Questions to Ask Your Prospective DJ
What is your prospective Disc Jockey's past experience to ensure your event is handled in a professional manner?
What venues have they performed at? When looking for a disc jockey for your
situation, think of it this way. Think of your event as a ship. Who do you want
to be the captain of your ship? When a problem arises who is the first person
everyone will turn to? The captain or disc jockey! Do you want a real
professional to handle it or do you want to take a chance on running your ship
(or party) aground? Ask for references and call them and ask questions. Find out
if this disc jockey knows what they are doing or are they coming to your event
to learn how? (Yikes!) Where have they played in the past and can they verify
it?
Flipside DJs are full time career entertainers who have performed at thousands
of events through out the state of Michigan. Some of the venues include Midland
Valley Plaza, Bintz's Apple Mountain, Bay Valley Resort, Ashman Court Hotel,
Amway Grand Plaza (Grand Rapids), Boyne Country Club (Petosky), The Hyatt
Regency (Dearborn), Soaring Eagle Casino, Saginaw Valley State University,
Central Michigan University, Bay City Country Club, Midland Country Club,
Saginaw Country Club, Anderson Enrichment Center, The Grand, Horizons Conference
Center, Golden Glow Ballroom, Holiday Inn (Midland and Holland), Shanty Creek
Resort, as well as many high schools and other halls throughout the state.
What has your prospective Disc Jockey done or is doing to improve themselves and their performance?
Do they attend any disc jockey conventions or belong to any disc jockey associations that ensure their quality? Flipside DJs regularly attend disc jockey conventions in Las Vegas, Chicago, Detroit, and Orlando. and belong to the American Disc Jockey Association (www.adja.com) and the Internet Disc Jockey Association (www.networkdj.com). Membership in these associations requires the highest quality services before becoming a member. You must have numerous references, both personal and corporate. Equipment is also registered with them to ensure you are using the best in professional grade sound equipment. Not just any disc jockey can be a member!
Will they coordinate your reception for you or do they run a cookie cutter event?
Most disc jockey companies take down your information and hand it off to a so-called DJ. That's it! They show up at your event and run it off the seat of their pants! Is that professional? At Flipside each event is treated differently. There are always new names to get acquainted with and new ideas that each couple has. We conduct a pre event meeting with the entertainer to get to know the bride and groom on a more personal basis. We are the first DJ company in Michigan that makes house calls! Ask all of your disc jockey's if they will meet with you in person at your convenience to help plan your event. A wedding should be a very elegant and memorable occasion. It should be a very personable event for you and your guests. At Flipside your entertainer will sit down with you and plan everything exactly as you want it. Over a two-week time period all the details will be planned out together. We will establish a checklist that allows us to make your event flow the way you envision it. We will use a detailed checklist for the preplanning meeting to allow you to establish the flow and other details for your event. We will work with your caterers, photographers, videographers, and anyone else you hire for your event. Make sure your disc jockey is willing to work with you and if necessary, follow a checklist approved by you!
Is your prospective Disc Jockey able to deliver announcements and perform MC duties?
This question allows you to find out if your disc jockey has public speaking fears. A lot DJ's have the idea that they just have to sit behind a console and play music. At every event however, there are always announcements to make. Announcements such as bridal party introductions, birthdays, and anniversaries. How do you get your crowd involved without microphone or public speaking skills? How do you announce the bride and groom's first dance if you are afraid to speak in front of 500 or more people? Flipside DJs have the necessary experience you need. We have performed at hundreds of weddings, graduations, birthday parties, proms, school dances, reunions, anniversaries, corporate parties, and even large summer festivals! We have the experience and talents to handle any size crowd without any fears!
Do they use high quality, PROFESSIONAL GRADE sound reproduction equipment and lighting?
You would be surprised at how many so-called disc jockeys are out there using
a home stereo system or something they purchased from Radio Shack! Do you want
your best man giving his toast sounding like he is down in a well? How about
you're wedding song sounding like Thomas Edison's first phonograph? Of course
not! You want it to sound live, like you are front row at a concert. You want to
be part of the music not just listening to it! Flipside Entertainment uses
nothing but the best. DJ Power computers, Mackie Powered Speaker systems
(including powered subwoofers), Mackie mixers, along with Samson and Audio
Technica wireless microphones. Using wireless microphones means your best man
doesn't have to leave his seat just to give his toast speech. This is just
another service provided by Flipside Entertainment free of charge!
