I Need A Disco

Where do I start? What do I do?

For the majority of people, organising a wedding, a family celebration, or a corporate event is the only time that they encounter the need to book a DJ and Disco. Your planned event could be small, large, formal, or informal. Whatever you do, your choice has to be right the first time. You don't get a second chance. You want your guests to talk about the success and remember your special occasion for years to come.

Where do I start? Firstly, plan well in advance. In most cases, at least 3 months or more. Look at your situation and the venue facilities you have already booked. If you only have 35 guests in a small function room, you don't want a disco rig that can fill the Albert Hall. Likewise, two coloured bulbs and a tiny hi-fi speaker will not be adequate for 200 people wanting to bop till they drop in a large marquee.

For good sound reproduction catering for 50 to 100 people, the DJ would need a least 500 watts speaker power. 100 to 400 people, anything up to 2 thousand watts is adequate. High wattage doesn't mean high volume. It means clarity. Anything below 500 watts will struggle with bass and treble distortion and is not recommended. Top quality modern intelligent lighting units are essential to help create the perfect ambience.

Most clients requiring entertainment for a function, book a mobile disco because of it's flexibility. You can have soft background music playing during the dinner. Then afterwards the more energetic guests can work off the calories, dancing the night away to their favourite hits. All good quality discos have in excess of around 5000 tracks available, from the last four decades to the latest chart releases. Blended together to create the right atmosphere for your guests no matter what the age.

What do I do? Don't make the fatal mistake of working down to the cheapest disco you can find. You know the limitations for your budget. Costing can vary tremendously from £35 to £60 an hour. The average disco rig takes 60 minutes to set up. Allow for this time when planning your arrangements. For upstairs locations this can take even longer. Only ever make enquiries with two or three DJ's for quotes. Then compare the things you need to know. The quality, the experience, are they helpful? Get an idea of the DJ's past performances. Ask for past references. If obtaining the details from a web search, ring the contact number. Ask questions. Does the DJ's voice sound confident on the phone? Judge his professional manner. Check the standard of the DJ's dress code. Tee shirts, jeans and your formal attire will not go together. The most important 'must have' is a written agreement, for your own peace of mind. This will be issued by the DJ stating all the terms and relevant details of your event. If you are unsure of the terms ask for clarification. Once signed this is legally binding. Should you cancel, this may involve a penalty payment. All function venues will insist on Public Liability Insurance Cover from the disco you hire. You will need to obtain a copy. Don't ever be persuaded it isn't needed. Never ever book a DJ who isn't covered.

Remember it is not always possible to see a disco before you book it. Most quality DJ's only perform at private events where there is a restriction on entry for non-guests. Obviously you wouldn't like people coming into your function to listen to the disco would you?

Eddie Smith. Copyright 2005. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited. Eddie Smith runs disco All Trax Discos. To get more information on his availability and pricing, please visit www.alltraxdiscos.co.uk.

All Trax Disco