When I first started out in the DJ business many years ago it was unheard of for a DJ to not honor requests. Recently, this has changed. For some reason, DJs seem to think they are above respecting the musical choices and desires of others. This even includes those who hire them. I do not understand this.
It is a simple rule of business that you respect those who pay you. If someone hires me for the night, I want him or her to feel good about their decision, not just for future business, although that should be reason enough, because they are helping me pay my bills. When did professional DJs become such primodonnas? If you look back at the history of disk jockeys, we were always grass toots entertainers from Wolfman Jack to Scott Muney to Cousin Brucey. We made our mark as the ones who were willing to get our hands dirty and meet the needs of our listeners, which later become dancers as DJing made its way to the clubs and now mobile at weddings and parties.
For me, the requests are one of the best things about being a professional Wedding DJ; you get to make someone happy! It is like working an ice cream shop; people come in and order what they want and leave with a smile when you give it to them. I hope someday soon this new breed of professional DJ who think because they play other people’s music they are special or ‘celebrities’ come back down to earth and enjoy the fruits of honoring customer requests!
