Maryland DJ - 20 Must Ask Questions

How to Find the Best DJs In Maryland

We have had the honor of celebrating with couples all over the Frederick MD, Washington DC, and Northern VA area. The events and venues have been as varied as the locations. We’ve DJ’d backyard tent weddings in small towns such as Westminster MD, as well as in upscale venues such as Ceresville Mansion, Cortland Mansion, and Osterag Vistas.

While the venues and locales have been vast and different, there is one thing that nearly all couples had in common. That common trait is that before their wedding, they had never considered hiring a wedding DJ and had little idea of what questions to ask.

The idea of choosing a service that you have never shopped for before can be a bit overwhelming, to say the least. There is just so much that you may not know!

• How much should a Maryland DJ cost?

• What exactly does a Wedding DJ do?

• What is the difference between a DJ at a bar and a Wedding DJ?

• How do I make sure that I am getting a quality DJ?

• How do I determine a DJ’s value?

  These are likely just a few of the questions that you have right now.

Comparing Maryland DJ Services to Hotel Brands

All of us have stayed in a hotel a time or two. So it might be easier to compare a service that we’ve used many times to better understand the differences between Maryland DJ companies.

While a DJ is expected to perform and provide musical entertainment, there are differences in DJ services just as there are differences in most other services.

Like cars, restaurants, and hotels; the cost of a wedding DJ can vary widely.

Just like hotel chains, you will find that there are many options out there.

If a bed and four walls are all you require there are brands such as Motel 6 or the Super 8. If you would like a nicer bed and a few amenities you might choose to stay at The Courtyard by Marriott or a Sheraton property. If total luxury is your desire and within your budget then Ritz-Carlton or Waldorf Astoria would be on the very short list of locations you would even consider for an overnight stay.

20 questions should your Maryland DJ?

Here are the 20 most important questions to ask any professional disc jockey you are considering for your wedding or corporate party and our answers to those questions. This will help you accurately gauge the professionalism, reliability, and honesty of any wedding DJ you are considering.

Good luck in your search!

1. Do you offer a written contract?

A written, legal contract is one of the first indicators of whether the DJ you are considering is professional and reliable. Any DJ not using a written contract should not, in our opinion, be considered for any corporate event or wedding reception.

Many of the better wedding venues in the Washington DC - Lancaster PA market we serve require that the DJ Company have insurance.

2. What makes you different from your competitors?

Any professional Maryland DJ will take pride in their work and be able to answer this question honestly and communicate the things that make their services unique.

Rather than tell you what they offer, there are some DJs who will take this as an opportunity to “bash” their competition and say negative things about specific DJs or agencies.

DJ’s that engage in this type of thing will often target the DJ’s they’re afraid you’ll book instead of them, and they’re probably right!

3. Do you act as the “MC” and make all announcements?

Any professional wedding disc jockey should be comfortable with making announcements and serving as the Master of Ceremonies for your wedding. This is a standard part of the job.

Some DJs, however, are not comfortable with this and prefer to pass these duties on to someone else, such as a site manager, who may not have a professional voice or experience speaking on a microphone.

4. How would you define your “style” when making announcements?

This is an extremely important question to ask because it will tell you if the DJ is the right match for your guests and the atmosphere you’re trying to create.

If you are planning an elegant, understated wedding, then utilizing the services of a “party motivator” or “entertainer DJ” may not be what you are looking for.

5. What if something happens to you and you can’t make it to the wedding?

Despite meticulous planning and preparation, accidents do happen. If the DJ is injured or otherwise unable to perform on your wedding day, what is the backup plan?

Most responsible professional DJs in Maryland have some sort of backup strategy should this situation ever arise, but others do not. Often, DJs will be members of a local DJ association and network with other professional wedding DJs who could possibly provide backup services for them in the event of an emergency.

Others take this planning more seriously and reserve a specific wedding DJ for every date, ensuring that backup is both available and prepared in case of an emergency. 

You need to feel comfortable that you will still have a qualified, professional DJ on your wedding day, regardless of the circumstances, so the answer to this question is very important.

6. Will we speak again before the wedding?

Some DJ’s will claim that all they need to do is show up at your wedding in order to be successful. This isn’t very realistic. A professional Maryland DJ will want to make sure they understand exactly what is supposed to happen and when, and what music you want to be played. They will want to speak with you at least briefly to go over the game plan.

If a DJ tells you this isn’t really necessary, you should probably be concerned.

7. Can we visit you at a performance?

Hopefully, the answer to this question is “no.”

