For most people, DJing in and of itself is a daunting task. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in the field for only a few months or are a professional who’s been DJing for several years at this point, there are a lot of things that go into the field – and that’s just standard performances.
Certain event-specific DJ performances may be more or less involved depending on how high-profile the clients are.
For example, a standard birthday performance or house party may only require you to set up a playlist and be there to add in an effect or two while the birthday of a very high-paying client may require you to give a full-blown concert performance.
This is true for pretty much every specialty DJing event, though it is especially true when it comes to wedding DJs.
Wedding DJ performances can run the whole gamut in terms of what’s required of you.
If you’re someone who has a wedding party scheduled or is hoping to specialize in that niche, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll go over the 8 most essential wedding DJ tips you’ll need to stand out as a top-tier performer no matter who your client is or what specific thing they want.
That way, not only will you make sure they end their special day thanking you for the great work, but it set you up as a legit wedding DJ that will only get even more gigs and a stellar reputation.
Wedding DJ Tips: In Short
Wedding DJ Tips, quick fire. The more basic and simplistic performances may not call for a club-level experience, but they will often come with a lot of stipulations, including the types of songs on the playlist, your attire, as well as the time certain songs must be played to motivate that dance floor. Ensure you are prepared for all situations, have the correct DJ gear, backup DJ equipment, a huge music library, and have fun!
Read this next: 100 Classic Wedding Songs (Set the Perfect Tone For The Big Day)
Wedding DJing Top Tips
1. Promote Yourself Properly
This might seem somewhat strange at first (especially compared to the rest of this list) but believe me when I say that it’s something 99% of DJs just don’t do. While we’ll certainly get into all of the “on the ground” DJ stuff, the first thing we need to do before accepting a single gig is to establish ourselves as a DJ that specifically deals with wedding events.
Many DJs simply hope that performances fall into their lap or that clients will hear about their performances through word of mouth and assume that they are going to be a good wedding DJ. T
he reality is that you’re going to have to take the initiative and present yourself as an expert in the field. In today’s world, that means having a website and online social media presence.
While you’re inevitably going to have to have both, social media is a great place to start if you don’t have a lot of online expertise or aren’t yet able to spend money on a compelling website.
Again, you will eventually need to have an actual web page that people can visit, but in the beginning, you can get away with just a Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok account.
These are the basics. The more platforms you’re on (LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, etc.) the better.
No matter what online area you’re working in, you’ll need to make sure you have your name and contact details as well as where you’re performing. You’ll also want some appropriate and professional pictures of you for your site and social media accounts.
Not only should these shots be standard photo stills, but they should also ideally include images and videos of you performing in front of an audience. The larger the audiences are, the cleaner the pictures and videos are, and the more recent the videos are the more legit you’ll appear to your potential clients.
If you want to go that extra mile, consider investing in some quality business cards as well as splurging on marketing yourself differently based on the seasons.
For example, for summer performances, consider having videos of you performing outside on the beach, or at a pool party. Conversely, during the winter and fall seasons, have more indoor videos.
This will let people know that you perform all year round and aren’t just seasonal.
Read this next: Later.com Review: The Perfect Social Media Tool for DJs
2. Make Sure You Consider Your Sound
Now that we’ve curated your online presence and managed to get you a client, the next tip is for you to learn about the venue you’ll be performing in and what type of sound you’ll be going with.
The first thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all sound that works for every wedding. More importantly, there’s no sound that fits every venue.
This is because a venue’s acoustics will have a big effect on how well you’re even going to be heard by your audience.
For example, outside venues will require a very different speaker layout than small intimate church venues, which will both require something quite different compared to a large hall.
As such, the first thing you’re going to want to do when speaking with your client is to determine the type of venue they’ll be performing at so you can decide on what DJ gear you will require and decide on important factors, such as whether you’ll need active speakers or passive speakers.
Active Speakers
It’s not clear which option is ultimately “better” however, of the two, active speakers are the more readily accessible and easy to use. The reason for this is that active speakers come with an amplifier already included inside of them.
