AMP Indiana on Facebook!

AMP Indiana now has its own group on Facebook. Feel free to join and show support for your awesome DJs! Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/2zqrsc

21 Questions to Ask a DJ

Recently, I was asked by a pal from high school if I could DJ her wedding reception, and I was hoping that I could make the logistics work. However, traveling from Indiana to Massachusetts just will not work out at this point. I didn't want to leave her high and dry, because I know that she wants a DJ who will work diligently to make for an awesome event. In response, I came up with these 21 questions and criteria that I would be concerned with if I were hiring a DJ. And yes, some self-reflection has been involved in this.


1) Find someone who is personable, but not fake - genuine. They should be likable if you're going to work with them.

2) Must do requests, both before (from you) and during the reception (from anyone). After all, they need to be flexible and it helps to truly customize an event.

3) No plug-n-play with laptops or other devices (e.g. iPod, Zune). Laptops are cool for requests and looking at available music, but your DJ has got to earn their keep.

4) No straight up techno/house guy - unless that's really what you want. I went to a wedding reception once where that was all he played and it was turned up so loud, that although the lights were dimmed, they were dimming much more with each bass hit. A DJ has to be aware of their limits at a venue! Besides, everyone over 30 was complaining (and could not be heard).

5) If they do any beat mixing or matching, you may want to ask for a sample of their work. What you're looking for here is whether the DJ is going with the dance flow, or whether they're just trying to make it sound good to their ears.

6) How far will they go to get the songs you want? Seriously, they need to be willing to dig deep.

7) How much do they charge? Why do they charge those rates? Remember that just because they charge a lot, does not necessarily mean they're worth it. Of course, worthiness is why we're asking all of these questions!

8) Is the person who you are talking to going to be the DJ? If you can't talk to the DJ who is going to be at your reception, they're not worth your money. Same thing for the MC.

9) And speaking of the MC, you want to listen to their voice, preferably in person. Make sure that they have the type of voice that anybody can understand, as far as dialect and speed of speech are concerned. Nobody wants an MC who is boring or who cannot be understood by everyone. You'll want an example, either in person or on a promotional tape.

10) Attire. What do they wear? Are they willing to change it up for your reception?

11) How long have they been around? What is their background in DJing?

12) What is their personal philosophy on DJing? Why are they in the business? Money? Art? Fun?

13) Personal taste in music. Many DJs claim to be eclectic or to embrace all kinds of music, like yours truly. But what do they listen to when they turn on the radio or the CD/MP3 player? These questions are a test of honesty.

14) Are they willing to meet face-to-face to go over everything? It beats phone tag and puts a face with the name before the event.

15) Don't book by email or use PayPal. You want a written contract signed either in person or via snail mail with the deposit paid in check or cash with a receipt.

16) Did they design their own brochures and other promotional material? Another test of honesty.

17) Dinner music - are they sticking in a CD and letting it play through or are they working at it? Unless you really want a whole CD played, they need to earn their keep. Good DJs customize for the event - the whole event, not just after dinner.

18) What's the biggest mistake they ever made or the worst event they ever did? Every DJ has a bad moment or observation.

19) You can also ask the opposite, on top of #18. What's the best event they ever DJ'd or the best move they ever made?

20) Do they abide by any formula? In other words, do they ever play the same music in the same order (or roughly the same order) at each event?

21) Do they have any suggestions for the special songs?


These questions are a great start in weeding out the DJs. I'm sure I'll come up with more. And yes, of course I'm going to answer my own questions. And while I'm at it, I might just publish a document on the official AMP Indiana website, so that you can print out these questions.

From Funk to Country

Looking back on the past month, I realized that we went from playing for a funk/r&b/old-school/blues crowd to a country/southern rock/rock 'n' roll crowd in two weeks - and we survived. Talk about your hardcore transition of thought processes, especially where we had to do a lot of research and collecting in the funk and country genres. I mean, these are two opposite ends of the spectrum. I learned a lot and have gained more of an appreciation for these genres. And from Earth, Wind, & Fire to Alan Jackson, I had a ton of fun!

