Planning a Wedding/Event? Hire Your Wedding/Event DJ/Band First, Not Last!

Planning a Wedding/Event? Hire Your Wedding/Event DJ/Band First, Not Last!
By Jason Rubio

Are you planning your wedding, birthday party, Quinceanera, Sweet 16, school dance, or other event? Chances are, if you're reading this, the answer is "yes!" If you've already started to look for vendors, great! If you've already hired all you vendors and are now looking for a band or DJ, that's not so great. The good thing is, this information will help you in your search and give you tips and ideas you may not have considered in your search. Hold onto your contracts and let's get started!

The band or DJ seem to always be the last on the list, which is a mistake! Why? Yes, every vendor and component of your event is important, but not all are equally important. If you're having a wedding or event, the very first thing you need to do is find a place to have it at. Yes, I said find a place, not hire a band or DJ, first. You can't have your event or even hire a DJ, without first telling the DJ Service where your event will be. After you've found a place, next, find your band or DJ. Why? Because the band or DJ can truly make or break your event. A great band or DJ will set the mood you want, play the songs/genres you want, and overall, be the very person/people in charge of ensuring you and your guests have a great time! Yes, each vendor is unique and an important component to your event, but let's compare for a minute.

Have you ever went to a wedding and then a year later said, "Man, that grilled chicken and mashed potatoes at the wedding was amazing! I need their recipe"? Did you take a picture posing with the food or near the table arrangements? Think of the last wedding you attended, what kind of arrangements did they have? Unless you were a part of the wedding party or helped plan the wedding, chances are, you haven't even thought about the food or arrangements. Most people will remember the nice venue and how good of a time they had, dancing and having fun! The DJ or band truly makes your event memorable.

A bad DJ or band can also make your event memorable, but not the kind of memory you want, right? You don't want your guests to be bored and leave early. You've spent a lot of money on your wedding or event and this is your big day! You want everyone to have a great time and remember how much fun it was. Hire the DJ or band after you book the venue, since chances are, you're planning early. Remember a great band or DJ is always booked! You can't call either one a month before and expect them to be available. Book your entertainment 6 months to 1 year in advance; you'll be glad you did!

Regarding booking, now let's discuss the cost. This is another major factor in why I'm advising you to book the DJ, first! Many people wait to book the DJ last. Even if you're a great planner and you're booking vendors 6 months to 1 year out, if you're already nearing the budget maximum, which happens if you wait to book the DJ last, this will leave you with very little money left. A good DJ or band isn't cheap. If the band or DJ is cheap and available at the last minute, you have to wonder, why? Prices will vary according to your area, but expect to pay $100 per hour or more, for a good DJ service (I can't speak for bands, since that's not my specialty). Why so much? Good, quality equipment is expensive. Creating your custom playlist (and finding/down-loading your songs) takes time. Setting up for your event takes 1-2 hours, and breaking down after, can take up to an hour. All this time is in addition to the 4, 5, or 6 hours of music you want at your event. There are hundreds of other reasons, but these are the main ones.

Overall, the choice is yours, but take it from a professional, book your entertainment early, you'll be glad you did!

Austin's Best DJs provides music and entertainment for hundreds of events, every year! Jason Rubio, owner/manager, has been in the DJ business since 1991, and has done thousands of events. http://www.AustinBestDJs.com or http://www.Facebook.com/AustinBestDJs

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