DJ Resources with Reviews etc

floggg

Does anybody know any good resources for finding a wedding DJ?

When looking for a photographer, it was fairly easy to find a lengthy list on One Fab Day with reviews, testimonials etc.

Is there anything similar for DJs? There doesn't seem to be a comrpehensive list anywhere, and it feels like stabbing in the dark just going through google results or the sticky here.

With a photographer, its fairly easy to judge their work from photos. But there is a lot more intangibles involved in judging a DJ.


Or has anybody any reasonably priced suggestions operating in Dublin?

sweetie

weddingsonline and sites like it charge a fairly high fee for single operator DJs and unlike photographers most DJs are part timers with full time jobs. Some venues will have recommended suppliers and most DJ's will supply references and playlists to potential clients and also be available to meet them to get their custom. viewing a DJ at a private party or wedding is a tough one as by their nature they have often bespoke playlists requested. I find best bet is word of mouth to be honest.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Are you going with a band also? A lot of bands these days also do DJ

Toots

Your hotel may have a list of suppliers that they recommend. I know when we got married the hotel gave us a list with a few photographers, florists, djs, car hires, cake makers and bands on it.

clint_silver

As above, are you looking for full night, or after band.

quotes should range from 350-700 for full day depending on demand. not enough to sustain full time employment as sweetie refers to so bar a few agencies it doesnt always pay to advertise that way with the online sites.

how good are they? try and get word of mouth recommendations first.

Go and view as you would a band, look for equipment condition, sound levels, lighting, mic control, personal presentation, is he on the phone txting his buddy or watching the floor, watch his floor control, does he take requests, talk to them, how easy are they to get along with.

On any given night in dublin there must be 10-15 weddings on. take a friday and saturday night, drive round hotels.

Theres always the agencies where youll pay a little bit more then the average but you usually get what you pay for.

Post your date in the Band/DJ sticky thread at the top here with your date and someone may pm you if they're free.

CorkClaire82

clint_silver wrote: »

As above, are you looking for full night, or after band.

quotes should range from 350-700 for full day depending on demand. not enough to sustain full time employment as sweetie refers to so bar a few agencies it doesnt always pay to advertise that way with the online sites.

how good are they? try and get word of mouth recommendations first.

Go and view as you would a band, look for equipment condition, sound levels, lighting, mic control, personal presentation, is he on the phone txting his buddy or watching the floor, watch his floor control, does he take requests, talk to them, how easy are they to get along with.

On any given night in dublin there must be 10-15 weddings on. take a friday and saturday night, drive round hotels.

Theres always the agencies where youll pay a little bit more then the average but you usually get what you pay for.

Post your date in the Band/DJ sticky thread at the top here with your date and someone may pm you if they're free.

I'd actually love something like this too, it's hard to judge.

We're getting married in April in Wexford and our band does DJ which is what I want to go for, however my fiance wants a particular DJ from Cork and he's charging €500 (plus B&B) for post band work, I know nothing about what they charge but is this astronomical?? Sounds very high to me when compared with what the band will charge.

clint_silver

CorkClaire82 wrote: »

I'd actually love something like this too, it's hard to judge.

We're getting married in April in Wexford and our band does DJ which is what I want to go for, however my fiance wants a particular DJ from Cork and he's charging €500 (plus B&B) for post band work, I know nothing about what they charge but is this astronomical?? Sounds very high to me when compared with what the band will charge.

I would have said thats a very high price for post-band (normal range 250-400, average 350) but not completely out of the question for a high in demand guy. Id be asking what he does that the other guy doesnt do, if you dont want to pay that and dont like the band DJ, theres a guy called misterDJ who operates out of wexford, he's VERY good at what he does and I know he doesnt charge that much for post band.

as for B&B, each to their own there but travelling at night goes with the territory, I know guys who'll drive home to dublin from wesport/clonakilty after a gig (Ive done it) so asking for B&B from wexford to cork would seem a little strange to me, however, each to their own, he might be getting 500e to gig in cork alone and just thinks well, if you want to book me, that's the price.

whats the venue? I know a particular venue in wexford that have last song at 1:30, I went on after band one night at 12:45am in there. Just saying it might be a factor. Clarify with venue.

berrecka

I thought One Fab Day did DJ recommendations. I know the DJ we had for our wedding in October asked me to give him a review on OFD as he had just been added. I still haven't gotten around to it though - its on the post-wedding to-do list!

CorkClaire82

clint_silver wrote: »

I would have said thats a very high price for post-band (normal range 250-400, average 350) but not completely out of the question for a high in demand guy. Id be asking what he does that the other guy doesnt do, if you dont want to pay that and dont like the band DJ, theres a guy called misterDJ who operates out of wexford, he's VERY good at what he does and I know he doesnt charge that much for post band.

as for B&B, each to their own there but travelling at night goes with the territory, I know guys who'll drive home to dublin from wesport/clonakilty after a gig (Ive done it) so asking for B&B from wexford to cork would seem a little strange to me, however, each to their own, he might be getting 500e to gig in cork alone and just thinks well, if you want to book me, that's the price.

whats the venue? I know a particular venue in wexford that have last song at 1:30, I went on after band one night at 12:45am in there. Just saying it might be a factor. Clarify with venue.

