Wedding DJ Booking Tips

This may be the first time you’ve needed to book a Mobile
DJ or Mobile Disco, so what should you look for ?
Here are some questions we have been asked before, and
things we think are important when choosing a Wedding DJ
for your Wedding Reception
Either click your question below, or click here to read all of them
How much music do you have ?
What music do you have ?
What music will you play ?
Can I choose the music ?
Can I tell you what NOT to play ?
Can my guests choose music ?
Do you have ‘clean’ versions of songs ?
Can I bring my own music ?
How big are your speakers ?
What if your system breaks down ?
What if you get ill ?
How long does it take to set up ?
How long does it take to break down ?
What will you wear ?
Will you get drunk ?
What insurance do you have ?
Is your equipment tested ?
My venue has asked for PLI
My venue has asked for PAT
Can you set up earlier ?
What lighting do you have ?
How is the lighting set up ?
Do you have a smoke machine ?
How much power do you need ?
Do I get a contract ?
Do I pay a deposit ?
Where can I see you performing ?
How do I know you will be good ?
I want to project some pictures onto a screen, can you help ?
I want to colour my venue with lights, can you help ?
Can I have confetti canon for my first dance ?
Can I have bubbles ?
Do you do balloons ?
Can you supply chair covers ?
Do you have a chocolate fountain ?
Do you supply popcorn ?
Will you do everything in your power to make my event special and accomodate my every wish no matter
how much of a pain I become ?
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How much music do you have ?
I have over 120 thousand songs in total, I bring with me around 20,000 of the most popular and most
requested, and of course I will also bring along any requests you make using the online request system
What music do you have ?
Just about every style you might need, right across the various era’s of music, including many nationalities
such as French, Serbian, German, Latin, Scottish, Irish, African, Israeli and much more. Perhaps just as
important is the fact that I will be happy to play it !
What music will you play ?
If you have chosen the styles and any particular songs, these will be my priority. Around this brief I will
guage the audience, and using my experience, will choose songs that will get people on the floor
Can I choose songs for you to avoid playing ?
Yes, using the online system you can select songs for me not to play, and we will discuss general styles
you like and dont like so the evening goes the way you want it to
Can I choose the music ?
Yes, I offer a free online music database where you can choose as many songs as you like (bear in mind
around 19 songs per hour is the most I can play!). You also get a further login for your guests, so they can
choose 2 songs each, and I’m happy to take requests on the night
Can my guests choose music ?
Yes, in addition to your login, you get a further login for your guests, so they can choose 2 songs each,
and I’m happy to take requests on the night. You also have the facility to remove any guest requests you
dont like !
Do you have ‘clean’ versions of songs ?
Yes, I have a large amount of ‘radio edit’ and cleaned versions of songs, so if you need me to make sure I
play these instead of the originals, just let me know and I’ll be happy to accomodate your wishes
Can I bring an iPod ?
Yes, either for your own background music perhaps, or if you have some special music we have
discovered I dont have, then I can plug that into my system
Can I bring a CD ?
Yes, you shouldn’t need to, but I have the facility to play it
Can I bring a memory stick ?
Yes, once again you shouldn’t need to, but I have the facility to play it
How big are your speakers ?
Which ones ? I currently have four sound systems, a Bose system, two different HK system and a Mackie
system. They are all high quality professional sound systems of varying sizes and output, and I will use the
one most suited to your venue. It will be plenty loud enough for dancing, but I will monitor the volume so
that those guests who would rather talk than dance, get to enjoy their evening as well
For much larger venues I also have access to JBL, DragonSpirit and Turbosound rigs, so we are sure to
have the right system for your event
What if your system breaks down ?
I carry a lot of extra equipment with me, both sound and lighting, so in the unlikely event of a problem, I
can be up and running again very quickly
What if you get ill ?
If I am so sick I cannot make it, I have a team of professional associates I can instantly call upon. In case
they are booked, I am regularly in touch with a large number of other Professional DJs, we keep each other
advised of our availability for just such an emergency. You will never end up with me sending my roadie/
friend/brother to entertain on your special day
How long does it take to set up ?
For a normal amount of equipment with reasonable access to the room/ marquee, I allow an hour. Should
you book extra’s such as uplighting, this takes longer but we would discuss this so you are fully aware.
How long does it take to break down ?
For a normal amount of equipment it’s usually around 45 minutes. You may need to bear this in mind when
planning your timings, in case the venue insists both guests AND equipment are out of the venue by a
certain time.
What will you wear ?
For a Wedding I would normally wear black tie (dinner suit) as I think you and your guests have made an
effort, therefore so should I. However if you would prefer me in shirt and tie, fancy dress, very loud
Hawaiian shirt, then just let me know !
Will you get drunk ?
Absolutely not !
I rarely drink alcohol as I always seem to be driving, and at your event I will definately only be drinking
Coke/Pepsi
My venue has asked for PLI
Many venues now ask for this in case of claims by guests following an accident. I have £10 million of
Public Liability Cover (PLI) just in case of any accidents with my equipment. I am happy to email either you
or your venue with the policy and you can download my Public Liability Insurance here
(http://www.mobiledjnetwork.co.uk/details/pdf.php?id=MDJN-20324-20581)
My venue has asked for PAT
This is Portable Appliance Testing, all my equipment is tested by a qualified Electrician annually and each
item has a sticker as well as providing me with a test certificate I can let you have, or will email direct to
your venue if required. You can see and download my PAT certificate by clicking here (/index.php/weddingdj-
sussex/sussex-wedding-dj-pete-williams/2-uncategorised/74-dj-pat-test)
Can you set up earlier ?
