Q
What should I look for in a wedding dj, Aidan?

A
Most importantly you need someone who’s versatile. Your wedding dj should have a broad-ranging musical knowledge and very importantly the ability to read the crowd and adapt quickly. Keep in mind that the music on the night is one of the most (if not the most) important element in creating a party atmosphere. You really don’t want someone who sticks to the same formula for every wedding.

Q
At every wedding I’ve ever been to the dj has played ‘rock the boat’ along with other ‘old favourites’, I don’t want to hear the same old rubbish on my big day-is that possible?

A
Of course, a lot of people book a dj because he/she has been recommended by the band they’ve hired or by the venue. It’s important that you have heard the dj play yourself or at the very least ask for a cd. There are dj’s who will cater to your tastes, but on the other hand there are a lot of fairly mediocre acts out there. It pays to check out exactly what kind of service is on offer.

Q
What kind of service do you offer?

A
I try to offer a customised service. I like to meet up with couples in advance to discuss their musical tastes and get an idea of their likes and dislikes, and the kind of atmosphere they’d like to create on the night. I am able to cover a broad range of musical genres and am happy to source music to meet any unusual requests. I aim to tailor the service to the requirements of each wedding party.

Q
Do you just do weddings?

A
I do a lot of weddings, but unlike many wedding dj’s I’ve been dj-ing in clubs for well over a decade. I’ve had a residency in Dublin’s Sugar Club (www.thesugarclub.com) for the last eight years. I also do a lot of corporate work- from parties to product launches as well as awards ceremonies and film festivals. I’ve been dj in residence for the Dublin Theatre Festival and the Fringe Festival. Over the years the audiences I’ve played to have  included among others the Taoiseach, Presidents Robinson and McAleese and Bono and Robbie Williams. Recently I’ve been getting into music supervision, and I’ve sourced the music for a few soundtracks of late.

Q
What kind of music do you play?

A
I’m nothing if not versatile. I can cover a wide range of musical genres from swing and vocal-jazz, motown and latin, sixties pop, ska, soul, disco and funk,  80’s, indie and of course whatever is buzzy at the time. I’m passionate about music of all kinds but the biggest satisfaction for any dj comes from seeing people dance and having a good time, so I’m more than happy to accommodate any musical tastes.

Q
Our wedding day will have a tight budget-what do you advise?

A
Naturally I would recommend that you don’t skimp on the entertainment-you don’t want your guests to spend the entire reception in the residents’ bar. Hiring the right band for your wedding is important, you’ll remember your first dance for the rest of your life after all. Having said that if your budget is very tight you might want to consider forgoing the band and booking a dj to play all night. This option is infinitely preferable to hiring a bargain basement one man band! Even the best dj’s generally charge a fraction of the price of the cheapest bands.  If you do take this option it’s even more important that you check out the dj in advance and ensure he/she provides a top quality service.

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