Booking DJs or Hiring A Disco

Tips On Hiring A Quality Mobile Disco

Don't Leave Your Function To An Amateur!

Booking DJs or hiring a disco is easy to get right if you know the essentials.

The following are some basic tips on hiring a disco, to make sure you hire the very best mobile disco service for your money. Most functions are one-offs, so you want to make sure you get it right. The tips are in no particular order of importance, but all should be considered.

First, before you even contact a mobile disco company, it's vital that you don't have your mind on hiring a disco that is the cheapest you can find. As in most things, you generally get what you pay for. Especially with a one-off event like a wedding, don't you want the very best you can possibly afford?

If you're paying £300-plus for the wedding cake and who knows how much on the flowers etc, why would you expect to pay less than a few hundred quid for a professional DJ?

But we're getting caught up with the wedding thing when we're just trying to find a good DJ for you. So here are 8 fail-safe tips for booking DJs:

Booking DJs Tip 1: Right type of function?

Ok, let's face it, there's no substitute for word of mouth recommendation. However, make sure any 'highly recommended' DJ was hired for a similar function to the one you're about to organise. A professional DJ's approach to an 18th birthday is markedly different to the approach for a wedding reception. (And you thought we just turned up and pressed a few buttons?)

Booking DJs Tip 2: Getting asked the right questions?

Next, if you call a DJ and he/she gives you a price without asking you any questions about the event you're going to be holding, that should set off warning lights.

Questions a professional DJ should ask include:

• Type of function - wedding, birthday, kids' party etc ...
• Venue - where is your function going to be held?
• Start and finish times - prices often depend on the length of service required.
• Particular music requirements - no point hiring a rock 'n' roll DJ for an 80s theme night!

Booking DJs Tip 3: Safety - PAT and PLI!

What else should you know about your potential DJ? There are a couple of safety requirements on health and safety you need to know when hiring a disco DJ.

Booking DJs Tip 4: Written Confirmation?

Ok, this one might seem obvious, but make sure when hiring a disco the company you're dealing with confirms everything in writing and that they have a written Booking Agreement for you to sign.

The Booking Agreement should lay out all details of the function - date, venue, times, overtime rates etc. This agreement is to protect both the company and the customer and should not be heavily biased in any one party's favour.

View our sample Disco hire booking agreement

Booking DJs Tip 5: Back-ups 'in case of'?

Does the mobile DJ have back-up equipment in the unlikely event that anything packs in on the night? I say 'unlikely': if they're professional, they'll use pro equipment and this tends to be very sturdy and not given to blowing up at a moment's notice.

However, a less than professional DJ, the kind that are just in it for the beer money, will use very substandard equipment, even (I hate to say) CD players such as you'd find in your average home hi-fi system.

What happens if the DJ is taken ill on or before the date of your event? Do they have a plan for making sure another suitable DJ will do the job?

Booking DJs Tip 6: Quality promo and websites?

A quick word about mobile DJ websites ...

If you're browsing the web for a professional mobile disco service, you can tell a lot from a company's website.

• Is it simple to navigate?
• Is the information clear and simple to understand?
• How's the spelling and grammar?

Maybe these seem like minor points, but a sloppily designed website could be an indication of a less-than-professional outfit.

Booking DJs Tip 7: General attitude ...

Ok, some very quick things to bear in mind ...

• Does the person you're speaking with seem enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their work?
• Do they appear to be listening attentively to your requirements and asking appropriate questions?
• Do you get good 'vibes' from the company? (Trust your instincts!)
• Can they put you in touch with previously satisfied customers?
(Customer feedback from previous Big Mix customers)

Booking DJs Tip 8: The price gives you a clue!

In closing, please do not skimp on price when it comes to hiring a disco.

Any professional who meets all the above criteria won't come cheap, and I wouldn't hire them if they did.

Price can depend on location, but don't expect to pay less than £200 for a 4-5 hour show. Any less than £200 and I'd be seriously concerned that they weren't entirely legal!

To summarise ...

Remember what I said at the start? The entertainment you hire will be the thing that the majority of your guests will remember most, and it works both positively and negatively. Get it right when hiring a disco, look for a professional mobile disco, and the wonderful memories will last a lifetime.

P.S If you wouldn't mind, please could you briefly let me know your opinion on this 'Booking DJs' tips page (using the form below)? Thanks very much!

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