These amplifiers are used to boost the sound and bass of the music so that you can reach further out and ensure more people hear what you’re playing.
While both active and passive speakers can have an amplifier, active speakers are often seen as the more popular option due to them already having one inside.
This makes the process of playing much simpler on the DJ’s end. Simply put, all they have to do is plug them in and they’re good to go.
The downside to active speakers, in exchange for their ease of use and overall convenience, is the fact that they are often more expensive than passive speakers while also being heavier and more difficult to move.
Active speakers are also permanently set to their amp levels, which may result in you needing to upgrade to an entirely new set of speakers later on.
Passive Speakers
Passive speakers miss out on the ease and simplicity of having an in-built amplifier already established. Instead, these speakers require you to purchase an amplifier completely separate.
Not only does this mean you have to make two separate purchases, but you’re also required to set up the amp to the speaker, which can potentially be quite involved depending on the type of speaker and the type of amp.
These may be less popular due to their additional steps but that doesn’t mean they are any worse in comparison to active speakers.
In fact, while most beginners will find themselves gravitating towards active speakers, more advanced DJs often swear by passive speakers due to their reduced weight, and ability to play in smaller settings without an amp or in larger settings with one.
In addition, passive speakers are especially advantageous thanks to their ability to work with a variety of different amp options, allowing you to better mix and match the sound without replacing the speakers themselves.
Depending on the type of venue you’ll be performing at, passive speakers can also be a benefit as they can be linked to a single output location.
This makes setting up the volume levels for multiple speakers easier than for active speakers, which often need to be as close to the stage as possible to make volume control more accessible.
Read this next: 200 First Dance Wedding Songs: Your Ultimate Playlist
3. Sell Your Services Fairly
This may seem like an obvious point but you’d be surprised just how far, in either direction, DJs find themselves going.
The reality is that, unless the couple just wants a super quiet and small wedding (or something just at the courthouse), they’re likely ready and very willing to pay for a wedding DJ. Now, on the face of it, you might think that this gives you a license to charge as much as you want for a performance.
And while you certainly can charge crazy amounts for your services, the other reality is that you aren’t the only DJ out there trying to get their business.
The higher you price yourself, the more people you’ll turn off when compared to someone willing to charge just a bit less.
On the other hand, many DJs, in a bid to undercut their competition, will try to undersell themselves just for the business. This may get you more clients but it’s also likely going to be cheaper clients that are less likely to appreciate just how much work you’re putting in.
You want to make sure you’re charging generally around the same as others in your area. By having a larger online presence, you’re able to proportionally increase your rates.
That means that, while your initial prices will be slightly lower than what others are charging, as you get more experience, more reviews, and a larger online following, you’ll steadily be allowed to increase your rates to match the quality of your output.
Read this next: How To MC A Wedding (PROPERLY!)
4. Always Be Early
Now that you’ve put yourself out there, gotten a client, and agreed on a price point, the next thing you need to do is actually get ready for the performance. Ideally, it’s a good idea to show up to the event at least an hour ahead of schedule.
This will give you more than enough time to set up your equipment, speak with the clients about any last-minute song additions or playlist modifications, as well as make sure all of your equipment is working (no crashing computers or faulty speakers for example).
Remember that this isn’t just a gig, but a couple’s most important day of their lives. You don’t want to end up showing up just on time only to remember you forgot the charger for your computer or a cable to your speakers.
While it may seem like you’re just there to set the musical tone of the wedding, you’re also setting the overall tone of the event.
Simply put, you’re the expert. If you start hesitating, freaking out, or even hinting that something is off on your end, this is going to trickle down to the audience and result in a much worse event.
Worst-case scenario, if you get there an hour early and find that everything is easy to set up and put together, take some of that extra time to greet and familiarize yourself with the bride and groom’s family.
Not only will this give you more info on any additional changes you need to make to the music, but it will also make that day a bit more special for everyone involved.
