- Why did you want to work as a DJ? …
- What skills do you think DJs need to be successful? …
- How do you stay up to date with the latest music trends? …
- What techniques do you use to engage listeners? …
- What would you say is the most rewarding part of being a DJ?
Entertainment plays an important role on your wedding day—and if you envision a party with a packed dance floor all night long, hiring a DJ might be right for you. When it comes to picking your wedding vendors, we always recommend preparing a list of questions to ask during the selection process. Not only will this help you get to know your potential pros before you sign any contracts, itll ensure that you know exactly what to expect when the big day arrives.
So, if youre searching for the best questions to ask your wedding DJ, youre in the right place. Start by using The Knot Marketplace to find local music pros in your area—not only can you read reviews from real couples, we also make it easy to contact them directly from our site. Once youve set up a time to chat about your wedding, use this list of 16 questions to ask your DJ as a way to facilitate the conversation. These thought-starters will help you find the perfect pro in no time.
Dillon Francis Answers DJ Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED
The world needs to know who you are and how are you different from everyone else, and one of the best ways to overcome this challenge is through media interviews. So if you ever get the opportunity to get featured by media, news media, magazines or bloggers, SAY YES!!
Once you say YES to a media interview, it is a time to prepare yourself for the same. Below are the interview questions for DJs, I hope these questions will help you prepare better.
DJs play a continuous mix of music via turntables, software or CDJs at parties, clubs, bars, concert venues, raves, and music festivals. Most popular DJs also write and produce their own tracks, which is a great way to showcase expertise and position differently.
Most DJs worldwide are self-employed therefore it becomes essential for DJs to focus on personal branding to stand out from the crowd. You will get many interviews opportunities while building and growing your personal brand, and trust me; interviews are the best way to tell the world about yourself.
Name: Carola PisaturoOccupation: DJ/ProducerCurrent Release: Formes 01 on Claque MusiqueRecommendations: Art wise I would recommend Douglas Gordon, a Scottish artist whose works have been really inspiring to me. Book wise I’d go for Mémoires dHadrien by the Belgian-born French writer, Marguerite Yourcenar. Website: If you enjoyed this interview with Carola Pisaturo, be sure to visit her Facebook profile for more information and current gig dates.When did you start DJing – and what or who were your early passions and influences? What what is about music and/or sound that drew you to it? I started DJing a long time ago now! My boyfriend at the time was a DJ. He had turntables at home, and occasionally I’d find myself playing around with his records. Gradually, I began to love the feel of the vinyl and soon after I taught myself how to mix. A while after that came my first gig and soon after I got a job at a record store and studied at the SAE institute. Gradually, I got paid DJ gigs before DJing eventually became a job, albeit a job I love deeply. It all happened pretty organically actually. My early passions were Chicago house and Detroit techno, two sounds that I’m obviously still very drawn to.For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and the transition towards your own voice? What is the the relationship between copying, learning and your own creativity? For sure, I agree. In that essence I’d always be the one watching and studying the DJ, seeing how they mix records, how they blend them and looking at what records fit the right stage of the night. I think identifying your own ‘voice’ comes about through the sheer experience of listening to the music in different situations. In terms of copying, learning and creating, it’s become increasingly difficult to become original today, especially in terms of producing music. Naturally I consider myself a creative person but realistically most of the music that we produce today (regardless of what it’s produced on) is based around music that first came about 30 years ago. It’s testament to how future sounding Chicago house and Detroit techno were that their influence is still so keenly felt in modern day electronic music. What were some of the main challenges and goals when starting out as a DJ and how have they changed over time? What is it about DJing, compared to, say, producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you? When you start out, the challenge is to keep proving yourself, so that you can make a living out of DJing, something that very few DJs too. But even when you’ve been DJing professionally for a few years, you have to still have the same work ethic and drive. If you don’t, you’ll be forgotten pretty quickly. How would