There are no shortage of details that a couple must contend with in planning for their wedding. Brides often have a very detailed vision for the ceremony at least, and many have envisioned the reception as well. As the ceremony already has a number foundational requirements spiritual, cultural, and legal. The reception is a completely different story. It is true that the reception is a celebration of the newly weds, but despite its purpose. A reception is at its core a party, and the main point of a party is to have fun. This being said the entertainment becomes a lot more important.
As couples are interviewing DJs many of them as the same questions. One that is often asked of me, but unfortunately is not at all effective is “Do you have a sample playlist?”. This question is ineffective for a couple of reasons. The first is that it attempts to evaluate a DJ’s potential in a way other than the way the performance will be enjoyed. Looking at a playlist will no more tell you if a party is fun that looking a picture of a cake will tell you if the cake is delicious.
The other reason the question is inadequate to the task of evaluating a potential DJ is its the wrong kind of sample. When choosing a baker to do the wedding cake, the baker sets up a “Tasting”. This allows the couple to taste the possible options to ensure that the cake will be good, and even this leaves a lot to that day. Asking a DJ for a “sample playlist” is like asking a baker to give you a list of ingredients that He/She might use if they were baking it live one stage in front of audience.
This is not to say that the DJ should not have a playlist, but it is better developed after careful consultation with the couple. Each event is unique and deserves unique individual attention. You don’t throw “sample parties”. So you deserve more than just a “sample playlist”. A better options is to ask for mixes for previous parties or online. This will let you hear how the DJ manipulates and maintains the energy of music. Just remember this may not be your personal music choices, but it will give you a glimpse into how the DJ will handle a crowd. It is also good to look at videos as you will be able to both see crowd reaction and hear the music being played.
This information should help you avoid the DJ regret. Remember ask for online mixes and/or videos to help evaluate the DJ entertainment. If you treat the reception like a party, you and your guest will be more likely to enjoy yourselves.