Finding the right DJ can be as painful as listening to one of those late night infomercials. They can be loud, over-the-top, corny and obnoxious. When talking with entertainers be cautious if they sound more like an "as-seen-on-TV" sales pitch than someone you can trust with your wedding reception. Your DJ is responsible for a lot more than just pushing the play button on the music selections. He or she often acts as the emcee, so be sure you get a good feel for his or her personality and style before making a decision. 

Like any other aspect of wedding planning, selecting your entertainment is something that takes time, research, and a lot of patience. Here are some ways to feel more comfortable you will hire the right DJ for your reception. 

Research 

You can learn a lot about a DJ's style, personality, and level of professionalism by doing a little research. Once you find a list of DJs who are available in your area you should take the time to learn more about them. Most DJs have Web sites to promote their services, and this may help you get a better feel for whether he or she is a good fit for your wedding. 

The Web sites often have audio samples of the DJ introducing the bridal party and bride and groom's first dance. So if you come across someone who sounds more like he's introducing a wrestling match for WWE that may save you the time from meeting with him. Also, see if there have been any articles written about the DJ in your local paper or nationally. Even a small review can tell you if the DJ specializes in formal, semi-formal or casual events. 

Interview 

Once you have narrowed down a list of candidates, you should come up with a list of questions for the DJ. These questions should be more than asking if the DJ will refrain from playing Megadeth. Making sure the DJ respects your must playlist and do not playlist is important. But you want your interview to make you feel confident he or she is successful in the profession. 

Finding out what will they do to make your day special, whether they have a back up plan if equipment should malfunction on the Big Day and if they only book one event a day is important.  Also find out how they will work with you leading up until the wedding day. Just like you have planning for all the details of your day your DJ should also be ironing out the details in advance. 

Background check 

Just like an employer calls references to learn more about a potential hire, you should do the same before hiring your DJ. Call couples who have used the DJ at their wedding to get a better idea of whether you are making the right choice. Find out whether they were satisfied with their reception and if there is anything that would concern them from giving him or her a good recommendation. Also find out how they planned with the DJ leading up to the wedding. It's also a good idea to call venues where the DJ has performed to find out how earlier he arrives to set up for a reception and how he works with others in a professional manner.  

Remember to take the time to identify what you want at your reception and express that to your candidates. This will put you and your DJ on the same page from the start and allow you to avoid any sour notes at your reception.