Here are some questions that clients often ask about DJ services.
When does the contracted time start? The contracted time starts when you want it to start. This means either starting with , with “background” music before the wedding party arrives, or with the announcements of the wedding party, or at a specified time that you have chosen.
Is dinner music considered contracted time? Yes, see above.
Do you take requests? This is your choice. Normally, we do take requests from your guests, unless you specify otherwise. However, we try to ensure that requests are appropriate for the occasion and that it is something that people will dance to. Heavy Metal music usually doesn’t get heard at too many of our receptions, unless of course you specifically ask for it.
Can overtime be charged by the 1/2 hour instead of the hour? Yes, overtime can be charged on a 1/2-hour basis. It’s 11 o’clock and you’re having fun but you’re not quite sure whether or not you’ll be able to dance ’til midnight, we can always charge it by the 1/2-hour.
Are you insured? Absolutely! This should be one of the first 5 questions you ask any vendor who will be providing services at your wedding. We have a $2,000,000 insurance policy that shows we’re serious about our services and aren’t just doing this as a hobby.
Is it customary to tip my DJ? This is one of those questions that you want to ask, but are afraid to. Our response is, “it’s up to you.” A tip is something that someone gives for good service, whether it is at a restaurant, barbershop, or wedding reception. A tip should never be asked for and is not included in our contracts. If you feel that good service was given then feel free to tip that person, if you don’t feel that good service was given, then don’t. We feel that a gratuity should never be expected.
How late will you play? We’ll play ’til you tell us to stop. Keep in mind that many venues have time limits that they will allow for events. In most cases, if it’s going to be past midnight, the bride and groom need to discuss it first with their venue manager. Clearing this up ahead of time will ensure that there are no unexpected surprises or disappointments on the night of the event. I always try to find out when the party will be ending because I always like to end the evening in a manner that is consistent with our client’s wishes. If you want to end your night on something slow that gives you a chance together one last time, you got it. However, if you’d rather have your guests in one big group/circle around the dance floor singing at the top of their lungs, we can do that too! We’ll work with you to create that lasting impression.
What is the minimum amount of time that you’ll play? For most events it’s a 5-hour minimum. However there are exceptions to this rule, contact us for your situation.
We want to show a memory video during the reception, can you help? Yes, we have the equipment (LCD projector, screen, and laptop) available to rent for the presentation. I’ll also bring the necessary cables so that the music from the presentation plays through our sound system. We will need a copy of the presentation at least 2 weeks before the event to ensure compatibility with our equipment.
How long have you been in business? Our owner, Chris McMahon, has been a Professional DJ for over 20 years. He started out by working for another company for a couple of years and was getting requested quite frequently. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to create McMusic in November of 1999. Other staff DJ’s have been with us since almost the beginning. We pride ourselves on professionalism and the referrals of people who have either seen us DJ or who have booked us for their events. I believe, there’s no better compliment than for someone to give our name and number to a potential client.
Can you provide references? You bet! Just ask and we are more than happy to provide you with a list of recent clients that have offered to be a reference for a potential client.
What do you wear? Your DJ will be dressed appropriately for your event. During setup time, we may be dressed a little more casual but yet still professional. We try to make sure we’re setup and ready to go before your guests arrive, but that mainly depends on what time you’ve indicated as the start time. Again, we’re there at least one hour before the scheduled starting time.
What if my mom wants things a little “differently” than I do? When we contract for a wedding, we contract with either the Bride or the Groom. While in most instances, it’s the parents paying for the event, we take my directions from the Bride and Groom. This eliminates any confusion if the situation may arise where “Aunt Mary” comes and says that the bride’s mom wants to do such and such. If it wasn’t something that was planned, we’ll discuss it with the Bride and Groom to get their approval. While these types of situations are rare, they can be a Bride & Groom’s (not to mention the DJ’s) worst nightmare. This is why it’s best to communicate with everyone well before the event, so there are no surprises that night. While we do our best to make sure everyone is happy and has a great time, ultimately, it’s the Bride & Groom who we’re there to help make it the night they expect.
Why should I hire a DJ when I can just use my iPod and rent a sound system? An experienced DJ will be able to read your crowd and react to their musical tastes. While you may load an iPod up with a lot of songs you may like, think about your guests. The most talked about receptions are where the guests are having a fun time and the dance floor is busy. You’ve heard the term “silence is golden”, well not when it comes to DJ’ing. One of our pet peeves is to have silence between songs. You want your music to flow from song to song, not starting and stopping.
Our music library spans from the 1950’s through the current songs of today. Chances are we’ve got the music that will cater to most everyone on your guest list. It would take a lot of time and effort to plan out a play list for a reception on your iPod. Sure it could be done, but it offers no flexibility.
Aside from the music, an iPod can’t handle all of the other particulars that take place during a reception, such as introductions, announcements, interacting with the crowd, etc. While it may be a way to cut costs of the reception, it will have a greater impact on the quality of the night. Your guests will be talking about it for a long time, but unfortunately not in a good way.
Is there a fee for travel or setup/take-down time? We do not charge a travel fee unless the venue is more than 45 minutes from our address (using Yahoo! Maps). Setup and take-down time are included in our services; you are not charged for this time. We are usually at the venue approximately an hour before the scheduled start time and completely setup approximately 1/2 hour before the scheduled starting time.
When do we meet with you to discuss the event? We will call you approximately 3-4 weeks before the event. We will schedule a consultation 2-3 weeks before the event. This gives us time to get all of our details in order and gives you plenty of time to call us with any “last minute” changes.
Should I reserve a space for the DJ and photographer at a table for dinner? Another common question. It is not uncommon for the DJ and photographer to be included. This is because most of the time, your photographer and DJ are working at times that are usually dinner hours for most people. Starting at 4:00 (or earlier) in the afternoon and working until midnight is difficult without having a meal in there somewhere. However, you might want to check with your caterer to see if you have to include them in your meal count, most of the time you won’t. This is especially important if you are having a sit-down dinner in which your guests will be served by the wait staff. Many caterers in the area take into account for these extra people anyway. However, if it’s a $100 per plate dinner and you’d like for the DJ or photographer to make for other arrangements for dinner, don’t hesitate to let us know.
When should we pay our DJ? A Retainer is sent in along with one copy of the contract signed by you to reserve your date. This applies to your contracted amount. Your final balance is due no later than two weeks before your event. Some clients will send in part of the remaining balance a few months before the reception. Again, it’s totally up to you.
How can we pay you? We have accept cash, checks, credit cards, and Venmo.
Do we get a receipt? Your copy of the contract acts as your receipt, in addition, if you pay by check, your cancelled check acts as your receipt. If you need a special receipt sent to you, be sure to let me know the night of the reception and I’ll send it out within a few days of the event. If it’s for a corporate event and you need an invoice or W-9 submitted ahead of time, let us know and we’re happy to do so.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to call us! (618) 604-9671