Thanks clint_silver, I knew you'd be the one to set me right either way It's Horetown House in Wexford which does have a 1:30 curfew in the marquee but you can play all night in the bar if we wanted to. See that's why we are thinking of going for a different dj than the band's one as they'd be fixed to playing in the marquee and 1:30 is early to finish dancing in my world

I'll look up that person you mentioned and see what he's like. I actually don't mind paying the B&B, it's the main cost that bothers me to be honest. I think it's that he'll get a gig in Cork so he can charge the high prices. Hopefully the other half will be willing to change his mind

sweetie

CorkClaire82 wrote: »

Thanks clint_silver, I knew you'd be the one to set me right either way It's Horetown House in Wexford which does have a 1:30 curfew in the marquee but you can play all night in the bar if we wanted to. See that's why we are thinking of going for a different dj than the band's one as they'd be fixed to playing in the marquee and 1:30 is early to finish dancing in my world
I'll look up that person you mentioned and see what he's like. I actually don't mind paying the B&B, it's the main cost that bothers me to be honest. I think it's that he'll get a gig in Cork so he can charge the high prices. Hopefully the other half will be willing to change his mind

Not all band's own dj service are part of the band or use the band's equipment. Often, like me, they will have seperate PA gear and lights.
Also, that afterband price is a bit on the high side alright.

CorkClaire82

sweetie wrote: »

Not all band's own dj service are part of the band or use the band's equipment. Often, like me, they will have seperate PA gear and lights.
Also, that afterband price is a bit on the high side alright.

I've checked with them and they are unfortunately so it won't work as well. It's a shame because we'd only want them to play for a further hour really like and they're a great band so I'd imagine they'd be good at the dj section too (total presumption on my part of course!!).

clint_silver

CorkClaire82 wrote: »

Thanks clint_silver, I knew you'd be the one to set me right either way It's Horetown House in Wexford which does have a 1:30 curfew in the marquee but you can play all night in the bar if we wanted to. See that's why we are thinking of going for a different dj than the band's one as they'd be fixed to playing in the marquee and 1:30 is early to finish dancing in my world

I'll look up that person you mentioned and see what he's like. I actually don't mind paying the B&B, it's the main cost that bothers me to be honest. I think it's that he'll get a gig in Cork so he can charge the high prices. Hopefully the other half will be willing to change his mind

Ah, well that might be a different scenario if he's going to be playing into the wee hours in horestown, after band could be anything but is usually 2-2.5 hours max. If the Dj is setting up to go til 4-5am then its more of a full night and I can also see why he may asking for B&B at that time of the night/morning as I wouldnt like to drive home at that time either.

If youre looking for any other DJ to do same be prepared for fuller prices then normal after band. So it "all depends" on your definition of post-band.. . Fantastic spot btw.

CorkClaire82

clint_silver wrote: »

Ah, well that might be a different scenario if he's going to be playing into the wee hours in horestown, after band could be anything but is usually 2-2.5 hours max. If the Dj is setting up to go til 4-5am then its more of a full night and I can also see why he may asking for B&B at that time of the night/morning as I wouldnt like to drive home at that time either.

If youre looking for any other DJ to do same be prepared for fuller prices then normal after band. So it "all depends" on your definition of post-band.. . Fantastic spot btw.

Well I don't think he'd be playing that long but I get what you mean. And I really don't mind the b&b as it really is in the middle of nowhere. We'll see, I'll try and haggle a bit but we might go with the band dj and do play lists for the bar then. As long as there is no "noble" calling I'm grand :-P

Edit: Actually after talking to my boyfriend he did ask him to play till 4 so in fairness that's very long!

sweetie

CorkClaire82 wrote:

Edit: Actually after talking to my boyfriend he did ask him to play till 4 so in fairness that's very long!

12-4 am for 500 is about right. book a cheap bnb or haggle that point.

CorkClaire82

sweetie wrote: »

12-4 am for 500 is about right. book a cheap bnb or haggle that point.

Yeah definitely fair enough, I didn't realise he asked for that long, I assumed it was til 2!! Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Sorry OP for taking over your thread.

Preset No.3

Cheap DJ to come from Cork for that money.

floggg

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

Are you going with a band also? A lot of bands these days also do DJ

clint_silver wrote: »

As above, are you looking for full night, or after band.

quotes should range from 350-700 for full day depending on demand. not enough to sustain full time employment as sweetie refers to so bar a few agencies it doesnt always pay to advertise that way with the online sites.

how good are they? try and get word of mouth recommendations first.

Go and view as you would a band, look for equipment condition, sound levels, lighting, mic control, personal presentation, is he on the phone txting his buddy or watching the floor, watch his floor control, does he take requests, talk to them, how easy are they to get along with.

On any given night in dublin there must be 10-15 weddings on. take a friday and saturday night, drive round hotels.

Theres always the agencies where youll pay a little bit more then the average but you usually get what you pay for.

Post your date in the Band/DJ sticky thread at the top here with your date and someone may pm you if they're free.

Sorry, got side tracked with non-wedding stuff last week.

We are having a band first, so just looking for a post-band set. I don't think they come with a DJ (haven't confirmed the booking yet so will ask).

I guess gate crashing weddings might be the best way. I just wanted a way to even narrow down the field before trying to see them in action, rather than just kind of picking at random.