Are you insured? Can you supply me with proof of liability?
Many responsible business owners carry liability insurance to protect their businesses and the consumer. Many locations are beginning to require proof of liability. Ask for proof of liability insurance. Disc Jockey's receive a Certificate of Liability which can be used as proof.

Will you be willing to play requests and discuss music ahead of time?
A versatile Disc Jockey is willing to listen to your suggestions, give you feedback and play from your desired song list. A professional Disc Jockey will also accept the fact you may not want certain songs played. A professional Disc Jockey cannot know everything about your musical preferences and entertainment needs without communication.

Do you use Professional Equipment?
Ask whether your prospective Disc Jockey works with professional audio equipment. If you are not sure, ask for their equipment list and check with a local music dealer or the A.D.J.A. to verify they are using professional-grade sound gear. Remember that professional gear does not guarantee an entertainer's talent or service level, but is simply a tool for building an exceptional event.

Do you provide backup equipment at my event?
Although equipment failure is rare, do you really want your special occasion ruined because your Disc Jockey did not come prepared? It is also important to know if your Disc Jockey has a back-up plan in case of illness or an accident. Members of the A.D.J.A. have many resources available to them in case of an emergency. You may also reach our Hotline number to get a Disc Jockey when you have an emergency. The toll-free number is 888-723-5776.

Booking a reliable Disc Jockey is a very important decision for the success of your party. Selecting a Disc Jockey who is an active member of the American Disc Jockey Association will provide you with the confidence that you have selected a trained professional. A.D.J.A. members are more likely to be involved with other Disc Jockey's who can help them out with an unexpected situation.

Does the Disc Jockey know the proper etiquette for your type of party?
A professional Disc Jockey will assist you with the planning of your special day. Most professional entertainers will coordinate, emcee and provide the music that you desire. Ask if they have experience with your type of event.

How much time do you allow for set-up?
Punctuality is a necessity. Most Disc Jockey's arrive at least one hour prior to the start time you've given them. Your entertainer should ideally be setup and in-place before your first guest walks through the door.

Do you provide a written contract?
It is extremely important to have your booking confirmed in writing. Ask for a written agreement, especially if you are paying an initial retainer. The standard initial payment for entertainment services is 50%. If you are expecting a specific entertainer, make sure you get it in writing as well.

Will you be suitably dressed for our occasion?
Specify the type of apparel that your Disc Jockey is expected to wear for your occasion. Formal attire or coat & tie are the most popular forms of attire. If your event has a "theme" make sure your entertainer is informed.

Do you belong to a professional organization or trade group?
Although belonging to an organization or trade group does not guarantee the talent or professionalism of a disc jockey, it may indicate the companies willingness to network, learn and grow. Disc jockeys can learn through local chapter meetings, national DJ conventions and seminars geared toward the entertainment professional.
Other Items to Note: Disc Jockey rates vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability and personality.

Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00 with an average of $1,200.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight.

A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for "4 hours". Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.
Top of page

PLANNING TIPS / EXPECTATIONS /Q&A

Is it okay to include a map in a wedding invitation?
It's perfectly fine to include a map in the invitation. Just make sure that it's neatly done.

We are planning a very small wedding with only about 30 guests. I had planned to send wedding announcements
to our friends who aren't invited to the wedding,
but my fiance is afraid they'll think we're asking for gifts.
Wedding announcements are perfectly proper and are not a request for gifts. Only guests who attend the wedding and reception should feel obligated to send gifts. (You, of course, should not EXPECT gifts from anyone). Mail your announcements a day or two after the wedding.

If people bring gifts to our reception, do we have to open them there?
Open them at home or away from the reception site later. It's sort of rude to do it on location.

My family is much larger than my fiance's. Do we have to seat people on the "bride's side" and "groom's side?"
No. Just have your ushers seat people without asking which side. Your mothers and immediate families, however, should be seated on the traditional sides.

My parents are divorced, and my father has remarried.
I live with my mother, but I am also very close to my father and his wife. Whose names go on the invitation? Where do they sit in the church?
They will not sit together. If your parents agree, list both names on the invitation:Mrs. Mary Jones Smith
and Mr. John David Smith
request the honor of your presence....

If they don't want their names to appear together, the name of whoever is hosting - not necessarily paying for - the wedding should be on the invitation. Or you can put your mother's name on the wedding invitation and your father's and stepmother's names on the reception invitation.

My father died two years ago, and I would really like to honor his memory.
You will certainly want to mention your father in newspaper announcements of your wedding: "The bride is the daughter of Mrs. John Smith and the late Mr. Smith." And you may include a very private, symbolic moment in the ceremony to honor your father.

