Record Time

Finding the right person to provide your wedding music can absolutely make or break your reception. Here are some tips to ensure that you're in perfect harmony with whomever you hire.

• By Greg Zinman
• Published Summer 2006

PLAY THE SLEUTH.
Ask for sample mix tapes and detailed playlists and, if he or she has it, a video from a past wedding so that you can see how he'll interact with you and your guests. In addition, be sure to meet face to face with your prospectives; if a company has a large roster of D.J.'s and musicians, there's no guarantee that you're getting exactly whom you think you are.

DO YOUR PART.
It's nearly impossible to come up with your own four-hour set list, but there's no harm in creating a list of songs you'd love to hear and another of the songs you want to avoid. It's also smart to write up a list of announcements for the D.J. to air (like the introduction for the first dance, toasts, etc.), so you know everything will be worded as you'd intended.

THINK LIKE A D.J.
Be sure to incorporate a good mix of hits, slow songs, and everything in between, or your girlfriends (or grandfather or co-workers) may never leave their seats. And allow the D.J. some flexibility: If the dance floor is empty for ten minutes, it may be a good idea for him to break out "Billie Jean," even if it wasn't on your pre-approved list.

KNOW YOUR CONTRACT INSIDE AND OUT.
Always read the fine print—while it may seem like a good spur-of-the-moment idea to keep your D.J. longer than you’d anticipated, the often exorbitant overtime fees can make the proposition less than financially sound.