What Wedding DJs Wish You Knew About Choosing One

Wedding couples are frustrated. DJs are frustrated. There's a disconnect here. But what exactly is the problem?

It depends on who you ask. DJs continually wonder why brides and grooms treat the mobile DJ -- the type who lugs around his equipment to show up at big events and weddings -- as a commodity. In other words, couples price-shop ruthlessly, as if any given DJ were interchangeable with the rest.

Paul Arnett (http://www.mybigdaydj.co.uk), a Yorkshire DJ and NADJ (National Association of Disc Jockeys) member who organizes the UK's Mobile DJ Show North event (http://www.djshownorth.co.uk), puts the problem like this: "Well, your average couple spends hours deliberating over the dress. You hand-pick the caterers. You pore over flowers and sweat over the florist. You spend hours choosing just the right venue and church -- not to mention the time spent on favors.'

"But then, you go out and hire a DJ because he's ten dollars cheaper than the next one. Or he's a friend of your brother's, or he does Tuesdays at the local bar. You might never even see him work, check out his equipment, or meet with him personally to make sure he's suitable."

Most couples handle every other major item in their budget differently. You don't choose one venue over another because it costs a hundred dollars less. Few brides with a budget to work with buy their cakes from the discount grocery store, even though that cake (slathered in tubs of "BetterCream" frosting) would be much cheaper than one from the designer bakery downtown. Instead, they investigate. They take pictures. They taste-test amaretto fillings and hors d'oeuvres. And eventually, they settle on the vendor who seems poised to deliver the best experience to their guests.

-- Why Is It So Different With DJs?

Part of the answer is an image problem, says Paul. "People perceive that most mobile DJs will turn up fifteen minutes ahead of time, with a couple of speakers and some cheesy circa-1970's light screens, and play 'Agadoo' all night." (For we lucky few who haven't heard it, the 1984 song Agadoo frequently charts as "the worst song of all time.")

We all feel confident identifying an excellent meal or a sublime dessert. But few of us feel comfortable evaluating DJs in the same way. We know that a good one can "get the party started," but we're not sure how to tell a good one from a bad one.

Some people think so poorly of DJs, they prefer to eliminate them entirely, soundtracking the dance portion of the night with iPods or laptops. This isn't easy -- it requires you to rent expensive sound equipment, find someone to mind the iPod, possibly buy insurance, and somehow get around or ignore the technical issues, like the inevitable three second delay between songs you get on an iPod. And yet some people find that preferable to risking the "Agadoo" or "Chicken Dance" scenario on their Big Day.

An iPod might well be better than a bad DJ. But the DJ is a key part of your five-hour reception, and some of them are very good indeed.

-- When She Was Good, She Was Very Very Good

Perhaps it's hard for the average bride and groom to grasp the difference between a green DJ with low-end equipment, and a seasoned one who knows how to transform shy and retiring Clark Kents into dance floor superheros.

The first may be nothing more than a glorified CD changer. He may or may not have a firm grasp of the different musical needs that accompany standard reception rituals, like the cake cutting or the father/daughter dance. He may lug in his entry-level Peavy subwoofers and arrange his sound system in ways that ignore your venue's peculiarities.

The second may have emceed hundreds of weddings. Along the way, he's developed something subtle but important known as voice and personality -- not an imitation of some radio host's, but his own. He doesn't practice on your wedding; he brings his skills to it, along with a top-of-the-line sound system, which he'll arrange differently depending on factors like whether or not your venue is broken up into several chambers (the cocktail lounge and the banquet area, for example).

If he's a gearhead, he might even offer specialty lighting abilities you might not think of, such as the ability to shine gobos on the dance floor -- gobos being customized templates that display things like your wedding monogram. Some DJs even offer giant video screens and live replays of key points in the reception.

But the most important skills a good DJ will bring to your wedding is a honed personality, a formal-friendly image, and an absolute mastery of what gets crowds on their feet.

Okay, so you get it. You understand that not all DJs are alike, and that a good one brings as much your wedding as any premium florist or baker. So how do you find him?

