9 AVOIDABLE MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN HIRING A LOS ANGELES WEDDING DJ

Cover Image for 9 AVOIDABLE MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN HIRING A LOS ANGELES WEDDING DJ
DJ Keelez

DJ Keelez & Associates

Your wedding day is something you’ve been dreaming about for a long time. You’ve taken special care to ensure that it is everything you’ve ever dreamed. No matter how formal, modern, rustic, bohemian, laid-back or unique your Los Angeles wedding is, it should be one of the best days of your life.

Preparing for your big day can be tedious as you want to make sure you have thoroughly examined every detail and made the right decisions for you and your future spouse. However planning your Los Angeles wedding does not have to be stressful; it can also be fun and exciting!

Choosing the right DJ for your Los Angeles wedding is as essential as all the other planning decisions you’ve made. The wedding DJ you chose will help set the tone for the entire evening. You’ve been looking forward to this day for so long that you know finding a wedding DJ that matches your style as a couple is essential to pulling off a fantastic Los Angeles wedding. Avoiding certain mistakes when hiring your Los Angeles wedding DJ will help ensure that your wedding day is everything you’ve hoped for. When selecting a Los Angeles wedding DJ, you might wonder what factors to consider, so here are nine common and costly mistakes people can easily avoid by choosing the perfect Los Angeles wedding DJ for them. 

1. Inexperience

One of the biggest and most unfortunate mistakes a couple can make is hiring an inexperienced Los Angeles wedding DJ. Experience is critical when looking for the best DJ for your wedding, and you don’t want to settle for someone who hasn’t been in the business for a long time. You need to rely on your DJ to not only show up to your wedding but also to be professional and experienced enough to know how to facilitate both your ceremony and reception.

An experienced Los Angeles wedding DJ knows how to read a crowd, how to transition into toasts and first dances, how to announce your entrance as a married couple appropriately, and when to play which types of songs. The peace of mind of having a DJ who can do all that, and more, is well worth hiring someone with a proven track record.

Hiring an amateur can be detrimental to your wedding day in many ways. From lack of professionalism to lack of knowledge about the order of events and protocol, an inexperienced DJ can put a damper on your reception. Don’t sacrifice experience when it comes to selecting the best Los Angeles wedding DJ to handle your big day.

2. Choosing the Most Affordable Option

Being conscientious about your wedding budget is an essential part of planning. Prioritizing your desires for your wedding can help establish the budget that works best for you. While some people spend the most on the dress or venue, others may focus more on food and entertainment.

You might have heard the saying, “You get what you pay for,” and that rings true for hiring Los Angeles wedding DJs. Spending as little as possible on a wedding DJ to try and reduce your costs may seem like a good idea, but it very well could end up being a decision you live to regret.

Hiring a low-cost wedding DJ can end up being a mistake for several reasons. For instance, an inexpensive wedding DJ may also be less-experienced and not as professional as others. Another drawback to a low-cost wedding DJ is the potential for equipment failure or lack of quality equipment. A less-expensive wedding DJ may not have the right equipment or as reliable equipment as one that costs a little more.

There is also a possibility that a “cheap” wedding DJ may no longer be in business by the time your wedding comes around, unlike an established, quality DJ service. It is possible that they aren’t charging enough to cover operational costs and may not be able to fund their business sufficiently for the long run. DJ Keelez and Associates have been going above and beyond for our clients for over a decade so you can have the security and peace of mind knowing that we are not going anywhere.

3. Not Finding the Perfect Match

Your Los Angeles wedding DJ will be responsible for not only keeping the reception on track for toasts, dances, and cake-cutting, but also for enticing people to have fun, dance, and participate. You’ll want to make sure your wedding DJ matches your wedding theme and tone as well as your style as a couple.

Are you looking for a wedding DJ who isn’t afraid to crack a tasteful joke or encourage people to join in dancing? Or is your ceremony and reception more formal and you’re looking for someone who will make polite announcements and follow a strict schedule? Either way, you need to feel like the Los Angeles wedding DJ you choose is happy to oblige your requests and set the proper tone for your event.

The way your wedding DJ facilitates the day can have an impact not only on your guests and whether or not they enjoy themselves, but also on you and your partner as well. The last thing you want is a wedding DJ that doesn’t fit into your special day.

Guests can quickly be put off by either a wedding DJ who is not correctly reading the crowd and being obnoxious or, on the other hand, being boring and not engaging the crowd at all. By meeting with your wedding DJ and making sure they understand what kind of event you are planning, you’ll be sure to have the wedding reception you’ve been dreaming of.

4. Not Booking Early Enough

Booking your Los Angeles wedding DJ might not be the first task on your wedding planning timeline, however, if you wait too long, you may not be able to choose the wedding DJ you want and may have to settle for one that’s available, but not as good. 

