Why should I hire a DJ instead of using my iPod/Phone/Laptop?

Many people wonder why they should pay money for someone to be a glorified iPod instead of just doing it themselves. “iPod DJs” have become increasingly popular with the advancements of technology and music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube Red. In fact, I am an avid Spotify user, and choose to use Spotify for many of my events. Whether it’s for a wedding, a corporate event, or a birthday party, many people wonder if DJs are worth it anymore.

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Some of the popular arguments for iPod DJs, or DIY DJs, are:

• “I will save money by not paying a DJ.”
• “I can create my own playlists with the music that I want to hear.”
• “I can hit play and let it go.”
• “My brother/sister/uncle/husband volunteered to raise their voice for announcements.”
• “If a song needs changed, I can just do it.”
• “I’m not expecting lots of dancing.”

​They seem like fair arguments, don't they?

Why pay someone else to play music when you can do it yourself?

The simple answer? So you can enjoy yourself and have professional entertainment!

A good DJ does much more than simply plug in his/her phone and hit play. They are there to entertain you and all your guests. A good DJ will be worth every penny!

• “I can create my own playlists with the music that I want to hear.”

This is a catch-22. I love to encourage my clients to create playlists of their favorite music for their events. Why? Because we want to celebrate your way! We want you to know and enjoy the music that you hear, because it’s your event! The more you give me to work with, the more I can make sure you’ll hear exactly what you want to hear. However.

If you’re hoping for a dance party of a wedding, your favorite Ed Sheeran songs won’t be able to accomplish that. You may love your unheard-of Indie songs, but the majority of your guests may not.

A good DJ has lots of experience with the events they play at, and has a wide variety of popular songs to choose from. They can mix in their experience with your requests.

Plus, why put all that stress on yourself to make the perfect playlist that everyone will enjoy, that may take hours of planning? Give that work to a DJ who will do it for you!

• “I can hit play and let it go.”

DJs play music based on how they are reading the room. They are in charge of the mood of your entire event! If you are putting your playlist on shuffle, it can’t tell if your guests are dancing or not. It won’t change the song if there is a long instrumental outro that leaves everyone in awkward silence. It doesn’t see when everybody leaves the dancefloor because it plays the same song for the third time.

Good DJs are able to see and prepare for all of that. They can keep a crowd dancing all night long with carefully selected next songs. They transition song to song in a way that’s barely noticeable. They can take requests from grandparents and children alike, making everybody as happy as possible.

What word are you hoping people describe your event as? Fun? Elegant? Formal? Exciting? The DJ is in charge of getting people to feel those words because they control the mood. It’s important!

• “My brother/sister/uncle/husband volunteered to raise their voice for announcements.”

Everyone has a family member that’s just naturally good at announcements (it’s almost always the fun uncle). You may not have many announcements to be made, but the announcer, or MC (Emcee) also has another important role: Managing the plan of events.

A good DJ keeps track of the plan of events and keeps everything rolling. You can very easily lose track of time during your event with all that’s going on, especially if it’s a wedding, where it’s ALL about you! The DJ has to work with everyone involved to make sure the timeline is being kept: The wedding planner, the venue, the caterers, etc.

If you book TK BIG DAY for a wedding DJ, I will send you a detailed plan of events sheet that you can easily fill out and customize. This helps us both on your wedding day so that you know what is going on and I can keep your big day running smoothly.

On a side note, if you’re playing music and having announcements for your event, you’ll need some kind of sound system. Renting and operating the equipment needed is another hassle that you don’t need to worry about because mobile DJs will bring and set up all that equipment themselves.
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• “If a song needs changed, I can just do it.” 

Again, do you really want to be doing this during your own event?

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​Imagine taking pictures at your wedding with your distant relatives, but you hear a song come on that you forgot to delete. Now it’s embarrassing, so you have to ask them to hold on while you tell your just-married spouse to run to your makeshift sound system to change the song. Don’t put any extra stress on yourself!

• “I’m not expecting lots of dancing.”

​This one may be the best reason to not have a DJ, however, don’t forget what we’ve already talked about! Besides music, they also bring experience, set the mood, and manage the plan of events. 

Also, just because you may not have or expect dancing doesn’t mean that you should allow awkward silence. Some light background mood music can make all the difference at your event. It may not be music to dance to, but it will fill the room with sound as your guests mingle with one another.

As you can see, good DJs do more than just hit play. They are there to make your life easier and your event so much better!
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I would love to celebrate with you at your next event!