you define the job and describe the influence of the DJ? How are the experience and the music transformed through your work? Playing music you love to get people to dance. What was your first set-up as DJ like? How and for what reasons has your set-up evolved over the years and what are currently some of the most important pieces of gear for you? Two turntables and a mixer. It hasn’t really evolved so much over the years. I can and do play on CDJs too, but the fundamental technologies remain the same. How do you make use of technology? In terms of the feedback mechanism between technology and creativity, what do humans excel at, what do machines excel at? Humans explore the possibilities of sound and bring the machines to life. I don’t think they’ll ever be able to write an algorithm that, for example, could write a great techno track. Even though the greatest tracks are often not so complex in structure, it’s the simplicity that makes them even more genius. Just like a guitar, the machine is the instrument, but it’s the humans playing it that makes them great.Could you take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your work? Do you have a fixed schedule? How do life and creativity feed back into each other – do you separate them or instead try to make them blend seamlessly? It really depends. Running the label and travelling to gigs naturally takes up a lot of my time. If I’m not doing that I’m usually in the studio but honestly, it varies a lot, so I probably don’t keep a strict schedule, no. I try to keep some Me time, relaxing with the dogs, walking to the beach, reading.Lets say you have a gig coming up tonight. What does your approach look like – from selecting the material and preparing for, opening and then building a set? I’ll divide my bag into different tracks for different times. Who I’m playing with and where I’m playing is another important consideration, as is the time I’m playing at. Vinyl are packed and CDs are burnt and I’ll bring a USB of tracks too. Can you describe your state of mind during a DJ set? What supports this ideal state of mind and what are distractions? Are there strategies to enter into this state more easily? Good question. Every DJ will tell you that there are special gigs and really special gigs. It’s the really special ones that keep you motivated and inspire you to keep on pushing with your music. As for my state of mind, again that’s something that’s dictated by when I’m playing etc. I still get nervous before gigs so concentration is key. What are some of the considerations that go into deciding which track to play next? What makes two tracks a good fit? How far do you tend to plan ahead during a set? I pack my vinyl so know there are certain tracks I’ll reach for at different stages of the night. But with my digital tracks I can be a bit more off the cuff. Providing the tracks work together, then all good; I prefer to slowly tell a story than dramatically switch from one sound to another. Would you say you see DJing as improvisation? As composition in the moment? Or as something entirely different from these terms? For me, improvisation – it’s what keeps things interesting. How do playing music at home and presenting it in the club compare and relate? What can be achieved through them, respectively, and what do you personally draw from both? They can’t really be compared because you can’t capture the energy of a club night at home and vice versa. Naturally I prepare at home, but for example, when producing tracks it’s best to test them on a crowd before you release them. You can get feedback from your peers etc., but it’s a crowd who’ll honestly let you know if they like a track or not. How would you describe the relationship between your choices and goals as a DJ and the expectations, desires and feedback of the audience? How does this relationship manifest itself during a performance and how do you concretely tap into it? That’s a difficult one because all audiences are different in some way, depending on a range of different factors. Generally I play stuff I love and hope they’ll like it too. Reading the crowd is important, but you don’t want to only be playing crowd pleasers all night, either. Especially thanks to the storage facilities of digital media, DJ sets could potentially go on forever. Other than closing time, what marks the end of a DJ performance for you? What are the most satisfying conclusions to a set? It sounds like a cliché, but when you’ve taken people on a musical journey it generally draws to a natural conclusion. There’s no specific moment that signals it’s over really, but a good DJ just knows. Art can be a purpose in its own right, but it can also directly feed back into everyday life, take on a social and political role and lead to more engagement. Can you describe your approach to art and being an artist? It’s complicated! Being a musician can be tough, it can be lonely, but it’s also extremely rewarding. So sometimes you have to make small sacrifices, but in the end they are of course worth it.
