the right songs at the right time and in the right order to maintain dancing. Oftentimes, the mood changes and your entertainer needs to change the program to maximize the dancing along the way.
If they can’t mix from one song to another, you’ll have gaps of “dead air” or awkward rhythms that will frustrate your guests and clear the floor.
Many couples think that providing an amateur with a set list of songs they love will be enough to make a fun wedding. It’s not. You need someone with experience to work with your requests and what your guests are responding to in order to avoid an empty dance floor.
Are you willing to sacrifice the fun at your wedding to save money on a cheaper DJ?
- The MC (the guy or girl on the microphone) has a huge impact on the mood and outcome of your party, for better or worse.
An obnoxious DJ with an abrasive voice will irritate your guests and dampen the mood of the entire party. Professional DJs invest in vocal training and practice to optimize their performance.
Do you want just anyone acting as your wedding host or do you want a professional speaker you can trust?
- Your special events may not happen if you do not hire a specialist who is experienced in channeling the flow of events.
Who will direct your bridal party and guests at the ceremony? Who is going to line them up for introductions? Who is in charge of making sure the toasts, special dances and dedications go on without a hitch?
Just having the equipment and knowing how to push play doesn’t guarantee the people skills that you need for a fun, smooth reception. In most cases, your entertainer is the one who makes sure your special events are executed as you have requested.
Will you risk leaving your special events to chance or do you want to ensure that everything is done according to plan?
- An amateur doesn’t have the experience to include your unique requests in a way that truly expresses your personality AND keeps people dancing.
You cannot make your guests dance to the songs you like if they do not feel the same way. Your DJ needs to read the crowd and have the experience to build sets of music around your preferences.
An amateur DJ can play the songs you request but lacks the experience necessary to make it work.
Do you want your guests on the dance floor all night or is it acceptable to have large chunks of time with no dancing?
- An amateur DJ has inadequate or non-existent backup equipment, which means that if something fails you have no music at your wedding.
A fully functional backup system on the premises is essential to making sure you have music at your wedding no matter what. Most amateur DJs won’t have a backup plan if a speaker blows or a laptop crashes.
Are you willing to takes your chances without a backup on your wedding day?
- DJs who charge less invest less into their equipment, which means you have inferior sound and performance at your wedding.
A stereo system that sounds great in your living room doesn’t sound good in a spacious wedding venue. Professional speakers and equipment are necessary for clear sounds that has impact at low volumes, so your guests can speak at the tables even while the dance floor is thumping.
If you want your guests to actually hear your exchange of vows at the ceremony, you’ll need professional equipment and an onsite tech to make sure that happens.
Are sound issues like blasting music or impossible to understand audio acceptable on your wedding day?
If you’re not planning to have any formal events at your wedding, and you’d like a cocktail party more than a dance party, it may make sense to save money by hiring a non-professional. But if you’re investing thousands of dollars on creating the perfect day, please don’t jeopardize it by hiring someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.
Your wedding day only happens once; make sure you hire a DJ who gets it right.
Contact Otto Productions – Pittsburgh Wedding DJ now to book your wedding or event at 724-417-4567 or email frank@djotto.com. Visit our site at http://djotto.com/