Many reputable and in-demand Los Angeles wedding DJs book events six months to a year or more in advance. Bumping this task to the top of your to-do list will help ensure that you can select the wedding DJ you were hoping for or who comes highly recommended. To ensure you have choices, start meeting with potential wedding DJs early in the wedding planning process. Then you’ll have time to compare and decide before you’re left with the less-desirable candidates.

Aside from ensuring you have a choice in wedding DJs, being able to check a big task off your to-do list will help you be able to focus on other areas of the planning process.

5. Not Checking What Equipment Will Be Provided

Are you expecting your wedding DJ to provide more than just standard DJ equipment? When booking your wedding DJ, it is vital that you understand what equipment they will bring. If you’re hoping for lighting design in addition to music, you’ll need to check with your Los Angeles wedding DJ to make sure they can meet your expectations. If they can’t, you can plan on renting additional equipment or finding a different wedding DJ that can provide what you need.

If you have your ceremony in a separate area on-site, will you need audio equipment in that area as well? Are you having live musicians perform that need amplification? Make sure that your wedding DJ can provide what you need, instead of assuming and being caught without the proper equipment. 

6. Lack of Communication

If you have any unique requests, specific songs, style of music to be played, or an idea about how you’d like your special day to flow, include your wedding DJ in these discussions in advance. Not voicing your wishes for the ceremony and reception can lead to your wedding DJ doing their own thing, which may or may not be a good thing. It also gives your wedding DJ an opportunity to acquire any special songs and prepare for your event accordingly. 

You may even want to choose a wedding DJ service that facilitates both live music and recorded music. Something like an electric violinist for your first dance, Jazz trio for dinner and then a DJ who will take over the rest of the night. 

Having an open conversation about what you would like to include and leave out is an essential step in making sure you and your wedding DJ are on the same page. By discussing your thoughts and desires, your Los Angeles wedding DJ can ensure the day goes how you’ve planned, and you won’t be left with any surprises.

7. Not Having a Solid Backup Plan

Have you considered what might happen on your big day if your wedding DJ has an emergency and can’t make it? Or what if your wedding DJ’s equipment fails during your ceremony or reception? Not finding out what the backup plan is can leave you in a stressful situation and catch you completely off guard in the middle of your wedding.

An experienced, renown wedding DJ service should have contingency plans for events such as illness or failed equipment. A backup DJ should be available in case of an emergency, and there should be failsafe equipment or solutions the DJ can use to ensure the show goes on in case of equipment malfunction.

You don’t want to worry about “what if” scenarios with your Los Angeles wedding DJ, so make sure to discuss what options are available if the worst should happen. Knowing that there is a backup plan will help you feel confident in your wedding DJ choice.

8. Not Checking Insurance

You don’t want to be held responsible for any unforeseen accident, and your professional wedding DJ should have the proper liability insurance to prevent that scenario. Accidents can happen, but with adequate coverage, your Los Angeles wedding DJ will be prepared to handle them professionally and appropriately.

Don’t assume your wedding DJ has insurance in place, or that the venue will cover any accidents related to the dance floor or equipment. Instead, work with your wedding DJ to make sure everyone is covered appropriately. Ask for proof of insurance and make sure it meets your venue’s insurance liability requirements.

9. Not Enjoying Yourself

While it is easy to get caught up in the details of planning a wedding and to start feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to remember why you are having a wedding in the first place. Hosting an event for all of your loved ones to witness you and your partner join together in true love should be fun and enjoyable, as well as memorable and unique.

Choosing your Los Angeles wedding DJ is no different; it should be a fun process. Finding a wedding DJ who matches your style and is willing to run the show the way you want can be a blast. Learning your wedding DJ’s personality and how it will shine through at your event should be a positive experience.

Listening to different songs to find just the right ones for your special dances, getting a feel for the type of music your wedding will include, and planning the announcements and special moments of the reception can be an exciting and enjoyable part of the wedding planning process — if you’re working with the right wedding DJ.

Have fun working with your Los Angeles wedding DJ to create an amazing ceremony and reception. You will find yourself looking even more forward to your big day once you’ve decided on the style, event flow, and formal dance songs.

Your wedding day is one of the most personal and memorable moments in your life. The amount of planning, work, and dreaming that goes into it will show on your big day. Decorations, centerpieces, flowers, and special moments throughout the ceremony and reception will leave a lasting impression on everyone who attends, as well as you and your significant other. 

Having the right Los Angeles DJ for your event will ensure that everyone has a good time, and the event runs smoothly. An experienced Los Angeles wedding DJ will be able to run the show with professionalism, knowledge, and attention to detail. Leaving things in your Los Angeles DJ’s very capable hands will also help you be able to relax and enjoy yourself at the special event you just put so much time into planning. 

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