Wedding Planning · Hiring Guide

10 Questions to Ask a Wedding DJ Before You Book

143 Events LLC · November 2026

Most couples interview their photographer like they're hiring a surgeon, then book their DJ off one Facebook message and a thumbs-up emoji. I get it, DJing looks simple from the dance floor. But the person you hire is going to hold the microphone at your wedding for five or six hours. These are the questions worth asking before you hand anyone a deposit, including me.

Bride and groom sharing their first dance at a wedding reception
The right questions up front are how you get this picture at the end of the night.

I've been on the other side of these conversations for about twenty years, first in Memphis and now here in Hot Springs. A good DJ will be glad you asked every one of these. If someone gets cagey, that tells you something too.

1. "Are you insured, and can you send a certificate to our venue?"

I'm putting this one first because it's the question couples skip most often, and it's the one that can stop an event cold. A lot of wedding venues require every vendor to carry general liability insurance, commonly at least $1 million per occurrence. Many also want to be named as an additional insured on the vendor's certificate of insurance (COI).

Why does it matter? A DJ runs heavy speakers on stands, cables across walkways, and lights on trusses in a room full of people who've had a couple of drinks. If a speaker tips or a guest trips over a cable, insurance is what keeps that accident from becoming your problem, or your venue's.

A DJ without insurance isn't automatically a bad DJ. But if your venue requires a COI and they can't produce one, you could find that out a week before the wedding, which is not when you want to be shopping for a new DJ.

How 143 Events answers

143 Events LLC carries general liability insurance with $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate limits. I can send a certificate of insurance to your venue and add them as an additional insured. Just give me the venue's info and I'll take care of it.

2. "Will you personally be our DJ?"

Some companies send whichever DJ is free that night, and that can work out fine. Just know who it is. Ask for the name of the person who will be at your wedding, and make sure that's the person you talk to during planning. If the company won't commit to a specific DJ, that's worth weighing.

3. "Do you also MC, and have you run a full wedding timeline?"

Playing good music and running a reception are two different skills. Your DJ will likely be the one introducing your wedding party, keeping toasts on schedule, cueing the first dance, and herding everyone to the cake cutting. Ask how many full weddings they've emceed, not just how many parties they've played. (I wrote a whole post on what a wedding DJ actually does if you want the long version.)

4. "What's your backup plan if something goes wrong?"

Two kinds of backup matter here: backup gear (what happens if a speaker, mic, or laptop fails mid-reception?) and a backup DJ (what happens if your DJ gets sick or has an emergency?). There's no single right answer, but there should be an answer. "That's never happened to me" is a nice story. It's not a plan.

5. "What exactly is included in your price?"

Ceremony sound, lighting, extra hours, travel, and MC work can all be included or extra, depending on the DJ. Get it in writing so you're comparing the same thing across quotes. For a sense of what's normal here, see our Hot Springs wedding DJ pricing guide.

DJ's hands working a professional DJ controller during an event
Gear, backup gear, and what's included: all fair game before you sign.

6. "How do we plan the music together?"

Ask how they handle must-play songs, do-not-play songs, and guest requests. You want someone who listens to your taste and still has the judgment to read the room on the night. You don't want someone who will only play their own favorites, and you don't want someone who will play anything a guest asks for, including the request from your cousin that you specifically banned.

7. "Have you worked at our venue before?"

Experience at your venue is a plus because they'll already know the load-in, the power outlets, and where the sound bounces. It's not a dealbreaker if they haven't. What matters is whether they'll do their homework: talk to the venue coordinator, ask about power and setup times, and visit if needed.

8. "What does planning look like between now and the wedding?"

How many check-ins do you get? Is there a planning form or a final walkthrough call? When does the timeline get locked in? A DJ who has a clear process for this is a DJ who won't be surprised by your grand entrance song on the day of.

DJ Keith Anthony speaking into a microphone as MC at a wedding reception
You're hiring the voice on the mic as much as the music. Make sure you like how it sounds.

9. "Can we see reviews or video from real weddings?"

Polished promo videos are nice. Reviews from couples are better. Look for comments about reading the crowd, keeping things on schedule, and being easy to work with, because those are the parts that are hard to fake.

Two people reviewing and signing a contract at a table
Read it before you sign it. A good contract protects you and your DJ.

10. "What's in the contract?"

Every DJ should give you a written contract. Before you sign, check for the date, start and end times, what's included, the deposit and when the balance is due, the overtime rate if the party runs long, and what happens if either of you needs to cancel. If there's no contract at all, keep looking. A handshake is great for meeting your DJ. It's not great for holding your date.

The Bottom Line

You don't need to grill anyone, but these ten questions will tell you more in twenty minutes than a dozen Instagram reels will. And if you ask me any of them, I'll give you a straight answer, insurance certificate included.

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Common Questions

Hiring a Wedding DJ FAQ

Does a wedding DJ need to be insured?
It isn't legally required everywhere, but many wedding venues require every vendor to carry general liability insurance, often at least $1 million per occurrence. Even when a venue doesn't require it, an insured DJ protects you if something goes wrong.
What is a certificate of insurance (COI)?
A one-page document from the vendor's insurance provider that proves their coverage and limits. Venues often ask to be listed on it as an additional insured, which extends the vendor's coverage to the venue for your event.
Should I meet my wedding DJ before booking?
Yes. A phone call, video call, or coffee is enough. You're hiring someone to hold the microphone at your wedding, so you should know how they sound and whether you're comfortable with them before you sign.
Is 143 Events insured?
Yes. 143 Events LLC carries general liability insurance with $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate limits, and can issue a certificate of insurance and add your venue as an additional insured.