Dear Wedding-Club.com members and browsers,

Hi! My name is A Rockin' DJ Jimmy Hussey and I have been working in the DJ entertainment business in metro St. Louis since 1986. I realize that hiring a DJ is not a common occurrence. So, on behalf of the St. Louis Wedding Club and myself, I have developed a list of 15 questions that I strongly recommend you ask every DJ company that you are considering to hire for your wedding reception. Don't worry, any reputable company should want to share this information with you - even if you don't ask! Congratulations on your engagement and please read on!

1. What is your price for 4 hours and how much is each additional hour?

Rates for experienced professional DJ's in the St. Louis area range from $650 to $895 per 4 hours and $50 to $150 per additional hour. Rates will vary depending on the DJ's experience, reception location, season, day of week, start / stop times, and when the job is booked. I suggest you question a company that is below the low end or offering big discounts, you may be taking a chance of ruining your reception just to save a few bucks. If the cost is higher - ask them to explain why. Make sure you know the qualifications of "who" you are paying for when comparing DJs.

2. How many years of experience does the D.J. have who will perform at my wedding reception?

Most companies advertise the number of years that the owner has been in business. If you are not hiring the owner, then "who" are you hiring. Qualify that your DJ has a minimum of several years wedding reception experience. Becoming a professional DJ is no different than any other job - it takes a lot of hard work, time and practice.

3. Do you have professional sound equipment?

An Ipod and a home stereo is not professional! Check to see that your DJ will provide quality sound. Most DJ's should have a table and table skirt (if required), Speakers on stands, DJ mixer, CD players / Laptop, Amplifier, and a Wireless or cabled Microphone. Also, their equipment should be in cases, be neat in appearance, and any exposed cabling should be taped down.

4. Does your price include a light show?

Most professional DJ companies include a basic light show in their base price and some offer upgrades with fog and special effects lighting. Before you pay for an upgrade, make sure that a fog machine can be used at your reception facility. In many locations, the "fog" can trigger the fire alarm! The "fog" is what creates the cool beams of lights. So, without it, the special effect lighting is useless!

5. Will you play a variety of music and how many songs will be brought to my wedding reception?

Although we can only play approximately 15-18 songs per hour, a wide variety of music is typically needed to please guests of all ages. In my opinion, your DJ should provide a minimum of 2,000 hit songs with most professionals bringing considerably more.

This article was contributed by Wedding-Club.com member Jimmy Hussey, the Rockin' DJ. For more information, please visit his web site.