Frequently Asked Questions
| How Much Do You
Charge? In 2010, I charged as little as $500 for a Sunday evening wedding, and about $1200 for a Bismarck trip (a 277 mile drive for me). Typical is usually somewhere in the middle, but changes depend on time of year, day of the week, and your specific needs. In the Grand Forks and Fargo areas, I don't charge mileage. What is Included in Your Price? Included in my price is any equipment you need that I have, like a larger sound system, wireless mics, any dance floor lighting you want, or my projector and screen for video. Also included, is any service I can provide like meeting in person to discuss details. What you will never hear out of my mouth is 'that's not my job.' My job is to give you the best evening possible. It's easier to say what isn't included. The only things that are not included in the price: Realistically, a sound system for a ceremony; video slide show creation; decorative up lighting, and if you have me video your ceremony (that's a long story, but I was asked to help and so I agreed). What Other Services Do You Provide? I'm willing to help in anyway I can. My additional services that are often taken advantage of include: Decorative Up Lighting: Ambient lighting that can add a beautiful mood lighting to your room by splashing the walls with color, to spotlight key focal points, or even light up table cloths like lamp shades. To see more, check out the few pictures I have, so far. Video Slide Show Creation: Typically $50 to $150, depending on if I scan your photos for you. I've made about 20 videos in the past few years and have some examples on Youtube here: Video Slide Show Examples Ceremony Video: Less expensive than a real videographer, and better than your uncle Bob. Last year two clients asked me to film their ceremonies. One more this year. I'm not going to make a career out of it, but I don't mind helping out. Two or more cameras, recording the audio from the ceremony site's sound system, and a hidden lapel mic on the groom to pick up the vows. At the reception, I try to get anything you may want, like speeches and special dances. Afterward, you receive all the footage, and two edited versions to create a five minute (easy to make your friends watch) and a twenty minute (for you). Times are approximate. Who Will Our DJ Be? What Happens If You Get Sick? I am always your DJ. Always. A few times a year I bring along an assistant for training, one of my backup DJs. I have DJ'ed with Pneumonia (they added two extra hours of dance time) and 48 hours after the birth of my son. Since 1998, over 500 events, I've only missed one. Ever. It was New Year's Eve 2010 and it wasn't because I was sick. It was because the interstate was closed for three days from two blizzards. One of my backups, James, a 10 year DJ veteran, who I trained, with a degree in sound engineering, covered the reception for me. How Involved Are You in Helping Us Plan? How Much Input Do We Have? I'm always willing to help, including with non-DJ items. I have a client website with ideas from other weddings and bridal magazines (Martha Stewart Weddings is by far the best, but Real Simple's annual wedding issue is good, too.). Clients are encouraged to call or email anytime they like with all sorts of questions. My clients can have as much say as they want. Some couples tell me, 'we don't care as long as everyone has fun,' and that's OK. Others choose a bunch of songs and sit down with me and talk about what they like and don't like. Both are good, but it's about what you want, and how much input is right for you. I'm not going to make you answer a lot of questions like it's homework if you don't want to. If you do want to, I prefer to meet in person, ask a lot of questions, lay out your options, and learn about what you like and don't like. I believe the more personal, the better. Do You Take Requests? Absolutely. My contract states I have to play what the bride and groom want, and avoid what they don't want. For this I make a music request cheat sheet of the top 200 songs available, though you aren't limited to just my lists. I also encourage guest requests at your reception. How Far In Advance Should I Book You? As soon as you've decided on your wedding date, and that you'd like a DJ. There is no benefit to waiting, except to take the time and find the DJ who is right for you. The sooner you start, the more choices you will have. I've booked weddings 18 months in advance, and as little as six weeks out. When Do You Setup Your Equipment? Long before guests arrive. Typically, I'm dressed and ready to go at the reception about the same time your ceremony starts. I like to be early. How Will You Be Dressed? In a full suit and tie. I do my best to blend in with your wedding party. Do You Provide a Planning Form We Can Fill Out? No. While a form certainly works for some basic items, like song requests (I have a Top 200 list you can fill out), and names of the wedding party, ultimately, this is your wedding reception. I have so many questions, with so many possible answers that I find it best to meet in person, or, at the least, talk on the phone. The more I know, the better you understand what your choices are, the better. And, frankly, sometimes a form doesn't allow for the very different preferences you have. I do provide a client website filled with ideas from bridal magazines and other weddings. Do You Have Backup Equipment On Site? Yes. I have a complete second sound system with me at every wedding reception. Everything including wireless microphones, speakers, and lights are ready to go. For music, I have two identical laptops and two mp3 players, any of which can complete a wedding dance. What Kind of Equipment Do You Use? Professional. EV speakers, Rane mixer. Shure microphones. Chauvet lights. If you're asking because you've heard about Bose L1 speakers, you should know that Bose recommends those (very expensive) speakers for live musicians, not DJs. So not only do they cost two to three times a regular professional DJ speaker, but they're being used for the wrong thing. They would be great for background during dinner, but for a dance, there are better choices. Where Do You Get Your Music? A DJ record pool. It's a professional service that provides music for DJs. If they don't have a song a client or guest requests, I use Amazon.com's mp3 service. Do You Have Insurance? Liability insurance from American Family Insurance, though I suppose it's technically they're the broker agent. It says "Exclusively for Weddings," do you really only DJ weddings? The secret? No. I gladly help out any charities or non-profits I can, like the Prairie Harvest Foundation. I also DJ for Red River and Central high school in Grand Forks. I don't take new school clients, but I've done the dances for those schools for years (Red River since 1998). I've found it keeps me in with new music better than anything else I could do. If they keep calling, I'll keep showing up for them. That said, weddings
are where I am best, they are my specialty, and
where I prefer to focus my energy. In 2011
I'll work 32 weddings, 10 school dances, and
three or four charity events. |