• Preparedness

Brides look for an organized DJ with solid planning skills who come prepared. How will you get ready for their party? Do you have any music-related questionnaires for them to fill in? What do you need to know about the venue and equipment set-up in case the bride and groom ask? The more information you can provide them when you first meet to discuss their big event, the more likely it is that they’ll pick you.

Don’t Miss: 8 Signs of a Great Wedding DJ

• A positive personality

At any wedding, the DJ will spend lots of time interacting with the crowd, taking requests, and entertaining guests – and that means everyone from children to the elderly. Your personality is important to the bride, and she’ll be looking for someone friendly, fun, and confident behind the decks to ensure her guests get the most from the evening’s entertainment. You’ll also want to look your best, so come in attire appropriate for the evening and always have a smile on your face. No frowning the entire night!

• A truly diverse music collection

The bride and groom are likely to have different musical preferences, as would their guests. It’s extremely important for the DJ to have a diverse music collection spanning decades as well as genres. The bride and groom will also have specific songs they’d like to be played in addition to their first dance, and it’s your job to find out what these are before the day itself so you can prepare.

• Crowd reading ability

As well as experience, brides will be looking for a DJ with plenty of industry-specific knowledge. What have you learned from previous weddings? Do you know how to get the guests dancing early in the evening, before the alcohol starts to flow? What about when the dance floor heats up and you’ve got both grandparents and great grand kids dancing, how do you handle that? Crowd reading is perhaps the most important skill for a wedding DJ, because it’s what lets him or her understand how to keep the floor going all night.

• Listening skills

Above all else, a bride needs a DJ that will listen to them. Couples tend to have a very firm idea about what they’d like their big day (and night) to be like, and they need to work with people who will listen and understand their vision to help them create the wedding they really want.