DJing Weddings During COVID-19: Tips for Safety and Success

by Chris Brower
Last Updated: October 25, 2020

Disclaimer: This article does not contain medical advice in terms of COVID-19 symptoms or treatment. Additionally, the tips included do not guarantee safety or that you won’t still catch the virus. Use caution.

If you are DJing any weddings during COVID-19, it’s important you be safe for your sake and the sake of your clients and their guests. Here are some tips that will hopefully increase your safety, while still delivering a great experience for your clients. (Note: As the disclaimer states, following the tips in this article do not guarantee you won’t still catch or transmit COVID-19.)

Meet Virtually With Clients and Vendors

When possible, meet virtually with clients before the event rather than face-to-face. This reduces the need to talk in-person, which exposes you to more risk.

You of course still want to talk to your clients at the wedding, but hopefully you can keep interactions quick, friendly, and from a safe distance. Let your clients know (ahead of time) that you’re doing this in order to be safe.

A long, close interaction, because there are a lot of details you still need to work out, is risky. The couple is likely interacting with lots of people throughout the day, shaking hands, hugging, having long conversations, etc., so your close proximity to them could put either of you in danger.

If possible, do the same with the vendors. I often don’t talk to the photographer until the day of the event. I generally look forward to these interactions, where I shake the photographer’s hand and go over the schedule with them. Unfortunately, in a COVID-19 world, it’s best to reduce the need for long chats in-person. So make sure you’re on the same page before the event, with a virtual meeting or phone call, so there’s less need to confer at the wedding about the schedule or other things that require a longer conversation.

It’s a bummer it has to be this way, but this is in the name of safety.

Try to find the sweet spot of being friendly while still social distancing.

Inform the Couple of Your COVID-19 Protocols

When you talk with the couple before the big day, tell them of any special COVID-19 protocols you’re taking, such as:

Wearing a mask
Distancing from guests
Accepting song requests only through text or another method

When I tell couples that I’ll be social distancing from guests, I make it clear that they’re still welcome to approach me anytime they want. Consider making this clarification if it’s true for you too.

It’s also a good idea to tell couples your comfort level with handshakes and hugs.

As I’ve observed during the pandemic, many couples and their guests are still shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving, engaging in fist bumps, etc. I have not been doing that, but have had many guests or couples thrust a hand out or pull me into a hug, when I was too polite, and feeling put on the spot, to tell them no.

One wedding the groom hugged me five or six times (as well as touching lots of the guests). Pre-pandemic, I was totally cool with that, but now, it’s risky for my own safety as well as anyone I interact with in the future.

I’m a non-confrontational person! So I decided I needed to have a plan in place. So, as silly as it sounds, I’ve started telling couples, when I talk to them a few days before the wedding, that I mean no disrespect but ask that they don’t try to hug me or give me a handshake. Everyone has been totally understanding.

Of course, guests might still try to hug or shake your hand, so be prepared to stick out an elbow instead or politely say no.

Determine How You’ll Handle Song Requests

I’ve always been old school when it comes to song requests – guests can make them by walking up to me at the DJ table and asking (hopefully nicely…).

Unfortunately, this isn’t a great system during COVID-19, where you want to social distance and avoid close interactions.

A couple options to consider:

Leave a paper/card on each guest table with your phone number and instructions to text requests to that number. Before people have arrived, place a small handout (a quarter of a page works great) on each table that lists a phone number and instructions to text song requests to that number. For example, “DJ Fun Times is practicing safe social distancing tonight. For song requests we ask that you text them to 123-456-7890 rather than coming up to the DJ table. Thanks!”
- Of course, the downside is now everyone has your number! But you can also create a new phone number that forwards to your existing phone (but people won’t get your actual phone number) with services, such as Google Voice.
- Be prepared to get tons of texts. After all, the awkwardness of having to approach a stranger (aka, the DJ) is gone, so people may feel more comfortable sending request after request after request.
Use song request software. For example, Ask the DJ if you use VirtualDJ.

During COVID-19, I’ve been using the option of guests texting song requests using a number I created through Google Voice. It’s worked mostly very well. I place a couple handouts on each table and make an announcement at the beginning of the night.

As predicted, I now get TONS of requests, way more than pre-COVID-19 (when I allowed guests to approach me at the DJ table). But it’s also easier to turn the request down, compared to a face-to-face request, if the song isn’t a good fit. Either just don’t respond to the text, or respectfully reply as to why you can’t play a certain song (“Thanks, but the couple asked for no country songs, so I’m unable to play that.”). It all feels less potentially confrontational than a face-to-face request.

Granted, there are still those guests who will ignore the instruction not to approach the table. Almost every wedding I have multiple guests say, “Haha, I know we’re not supposed to approach the table, but is it okay if I do right now?” You can remind them or hand them their own copy of the song request instructions. Or just take the request face-to-face.

Practice Social Distancing

In some ways, being a DJ is already good social distancing, as you are typically positioned at a table several feet from other people. If the table is positioned too close to other tables or the dance floor, work with the event coordinator to find a spot a little farther away that gives you added safety while still being able to do a great job.

Likewise, be mindful when you walk around that you’re remaining distanced from other people.

If you want to, in a sense, “shield” yourself more from people, to create more of a barrier, you could put up DJ booth walls*. Of course, there’s no guarantee people won’t walk around the sides of the booth walls to talk to you, but the booth walls could at least help. And certainly DJ booth walls don’t actually protect your face from other people, because booth walls typically aren’t that tall.

I bought these DJ booth walls before weddings resumed during COVID-19 and have been very happy with them. I set them up two or three feet in front of my DJ table, which helps create more distance between the guests and I. Plus, now my DJ table no longer becomes the de facto spots for guests to set their beer glasses when they want to dance!