Our lighting is also state of the art technology. We use Martin and American DJ
intelligent lighting. You may ask, "What is intelligent lighting?" If you have
ever been to a night club then you have seen intelligent lighting. Intelligent
lighting is all computer controlled. The lighting is all programmed and operated
through the use of computers. We use Martin Light Jockey which is a computer
software program used to design and operate lighting. This is also the type of
lighting you will see at music concerts or theater stage productions. Most disc
jockeys in this area do not use this type of system for one reason. It is
extremely expensive. Lighting costs easily get into the thousands of dollars but
then again, you get what you pay for. Most DJ's in this area use what are known
as s&p's or spin and puke's. This type of lighting you just plug it in and watch
it go back and forth or around in circles. It is very inexpensive and extremely
easy to operate. After all, if you can plug a light cord in the wall then you to
can have a light system such as this! Don't cut corners, go with the best!
Will your disc jockey's attire match your event?
This may be hard to believe but there have been many times when photographers and caterers have reported DJ's who don't dress for the occasion. Flipside DJs will wear a full tuxedo to every wedding or any event that it is appropriate. It is highly unprofessional to have a whole wedding party dressed to the hilt and have the disc jockey walk in wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt! But this happens more often then not! Ask your prospective disc jockey if he in fact wears a tuxedo? Flipside Entertainment has photos posted on our web site to verify this fact.
What will your Disc Jockey do that makes him unique and stand out from the crowd?
Will your disc jockey sit behind his console and play music or will they get involved with the crowd? Any disc jockey can play music. That doesn't make them an entertainer however. Will they use your ideas and the style you desire? Will they direct all the attention on themselves or where it belongs, on you? Have you ever been to a wedding where the disc jockey tries to make themselves the center of attention? This is your day, not the DJ's! DJ interaction in the proper way is the key. If you have ever been to a Flipside Entertainment event then you have seen the difference. We are the Masters of Ceremony without being the annoying person naming the music and stealing the show from the bride and groom! See the difference for yourself!
Will the person you are speaking to on the phone be your Disc Jockey?
What you want to find out with this question is if this company is going to subcontract out your event. Many places get you on the phone and send you the information yet you never actually speak to the disc jockey until the day of your event! Sometimes companies over book dates and then subcontract out your event to another company or individual. Make sure of what you are getting! Don't get stuck with a total stranger who may not be qualified to run your event! Also, ask if they will provide a refund if they cannot provide a DJ for your event? If so will they put it in writing on a contract? At Flipside Entertainment you will speak directly to your DJ, and everything will be guaranteed in writing on a contract. We have been in business since 1983 and have never missed an event yet!
When booking your Disc Jockey, are there any hidden charges?
Most people think that when you get your price quote from a DJ or entertainment company that that is all they will have to pay. However, what if you need a cordless microphone (if they even have one)? What about lighting? What about dinner music? There maybe a lot of things you want that aren't included. With Flipside Entertainment at your event everything is included in our price. There are no hidden charges for anything. Even if something pops up at the last minute that is needed. You will not be charged another dime! Flipside Entertainment is a service oriented company and you are the boss!
Does your prospective Disc Jockey have a solid foundation of music to choose from?
Do they carry in a couple hundred CD's and then all you hear is thumping all night long? What about the older folks in your crowd? Do they carry artists such as Sinatra and Bennett or even polka music and waltzes? They can't be left out! How about some great 50's or 60's music? Do they have the latest hits that just came out this week? Flipside Entertainment has it all! Check out our online music database and see what we really have. Better yet, submit a request online and see if we have it. We carry thousands of songs starting in the 40's all the way through the newest music you probably haven't even heard yet! We even have thousands of favorites that you may have forgotten about but used to love way back when! Flipside Entertainment maintains a music subscription service that only radio stations and entertainers can get. This makes sure we have the music before they are hits! Also, Flipside Entertainment offers MTV style video shows too.
Whether you hire Flipside Entertainment or anyone else, these questions will ensure that you find a professional and qualified individual to run your event. Thanks for considering Flipside Entertainment!
DJ Chris Lee
