In Defense of Part-Time DJs
Earlier today, a colleague and professional DJ Entertainer, Mike Fernino, of Music in Motion DJ Entertainment made a post on his blog titled “DJs should be more than “Just Music”. Find it his post at www.musicinmotiondjent.com/mim_blog/2010/01/04/466/
While I agree whole heartedly with Mike’s overall message, as president of the Delaware Association of Mobile Entertainers, (D.A.M.E.) I cannot completely agree with his final point which, in essence says, don’t hire part-time DJs. There are many part-time DJ Entertainers who are just as serious about delivering top quality performances as we full-timers are.
So how do you tell when you’ve got a good DJ? Don’t worry; it’s pretty easy to weed out less-than-professional DJ Entertainers, full and part-time, with a few thoughtful questions. In addition to many of the points Mike made in his blog:
• Ask for a valid business license, mine covers the entire state;
• Ask for proof of business insurance, I carry a 2-million-dollar policy;
• Ask for a list of references, both professionals and customers, mine gets updated every quarter;
• Ask if they’re a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, I’m the 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year here;
• Ask if they’re a member of ADJA, NAME or some other nationally recognized DJ Trade organization.
If a DJ Entertainer is serious about delivering top quality entertainment services, asking good questions like the ones in Mike’s blog earlier today along with some like those I’ve suggested will go a long way toward your finding the best DJ Entertainer for your celebration, whether they’re full or part-timers. Look for their professionalism and level of commitment, then sign the contract.
For me, the hardest part is educating the public and our prospective customers that DJ Entertainment is a legitimate profession. It is not something that just anyone can just jump into on a whim. If more people understood that, we probably wouldn’t even have to address issues surrounding Full vs. Part-Time DJ Entertainers. Alex