Even the very best and most well-maintained equipment will malfunction at some point. Your DJ needs to be prepared in case this happens at your wedding. The only way you will not suffer a setback on your special day is if the DJ brings a full second sound system with them to each and every wedding. Having backup equipment in a warehouse 50 miles from your reception site won’t do much good if there is no music at your wedding for an hour.
Every professional wedding DJ should offer a wireless microphone to be used for your guests’ toasts, blessing, and any other speeches that need to be made. The industry standard for wireless microphones is Shure, and most professional DJs use Shure wireless technology.
This is an extremely important question to ask because it will tell you whether or not the DJ is the right match for your guests and the atmosphere you’re trying to create. If you are planning an elegant, understated wedding, then utilizing the services of a “party motivator” or “entertainer DJ” may not be what you are looking for. If you know your guests will need a lot of encouragement to dance, then hiring someone who flatly refuses to make announcements probably isn’t the best idea either.
Just like any other profession, performing for weddings requires one’s skills to be in top form. If a DJ performs for only a few weddings per year, they may not be “at the top of their game” by the time your wedding date arrives. Asking how many weddings they do per year will give you an indication of their level of commitment to your type of event.
Many DJ companies will try to get clients to sign a contract without speaking with their DJ first, asking couples to simply trust that whoever the company sends to perform their wedding will be a good fit. In our experience, this is a terrible idea. The only way you’ll actually know whether the DJ you’ll have at your wedding is to interview them before you sign a contract. Your “gut” feeling is very important in selecting the right disc jockey, and you’ll be in a tough spot if you finally speak to your DJ a week before your wedding and realize they aren’t going to be a good match.
This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are comfortable with public speaking and interacting with a crowd. If you have experience working in front of a live audience, describe your previous experiences. If you do not have any experience, explain how you would feel if you had to speak in front of a large group of people.
This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan your time and organize your tasks. It also helps them see if you have experience with setting up and breaking down equipment, which is a common part of being a DJ. When answering this question, try to describe your process in detail so that the interviewer can get an idea of what it’s like working with you.
Example: “I am very comfortable working in front of a live audience because I have been doing it for years as a DJ. In my last position, I was hired to play music at a wedding reception while the bride and groom were cutting their cake. The venue only allowed me to use a microphone when I was playing music, so I had to get used to talking over the music. Now, I am quite comfortable talking over loud music.”
Example: “I think being a DJ requires many of the same skills as being an event planner. Both jobs require me to be organized and detail-oriented so I can create a timeline for my set and ensure everything goes smoothly. In both roles, I need to have strong communication skills so I can work with clients to determine their needs and preferences. Finally, in both positions, I need to be creative and able to improvise when necessary.”
Example: “I would start by looking at the client’s target demographic. If they want to attract a younger crowd, I would look for more upbeat songs with a faster tempo. I would also consider adding some popular current artists to the playlist to give it a fresher feel. Another thing I might do is add in some older songs from when the target audience was growing up so they have a chance to reminisce.”
FAQ
What are good questions to ask a DJ?
- Is being a DJ your main business or do you have another profession/career? …
- How do you tailor the music to be compatible with us and our guests? …
- How do you get the crowd engaged, energized, and in the party spirit? …
- Do you take song requests? …
- Have you played at the selected event venue before?
What qualities make a good DJ?
- 1 – PERSONAL. This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised. …
- 2 – ATTENTIVENESS. …
- 3 – ROOM CONTROL. …
- 4 – BACK-UP EQUIPMENT. …
- 5 – TIME-LINE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. …
- 6 – LEADERSHIP. …
- 7 – COMMUNICATION. …
- 8 – PROFESSIONALISM.
What are DJ skills?
- Beatmatching. The purpose of beatmatching is to get two tracks playing at the same tempo (speed) and phase (beats playing in-time with each other).
- Phrasing. Phrasing means mixing your tracks together at points in the songs which make sense.
- Gain control. …
- EQing.
