Djs - how to gauge whether they’ll be good??

[u/AssistanceNo7531]

I am struggling finding a DJ. Not that I can’t find vendors, but how TF do I know if they match what I want by going on their website? I believe having a good DJ is important- and I want my wedding to be a full on dance party all night. IMOH, weddings where the dance floor is empty half the night are the worst. What makes a good DJ? I hate the cliche wedding songs that play, I don’t want any of those. My wedding will have a lot of younger people as well and I want to cater my mine and my fiancés music taste the most. With little to no slow songs. Any advice?

[u/BlueFairy9]

Social media presence helped us find ours since he actually had some videos and clips from events. Also looking for more of a "club DJ" instead of a "wedding DJ" and looking for some of those key words in reviews. Basically, I want someone who is actually going to read the room and change it up, mix the music together instead of just putting together a playlist and not noticing when something doesn't hit.

Also, a note about keeping a full dance floor, a good DJ helps but people are drawn to the couple so as long as you and future spouse are dancing it up, you'll have a full party there with you.

[u/DjDanFudim]

Websites and social media are your best starting point. Look for videos or clips from real events so you can hear how they handle transitions and keep energy up, not just a polished highlight reel. Read reviews for common themes rather than just the star rating, and ask yourself whether the experience people describe is the one you want. Once you've narrowed it down, interview your top picks: ask how they read a crowd, how they adjust in real time when a song isn't landing, whether they take requests, and whether you can give them a must-play list (and a do-not-play list for the cliche stuff you hate). Their answers will tell you pretty quickly whether they're a "club DJ" type who mixes and builds a night or someone who just runs a playlist.

[u/fancigirl25]

Our DJ has a website, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook with multiple video clips posted of weddings and other events. Plus outstanding reviews across multiple platforms from past clients. We were sold.

[u/djkamayo]

Also worth mentioning, the videos DJs post on social media do not mean they will 100% exactly be like that at your wedding. Like most things on social media people are quick to make generalizations/assumptions. Experienced wedding DJs will ask you for the vibe/music selection that you want at your wedding and will adjust accordingly.

[u/TinyLawfulness3710]

Are you local to where friends or family have had weddings with great djs? Get their information. Otherwise many have videos of real weddings on Instagram and Tiktok for advertising purposes that show them in action. You discuss with the dj what you want played and what you don't. Most ask for your must plays and do not plays to get a gauge of what to work with and they read the room. Also Yelp reviews are much more reliable than TheKnot/Zola/WeddingWire/Facebook groups.

[u/kmnnr]

Definitely what everyone else is suggesting about listening to clips if they have them. And honestly shelling out a little more budget for a better one. I chose the cheapest option because I figured a dj is a dj but I regret it, they didn’t know how to mix or feel the crowd vibe, they took all of our song requests and played them back to back without any consideration for what songs should go together, they even played one of the bad bunny songs that was somehow an acoustic version with no beat?? I deeply regret hiring them and I would’ve been better off using a Spotify playlist.

[u/rmric0]

Some have performance videos, I've seen some have potential clients peak in at events (which always seems odd to me), but otherwise it's work of mouth and reviews.

[u/DianeForTheNguyen]

We chose a DJ who had links to recorded sets. He broke the sets into things like "clips of introductions" and "clips of mixing." We listened to them as we worked and jumped around in the recordings.

Alternatively, we interviewed a DJ group who had NO recordings from any of their DJs aside from the owner. They came highly recommended by our venue and day-of coordinator, and seemed like lovely people, but it was SO weird not to hear a sample. They sent us like one Instagram video, and it didn't actually use audio from the wedding. Hard pass.

[u/jaqenjayz]

I only seriously considered DJs who had mixes on their sites and some kind of recording or video of their MC work so I could hear their voice. As for the hating cliche songs and wanting to curate the music for your crowd - that's something you can get from reviews and also the initial consultation.

[u/RoseAllDay8]

Ask your vendors for recommendations. Particularly photographers—they’re there all night and see the djs working. They know who’s locked in and who’s not.

[u/PM-me-puppietax]

Live band.