Our wedding reception will be a large, sit-down dinner.
My mother has worked hard to plan seating for all of theguests. What is the best way to direct them to their places?
Use place cards on the tables; they are especially pretty if written incalligraphy. Then display a seating chart (also beautifully lettered) where your guests can see it, so they won't have to go from table to table searchingfor their places.

We are registered at Macy's but don't know how to let our friends know. Is it okay to enclose a card in the wedding invitation?
Don't enclose a card in your wedding invitation, as that may give the impression that you expect gifts. However, if someone asks you - or yourmother - what you would like as a wedding gift, it is perfectly proper to let them know you are registered. It is a good idea for anyone who is hosting a shower for you to enclose a card in those invitations. Letting guests knowwhere you are registered is helpful.

My fiance and I are planning a very small wedding and a larger reception. Do we need to send separate invitations for the wedding?
If you have chosen traditional invitations, the large formal one is used for the reception and worded to invite guests to "the wedding reception of" rather than "the marriage of" the couple. You would also substitute "request thepleasure of your company" for "request the honor of your presence." Include a separate card in the invitations of guests who are invited to the wedding also:
Mr. and Mrs. John David Doe
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage ceremony
at five o'clock
St. Crow's Church

It is the custom in my hometown to display wedding gifts,
usually in the bride's parents' home. How do we go aboutdoingthis?
Choose an area of the house that is not in constant use. Set up card tables and cover them with white or off-white tablecloths. Display gifts attractively, using only one place setting of each of your china, flatware and glassware patterns.
Do not include the gift enclosure cards with the gifts, and display only one set of exact duplicates. If you receive similar gifts -- two different toasters, for example -- display them on opposite sides of the room. Do not display gifts of money.

During the wedding, do I walk down the aisle on my father'sright arm or his left?
You will take your father's left arm as you walk down the aisle. Thus your father will be on your right when your groom joins you from the right at the altar.

My fiance and I are planning a very formal wedding, with an evening reception. We would like for our guests to wear long dresses and tuxedos. How do we get the word out?
Your guests will get some idea of what to wear by the time of the wedding and the location of the reception. But you should also tell your family andclose friends what you would like them to wear and ask them to spread the word.

Should I buy my fiance a wedding gift?
While there is no rule that says couples should exchange wedding gifts, most do. Usually brides and grooms choose something they know will be treasured for years to come.
Special gifts for either the bride or groom include watches, sterling silver picture frames or luggage.

Should my mother and my fiance's mother wear dressesof thesame color as my bridesmaids' gowns?
Not unless they happen to like that color. The only rule for your mothers' dresses is that they be similar to each other in length and formality. If your mother is wearing a short silk dress, your fiance's mother shouldn't wear a long, sequined gown. Usually the bride's mother chooses a dress that is in keeping with the formality of the wedding. The groom's mother consults thebride's mother and then chooses a comparable dress.

What if one of our attendants gets sick and can't come to the wedding?
As much as you'd like to have your friend there, the wedding must go on. If there is time and you feel comfortable asking another friend to fill in, you can do that. Or just proceed as you would without that person.
Be sure to call your friend the morning of the wedding and let here know how much you will miss her.

Top of page

EXPECT THIS FROM US / Q&A

Professional Equipment
We only use professional gear and we always carry back-ups. We are happy to show you this equipment during a consultation. When choosingyour DJ this is one of the main things you must ask about.

Legal Digital Music Library We use CDs, MP3s, and Wav files. Our MP3s are compressed at 320kbps providing CD quality sound. This allows us to pack more music. We purchase our music and subscribe to Promo Only® media subscriptions which allows us to stay legal with our music. Get ideas in our library.

Proof of Liability Insurance
We are happy to provide a copy of our policy.

Full Time Service
Being full time allows us to serve you better. We are fresh and ready to go on your event day because we're not working a day job. This is our first job and not our second. That's important when booking a DJ.

Wedding Ceremony Music We can provide wedding ceremony music on location and coordinate the wedding ceremony as part of our service on your big day. We provide music for guest arrival as well as the songs you choose for your entrances. Assistance with this is always part of the package.

Cocktail & Dinner Music Our DJ's are set up and playing atmosphere music before your first guest arrives. (unless otherwise specified) We play a nice variety of your choice at a comfortable volume. We even take dinner requests. Just let us know and we'll play it.

Formal Attire Our DJ's are always formal.(unless otherwise specified)

Free Consultation As always you can call on us anytime to discuss your event and ask us for advice on other topics. We've provided entertainment for thousands of events. Feel free to ask us anything.