Ready for the complete guide to becoming a wedding DJ? Here you go.

Wear a Face Mask

As is said repeatedly, wearing face masks is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Wearing one is the responsible thing to do.

Weddings put you potentially in contact with lots of people – particularly, a lot of people who aren’t wearing masks – so it’s a good idea to wear one.

You will likely need to remove it when making any announcements over the microphone. Make sure you are well-distanced from other people when making announcements.

I use the simple black face masks from Thompson Tee. They’re relatively inexpensive, and they blend well with a suit.

It’s a good idea to bring multiple masks and change them occasionally. Plus, weddings can make you sweat! So putting on a fresh mask can feel good.

Wash Hands Frequently

When you’re able, wash your hands. If not, use hand sanitizer. Even if you’re not regularly getting close to other people or touching surfaces other people have touched, it doesn’t hurt to use some hand sanitizer. Remember, it’s not just your health, but that of the couples and their guests too, that you want to consider.

Announce Any Special Rules or Instructions

As the emcee, you may be called on to make special announcements in regards to safe behavior for the wedding, such as how people should get their food, rules for social distancing on the dance floor, you name it.

Similarly, if you don’t want people approaching your table for song requests, kindly ask that they don’t, and let them know how they can get the song requests to you.

You might need to make some of these announcements multiple times throughout the night.

As always, strike the right balance between delivering these important instructions, while not seeming like a bossy disciplinarian that’s beating people over the head or chastising them for their behavior. You don’t need to say, “So look, I’m noticing some of you all aren’t social distancing enough! Come on!! Six feet, people! Six feet!!”

Safe Handling of Microphones

Passing microphones around for toasts or micing up an officiant is now a lot harder. You have a lot of hands on the same piece of equipment, as well as people speaking into them, which naturally involves the possibility of spit/droplets, etc., landing on the microphone.

A few things you could try to increase the safety:

Use a separate microphone for toasts/the ceremony officiant than you personally use throughout the night. Keep this separate microphone away from your equipment (for example, you could carry it in its own pouch, rather than letting it touch your other equipment). Don’t just set it back down on your table after people have used it without first disinfecting it.
Wear latex gloves when handling the microphone. The people using the microphone probably won’t, but at least you give yourself some protection.
Place the microphone for toasts/speeches in a spot away from people. If there’s a spot you can set the microphone (where people giving toasts will go to pick it up) that is socially distanced and safe for your microphone, consider doing that. This helps you avoid the close interaction that occurs if you hand off the microphone directly to another person. Obviously you want to find a safe spot that won’t get your microphone stolen or played with until it’s time for speeches. Note: This doesn’t have to be the spot where people actually give the speech, but it could be if that makes sense.
Wipe down the microphone (all over) with disinfectant wipes.
Put a windscreen on the microphone and replace it after each toast or after each event. After all, when people speak into a microphone, they’re often (unknowingly) spitting into the top. Windscreens are generally cheap enough that you could possibly throw them away after each event. Don’t forget about windscreens for your lavalier microphone too.
Put the microphone on a stand, so people giving speeches don’t have to grab the microphone itself. Of course, people are different heights, so they may have to adjust the height of the mic stand, thus, having to touch it. But this would at least reduce some touching.

Food/Drinks

Caterers and venue staff regularly wear masks and latex gloves. As well, buffets often now have a plexiglass sheet blocking guests from directly contaminating the food at the buffet table. And your plate is assembled for you instead of every guest grabbing the same tongs and serving spoons.

However, there’s naturally still some risk using any dishes, silverware, and glasses that have been touched by other people.

If you prefer to bring your own food instead of eating the provided meal, you could do that.

Pandemic or not, it’s always smart to bring some snacks in case you get hungry. Some simple ones include peanut butter crackers and granola bars.

If you prefer to eat the dinner that’s provided, you could still bring a few items to increase the safety:

Bring your own silverware. Just grab some from home and put it in a bag, or bring some disposable silverware.
Bring your own napkins or paper towels.
Bring a filled-up water bottle. A large bottle could provide enough water for the night, helping you avoid using a glass the venue provided or having to wait in line for refills.

Bring a Bag of Supplies

Before each wedding, I assemble a bag of supplies:

Face masks
Disinfecting wipes
Hand sanitizer (and plenty of it!)
Silverware and napkins
Snacks
Filled water bottle
Trash bags or old shopping bags – after you use a disinfecting wipe, you can stash it in the trash bag, along with any other trash from the night, if a trash can is not near you.

Be Mindful of Your Behavior Outside of Weddings Too

Your behavior outside of weddings – as in, the days when you’re not at weddings – naturally affects your health. Engaging in unsafe behavior (congregating in large groups without a face mask, not social distancing, etc.) increases the chances of you:

Getting sick
Having to cancel a wedding at the last minute, because you are sick
Losing money from the cancellation
Getting a bad review because of the last-minute cancellation (though if you do indeed have COVID-19, it’s better to risk a bad review than still DJ the wedding)
Not cancelling the wedding and still DJing it, but unknowingly transmitting the disease to someone else, putting their life in danger

It goes without saying (yet, here I am) that if you have any symptoms you absolutely must get tested and, if given a positive diagnosis (you do have COVID-19), not DJ the wedding. If you’re the least bit convinced you might have it, better to be safe than sorry. You risk upsetting the couple and getting a negative review, but that’s nothing compared to the risks you take if you still DJ the wedding.

Conclusion

This is obviously a very tough time for everyone. Wedding are hopefully a chance for people to cut loose, have some fun, and reconnect with family and friends that they might not have seen in a long time. DJs should continue to deliver a great experience (as long as they feel comfortable still DJing), while also practicing safe behavior and reducing the chances of spreading or catching COVID-19. Best of luck and be safe!

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