-- Choose DJs that Take Their Job Seriously

Skip the part-timers -- they're still learning the ropes, and they'll be practicing on your wedding. Instead, look for full-timers who show their commitment to the profession by belonging to professional DJ associations such as CPDJA, ADJA, & NAME, or NADJ in the UK.

Paul adds, "Ask if they have public liability insurance (in case Grandma trips over a speaker wire) and PAT electrical test certificates (to insure their equipment is safe). This also shows they're professionals and not cutting corners."

Meet with them in person, and take a gander at their sound systems. You might not know your Geminis or Peaveys from your Mackies or QSCs, but even a casual glance should tell you whether the DJ or company invests in good equipment. In fact, most will be delighted to run you through their top-of-the-line systems if you give them the slightest excuse.

While you're there, take a look at their promotional photos and videos. Are they wearing tuxes? Do they look sharp? Does their sound stage sport garish self-promoting signs, or do they keep things discreet?

-- Turn on Your X-Ray Vision

Everyone has what it takes to pick a great DJ. You simply have to meet with them in person, and absorb what they have to offer.

Paul says, "Talk to them -- their personality should shine through. While you're there, ask them what special qualities they can bring to their wedding. Ask how they're prepared to work with you to make your day extraordinary."

The DJ should be happy to meet you, seem interested in the specifics of your venue, and ask questions. "Any DJ who seems phased or reluctant by any of this -- they're not the one. If your DJ seems bored, or gives you the sense you'll be just another date on their calendar, they're also not the one."

-- A Coda for the Couple

It's true with the cake, it's true with the steak tartar, and it's true for your DJ -- the final word is quality, not price. As Paul puts it, "When you look back on your wedding reception in years to come, do you want to remember what a fantastic time everyone had? Or do you want to say, 'Well, at least we saved some money on the DJ?'"

Good DJs see themselves as part of the larger picture. They expect to work closely with your coordinator, photographer and videographer, and to custom-fit their setup to your venue. So hire a good DJ -- one who can help you tailor the night's entertainment to your individual wedding.

"And see what they can offer to make your wedding function unique," adds Paul.

Many businesses find themselves in an unfortunate position. They find that assets are missing, that the books have not been kept accurately or that bribes have been taken. Other businesses are learning from these mistakes and are electing to perform a fraud investigation on their own.

A fraud investigation might be conducted in order to determine:

whether or not there has been a sale of assets that were either misrepresented or fictitious;

whether or not improper payments – kickbacks, illegal political donations, bribes, or payoffs – have been made from within the company;

whether or not there has been some sort of intentional misrepresentation or assets, liabilities, transactions or income;

whether or not there have been intentional pricing changes created to benefit the business financially;

whether or not items have been deliberately left off the books; or

whether or not tax fraud has occurred.

In some cases, a fraud investigation is conducted by an auditor from within the company – an auditor who oversees the financial departments. In other cases, a fraud investigation may be conducted by external auditor, a financial analyst who is brought in for the purpose of reviewing the books.

In other cases, a fraud investigation may be handled by a private investigator. A private investigator may be brought in to conduct a fraud investigation to determine which asset was transferred improperly or to establish which employee may have defrauded the organization.

This can be done through deeper background checks to determine whether there are employees who had access to the assets who also have a criminal record. A private investigator can also conduct background checks into employees' credit histories, judgments and liens, even federal and civil records to determine whether or not red flags are present.

Often, a private investigator is called in to perform a fraud investigation after fraud has been discovered. He or she will be hired by the business to conduct full background searches on all employees who may have been involved in misrepresenting assets, making improper payments, leaving items off the books or even embezzling.

In addition to a fraud investigation, a private investigator is likely to work with the business' executives to determine a plan for preventing fraud in the future. This may involve examining the policies and procedures that are currently in place. It may also involve implementing surveillance through cameras or by tracking programs installed on office computers.

By creating a fraud prevention strategy and by conducting a fraud investigation, a private investigator can help to put your business back on the right track.

Perhaps your business has not always taken the time to conduct thorough background investigations of applicants before hiring. Perhaps you are hoping that your business still has the opportunity to prevent fraud. Maybe you've been unfortunate however and fraud has already taken place. Regardless of your situation, a fraud investigation can help to ensure that you are fully aware of what is taking place.

