GUIDANCE AND ADVICE

Ensuring your event goes off without a hiccup is very important, especially as you on get one chance. The advice on this page will assist in helping you make the right choice.

How to choose the correct discotheque for you:

The DJ industry is an unregulated industry, unlike other sectors there in the entertainment is no official governing body for DJs to adhere to.
With that in mind, what steps can you take to ensure the host you pick is the right one for you and your event?
Do not fear as the team at Virsa Entertainment have created this handy guide to help you when choosing your host.

Meet the DJ

The DJ industry is full of great DJs, some who have performed at world renowned events and have even worked with the biggest and brightest in the music industry while others are just starting out their DJ career, so how can you ensure you pick the diamond from the dud?

Easy, meet the DJs!

If you can, try and arrange a consultation with them, where you can see footage of the previous events they have covered and read some of the testimonials previous clients have left them.

Music

This is one of the most important aspects of being a DJ. Before selecting your DJ, ask them the types of genres of music they have played at past events and see if they have the right music for you and your event.

A DJ is not much of a DJ without a large library of music, don’t be afraid to question the DJ on their knowledge of music, artists, songs etc. from different genres, you want to be safe in the knowledge that the DJ you pick can provide the atmosphere you have envisioned.

Customer Satisfaction

Remember you’re in charge, it’s your event and you want to make sure everything goes according to your plan. Don’t be afraid of being clear about what you want your event to look and sound like, more often than not, the DJ you pick will be grateful for it, as they know you have a clear plan you wish to execute and they can get down to making the event exactly the way you want it right away.

If you are not too sure on the vibe of your event then that should not be a problem either. Your DJ should also be forthcoming with ideas and tried and tested methods from previous events they have worked at.

Once you have selected the perfect DJ for you, they should be in constant communication with you or a wedding planner, if you are hiring a DJ for a wedding party. Either by phone, e-mail, text etc., you should feel you are being looked after by your DJ in the run up to the event.

Also if you require the DJ to speak in a certain language to help with crowd control and entertaining your guests, please ensure the DJ you pick and/or any members of their team can speak clearly and fluently in the language (s) you need.

DJ Equipment

A good DJ has a variety of equipment that can be used for an event; a great DJ sits down with you and explains the equipment that can be used to make your event an unforgettable experience.

The DJ should explain clearly and simply as possible the equipment that will be used on the day of the event and in case of any technological issues, what backup systems they have in place.

Contracts and Certifications

While the DJ industry may not be regulated, there are standards that all DJs need to uphold and certain certifications all DJs should have.

One of these is the PAT Certificate (Portable Appliance Testing) which ensures all equipment the DJ has, meet the British Safety Standards, to confirm the equipment is safe to use.

Also Public Liability insurance is imperative as this protects the DJ in case of any issues that may arise.

Another important legal requirement is Risk Assessments and Methods Statements, this is not always asked for and is dependent on the owners of the venue itself, nonetheless you should ensure the DJ you pick has this, as it shows the DJ is aware where they are and will work in a professional manner.

Also, the team at Virsa Entertainment strongly advise you that any agreement between you and DJ should be in written form, with both parties signing to show they are happy with the terms and conditions and know what to expect.

We understand that organising an event is a stressful ordeal, particularly if this is your first event but a great DJ is there to help relieve you of some of that stress.
And to make your job of digesting this guide a little easier, we have compiled a series of questions for you to consider and use a reference when selecting your DJ, in a checklist below:

Checklist:

Is the DJ available for your date?
How much experience does the DJ and their team have?
Have they covered events similar to yours in the past?
Have they performed at your chosen venue before, if not then what steps will they take to familiarise themselves with the venue?
Do they have testimonials that you can read?
Is a deposit required?
What confirmation document do you get?
Who can you stay in touch with before your event to further discuss it?
Will the DJ be in appropriate attire?
Do they have the genre of music you require?
Can they speak in the language (s) you need them to speak in?
Are they capable of controlling and engaging a crowd?
What equipment do they use?
Do they have a PAT Certificate, Public liability insurance, Risk Assessments and Methods Statements?

Conclusion

We hope that you now have a strong idea of what to keep in mind when selecting a DJ for your event and have helped make the selection process a little easier.

If you feel there is something we have not cleared up and would like more information or would like to know about the services we offer at Virsa Entertainment, please get in touch.

We will be more than happy to help!

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