We’re sure that you wouldn’t appreciate the DJ inviting prospective clients to your Maryland wedding to see him in action. A professional DJ should be willing to take a stand for their clients’ privacy and not offer this as a possibility. 

Professional wedding DJs never allow this.

8. How involved can we be in selecting music for our event?

This is an important question to ask because some Maryland DJs prefer to control most of the playlist and supplement their choices with a small handful of your specific requests.

Your DJ should accommodate your music tastes, and you should feel comfortable with the DJ’s approach and the amount of involvement you’ll have in choosing the music.

9. Do you take requests from our guests?

Our advice to our couples is that if it were our party, we would certainly take requests. We also would not announce that we are taking requests.

Too often we see that when it is announced, the same few people begin to view the DJ like a jukebox and make requests that are not going to produce the dance floor result that you want.

Most DJs are happy to do take requests but you should also feel reasonably assured that any request they chose to play would not be something you didn’t like.

10. Can we submit a “Do Not Play” list?

Any professional Maryland DJ should be willing to honor your requests, including your request for certain songs and genres to not be used.

Submitting a “Do Not Play” list will give a DJ a clear idea of your limits and your expectations for their song selection at your wedding.

11. When do you arrive to set up for our wedding?

When dealing with sub-standard DJs, there are often issues with them being punctual and set up well in advance of your guest’s arrival.

Professional DJs will always arrive at least a full hour before their scheduled start time in order to have adequate time to set up and get organized before the wedding.

12. What will you wear to DJ our Maryland wedding?

This is more important than you might think – some DJs prefer a classic, understated look and others wear tuxedos with flashy, shimmering, or patterned vests and matching bow tie.

It is important that the DJ’s “look” meets your expectations.

We want to blend into the background of your wedding photos, not stick out like a sore thumb.

13. How much of a deposit is required to secure our date?

Almost every DJ in will require some sort of deposit or retainer in order to secure your date. This is for their protection and yours.

The industry standard for deposits is 50%.

14. What is the cost for setup, tear down, and travel?

DJ’s in Maryland use vastly different systems when pricing their services. You need to be clear about what a DJ is offering for the price they’ve quoted you and what they consider to be an “add-on”.

15. Are you insured?

It is essential that any DJ you hire carries a full liability insurance policy. Some reception sites have even taken the step of requiring all vendors working at their facility to provide proof of insurance before the wedding.

Liability insurance protects you and the reception site in the unlikely event that your DJ injures one of your guests or burns your reception site to the ground.

16. Do you take any breaks?

One of the major advantages to using a DJ instead of a band is that a DJ does not need to take breaks, outside of using the restroom and possibly eating a meal quickly in another room (if this is what your site contact or caterer requires).

In any case, the DJ should assure you that there will be no break in the music at any point during the reception.

17. What is your policy on alcohol or smoking during the wedding?

A professional DJ will never consume alcohol or take cigarette breaks during your wedding.

If you interview a DJ and he tells you he needs a few drinks to “loosen up” while working, you should probably look for a DJ with higher standards of professionalism.

18. Do you bring backup equipment with you to the wedding?

Even the very best and most well-maintained equipment will malfunction at some point. Your DJ needs to be prepared in case this happens at your wedding.

The only way you will not suffer a setback on your special day is if the DJ brings a full second sound system with them to every wedding.

Having backup equipment in a warehouse 50 miles from your reception site won’t do much good if there is no music at your wedding for an hour.

19. Do you have a wireless microphone?

Every professional Maryland wedding DJ should offer a wireless microphone to be used for your guests’ toasts, blessings, and any other speeches that need to be made.

20. Do you set up a sign or banner with your equipment?

Shameless self-promotion sometimes rears its ugly head at wedding receptions in the form of a sign or banner advertising the Maryland DJs company name and contact information. These items inevitably find their way into your wedding pictures and video and ruin what is an otherwise commercial-free event.

This practice is repulsive and completely unprofessional!

I hope that you have found this article useful as you begin to plan your search for the perfect DJ.

If you are planning a wedding or corporate event in our service area, we would love the opportunity to learn more about your plans. Our DJs routinely travel to all areas within a two-hour drive from Chambersburg PA.

Our convenient location permits us to offer wedding DJ services to clients from Washington DC to Frederick MD, as well as wedding DJ’s for couples celebrating in Lancaster and Harrisburg PA.

Our demand is as large as our service area! If you would like to check our availability for your date or chat about your plan’s click the link below to get started.