When that fraud investigation is conducted by a private investigator, you can also take measures to protect your business from future instances of fraud.

DO Shop early! Avoid the “Two Weeks ‘til Wedding Day Attack.” Get your wedding dress early.

DO Research before your buy. The quickest and easiest way to research is by searching online. There are many Web sites dedicated do wedding dresses where you can get a ton of useful information about styles, designs, trends, etc.

DO Go to a wedding dress specialist. You should visit several wedding boutiques, and learn from the pros. Of course, keep in mind they are selling, so you should take everything with a grain of salt.

DO Expect minor alterations. Even the most expensive designer wedding gowns might need a few adjustments. If you buy your gown well in advance, you may need to alter the dress again a couple of weeks prior to the wedding.

DO Keep an open mind while you shop for your wedding dress. Try lots of things on. Often the dress you thought you’d never like is the one that makes you look and feel the best.

DO Bring shoes with the same height as your wedding shoes are going to be on your special day.

DO Slip a bustier, a control-top panty hose into your purse.

DO Have Fun!

DON'T panic if you have to special order! Wedding dress salons can special order your dress faster than you can say "panic."

DON'T put up with unfriendly sales people. This is your wedding day, your big purchase. The sales person who sells your wedding dress to you should share in your enthusiasm and make it exciting for you.

DON'T shop after you’ve bought. Instead enjoy the rest of your wedding planning journey.

DON'T give up! Finding that perfect wedding dress is going to take some work.

DON'T take too many people with you on your hunt for your wedding dress. You shouldn't take more than five people with you on your shopping trip.

As the Baby Boomer generation continues to grow older, their primary concerns have shifted to their health, money and retirement. The days of idly wondering where their next vacation should be and whether their bonus check will be as much as they deserve are quietly passing. Today, Baby Boomer issues are mostly about concerns with maintaining their dwindling health and having enough money to live comfortably through their twilight years.

Health Concerns For Baby Boomers

As people grow older, they often experience problems with their health. Their bodies grow more fragile and susceptible to diseases and bacteria. In addition, many people 50 years of age and older are reporting health problems that were not experienced by people in their same age group long ago.

This problem is exacerbated by rising health care costs. As the Boomer generation begins to require more medical care, the cost of that medical care continues to increase. Health issues and their ability to cope with them and find the proper medical support is a major concern for Baby Boomers.

Money And Retirement Concerns For Baby Boomers

Along with rising health care costs, Baby Boomers also worry about money and retirement. During the last several years of their careers before retiring, people usually enjoy salaries and bonuses that are larger than at any other point in their career. As a result, money is rarely a major concern.

However, many people fail to save that money. Instead, they spend it on vacations, their families and in the pursuit of living fun and fulfilling lives. This can lead to a rude awakening when they retire. Because they have not saved much money during their career, a lot of people discover that they do not have enough money to live comfortably during their retirement years.

When they retire, they no longer earn a salary. They no longer receive bonus checks. Instead, they are forced to live off the income that can be generated by the investments they have made throughout their lives. Unfortunately, many have not invested any money that can generate this income.

Other Baby Boomer issues complicate this money problem. People live longer lives today. When a Baby Boomer retires, he can expect to live many years in retirement. In the past, a 65-year old man could expect to live approximately 10 years in retirement before passing away. The financial requirements of living comfortably for these 10 years were manageable for most people.

Today, financial planners use a life expectancy of 90 to 95 years. That is, when a person retires at 65 years of age, he can expect to live up to 30 years in retirement. With dwindling health, rising health care costs and a lack of savings to generate a fixed income, the financial requirements of living 30 years in retirement are out of reach for many people.

These health, money and retirement concerns will grow as more of the Baby Boomer generation moves into retirement. Some will choose to work part-time jobs to keep active, stay healthy and generate supplemental income. Others will require the aid of family and friends. Still others may require more help than is available to them. As the Baby Boomer issues are beginning to emerge the Boomers will experience the issues that have been quietly gaining momentum for years, their health, money and retirement concerns will continue to grow.