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DJ Experience - BPM Supreme Contributor - February 28, 2019
10 Frequently Asked Questions & Answers for Mobile DJs
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If you run your own mobile DJ business, chances are you receive a pretty good amount of inquiries from clients via phone conversations and a majority by email. Sometimes you might get an off-the-wall question that requires some research, but for the most part, prospective clients are going to be asking you the basics.

To help get you started in fielding these questions, I’m sharing the top 10 questions that a mobile DJ business (and my company, Bunn DJ Company) receives, along with the best responses.

A helpful tip is to create a well-put-together FAQ section directly on your website, similarly to how we have on the Bunn DJ Company website. This way you can tailor your responses to these frequently asked questions. Make sure to have the link to FAQs very visible on your website. This will help you to avoid getting (as many) phone calls and emails if the client is able to easily find a quick answer.

Here are the top 10 most frequently asked questions a mobile DJ business can expect to receive:

What type of equipment do you use?

For this type of question, you can approach it in two different ways. The first and most likely to be the best response is to assure the client that your business only uses top of the line professional DJ equipment. The second way is to be more specific and give your client a list of the equipment that you will be using at the event. I would generally suggest leaving these kinds of details for later in the planning stages of the event, and definitely not before an event is locked in/deposit has been received.

Do you have a backup plan if something goes wrong or the DJ can’t make the event?

This is a legitimate concern for clients who are spending time and money on their big event. I like to again promise the client that our company will handle any kind of setback with the utmost professionalism. Specifically at Bunn DJ Company, I let the client know that we always retain one DJ per weekend in each location as a backup in the event of an emergency, and all of our DJs have a backup system with them should there be a technical malfunction of any kind.

When should we book a DJ?

We usually tell our prospective clients that a good time frame for booking a DJ for a small to medium event is four to six months in advance. An event like a wedding or large corporate event, we recommend booking a DJ at least six to twelve months out. However, do mention if your company has DJs available for last minute events. 

Will the DJ play requests from event guests?

Ah the inevitable song request question – this one can come back to haunt you so answer with care. Our DJs only take requests if the client allows it. You want to make sure that this is clearly defined before the event so you are ready to handle any requests from (potentially intoxicated) family members of the client.

If the client says that they will allow song requests from guests, let them know that you will “filter” requests, meaning you won’t play a song that they specifically said not to play or play a song from a genre that they asked you not to play. Also let your client know that if someone makes a request that fits in well with the music playing at the time and with the music the client wants, then the DJ will try to play it.

Can the client request songs for the DJ to play?

Simple answer: of course! Before any big event, you should have open communication with your client about the genre(s) of music they want to hear, the specific songs they need to hear, and the songs to not play whatsoever.

My general response to clients goes something like: “100% you are able to pick which songs you definitely want to hear, and ones you do not want to hear. Please give us 15-20 songs of different genres and artists you would like to hear, as well as songs/artists you don’t, so your DJ has an idea of what music you’d like for the different parts of the event.”

If a client asks if they can provide their own music for the DJ to play, let them know it shouldn’t be a problem but you need to receive the music file(s) in advance of the event.

What is your payment policy?

When it comes to collecting fees and deposits, having a concrete answer will be super beneficial to your mobile DJ business. Depending on your company’s policies, your response should sound something like: “The deposit is required at the time of booking and the remaining balance is due two weeks prior to the event date. Payments can be made online using a debit or credit card or PayPal account, or by mailing a check.”

Do I tip the DJ?

Here is another common question we receive. Again, a response to a question like this should be customized based on the company’s unique policies. However, we love getting this question because it means the client realizes that tipping a DJ means they did a great job! At Bunn DJ Company, we like to remind clients that tipping is optional and we do not include gratuity in the contract price; however, 10-20% is generally recommended if your DJ did a great job. We also equip our DJs with a card “swiper” so they are able to accept tips or additional payments during or after the event.

Will the DJ play overtime if needed?

More hours means more money! For this question, we express to our clients that we want their event to be perfect, and we’ll do whatever we can to make that happen. So, our typical response to a question regarding overtime is always yes! We tell the client that our DJs are able to play past the contracted time, but payment is due at that time if possible. This is also another great reason to carry a credit card “swiper” so that if you do extend the event hours, you can accept payment for overtime.

Should we feed the DJ?

At our company, we appreciate this question. Who doesn’t love free food? Of course, if a DJ is working more than three or four hours, they’re bound to get hungry. While you and your DJs should always make sure to eat a proper meal before your gig, it’s appreciated when the client offers a meal for during or after the event.

For this question, a simple response works best. Let the client know that it is not required to feed the DJ and it is completely their choice. But, if they do wish to provide a meal for the DJ, they can typically request that the catering director or event coordinator set aside a meal or boxed dinner.

What other services do you offer?

Here is a chance to upsell your services! Or you can also recommend other vendors who you have working relationships with. At Bunn DJ Company, we tell clients that we offer an array of ceremony audio, lighting (uplighting & dance floor lighting), photo booths, and much more. Take the opportunity to show the client any promo videos or photos you have from past events, and also be sure to direct them to price menu on you website.

Let us know if there are any common questions that you receive as a mobile DJ. Is there a question that you need help answering? Leave it in the comments section below and I will help you craft the perfect response!

If you’re looking for even more tips, check out thedjsvaultgroup.com or any of my other articles on BPM Supreme.


About Joe Bunn

Joe started his DJ career at the age of 14 in his hometown of Wilson, NC. He did shows all throughout high school, college at UNC-Chapel Hill, and eventually moved to Raleigh, NC in the late 90s where he started Bunn DJ Company. The company grew from a couple of DJs to 15 of the area’s best mobile DJs. Over the past few years, Bunn DJ Company has expanded to Charleston, SC, Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. The company performs at over 800 weddings a year and another 400 private, corporate, and charity events.

In addition, Joe is a writer for many national DJ publications such as Disc Jockey News, Mobile Beat Magazine, and DJ Times. He has given seminars at Mobile Beat Las Vegas, Wedding MBA, DJ Times Expo, local/regional organizations, NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill. Joe has also been hired by DJs all over the world to help their businesses in every aspect from branding to sales.

 

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