Sub-contracting

One very under-reported problem clients experience with DJ entertainment companies is the issue of sub-contracting or substitute DJs. Quite often the person you interview or consult with is not the person that ends up being your DJ.

When we created our postcard we gave a number of different proofs to dozens of friends, family and coworkers and one common theme was to make sure we made the point that we never subcontract. Then the horror stories began rolling in.

Knowing who your DJ is going to be is critical. As the client you should demand that you meet the individual(s) prior to the event. Personalities, styles, and interactivity vary greatly from one DJ to another and you should make sure you get the exact personality, style and interactivity that you like. Besides, you choices and preferences can get muddied as they're passed from person to person, so you should be able to deliver your concerns directly.

Make sure the company you talk to can provide you time with your actual DJ, not the possible, or most likely DJ. Try to find out if they overbook often and subcontract. In some cases you could have an entirely different company servicing your event. Firefly Audio never sub-contracts, never overbooks, and never hire substitute DJs. While we do have emergency coverage through a number of very successful DJs, over the past 3 years we've never had to utilize them.

Don't just choose an entertainment company, make sure you get the opportunity to choose and meet your DJ!

Who picks the music?

This might seem like an obvious answer. You do. But how you get from no music to a well thought out list is in the hands of the entertainment company. For example, at Firefly Audio we make every attempt in the world to get the client to choose their music without prodding. Granted, we're talking mostly about wedding receptions, but this goes for all events.


Most DJs and entertainment companies will post lists on their websites or provide their prospective clients with written lists of popular songs to choose from, but for Firefly Audio, this is a last resort. Even prior to the first in-person consult we'll let the client know that they need to start thinking of songs that mean something to them.

While we realize that a list makes things easier, we know that the clients will have a much more enjoyable experience if they pick "that" song rather than one on the list that fits well. The song playing on the radio during their first kiss, the theme song to their first drive-in movie, the song that was playing when he finally proposed. Those are the songs we want our clients to choose, not one on a canned list that we provide.


Do we have song lists? Of course. But as mentioned earlier, this is a last resort for Firefly Audio. First, be sure that you get to choose all of the important music. Second, be sure that the DJ or entertainment company know what to and not to play. Nearly every event has that person that wants something played 180 degrees opposite of the theme of the night. You need to know that the DJ or entertainment company you choose will tactfully turn down song requests that might break the mood of the evening. Third, choose the right fit for you and have fun!

Testimonials? References? Reviews.

Today we're going to talk about testimonials, references, and reviews. You'll notice as you shop online for entertainment that most sites include dozens, sometimes hundreds of testimonials. While we will assume for arguments sake that most are legitimate, one must keep in mind that what is displayed on any given website is 100% controlled by the owner. In other words, they could be entirely made up.

Firefly Audio considered including both testimonials and references on our site, but due to the unreliability of testimonials and the intrusiveness to our clients of being called upon to be references for an indeterminate span of time, we chose a third, more reliable and less intrusive method. Reviews.

Reviews are the best of both worlds. They are testimonials by customers that can't be altered by the reviewed company and are posted by clients that have used your services in the past. Instead of asking clients to be subjected to countless future phone calls we simply give them a link to our site and ask that they give an honest review of our services.

This accomplishes multiple things. It provides our potential clients an independent source for client opinions on our services and also pressures us to do the best we possibly can or risk a bad review that all can see. Firefly Audio prides itself in having an unblemished 5-Star rating with Yahoo Local, our primary source for reviews at the following address: http://local.yahoo.com/WI/Kenosha/Entertainment+Arts/Music/Disc+Jockeys

So to make a long story slightly longer, beware of hundreds of rosy testimonials and be wary that if they publish a lot of references, you may be asked to do the same. Be sure to look for third party reviews at sites like Yahoo Local and many bridal sites where company owners can't control the feedback. It will help you to make a more informed decision when choosing quality entertainment that suits your needs.