If your wedding vision includes a good boogie and a packed dance floor then the DJ 4 group will light up your stage and keep your guests wanting more.
We chatted with managing director, Jan Holland to discuss what sets them apart.
How did your business start?
I started DJ-ing after being made redundant in the 2010 recession. I found I enjoyed it a whole lot more than my old electrical apprenticeship. Gradually things slowly grew from there from club DJ-ing, to booking rosters for bars and supplying them with lights to moving into the private events sector in my mid-twenties.
How do you prefer to quote on jobs? Do people just give you a song list or let you know their style?
We built pre-made packages to make the whole quoting process really easy. We also give couples the option to choose between the length and level of service they want. This makes it really easy for people to see what we offer and simply choose what works for them rather than going through a lengthy back and forth quoting system.
How does your process work from start to finish?
I basically take care of the entire administration side of the booking process. Couples have 2 online forms they fill out, one to secure their date with all the vendors and venues details that we need to be in contact with (celebrant, videographer etc) and a music form. Once these are completed I do the rest behind the scenes and check in with them a few weeks out from their wedding, double check details and make sure we have all music requests then I hand over to our DJs to prepare everything. The DJs come to collect our equipment and then deliver the event. Our CRM is custom built for our business so all of our ‘to do list’ leading up to an event is all automated and nothing is ever missed.
Is it easy to fit within couples budgets?
Yes more or less we can fit into most couples budgets. We find most people have a realistic budget when it comes to entertainment. We have tried to create a range of ‘music on a budget’ packages including DIY systems and 3 hour dance floor only systems all the way through to Premium packages with all the bells and whistles.
What is your favourite style to play?
Personally, I’m a huge drum and bass fan so all the big UK artists like Dimension, Sub Focus and Wilkinson are always on my playlists but that’s definitely not what we get to play at a weddings, as you can imagine. ☺ For weddings it’s all about catering to a couple’s needs.
How many weddings have you done over the years?
I stopped counting at a 1000. Our business does over 500 weddings and events a year nation-wide across New Zealand. It’s safe to say we are the countries most trusted brand when it comes to private events.
What was your most memorable wedding to work on?
I did a wedding a few years back at Copthorne in Bay of Islands with our in House Videographer and they invited us to party with them after wards. We went back to their rooms with their bridal party and we kept drinking and dancing until about 6am in the morning. It was really cool to be involved and get to hang out as more than just a vendor.
How far in advance do you book out?
We have bookings in 2023 already so it’s never too early to book with us, especially if you want a specific DJ. We can often cater to people booking last minute, and we often help people out with emergency fill ins when their band or ‘friend DJ has let them down, but if you want a specific DJ then definitely book at least a year out as some of our more popular DJs are requested and booked out well in advance.
Why do you think live music or a DJ is important to have in a wedding ceremony and at a reception?
Music sets the atmosphere for the entire day, and is literally THE most crucial part of the celebration once formalities are done. I see a lot of people going down the route of a playlist for your dance floor these days and I highly recommend against it if you want a raging party. Whilst anyone can build a playlist and throw a few good tunes together, the reality is that a DJ reads your crowd, sees if people are enjoying a song and can adapt. If our DJ’s find people are not dancing, we mix out quickly, if they are, we interact and let it play out, if a certain genre is getting tired we change it, if a throwback is working we play another. We love a rocking good party!
DJ 4 YOU can be found on The Best Wedding App under Music and Entertainment.
