With so many DJs to choose from, you have to know exactly what to look for and
what questions to ask. Here are some of the most common.
- What makes Premier Events worth your investment?
- How early should we retain your services?
- Can we meet the actual DJ before booking?
- Do you offer a contract or written agreement?
- When is my first payment, second payment, and final payment due?
- Is setup time included in your price?
- Do you take breaks?
- Can we choose the music to be played at our event?
- Can we have a "do not play" list?
- What if we want a song that you don't have?
- How loud do you play the music?
- Do you carry backup equipment?
- Do you hang any banners or other advertisements?
- How interactive are your DJs?
- Do you have a video or can we come view a live event?
- How far will you travel?
- Is tipping/gratuity expected from the DJ?
- Should we feed the DJ?
- Are your rates negotiable through price matching or other discounts?
- Are you fully insured?
1. What makes Premier Events worth your investment?
Our care and concern for your special event is second only to your own.
Many clients immediately ask when calling a prospective disc jockey,
"what's your price?" This is not the best way to start your
interview. Price is important but not the determining factor. You
want to get all of the information and the most for your money. One
potential DJ may charge less because the company is less experienced or is not
as well equipped to handle your function. Some DJ services charge
more because their service has a great reputation and may have many
bookings. They may also have exceptional sound, a great light show and
many years of experience.
We are
able to bring our experience from over a thousand performances to your one
special night. This means we make your vision of the perfect celebration a
reality. Our fresh look brings a new definition to “experienced DJ.” We've been
entertaining for over 15 years; but there is nothing old about our company. Our
systems are uniformly sleek and state-of-the-art and of course each DJ is highly
polished and energetic. We believe that being a successful disc jockey requires
100% musical expertise, 100% customer service satisfaction, and 100%
professionalism. The investment you make in our company reflects the expertise
and quality we bring to your special event.
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2. How early should we retain your services?
Simply put...the sooner the better! Some of the most popular dates can and do
book as early as one year in advance. Our suggestion is to be prepared to sign a
contract as early as 8-12 months before. Depending on availability some dates
remain open until the month before. So if you're planning an event for next
month, it's worth it to check our availability. If you're just starting your
planning, try to make your final decision as soon as possible to ensure our
availability.
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3. Can we discuss the final agenda with the DJ who will be performing at our event?
This is a very understandable concern. We, too, have heard horror stories from
people who went to see a particular DJ and then got a completely different and
absolutely horrible DJ at their event. Fortunately, our team of dedicated
professionals have been entertaining since our founding. So you never have to
worry about getting "the new guy" or the "DJ in training." Unless there is an
emergency the DJ we have contracted for you will be the DJ arriving.
From performance to equipment, all of our DJs and systems are virtually
identical. Our systems and music libraries are effectively alike and our DJs are
all in the same age group. When the final conference call takes place, the
opportunity to share with him exactly how you'd like your event to proceed will
be completely documented two weeks prior to your event. Have peace of mind
because never will a complete stranger show up at your event!
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4. Do you offer a contract or written agreement?
Absolutely. Our contract is straightforward and written in plain English so that
you can understand the terms before signing. With the contract you can be
assured that there will be no hidden extra charges or surprises at your event.
The signed contract and retainer officially reserves your date and of course an
executed copy will be sent to you for your records. If you have any questions or
concerns about the terms, just ask!
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5. When is my first payment, second payment, and final payment due?
Your initial payment of $500.00 and signed contract secures your date. A
second payment of $500.00 is due 2 months after singing your contract. The final
payment of the remaining balance is due at least 14 days (2 weeks) prior to your
event date. We will gladly accept your personal check, certified check,
cashier's check, or money order. We do not accept payment on the date of your
event.
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6. Is setup time included in your price?
You never have to pay for setup or takedown time. We typically arrive almost an
hour prior to your scheduled start time and will be set up long before your
first guest arrives. But it's on our own time! The same applies for takedown
time after your event.
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7. Do you take breaks?
Our services are truly uninterrupted and non-stop. From our scheduled start time
to our scheduled end time we will never pause to take a break. Much unlike bands
that need to stop and rest, we can just keep playing straight through your
event!
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8. Can we choose the music to be played at our event?
You'll be unbelievably amazed at how flexible we are when it comes to music
selection! That's because in the past 15 years we've learned that keeping the
dance floor packed is influenced by many factors, including the order and style
in which the songs are played, the way songs are mixed together, and DJ
interaction... not just which songs are played.
We've had clients that have chosen every song for the entire event and others
that have left the music selection completely up to us. Our recommendation is to
provide us with a list of "must play" songs and list of "play if possible"
songs. This will leave plenty of room for requests from your guests and DJ
selections. You may also stipulate that we not take requests from you guests--that's
completely up to you. We can take requests that may fit into the guidelines or we can simply
tell them that we don't have the song. But have fun and select music you want to hear and dance to. After all, it's
your event!
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9. Can we have a "do not play" list?
