Don’t Book a Wedding DJ Without Meeting Them First
A lot of couples make the same mistake. They see a DJ online, maybe check a few Instagram posts, see some photos of lights and people dancing, and just book. They don’t know the DJ’s personality, how they run their night, or even what their setup looks like. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, playing in clubs and bars all over the world, and trust me, we’re not all built the same.
It’s not just about putting on music. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes over the years, learned hard lessons, and adjusted. Some DJs might be amazing at mixing tracks but totally miss the vibe at a wedding. Others might have fancy lights but no idea how to read a room. Just because someone can run a playlist doesn’t mean they’re the DJ for your wedding.
Nowadays, technology has made DJing a lot easier to fake. Anyone can drag and drop a playlist on a laptop and call themselves a DJ. But couples are slowly catching on that personality and communication matter more than fancy software. More and more couples want to meet their vendors, have a chat, get a feel for the vibe before they commit.
Statistics back this up. Studies show that around 80 percent of couples research multiple vendors before booking, but most still focus on price or availability instead of personality or fit. About 37 percent of couples say they choose vendors based on connection, not just skills. That’s huge. And over half will postpone or walk away from a vendor if communication or energy feels off.
Your wedding isn’t a club night. The stakes are emotional. Your DJ is visible all night, setting the energy, managing microphones, pacing music through speeches, dinner, and dancing. If you book someone without even talking to them, you risk a night that feels flat or disconnected.
The DJs who do this for a living know mistakes happen. I’ve shown up to venues late, played the wrong intro music, misread a room, overcomplicated a setup. I’ve also learned from every mistake and now I know how to adapt on the fly. That’s what separates someone who can make your wedding unforgettable from someone who just presses play.
So how do you avoid the trap? Call your DJ. Meet them if you can. Ask about mistakes they’ve made, how they handle unexpected situations, how they read a room, what their setup looks like. Watch full videos of their past weddings, not just highlights. And pay attention to how they communicate before you book.
At the end of the day, couples hire people, not playlists. Your wedding deserves someone who gets you, who can feel your energy, and who will make the night unforgettable.
