This is a fair question if you think of a DJ as simply being someone that turns up, sets up some speakers and plays though a pre-determined list of music. To be honest, if you are having a wedding with a pre-made list of music, perhaps a Spotify playlist is all you will need. The sad truth is that this seldom works out very well (and even when people think it DID work well, the truth is that they will never realise how much better things could have been).
The thing is however, if you are hiring a DJ, you are actually hiring the “person” more than the equipment or the music they play. Sure, the music and equipment is a standard part of their service and is assumed, but it is the quality of the “person” that makes all the difference.
A good DJ will actually NOT work off a list of pre-determined music. In fact, if you are hiring a DJ and then telling them what to play all night, you are really wasting your money as part of the experience of a good DJ is to take the huge task of choosing all the music from you. Besides, even the most carefully curated list of music might not work on the night.
A Spotify playlist can not be responsive to what is happening in the moment. A DJ can. A DJ is human and assesses the situation and makes decisions based on experience which song will work best next. This is something Spotify (or an iPod) will never be able to do.
A DJ also acts as a sort of filter for what is going to be played too. A Spotify playlist, iPod, jukebox (or whatever) can usually be easily accessed by guests and the music changed to suit that one person. Frequently this involves cutting off other people’s songs, deleting songs in the cue, playing music that is not popular with most of the guests etc. A DJ will take requests and filter those requests by playing the requests when it fits or deciding to not play any requests that really simply won’t work. (If you have a machine operated wedding, expect your guests to cut off others songs and to hear songs that are not suited to a wedding like Marilyn Manson, Korn and others).
Another thing is that a good DJ is the human face to the music. This is someone who can be approached, make announcements, assess the vibe and respond as well as creating a great atmosphere. A machine can not create a great atmosphere. Nobody has ever said “That iPod is sure creating a great atmosphere!”.
Sure, you can save some money by self catering your entertainment, but at what true cost? Entertainment is the one factor that keeps your guests there after dinner to continue to have a great time. A machine will probably have people eating and then leaving shortly after.
Consider also that simply hiring good quality equipment, setting it up and packing it up at the end of the night may very well cost just as much as having a professional DJ do all this for you AND operate all the equipment. “But the venue are allowing me to use their sound system!” I hear you say. From my experience I am yet to walk into any venue and hear a sound system that is truly suitable and usable for wedding dance time music. Let’s be honest, a venue is typically NOT going to spend a fortune on an amazing sound system. If they DO have a great sound system, they are probably going to charge you a LOT of money to plug into it.
Nik Edser is an owner (along with his wife Natalie) of NikNat Entertainment. NikNat Entertainment are based on the Gold Coast and have won multiple awards including being named as Bride’s Choice two years running, winning the Best Wedding DJ in Queensland award, winning the Best Ceremony Sound in Queensland award and finishing in the top 10 of all Wedding DJ companies in Australia.
Author: Nik Edser
Website: www.niknatentertainment.com.au