Top of page

Q&A PLANNING TIPS / EXPECTATIONS

How involved should the DJ be at the reception?
Usually, a good DJ will not intrude on your big day. The main focus a DJ should have during your event is pleasing you and your guests. They can easily accomplish that by staying out of the way and saying the right things at the appropriate times. DJs are for music and formalities. They are not superstars during your wedding. If you have concerns about that be sure to meet with your DJ prior to your wedding.

Is it ok to ask the DJ what he or she will be wearing on the day of my event?
You should definitely ask. It's also not inappropriate to ask your DJ for a photo of what he or she usually wears. If your DJ is professional he or she will be prepared with formal attire. Unless you state otherwise you can count on our DJs to dress formal. We take what we do seriously.

Should gratuity to the DJ be presented before or after my event? How much is appropriate?
You will know whether or not you plan to "tip" a DJ prior to your event by how their customer service is during the planning process. Typical percentages are between 15%-30%. Presenting the gratuity after the event is customary.

My DJ will need to eat a meal at the wedding reception. Should we reserve a seat? Also, when do they eat?
DJ's prefer to eat at their "station." It's better for the DJ to be near their equipment just in case. You will want to provide your DJ with a meal just as soon as the head table is served. The goal is for the DJ to be finished at the same time the Bride and Groom are. Other vendors may require the same consideration and you will want to check their policies on that.

Vendor meal or regular meal for my vendors?
This option is completely up to you. What you serve your vendors often reflects how you feel about them. Are they 1st class or steerage?

Should I choose all of the music for my reception?
Absolutely not. A good DJ will inquire about your musical tastes and ask for a list of songs that you would like to have played. Your DJ is really only looking for about 10-20 songs. A good DJ is a good DJ because he or she knows how to work the crowd as well as what to play. A good DJ will also ask what you don't want to hear. That way it won't get played. The key words here are "Good and DJ."

My Cousin has an iPod and has offered to put a bunch of songs on it instead of having a DJ as his gift to me. I don't know what I should do.
Tell your Cousin "thanks" but "no thanks." iPod wedding receptions are like Tornados in the middle of the night; You don't see the danger until everything is ruined. iPods cannot emcee the event, coordinate the reception, or interact with your guests. Add to that, iPods don't know how to mix the music in the right order and gauge a crowd.

I have a family member who has offered to DJ my event. I don't want to be rude and say no. What should I do?
Family members who DJ your event will not put your interests first. It's nothing personal. It's that there's no liability on the part of the family member.This person will probably spend most of their time at the bar and mingling since he or she is family. They're also least likely to have all the songs you want and their emcee skills will probably be less than adequate. The best way to avoid this disaster is to politely say you would rather have them enjoy your event as a guest.

The reception venue has informed me that the DJs and other vendors will receive a "vendor meal." Should I be concerned?
Yes and No. Some vendor meals consist of a cold sandwich and chips. Though edible, it sends a message to your vendors that you don't think much of them. Be cautious about selecting this option. Your service providers have put in a lot of hours preparing for your event and are working hard to see your event through. You may want to inquire what the vendor meal consists of. 99.9% of the time your vendors will eat the same meal as the guests. It is a well respected gesture and your vendors appreciate it.

I already booked a DJ but the venue requires that all DJs be insured or they can't work there. Is this really a big deal?
Your venue is smart. All professional DJs should have liability insurance. Don't book a DJ who doesn't have it. Try getting out of your contract with the DJ unless they agree to get insurance. Make them show you the policy once they tell you they have it. They will need to show the venue that policy on the day of your event.

My DJ has a day job and it's difficult to get in touch to discuss my wedding. Should I be worried?
Unfortunately there are a lot of part time DJs in the business who lack the experience and skill to be full time. It is always best to check up front with your DJ if their business is full time. You will benefit better from a full time DJ service as they have more time to prepare for your event. Just be cautious.

My wedding date is still two years away. When should an engagement announcement appear in the paper?
Check with your local paper for guidelines. As a general rule, engagements should be published no more than a year and not less than six weeks before your wedding.

WHY should I ask a DJ if they have been to the place where the wedding reception will be?

ANSWER: We might have some additional info that you will find helpful. Also, if we’ve been there before, we won’t get lost going there again. In other words, our familiarity with a place is essential but not always necessary. A good DJ will visit the location prior to the event.

If you have something that should be on this page, let us know. We’d be happy to post it.

Top of page Home Contact PLANNING TIPS / EXPECTATIONS /Q&A