Employee Event

Have you ever danced to "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC or "Love Stinks" by the J. Geils Band at a wedding reception? Have you heard Fall Out Boy's "I Don't Care" playing in the background at a charity fundraiser? What about any rap song by Ludacris, Eminem or Three 6 Mafia at a family-friendly employee event?

If you answered "No," to all those questions, then you must have had some decent DJs at your events (if you answered "Yes," it's possible you had to ask for your money back.) That's because good DJs don't just play the latest hits or their favorite songs, but rather customize a playlist to suit your audience.

Entertainment can really make or break your event, so picking the right DJ is critical to your success as a planner. To make sure you're in good hands, keep in mind these 5 tips for what to look for in a DJ for event entertainment:

• Personality. DJs can do more than just turn the volume up and down on your music. They mingle with guests, get people on the dance floor and create an overall lively atmosphere. If your DJ doesn't have the right outgoing personality to do that, they'll fall flat.

• Diverse interests. Look for a well-rounded DJ who is knowledgeable in different styles and genres of music. Make sure he or she has a good arsenal of songs suitable to your event, and that he or she can easily switch into something new if the crowd starts to lost interest.

• Responsiveness. DJs should be quick to respond to your RFPs and always get back to you in a reasonable amount of time. After all, if a DJ doesn't return or a phone call or email quickly, or by the time he or she said they would, how can you rely on them to be on time to your event?

• Professional equipment. Anyone who's listened to a song on the radio and heard the same song live in concert knows that audio equipment vastly affects the quality of a presentation. A good DJ will use professional equipment—quality speakers, CD players, microphones, mixing boards, etc. Some DJs may even have extra equipment such as special effects lighting. (Just keep in mind, you may have to pay more for such extras; it's up to you to determine if it's worth it.)

• References. Being good in person—not just on paper—is especially important for an someone who will actually interact with guests at your event. Ask fellow event planners who they recommend for event entertainment, or ask for a few reference clients from the DJs themselves.

That's not to say you should discount newcomers to the entertainment scene, though. But if you do go for someone who hasn't formally played at many events, at least ask for a few character references and make sure to meet him or her in person before making a decision.

Corporate executives and stakeholders aren't the only ones taking a closer look at their meetings and events. These days, it seems that the decision to hold, or not to hold, a meeting is a matter of public discussion.

Consider the public outcry against organizations such as American International Group (AIG) and Wells Fargo. Both recipients of federal bailout money, these businesses faced harsh criticism from the media regarding separate plans to hold retreats and recognition events at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009. Soon after, both organizations decided to cancel both these and future events.

Members of the industry are starting to speak out against the media's new found role as meetings watchdog.

In a full page ad in Sunday's New York Times, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf commented on the media scrutiny that led to the recent cancellation of the bank's Las Vegas event, saying "These one-sided stories lead you to believe that every employee recognition event is a junket, a boondoggle, a waste, or that it's for highly-paid executives. Nonsense!"

Members of the travel and tourism industry seem to find the media scrutiny equally troubling. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recently released a statement on the matter, saying "it is unfair to punish an entire industry that generates billions of dollars in economic stimulus and jobs for the American public."

There's no question that today's economic climate requires organizations to tighten their budgets in all areas of spend, including meetings and events. But should the decision to schedule or cancel a meeting remain internal, in the hands of executives, or is the media's treatment of events fair? What do you think?