Yes, although it’s not always appropriate. In a marquee this is the preferred option as guests will rarely go
somewhere else after the Wedding Breakfast, so bringing a lot of equipment through your crowd of guests
is not really what you want. If however you have chosen a beautiful venue with nice architecture, do you
really want 21st century equipment in your photo’s… probably not.
It’s something we would discuss, but my general advice is to enjoy your venue for the Wedding Breakfast,
then take a one hour break when you can relax and greet evening guests as well as chatting informally with
your daytime guests, while we set up a great show for you
What lighting do you have ?
In technical terms – moving heads (profiles and washes), stage washes, scanners, moonflowers, lasers, UV,
Mirror ball, LED par can uplighters and spotlights
In real terms – lots of variations you can choose from, or you can allow me to make the decision and bring
a good sized selection. You will get a WOW factor from my lighting show and I will cram in as much as I
can to impress both you and your guests.
The lighting is all controlled via DMX (hardware or laptop generated signals) that allow complete control to
give you subtle lighting when you need it, an amazing first dance sequence and a great disco show
How is the lighting set up ?
The choice can be yours. I would normally erect 4m or more of Astralight trussing, using wind up stands
this goes to the ceiling of most venues. From this is suspended all the lighting. there is then a star cloth in
front of me and ground level equipment, which keeps things neat and tidy
If you prefer a more subtle look, all the lighting can be placed at floor level, and this can look really
sophisticated and dicreet
If you have a marquee, we can rig the Astralight from the apex of the marquee (with owners permission)
before you and your guests arrive and this gets it up and out of the way, while giving maximum impact
once powered up in the evening
Do you have a smoke machine ?
I have a professional hazer which is fully controllable, but many venues will not allow their use because it
can (rarely) set off smoke alarms. I am happy to liase with your venue to discuss it’s use
How much power do you need ?
Two domestic style 13amp sockets, or one 16amp C-Form socket. This is rarely a problem, and only really
needs discussion where a marquee is involved, here I would chat with the marquee company to ensure
that I dont clash with caterers needs and any high powered outside lighting they may have.
Do I get a contract ?
Yes, every booking gets a legally binding contract, so you know who your DJ is, and when/where/what you
expect from him, and he knows what to do and when to do it
Do I pay a deposit ?
Not normally, we have always found that our contract is enough to confirm a booking, you will have
enough supplier and venue demands for money up front to deal with
Where can I see you performing ?
You can’t is the quick answer. Imagine how you would feel with all your guests dressed up for your special
day, and in come perhaps several couples, plus maybe relatives, to stand there and judge your DJ… Not a
happy thought is it ?
Of course you want to make sure you have the right DJ, but showing up at someone elses Wedding will
not prove much if anything. He may be under strict instructions to only play rock music, use strobes, use a
small lighting rig and wear shirt and trousers, all or some of which may not be what you are looking for.
Hopefully through use of video and photographs throughout this website, you will have a good idea of
what to expect
How do I know you will be good ?
Because if I or my colleagues weren’t, then I would have gone out of business a long time ago, and I would
not be the recommended DJ supplier for several of the top venues in Sussex. That perhaps makes me
sound over confident, but what I am sure about is that my colleagues and I care deeply about what we do
for you, and will do our very best to make sure you get the service you want and need !
I want to project some pictures onto a screen, can you help ?
Yes, I have powerful professional projectors and both a 6ft wide quick install screen, and 10ft wide x 10ft
high fastfold screen for maximum impact. The projector can accept a variety of inputs either you or I can
supply, fo either video or stills projection for part or all of your event
We also have a 42″ plasma for smaller displays
I want to colour my venue with lights, can you help ?
We have over 100 LED par Can uplighters we can space around your venue which will wash the walls or
features with you chosen colour/s. They can remain on one colour, slowly fade between 2 or more, and/or
become part of the disco lighting in the evening.
Can I have confetti canon for my first dance ?
Yes, we have a company we recommend highly who do a fantastic job
Can I have bubbles ?
Yes, although we don’t recommend it as they make the dancefloor really slippery and dangerous. Lovely
idea, but not really practical
Do you do balloons ?
I don’t, but I know a company that do a great job we have worked with for many years –
Can you supply chair covers ?
I don’t, but I know a company that do a great job we have worked with for many years –
Do you have a chocolate fountain ?
Another no I’m afraid, I stick to what I’m good at, but I’ve worked with and tasted fountains from a couple
of companies we are happy to recommend
Do you supply popcorn ?
Tempting, but no, sorry
Will you do everything in your power to make my event special and accomodate my every wish no matter
how much of a pain I become ?
Yes I will. Over the years I have dealt with hundreds of Brides & Grooms to be, a small handful of whom
have been ‘really hard work’, however I do understand that planning such a big event for the first (and
hopefully last !) time is stressful. My job is to make booking the entertainment a pain free task
Everyone is given my best service and nothing is too much trouble. Some things I charge for and others
are free, but either way my aim is to be your perfect Wedding DJ and help you have the perfect Wedding
day you always imagined
I’m pleased to say that even the clients who start off as hard work, become much calmer when they realise
we are on the same side, and that I am here to help. They are often the most grateful after the event !