How do you work with clients?
Whether you’re getting married, celebrating a birthday or anniversary, you have a lot on your mind and working things out with your DJ may not be a top priority for you. We will assist you by putting a plan together for your special event to make planning as seamless as possible. Below is a sample of how the overall process works:
- We will meet with you in person to discuss your special day and to get to know you a little better. If you have a coordinator and would prefer we meet with them, we would be more than happy to.
- If we are in agreement (price, date, etc.), we will ask you to sign a contract and provide the initial $100 non-refundable retainer to block the day (Note: the retainer is applied to the balance).
- We will send you a Wedding Form (either online or hard copy based on your preference) to gather the details needed (e.g., music, timing, special requests, etc.) Forms are tailored to your type of event (e.g., Wedding, Birthday, Anniversary, Formal, etc.)
How early should I book a DJ?
Many DJ’s will be booked anywhere from 12 – 24 months in advance, so the earlier you can book a DJ, the better. I do not DJ every weekend and that is by choice, so I have several weekends reserved throughout the year for personal purposes. I keep my Availability Calendar up-to-date that you can take a look at and see if I am available for your special event.
What is your pricing structure?
Pricing is generally dependent on the number of guests… more guests typically means a bigger venue which translates into more needs (e.g., more speakers, more lights, etc.) Fill out my Contact form so that I can provide you with a detailed quote for your special event.
Do you charge extra for setup and tear-down time?
The time I need to setup and tear-down is already incorporated into my hourly rate. For example, if you need me to play music from 3 PM – 10 PM, I will only charge you for seven hours even though I will arrive around 1 PM to setup and stay until around 11 PM to tear-down.
How do you take payments?
- I use a service called WaveApps for invoicing which provides my clients the ability to pay with a debit card, credit card, or ACH.
- Balance must be paid one (1) week before the event date.
- I will accept payments in any amount prior to the due date to apply to the balance.
How early do you arrive at the venue?
I will arrive at the venue at least one and half hours before. For larger events or events with special needs (e.g., separate ceremony area), I typically arrive at least 2 hours prior.
Are DJs required to carry insurance?
The short answer is no. However, more venues are now requiring all vendors to carry liability insurance which protects the client, the venue and the DJ should anything happen. I have always complied with insurance requirements and do not charge extra for this.
Do you bring anyone with you to the event?
For smaller events, I go by myself. For larger events, I bring one assistant.
Do you take requests?
Absolutely! I take requests directly from my clients as part of my planning process, as well as from your guests during the event. I subscribe to a song request service that allows me to receive requests via text to a special page that I can see immediately. I will always do my best to play every request, but there may be times when I will not play a request because of several reasons (e.g., song does not fit the current mood or theme of the event, song is on the client’s “do not play” list, etc.)