This blog article was originally written for Nick Phillips Productions in Sparks, NV.

Choosing your wedding entertainment is one of the best ways to ensure your guests have a blast at the celebration. Additionally, choosing the right form of entertainment can help you add flair and personal pazazz to the ceremony and reception. After all, your wedding is a party. Do it right! Naturally, you’ll want to make your wedding a kick-ass event for the record books. Hiring a wedding DJ to go along with your staging and lighting is a surefire way to get people moving and grooving.

Why Hire a Wedding DJ?

Making announcements, packing the dancefloor, and setting the overall mood of the event are just some of the reasons to hire a seasoned wedding DJ. Everybody loves a wedding DJ, and for good reason! Unlike live bands, your wedding DJ can play familiar songs that you and your guests love. This is especially true for EDM DJs who can fade in new music to the beat and keep the party bumping. Additionally, a wedding DJ can eliminate dull or awkward moments of silence that often occur while bands rotate between songs.

The DJ you hire will depend in great part on what kind of music you and your guests want to hear. If you’re looking for your wedding reception to turn into a dance party, that’s where the EDM DJs come in. On the other hand, the professional wedding DJs at Nick Phillips Productions will also customize playlists for you. You’re in control and get to design your night however you like! What could be better than that?

Hiring the Right Wedding DJ

At Nick Phillips Productions, we always recommend our clients take the time to research their wedding DJs. After all, making a poor or rushed decision could result in a lackluster or disappointing event. And who wants that?

Some inexperienced wedding DJs may come ill-prepared with small music libraries, poor quality sound equipment, or worst of all, a bad attitude. And let’s be honest here. Your DJ can make or break the event. It’s always best to take your time, plan ahead, and do your research. Don’t make your choice without doing your due diligence.

Feeling overwhelmed yet? Not to worry! Here are some helpful tips and questions to ask your potential DJ. Hopefully, these will help you find the right wedding DJ for your event.

1. Know What You’re Looking For

First of all, you’ll need to figure out what type of vibe you’re going for. Most of our clients prefer an eclectic mix of familiar songs and styles. Often times, wedding guests range from young to old. Therefore, it can sometimes be best to shoot to be an audience pleaser and throw a little something in there for everyone. However, not all weddings are created equal. If you’re looking to have a more club-like vibe, go with an EDM DJ. At Nick Phillips Productions, we offer both options.

A seasoned wedding DJ knows the ins and outs of wedding ceremonies and receptions. They should also be able to serve as your host or emcee to make announcements. Ultimately, the wedding DJ you choose should be ready, willing, and able to make your event special. They should be committed to providing you with the musical styles and vibe you’re going for.

2. Ask to Hear Samples of Your Wedding DJ’s Work

Once you’ve found a wedding DJ that seems right for your special day, ask to see examples of their work. This could be a video of a live performance, a mixtape, or sample playlists.

3. Ask to See the DJ Perform Live

While this may not always be possible, it’s worth asking. Many DJs perform at weddings, clubs, and special events. If you can catch them playing a set, this can help you decide if this DJ will be right for your wedding.

4. Give Your Wedding DJ a Playlist and a “Do Not Play” List

If you’re already set on a playlist, discuss it with your wedding DJ. Most importantly, make sure they’re willing to follow it. After all, it’s your special day and you’re paying them. You deserve to get the service you paid for.

Additionally, you may also want to create a “do not play” list. Share it with your wedding DJ in advance and explain to them your reasoning. This will help them to better understand your expectations, preferences, and will help avoid any unpleasant surprises.

5. Pumping Up the Crowd

If you want your DJ to be really involved in making your reception fun, make sure to ask about how they will engage with your guests. Some important questions to ask include:

  • How will you encourage people to dance if they seem reluctant? 
  • Will you accept requests from our guests?
  • Can you play songs of a certain or specific genre?
  • Do you need WiFi access?
  • Do you have a microphone?
  • Are you able to make announcements?

6. Handling the Event Space

Some wedding DJs will be playing on basic setups and in basic venues. This is usually the case. However, the larger and more complicated your event, the more complicated things become for your entertainment. Outside venues can prove to be more difficult than ones inside. You may need to plan to have extension cords, power outlets, and a generator. This will also affect how speakers sound.

If you’ll be hiring a sound production company like Nick Phillips Productions to run your staging, sound, and lighting, it’s best to properly map out the venue. This will ensure you have the correct space, that your acoustics will sound good, and that your guests will have a safe environment to enjoy the event.

You can also ask for your DJ and/or production company to come scope out your venue. Any reputable person will be willing to do so, especially if we’re talking about larger events. Bottom line, if they don’t want to check out your venue, cross them off your list!

7. Find Out What You’re Paying For

On the day of the wedding, someone needs to set up the sound system and lighting. You’ll need to plan for both setup and teardown of this equipment. Additionally, you’ll need to give the name of the person to the venue coordinator and arrange a time that works for everyone.

You should find out how many hours your wedding DJ will be including for live music. Four to six hours is common for live performances. However, most DJs will happily play for an extended period of time, should that be desired. Additionally, it’s always nice to plan for a quick break or two depending on the length of your DJ’s set and time at the event. If your wedding DJ is being provided by a sound company like Nick Phillips Productions, this will include the setup and teardown process as well.

You may also want to consider providing food and drinks for your wedding DJ and/or sound and lighting team. After all, everyone is happier and more lively when they’ve had a tasty meal and a delicious assortment of libations. Understandably, all of these details should be negotiated long before the day of the event.

8. Make Sure You Sign a Contract

Naturally, as with all wedding vendors, you should always have a contract. This is to protect both your wedding DJ and yourself. Simply put, don’t work with a DJ or production company that won’t provide one! This is especially important if your wedding DJ will be providing sound and lighting equipment. With speakers and equipment comes the potential for damage and injury. Make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured.

Additionally, a contract will help you avoid date conflicts and last-minute flake-outs. This can be an absolute disaster! A reputable sound production company like Nick Phillips Productions would never allow this to happen. Make sure you take the time to make the right choice. Lock those dates in and get your contract signed!

Book Nick Phillips Productions

At Nick Phillips Productions in Sparks, NV, we pride ourselves on providing impeccable customer service. After all, we know how important it is for your event to go off without a hitch. Whether you’re planning a wedding or wedding reception, it’s imperative that your sound production company and DJ be professional, responsible, and fun.

Nick Phillips Productions ensures that these and all other expectations will be met and exceeded. It’s our job to make sure your night is as special as possible and we’ll do everything in our power to make that happen!

Nick Phillips Productions proudly services all of Northern Nevada including Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Washoe Valley, Lake Tahoe, Fernley, Fallon, Winnemucca, Minden, Gardnerville, and more. And that’s not all! Additionally, we’re happy to travel to surrounding states including Oregon, California, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. Seriously!

If you’re interested in booking Nick Phillips Productions for your next event or would like a free estimate, please feel free to contact us for more information. We can be reached by phone at (775) 354-4026.

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