"Have You Got Any Mixes We Can Listen To?"
Totally fair question. I get asked it all the time.
And yet — I rarely provide mixes. Not because I don't have them. But because they simply don't tell you what you actually need to know when choosing a wedding DJ.
You Can't Record the Room
My job isn't just to play music. It's to read energy, spot micro-movements on the dancefloor, adjust pace, predict mood — and respond in real time.
When I'm DJing, I might have three tracks lined up… and then change direction completely based on what's happening right now. A song that made perfect sense 30 seconds ago? Binned. Because something else will hit better.
You can't capture that instinct in a polished mix. The magic's in the moment — and mixes miss that.
The "Sliding Doors" Effect
Every song choice is a fork in the road.
Imagine I'm playing some Motown and it's going well. I could follow it up with disco — or pivot to 90s R&B. One path keeps the groove alive. The other pulls a new crowd in. Each decision changes the shape of the night.
Now imagine you heard a pre-recorded mix with one of those paths… but your wedding needed the other.
Mixes don't show you how I make those judgement calls. They show you a frozen version of someone else's wedding — not the live, adaptive thinking that makes yours sing.
Anyone Can Upload a Mix
Even if you liked what you heard — how do you know it's actually mine?
It's not hard to download a club mix off YouTube or SoundCloud and slap your name on it. And unless you've seen that DJ in action, it's impossible to know if they can deliver that same feeling live.
Music is easy to fake. Connection? Not so much.
Mixes Can Give the Wrong Impression
Here's where it gets tricky.
Let's say I send you a mix that's full of current club bangers. Great — if that's what you want. But if you're after Motown, funk and classic wedding hits? Suddenly I look like the wrong fit.
Or maybe I share a party mix with old-school crowd-pleasers… but you're planning an elegant, low-key reception and now you're wondering if I do subtle.
The truth? I do both. And mixes can't show that range.
What Does Matter When Choosing a DJ?
Here's what you should look (and listen) for instead:
- Do they take the time to understand you as a couple?
- Can they adapt to different crowds and moods?
- Are they confident without being pushy?
- Can they handle unexpected moments (because there will be some)?
- Do they create a seamless experience from ceremony to last dance?
That's the stuff that makes a difference. That's what guests remember.
And that's what you'll never hear in a tidy, pre-edited mix.
Final Thought: Choose a DJ, Not a Demo
You're not hiring a mixtape. You're hiring someone who can read the room, guide the energy, and make the whole day feel smooth, joyful, and entirely you.
Mixes won't tell you that.
But I will — happily, over a cuppa or a call. Let's talk about what your wedding needs — not someone else's Spotify highlight reel.