Finding our DJ

It’s getting to be crunch with a little over 3 months to go!  It wouldn’t be that bad except that we only have 2 more trips planned to San Antonio before the wedding.  Ahh!!  So, our last trip we wanted to get our cake and DJ taken care of.

As I have with all the vendors, I did extensive research online before.  This included:

1. Finding San Antonio DJs
2. E-mailing them for price quotes
3. Setting up interviews with DJs you think would be best for your event

Step 1 is done for you since I have put together a list of DJs that I came across.

Step 2, e-mail all the DJs you are interested in.  You will be surprised.  Some DJs will not even e-mail you back.  They may say that they are “too busy”.  Well, do you really want someone doing your wedding that is “too busy” right now?  I know I don’t!  I want people who commit themselves to what I am hiring them for.

Step 3, our of the DJs that you had e-mail conversations with, set up appointment with the ones you are most interested in.  You will out a lot by meeting with them.  The location they choose, the presentation they give you, and how professional they are going to be.

After all the people I e-mailed, I set up interviews with 2 different DJs.  Since these are two separate people, there were personality traits that made them both unique and we liked them both (we like most vendors we meet).  The thing about your DJ though is that their personality REALLY DOES MATTER for your wedding.  We really wanted someone that would emcee our event too, not just play music.  Therefore, our DJ will be doing the presentations, announcing the cake cutting, announcing the exit, and keeping the party going!  Although with some vendors, they might not have the most charismatic personality but if they are behind the scene, such as a chef, it really doesn’t matter.  As long as you like what they provide, you book them.  Well, this is not the case with DJs.  The problem is…we liked the personality of both of the DJs!

So, what set the DJ we chose apart?

Art Martinez, with VIP Entertainment, was really well prepared. He came with a folder of papers.  Check! Thank you for being organized.  He was also willing to help out.  At one point he actually asked us what other vendors we were looking for and when we told him Video, he recommended someone and then followed up our meeting with an e-mail with the vendor’s name and contact information.  Great!  Thanks for helping out!  Not being in the entertainment business, when he was speaking of the various lighting options, it was lost on us.  So what did he do?  He showed us a video of the lighting so that we would have a better understanding.  By showing us the video, we were not only then able to discover the various lighting options he had, but also convey to him more of what we are looking for at our wedding with lighting.  Thanks for making us feel like we know what we are talking about.  

Another thing that set him apart, wasn’t discovered in the interview, but shown through communication.  I work odd hours and e-mail is by far the best form of communication.  Well, he e-mails promptly!  This is a huge thing!  I get really upset when vendors e-mail me back DAYS later saying that they were busy.  Maybe it’s because they are used to brides saying that to them all the time.  I know I am plenty guilty of not getting back to people in a timely manner all the time, but it’s not my profession to plan my wedding.  I have my career and I am very prompt at replying to my job related e-mails, because it’s my JOB!  If this is their job, then why are they not replying quickly?

These are all things to consider when looking for your DJ:

• Are they prepared?
• Do they try to make you feel comfortable?
• Do they offer to help?
• Are they professional?
• Do you like their personality?
• Will they match your event?

These are just a few, but very important things to ask yourself while interviewing your DJs.

Best of luck finding the person who will keep your party going!