An Interesting Question

As the owner of a newer business, I've been preparing myself for all sorts of questions. My counterpart, Jon, and I have had numerous discussions about our philosophies as DJs, among other things. Recently, I got a question that I wasn't expecting, but that I was prepared for by knowing a bit about our competition.

In preparation for a meeting, I was asked by a client whether I would be the DJ at their event or if it was going to be another DJ from within the company. A fair question indeed, considering that there are so many disc jockey services out there who run more than one rig (rig=setup).

To answer the question, I explained that we're a very small company, with only two DJs, and that we BOTH attend each event. As we add on equipment, we might have a roadie or apprentice (woohoo!) accompany us, but we will always be there. Thinking about it more, I mean, why would I want to miss out on any of the fun?

Low Cost Doesn't Always Mean Low Quality

...Especially not in the case of my company. There are those who venture to say that a DJ who charges a low fee for an event is inexperienced and NOT considered a professional DJ.

I find myself looking at the rate I charge for events and wonder: Would it appease people if I raised my prices? Currently, I charge enough for the overhead costs on travel, music updating, and maintenance & upgrades for my equipment. So far, I've been hired because we're a great deal, essentially the lowest bidder. I've read a lot of articles by DJs who are (of course) advertising themselves, stating that one should shoot for a DJ who bids in the middle (which of course, they are just that DJ). Supposedly, low bidders are inexperienced, desperate DJs and high bidders may not just be that much worth it.


I love what I do. I'm not making a living off it, but it is an extra job that I truly enjoy. I love making people happy, giving them a good time, even if it's just for one night. I love to attract much-needed attention for charities and businesses, boosting their development. Most of all, music and technology research is my niche. It's fun to expand my appreciation for more genres of music and to learn about their histories. The tech part is fun, too, mostly because I love shopping.

Let's see...big spending, loads of fun, good tunes, happy people.... Yup! I'm there.

Back from Leave

Well, I'm back from Florida - the 5 days in the Orlando area were too quick. However, I learned a lot from the pros. I visited Disney's Pleasure Island and had a great time! I visited all of the clubs in there at least once (they have multiple clubs in the same complex, each with a different theme). Despite being located in a premium resort area, there wasn't a whole lot going on. It was a Monday night, which explained that part, but I had thought that people on vacation frequented it. The complex might be popular with people more on the weekend or something. Oh, well.
The emptiness of the clubs gave me the opportunity to really scope out how things were set up. I am working on upgrading and adding more to my current setup, because it is quite basic. I now have a better idea of what kind of lighting shows I want to put on and with what sort of equipment. Like I said, what I have now is pretty good, but I want more. (evil laugh)

Going on Leave

It's been a long time since my last post - sorry about that. This whole thing with working three jobs (web designer, liquor store clerk, disc jockey) has me going in different directions. All the while, I've been helping people get a house ready for sale, straightening up my apartment, and studying more music for some upcoming wedding receptions and a family reunion. I also assisted in a wedding reception Saturday night with a friend from WILY Radio at Purdue University, where I am an alum. It's time for a break...sort of.

Next week, I will be near Orlando, Florida, where my parents have a timeshare rental at a condo for a week. I'll be taking the boyfriend along, too, for a 16-hour drive over 2 days, each way. The plan is to relax (of course) and to be inspired. We'll be visiting Disney's Pleasure Island at least once. I've never been. In fact, it's been years since I've been to a club other than a campus bar. (There really aren't clubs on Purdue's campus, just larger bars with dance floors.) Hopefully, I'll have something to bring back as far as lighting and sound ideas are concerned. I will be thinking about what sort of lighting is used for each theme; how each component comes together to produce the desired effect. I will also be noting how sound is used effectively - we have a handle on this for the business, but you never know, we could something to make it better.