Read this next: What Should A Mobile DJ Wear? (Do’s, Don’ts, And Be Prepared)
5. Come With Backup DJ Equipment
This is part of the reason why you need to show up as early as an hour before schedule. Simply put, you can’t trust your equipment to run smoothly once you get in the driver’s seat and are actually about to perform.
While we’d like to believe you can just show up, do your performance, and have everything work as intended, the reality is that computers crash, speakers fritz out, and other technical issues just happen. This means you’re going to want to have at least one or two different backup options on the ready in case something freaky happens.
Make sure you’re well-stocked with batteries, cable wires, as well as even a spare laptop or DJ controller if need be.
You may not be able to prepare for every single potential problem, but the more you plan for the better off you’ll be if something actually slips through the cracks.
Read this next: Best DJ Mixers: Top Picks for Club, Wedding, and Home DJs
6. Remember That You’re The DJ! Not Uncle Albert!
If there’s one thing you must keep in mind every second of the performance, from the moment you walk into that wedding venue to the moment you head home, it’s that YOU are the expert in the room.
People aren’t looking to an audio technician to wonder why something is off.
They aren’t looking to the building manager or even the person in charge of the event. When it comes to the music and why it (or isn’t) playing, they are expecting you to know what’s wrong and be in the process of fixing it as fast as possible.
This isn’t to scare you, but rather to ensure you’re going in with the right mindset on what is expected. That means, as the expert, you need to discuss plans with your client in full detail before the event unfolds.
This should include the expected things like the song playlist, what “must-have” tracks should be on if they want you to do any scratching, or if they have plans for how they want any of the dances to go.
When it comes to the dances, these are particularly important as they’ll require additional time set up to speak with the choreographer.
You may also need to know whether you’ll have to do any MC shoutouts or let people know about any potential announcements the client wants the audience to hear.
Read this next: Dealing With Song Requests (Professionally!)
7. Keep Things Positive
Last but not least, while you may certainly be tasked with handling a lot of things before and during the wedding, it’s important to remember that this is a wedding! That means even the wedding DJs should be having fun and enjoying themselves whilst they play music.
Remember that the audience is looking to you for most of the music-based aspects of the wedding.
That means that a bored, stressed out, or super regimented DJ is going to drain all the fun out of the room even if they’re doing everything right.
You’ll definitely need to keep all of the previous aspects in line, but you’ll also want to make sure you’re doing it with a fun and positive persona in the DJ booth!
Provided your clients are alright with it, be a bit silly and upbeat.
Make some lighthearted comments on the mic and lift the spirits of the crowd if there’s ever a lull. This is in addition to having as many energetic and high-energy songs on your playlist as possible.
Read this next: What Should A Mobile DJ Wear? (Do’s, Don’ts, And Be Prepared)
8. Song Selection
Last but NOT least, this is actually one of the most important aspects of playing songs at weddings. Make sure you have a music library that will cover a vast mixture of music.
These must include, slow songs, background music, the first dance, cake-cutting, special dances, the last song, and more. Consider the streaming service Beatport Link as it will give you access to millions of tracks.
To be a DJ at a wedding you must have access to a lot of music and you will almost certainly have to play requests. This will probably mean you will have to play songs you don’t want to, so be prepared!
Remember, at most weddings, you will receive consistent song requests and even a groom request. You never know!
Read this next:
Wedding DJ Tips: Summary
Wedding events may seem like they require a lot, and that’s because they kind of do. They tend to require a bit more involvement than club performances or house parties while also not being quite reputation-building.
What wedding events do offer, however, is some very good rates as well as a solid opportunity to get your name out there.
The more wedding events you’re able to do and the more successful they are, the more of a solid reputation you’ll acquire which can then be leveraged in the club space.
By keeping these 8 essential wedding DJ tips in mind, not only will you end up with a stellar reputation and a huge influx of gigs scheduled, but you’ll also be making a lot of couples and families happy.