Sometimes the do not play list is equally important or more important than the
request list itself! We understand that you don't want to hear the song you and
your "ex" danced to. Or maybe you've been to one too many weddings lately and
are sick of the typical wedding songs. Any specific songs or general types of
music you absolutely hate should go on your "do not play" list. So don't feel as
though we have to play the chicken dance and hokey pokey... we don't! Rest
assured that if a guest requests a song that is on your "do not play" list, it
will not be played. Keep in mind that your taste in music will most likely differ
from that of your guests.
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10. What if we want a song that you don't have?
While our 40,000 song music library encompasses the widest variety of hits from
the 1940s to today, it's likely you may have a few obscure requests that are not
in our repertoire. In this case, we would be more than happy to play your CD. As
you're making your request list, simply indicate which songs you will be
providing. You can bring your CDs to us at the start of the event and we'll
promptly return them to you at the end.
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11. How loud do you play the music?
One of the greatest complaints of bands and DJs alike is that they play the
music too loud. It doesn't have to be that way! During cocktail and dinner hours
the speakers will be strategically positioned for even sound coverage throughout
the banquet room at a comfortable level. When it's time to dance, the speakers
will be repositioned for maximum sound coverage on the dance floor and minimum
sound exposure throughout the rest of the banquet room. This means that on the
dance floor the music will be at a very comfortable, yet powerful enough level
for dancing. Throughout the rest of the room the music will be less predominant
and your guests will actually be able to carry on a normal conversation without
screaming!
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12. Do you carry backup equipment?
Your special event could very well be one of the most memorable days of your
life. So we must offer you the highest level of dependability. We keep a
complement of essential backup equipment on-site at all times for all events.
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13. Do you hang any banners or other advertisements?
Absolutely not! We pride ourselves on being elegant. While we appreciate
referral business, we feel our services speak for themselves. We will not hang
any banners or signs at your event. Nor will we put any
advertisements on the dinner tables. The extent of our "advertising" is an
unobtrusive stack of business cards next to our equipment so guests can easily
take a card without interrupting the DJ.
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14. How interactive are your DJs?
A very familiar question! Often times when a prospective client is looking for
the perfect DJ they search for one who fits the level of interaction they're
looking for, whether it be conservative or outgoing. We actually let you decide
how much interaction you would like. We can be conservative, outgoing, or
anywhere in between. By default, we're only as interactive as necessary to keep
your guests having a good time on the dance floor. Even at our most outgoing level, we still remain totally professional and never
steal the spotlight!
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15. Do you have a video or can we come view a live event?
Your event is very private. For this reason, we've decided the best way
a prospective client can make an informed decision is to meet with our DJ first
hand. We have a very intensive and easy to understand presentation to
share with you at your residence or at an agreed location.
If you need to come out to an event, there are certain facilities that have
two more more entrances that will allow you sneak a quick peek without crashing
the party or intruding. If you decide to come out to an event, keep in
mind that the couple who has contracted us for their event has selected the
music they would like to hear and the amount of interaction they would like to
have. So if you hear the "Hokey Pokey", it doesn't mean we have
to play it at your event.
Since we would never take time away from a current event to book a future
event, please feel free to contact us the following day with any
questions. We will always gladly honor a client's request to have their
event remain private.
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16. How far will you travel?
We travel to anywhere in Chicago, suburban Chicagoland, and northern Illinois.
This includes the far North, South, and West suburbs. If you
think your event may be taking place on the outskirts of Chicagoland, please
contact us and we'll let you know if we serve that area.
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17. Is tipping/gratuity expected from the DJ?
By no means is tipping/gratuity mandatory or expected. We charge a professional
rate for a professional service. This means you won't see a tip jar on our
table. If at the end of the night you feel the DJ has surpassed your
expectations and you want to tip him, we would accept it as the utmost
compliment. But you're under no obligation to do so.
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18. Should we feed the DJ?
One of our most popular questions! It is completely up to
you.
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19. Are your rates negotiable through price matching or other discounts?
Our rates are based on our cost of doing business as well as the value we place
on the job. We take all events seriously and attend to each in a professional
manner. We're confident you will find our prices to be exceptionally
competitive. If our prices are a bit more than you planned to spend, just
remember the old saying "you get what you pay for." When you book our services
you're not only paying for incredible DJ entertainment, you're paying for peace
of mind.
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20. Are you fully insured?
Yes! We are a reputable and professional company insured for up to
$2,000,000. Most DJ companies are not insured.
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Finally, I consider myself a Professional. I DJ for a living, so I think it is
safe to say that I’ve experienced enough over the last 15 years to know what my
clients are looking for and I’m still learning more and more from my clients everyday.
The information you read above was created from a combination of my own personal
experiences, feedback from clients, personal observations, and the unfortunate experiences
of some who hired the "wrong" DJ for their event. I would like the opportunity
showcase my personality and talents at your wedding.
Thank you!
John Marcopulos