So, in reality, this is not just a vacation. I really am taking time off for professional development. Yeah, that's it! I'll share what I learn when I return to Indiana. In the meantime, enjoy the fireworks!!

Theme Songs

At my day job as a web designer, we'll get asked these "juicer" questions before meetings. I normally don't think of it as the best way to spend the first 5-10 minutes of a meeting, but it can get interesting sometimes.

Last week, the question was about what theme song I would choose for myself. Normally, something like that should take some deep thought. However, I'd already been thinking about it, so I actually had a sound answer (well, one that I didn't feel stupid sharing with everyone).

I actually have three theme songs that apply to me:

Work: The Bangles, "Manic Monday"
Personal: Bon Jovi, "Livin' On a Prayer"
As a DJ: Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force, "Planet Rock"

I think that you can learn a lot about a person by the music that they prefer to listen to, especially a DJ. Many of us claim to have eclectic tastes and no preference. We love all music, simply because we're DJs. That is not necessarily true. To me, not having a preference is just walking a fence.

I enjoy music and I'll listen to just about anything that's out there. However, I prefer to listen to music from the 90s. To be more specific, key artists include Salt 'N' Pepa, Warren G, TLC, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, C+C Music Factory, Boys II Men, The Offspring, Nirvana, The Foo Fighters, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, and numerous others. If it helps, I was born in 1983, so the music of the 90s really brings me back to a part of my life where I had no worries and had a lot of fun. Yeah, maybe that's what it is, or perhaps it's something deeper.

Schooled on The BeeGees

Last night, I listened to The Bee Gees Greatest Hits, both discs, and I learned a lot about the famous trio. Previously, I had only associated them with the disco era and the movie, Saturday Night Fever. I now know that they recorded during the surrounding pop eras, too. I also didn’t know that they wrote that “Massachusetts” song, among others that I recognized and said, “I know that song…didn’t know that was The Bee Gees!”

This group really adapted to the changes in music styles throughout the years, and I am still sitting in amazement that their music spanned 4 decades. As a DJ, I need to know my music, and that involves a lot of learning, some of which I did last night. I have gained a whole new respect for The Bee Gees, and I will consider using more of their music in future events.

Lil Jon and Crew Make Me Blush Again!

As a part of going through CDs, I've been stuck listening to Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz. I've played one, maybe two, of their songs - the ones that made it mainstream and were almost bearable for the ears. I started with the newer of the two albums that I have, Crunk Juice, which was probably bought on a gamble. It was jam-packed with cusses to a beat. After listening to a couple of 50 Cent albums, which were fully-loaded with cusses and gunshots, this was a bit more bearable. You see, after the initial blushing of my cheeks (I've been listening to a lot of these CDs at work, on my headphones, so nobody else hears.), I grew numb to it all. But as you can tell from the title of this post, something had to give.

Today at work, I popped in an older album, Kings of Crunk by Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz and all their crew. I'm surprised the Parental Advisory label isn't larger! I blushed even more and actually had to take a break from my desk to calm down. There are a couple of songs on this album that are sexually explicit to the extreme. I almost vomited from some of the descriptions and I was infuriated that one of the female singers was actually promoting unprotected sex! Despite the policies surrounding the Parental Advisory labels, younger teens are going to listen to this stuff, especially if they're buying the album for the song "Get Low," which they probably heard a very edited version of on a Top 40 radio station. The album also promotes smoking weed, but what gangsta rappa doesn't anymore?

As a DJ, I give my crowd what they want. Unfortunately, if it's an unedited version of "Get Low" (for an adult crowd only), I'll play it and try to forget what "skeet" means.

Learning the Blues and Remembering the Old School

I've been asked to DJ an event in a couple of months where the music selection will be a challenge, once I get into the specifics. The genres of the music will be pretty much all Blues, R&B, and some funk and old-school hip-hop. I listen to this type of music on occasion, but I'm certainly not familiar enough with it all to select 5 hours worth of it - not yet anyway. While I'm still sifting through CDs, I'm also taking note of songs of interest for this event, and I'm doing a lot of online research. Soon, I'll hit up the libraries and bookstores. Of course, I'm working with my client for particular artists and songs, which helps a lot.

