TONY G's Tips on Hiring a DJ As seen in As a professional music educator, he is referred to as Mr. Graziosi by the kids at his Long Island school. Weekends and nights, hundreds of adults call him Tony G, the name he likes to work under as a professional DJ. From the inside, he offers some tips about striking the right chords at your wedding. Choosing a DJ - or any other musical act, for that matter - for your wedding is a decision that can make or break the reception. Everything else can be perfect, but if the music hits a sour note, the party will fizzle. Selecting the right DJ can be confusing. There are more than 15,000 of them on Long Island, all promising to do a great job for you. So, How do you choose? By Tony Graziosi Haven't seen - or heard - a good DJ recently? Check with your friends. They probably share your taste in music and maybe they've been to a great party you missed. Let them know long before the wedding you'll be looking, and ask them to keep their eyes and ears open. If the first two suggestions don't work, your job gets tougher. Next stop: the yellow pages. Look under Disc Jockeys, music and entertainment. Circle the ads that seem to fit your needs. Obviously, a firm which advertises: "We specialize in weddings" would be a good prospect. The money question. Probably the worst way to choose a DJ is on price alone. Prices can range from $400 to $3000 for a four-hour event. It would be very tempting to choose the cheapest alternative. If that's all you can afford, then you have no choice. But there is a reason some DJs charge more money than others. They're usually worth it. More expensive DJs tend to be more experienced DJs. They can charge more because they have an established reputation and many jobs. Generally, DJs on the low end of the price scale are new to the business and trying to get recognized. They could do a great job, and might be worth a shot if your party is on the informal side. But you're risking more with a less-experienced person. Finding a pro. When you interview DJs in person or by phone, pay attention to their professionalism. It spills over into their DJ style. Tony Graziosi hits all the right notes. The L.I. educator sounds off to some of his students. _____________________________________________ --------- The most important  question: What experience do they have with weddings - especially the type of wedding reception you're planning, whether formal, rock and roll or country-style? A professional DJ should have done at least  20 of these events. A number in the hundreds is actually common for a well-established DJ. Ask for references. Get five or six names and phone numbers of recent clients. Call and ask about the DJ's performance. Any DJ can easily give you two or three references. Getting additional names is a better test of quality of the DJ's performance Some DJ companies have more than one DJ working for them. In this case, it's important to get in writing exactly which DJ will be assigned to your reception - and get references. Even if the company has been around for years, it may have hired your DJ last week. And the DJ might be a pro, or newly-trained. Be sure about what you're getting. Hearing is believing. Ask where the DJ is performing, then make an unannounced visit. Observe how the DJ interacts with the crowd. Are people having fun? Are people dancing? Is the music too loud? Is the DJ dressed appropriately? Repertoires and requests. Always check a DJ's policy on requests. The best DJs take requests from the audience and work those songs into their routine. But don't expect a DJ to play every request - especially when a song doesn't fit the mood of the event. A good DJ is not a jukebox, but someone who can blend audience requests with songs to motivate the crowd. The key to DJing is timing, and this takes experience. Forcing a DJ to ignore instinct and play every request will result in an "uneven" and unenjoyable party. On the flip side, a good DJ will try to include as many requests as possible. You should also give the DJ a list of five or six songs you "must have". Just don't make that list an album of 15 or 20 numbers. Many DJs boast about their giant repertoires. Variety is great, but no DJ can play more than 60 to 70 songs in a four-hour show. Having the right 60 songs is a lot more important than having 20,000 songs no one wants to hear. After you tell the DJ what type of wedding reception you're having and who the audience will be, ask him or her to suggest music and be sure the list wakes good vibes in you. Over what equipment? Many DJs also boast about having great equipment. But unless you're familiar with professional audio gear, you won't know the difference between big sound equipment and budget electronics. One tip: If a DJ lists brand names that sound just like the ones at your local retailer, ask more questions. Home stereo equipment is not designed for constant, high-voltage, high-volume party use. Example: professional DJ power amplifiers usually have 200 to 400 watts per channel. Consumer "power" amplifiers may have just 100 watts. So, the perfect DJ will be affordable, experienced at your type of reception, and have great references. There are probably many such DJs out there. As you search, remember that above all, you want this special day to be fun. ~ Tony Graziosi of TAG Live/DJ Entertainment has been performing in this area for the past 15 years. He can be reached for questions at (800) 941-2130.