| If you are planning an event, you will inevitably need to | | | | your party, from catering through to entertainment. The |
| hire entertainment of some form, be it a DJ, band or | | | | club in question did not have the time to research |
| jukebox. I want to start this article by relating a story | | | | entertainment companies and therefore took the first |
| that shows exactly what not to do when looking for a | | | | option that crossed their paths. |
| DJ hire company. | | | | Secondly the DJ or DJ hire company that you decide |
| A local sports club decided, fairly late, that they needed | | | | on for the entertainment of your guests should be a |
| entertainment for their New Year's party for the end | | | | business or at the very least a professional person. |
| of 2009. Having left the decision too late and not | | | | Not only will a professional DJ or DJ company have |
| leaving enough time to check up on the potential | | | | the best equipment, but they will also have a reputation |
| entertainment options, they decided to go with a local | | | | to uphold. Our mentioned club never even enquired if |
| DJ having heard about him from a club member's | | | | the so-called DJ had equipment, but they also hired him |
| teenage son. After a short telephone conversation | | | | without checking his reputation with past clients. |
| with the DJ, the person in charge of organizing the | | | | Lastly a professional DJ company will have some sort |
| event made a deposit for the full amount of the DJ's | | | | of a service contract that needs to be agreed upon |
| services to his bank account. | | | | before money is paid. The purpose of the contract is |
| Having checked off the entertainment part of the New | | | | to protect the rights of both parties, and is an essential |
| Year's party, the organizing committee went ahead | | | | for any professional company. In the case of our |
| and finalized every detail of the event including catering | | | | sports club, they paid a deposit without a service |
| and advertising. On the evening of the 31st the DJ did | | | | contract and subsequently lost that deposit as well as |
| not show up and to cut a long story short the club lost | | | | any other money that the spent on the disastrous |
| a great deal of money and also good will from | | | | event. |
| members who supported them by buying tickets for | | | | In conclusion, the above scenario can and should be |
| the event. | | | | avoided at all costs. There is a basic rule of thumb |
| So what did the club's organizing committee do | | | | when dealing with any service provider including DJ |
| wrong? Firstly, they did not allow themselves enough | | | | hire companies - always do your due diligence and |
| time to organize the occasion. One of the most | | | | contact some previous clients of the prospective |
| important things to do is to ensure that you allow | | | | company. This will ensure that you get the service that |
| enough time for your event organizing task. You need | | | | you pay for. |
| time to get at least three quotes for every aspect of | | | | |