The hardest genre for me will be the blues, but on the plus side, I know a lot more of the modern R&B and as for the hip-hop...let's just say it brings back some real good memories of my preteen and early teenage years. As I listen to Coolio's "Fantastic Voyage," the warm fuzzies all return. I miss the fun hip-hop, but more on that later.

Another Day, Another Bunch

For the past 2 weeks or so, we've been going through all the CDs and records we have, checking for skips, fuzziness, and any other uglies. I don't want any surprise skips or blips during a gig, even though that could happen from time-to-time. I take care of CDs pretty well, but things happen; they will get dirty and scratched. I guess that's better than what vinyl can do.

Between Jon and myself, we're maybe halfway through it all. In the meantime, we're buying more CDs and listening to those for the first time. This is one of the many tasks that go on behind the scenes for a DJ. It's one of the easier tasks, because it's not so intrusive. I mean, I can do this at work, in the car, and while I'm chilling or doing chores at the apartment. Besides, it's not often that I can mix hip-hop with country!

A Reintroduction to Country Music

I’m currently going through and listening to every single CD in my collection to check for any that will need to be replaced. Right now, I’m listening to some of the country music that I have. I don’t normally listen to much country, but a lot of it is actually kind of relaxing for a change, especially compared to pop compilations. This morning, my ears made friends with Gary Allan and Clint Black; yesterday it was George Strait. George was a good reintroduction to the genre, Clint had a lot of crossover (fine with me!), and Gary is an “alright guy.”

Laptops Cramp My Style

When I start talking about mobile DJ equipment with people, two questions tend to arise.

Q1: Do you use laptops to spin tunes?
A1: Nope.

Q2: Will you ever use laptops to spin tunes?
A2: Nope.

And the conversation continues from there with me explaining that the only place laptops will have in my rig is for people to type up requests. Sometimes, it can be difficult to read writing, especially in a darker setting, but a laptop with a low screen light is visible enough without being a distraction.

I prefer CD players over anything else. They're not as heavy as vinyl to carry and they're more durable. Practicality aside (because I know laptop lovers find MP3s to be more practical than CDs), I want to spin the tunes myself. I love to put a CD in a machine, find my cue, and use the slider on the mixer. It helps get me into the music more.

With laptops, I'd just be pressing Enter and using predetermined playlists for a gig. To me, that takes the art - and the fun - out of everything. When I'm behind the board at a gig, I don't just sit and watch the crowd, I observe them and meld with them. I'm talking about the fusion of the crowd with the music through the DJ (in this case, myself), all enhance by my lighting and sound equipment. I don't just run a business, I create an artful masterpiece.

An Introduction

Good evening! I'm Anna Pentikis and I own a mobile disc jockey (DJ) service called AMP Indiana. Although I've been involved in mobile DJing since I was a kid, I'm just now getting my own business on its feet. Speaking of which, the website will be coming soon. With this blog, I plan to share my own experiences from behind the board as a DJ. (To protect my clients and other DJs, names and specific locations will be left out.)

Since this is my first post here, let me tell you a little bit about my business. It is based out of Lafayette, Indiana, near Purdue University's main campus. I'll play just about any event: college parties, weddings, proms, picnics - just name the assignment. I'll travel, too. I'll go anywhere in Indiana and surrounding states, and if you really want me for an event, I'll travel even farther.

The name, AMP Indiana, comes from my initials and the origin of this, my first business. My mission is to use the best of my skills and talents at this art of DJing to create memorable events for my clients. And yes, I really do believe that DJing is an art first and a business second. It's very expensive to get in to, and I think that a person really needs to enjoy it in order to get into it.

More's coming, so stay tuned!