Mobile Disco & Karaoke Search UK

Disco Booking Guide

Mobile Discos have come a long way over the 10 years, no longer will you see a DJ with old looking and sounding equipment.With so many DJs out there right now you will need to know who are the professionals and who are the ones out there to make a quick buck or two.

On average a DJ will spend anything from £1500.00 upto £3000.00 on their Mobile Disco Show of which an extra £1000.00 will be spent on Music per year and a further £1000.00 will be spent on Insurance, equipment testing, and advertising per year.

There are a lot of Djs that will cut corners, will buy sub standard equipment and will illegally download music.These Djs will of course charge a lot less than the professional businesses that do everything by the book.

Although there are lots of DJs that advertise their services on our site we are unable to vet every single one of them, but we can give you guidance to find out how to spot the cowboys from the professionals.

This simple guide has been created to help you find the perfect mobile disco, dj or karaoke entertainer for your party wedding or event.

Finding A Reputable DJ Company

Our site has many reputable dj companies of which have many years experience. When you contact a DJ, do not base your decision directly on the price, as we have previously said, professional DJs will spend thousands on their business per year and they will need to get a good return in exchange for their professionalism and experience. A DJ charging £100 or less simply cant be making a good return unless they are cutting corners. A good quality DJ would usually charge between £150.00 - £500.00 depending on the size, duration and location of the function. Remember djs charging less than the average are more likely to dissapoint than impress.

Public Liability Insurance And PAT

By Law, all businesses should have public liability insurance. Any Dj company trading without PLI is breaking the law and you are paying them to do this if you hire them to perform at your event. Many venues are now asking that DJs supply these documents before the event. A good Dj will have at least two millions pounds worth of cover but an even better dj will have five million pounds plus. PAT is an annual electrical safety test of their equipment done by a professional electrician. Although this isn't a legal requirement we strongly recommend you ask if they annually test their equipment.

Booking a DJ

We strongly recommend that you get a signed contract when booking a DJ. A booking form, email or telephone call isn't binding but a signed contract is and will ensure that you are booking a professional and not someone who will let you down. When you do get the contract make sure you read through it fully as once signed you are legally bound to it as much as the DJ is. Many DJs require a deposit which is usually a 1/3 of the quoted price. When making payments, ensure you get a receipt, also where possible pay by cheque ensuring the person you pay the cheque to is the same person that is on the contract. We also advise that you get as much details as you can from the DJ, A mobile number isn't always sufficient, ask for a land line number, email address, home address. Any genuine dj would not hesitate in giving you these details.

Music

All good Djs carry huge collections of music from the 1950s to today covering most genres. Many use CDs but advanced djs are now using MP3s. Many djs occasionally download music illegally from the internet. If you hire a dj that does download music illegally then you are paying them to do this. Most Djs will accept play lists before the event and requests during the event. Play lists should be ideally 40 percent of your nights music, the foundation of the evening with the dj filling in the gap and keeping the dance floor busy. We always advise that you pre request your first and last dance and always take a copy. We currently have a MP3 DOWNLOAD CENTRE where you can download music from as little as 0.29p per song. You can also use this tool to get ideas for your play lists as we have all the top songs and all the classics.

Equipment And Presentation

When enquiring for a disco ask the dj what equipment they use and how old the equipment the is. When asking about lighting ask how many units they use, a typical DJ will have upto 6 units as standard, ask if they use led lighting. Ask what sound system they use, if they have a back up in the unlikely case that they might fail.. Many good DJs use equipment made by Denon, Pioneer, Technics, Peavey, JBL, Martin, Abstract, EV, Shure and Mach all of which are very reliable. Depending on your function you may require your DJ to look smart, ask them what they will be wearing as Jeans and T shirts may not look right at your event. Most Djs will accommodate your request and most will wear a shirt and tie anyway.

Venues

As previously mentioned many venues now require djs to produce public liability insurance and proof that their equipment is regularly tested so please bare this in mind when booking a dj. Some venues may not ask for this documentation until right at the last minute. Many venues have resident Djs, although these Djs may be good, they are solely hired for business purposes and will be recommended because the venue will be making money from them. This isn't always the case and some venues pride their business so getting a cheap dj isn't the way forward for them. If booking a resident, ask the venue for the contact details of the dj and speak to them for your self, as its you they are really working for.

Hope this helps!

We know how much time and effort can go into making parties, weddings and events a success and we strongly recommend our points are taken into consideration. Get as many quotes as possible and speak to the dj about your event. Many DJs thrive on the entertainment factor and giving their clients a good night, getting paid for it is a bous. If you contact a DJ and your first question is how much do you charge they know already that all your are after is a cheap disco. The best sort of business for DJs is word of mouth, lots of DJs don't advertise and solely get their business from recommendations, but still ask all the relevant questions as the DJ for your daughters 21st may not be able to produce the same party for your 50th birthday party.

We really hope our advice helps you in booking a fantastic, Professional DJ and we hope that your event is a success. Should you have any questions that you want to ask we are always on hand to help simply email us on info@mobile-disco-search.co.uk.