5 Secrets of a Great Wedding DJ

My favorite description of a DJ/MC is that of DJ Malski’s. Best know for his work with the LA Rams, LA Lakers, and Universal City Walk, he has coined the term “Scoring Live Events.” He uses the same premise as a film, where music and sound is in place to enhance the energy and feeling of a scene and applies that to his DJ performance. As any DJ knows, we are the ones who create the atmosphere for an event. Great DJs read the energy of a crowd and are able to guide it to a higher feeling and unity through music selection and use of the microphone. A wedding DJ can have these qualities of course, but the great ones will offer an additional group of attributes.

My name is Connor Frawley, and I am a full-time DJ/MC based in Los Angeles, California. I have gone by the alias DJ Frawleywood ever since moving to LA in early 2018 when I saw the Hollywood sign and suddenly remembered my older brother writing “Frawleywood” on the cover of his 3rd grade notebook. I was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and spent my summers on Lake Erie and my winters under six feet of snow. I attended The University of Indianapolis on a full academic scholarship and graduated with a bachelors degree in Entrepreneurship. On weekends I studied Turntablism at Indianapolis’ only DJ Academy: Deckademics. I gained experience DJing restaurants, bars, clubs, get togethers, company appreciation parties, and really any event I could get my hands on. It wasn’t until I DJed my cousin’s wedding that I found my true passion. No time in my DJ career had made me happier than to be at my turntables with my whole family on the dance floor. It was a true celebration and something I wanted to become a master at. I moved to LA based solely on the weather and quickly flew through the ranks of one of the largest DJ companies in the area. I could write all day about what puts wedding DJs in a class of their own, but here are my top 5 secrets to what makes a wedding DJ a great one.

Quality of Professionalism

From the first time talking to a DJ, all the way to them being one of the last to leave the venue on the night of your wedding, you want to feel like he or she is taking their job and your wedding seriously. There have been many occasions where I have been called “The Greatest DJ Ever” before even playing one song. Of course, this is an exaggeration and almost everyone who is hiring a DJ for a wedding has never hired one before, but there is a reason why they say it. Attention to detail and care for you and your event is what separates those who are great. Your wedding DJ should be someone everyone at your wedding - from your grandparents, to the staff at the venue - will enjoy being around and would refer to their friends and family.

Referrals from a Trusted Source

Every time we DJ an event, we are showcasing our abilities and talent to everyone in the room, and even a lot of the neighbors. Trust your coordinator’s preferred vendors. They have worked with and hired more DJ’s than anyone, and have seen the good, the bad, and the great. They know first hand what it’s like to work alongside a DJ for months of emails and timelines leading up to the 12 hours together on your wedding day. They witness the combination of professionalism, ability to DJ/MC, assisting in the flow of the evening, and making the bride & groom’s vision come to life. Also, trust your friend’s and family’s referrals. People tend to only mention things when they are terrific or terrible. When you get a recommendation for a DJ from someone you trust it means they really believe you would enjoy them as a DJ at your wedding. To get a referral means the DJ not only did everything right technically, but also created a fun, enjoyable environment, that connected people with a feeling and left a lasting impression.

Leave Their Ego at the Door

It is very important for your DJ to be confident in their ability to show you and your guests a fun time, but your DJ also has to understand it is YOUR day and pay close attention to your idea of a perfect wedding day. The great wedding DJs are the ones who listen to and understand the exact vibe you are going for, give you advice on how to best make that happen, and be able to offer suggestions and alternatives based on his or her experience. Throughout the planning process you should feel like you and your DJ are working together, and during your wedding you will feel relaxed knowing all the song selections, announcements, and the flow of the night will be handled exactly as discussed.

DJ Experience

This is a very broad term and becomes very convoluted. For example, a wedding DJ with 30 years of experience on their last year of working may offer a less than stellar performance as it is just another day on the job and they are eager to play the last song of the night. Whereas a DJ who has only DJed 15 weddings may be excited to get people out of their chairs and on the dance floor but may not have a keen enough eye to see that the couple is having a really special moment talking to guests they haven’t seen in a decade. Just as there are a million and one “actors” in LA the same goes for DJs. There are over 10 ways to change the volume of the music (no kidding!), and it takes someone with practice, understanding, and experience to know how they all work together in making the sound just right. Find a middle ground you are comfortable with in choosing someone who has a passion for the career, the ability to get and keep people dancing, and the technical skills to take pride in calling themselves a DJ.

The Ability to MC

This may be overlooked when hiring a DJ for your wedding, but the ability to MC correctly is vital. The art of MCing lies in the delicate balance of capturing an audience’s attention, making them feel comfortable, then directing their attention off of you and on to something else with clear instruction and excitement. Hiring a DJ with an equally impressive ability to MC will change the environment of the room. Guests will be more interactive and provide more excitement for the grand entrance, first dance, and any toasts or activities throughout the evening. Starting the night with the right energy on the microphone sets the tone for the entire evening. 

Before looking for your wedding DJ, imagine what the perfect one for you would be. What have you liked or disliked in wedding DJs you’ve seen in the past? What environment are you trying to create for your guests? I encourage you to chat with the potential DJ over the phone to find out if you’d make a good pair. Ask them about their style, what sets them apart from other DJs, and how they have handled some of their most difficult situations. There are lots of amazing wedding DJs, so definitely do your research. Other tips for couples looking to hire a wedding DJ are to book early, refrain from arguing the price of the service, and ask the DJ for add ons like lighting and production, live music, and photo booths. Couples only get one shot at their wedding day, and the DJ has an immense responsibility in the joining of two families and making it a night to remember. Take special care in choosing your DJ, and congratulations on your engagement!

Author Bio: Hi, I’m DJ Frawleywood! I provide full-service DJ/MCing for private parties with a focus in weddings primarily to the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Please feel free to reach me via email at thefrawleywood@gmail.com or my Instagram for highlights of events @frawleywood_.

Photography by Yuliya Fedosov Photography