When you are ready to start the process of hiring entertainment for your wedding reception, what are the things you are looking for? The most popular thoughts that come to mind when you start your inquiry are availability and price.
Little do most couples realize that there is so much more that goes into hiring your reception entertainment than availability and price. Here are some suggested things to keep in mind when you start looking for entertainment.
Most couples do their initial research for a DJ or band online and from there they make a list of entertainment companies they want to email. Although email is the most popular form of contact these days, in this instance making a phone call is best. This way there is an open line of communication. We all know that email has a tendency to be very impersonal and when it comes to one of the most important vendors you will hire for your wedding day, having a conversation over the phone is the only way to go.
The most popular first question couples ask is when hiring entertainment for your wedding reception is “What do you charge”? This question is almost impossible to answer right off the bat and the reason is that every wedding reception is different. We have couples who call looking for a DJ for just a four hour wedding reception and other couples who call looking for a DJ for seven hours with a need for both a ceremony and reception sound system. There is quite a difference in price because the later package has 3 more hours added in and an additional sound system. So offer up as much information to your DJ or Entertainer before you ask about price.
Lastly, be mindful of how your conversation goes. Is this someone you connect with? Every company is different and by far the most important element in hiring your DJ or live band is the comfort level you have with the person you are working with. You can tell in a conversation over the phone if this is the company you want representing you on the most important day of your life.
By Lisa Capitanelli-Kasberg