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Band or DJ?
Bands are no
longer the only choice for dance music at a wedding reception. DJs have
become as widely accepted as bands in providing musical entertainment
for these special occasions. In some areas DJs are even more popular
than bands.
Bands create
a certain "feel" that cannot be reproduced identically by DJs.
Likewise, DJs create their own unique atmosphere that can't be
duplicated by bands.
However,
there are several advantages in hiring a DJ for a wedding reception.
Here's a light-hearted look at some of those advantages.
Top 10 Reasons To Book a DJ
- 10.
Any
song, any artist
- 9. All
music styles
- 8.
More efficient stage area
- 7. DJ
can play cocktail, dinner and dance music
- 6. No
breaks
- 5.
Better volume control
- 4.
Greater musical value
- 3. Two
words, "Spice Girls"
- 2. DJ
can please more guests
- 1.
Only one mouth to feed
Whatever
your
choice, band or DJ, you should feel confident that you will have a
professional
musical presentation for listening and dancing for your guests.
The Spin On
DJ Agencies
A DJ
"agency/service" is primarily in the marketing business. Their foremost
concern is "booking a gig", regardless of talent availability.
Generally speaking, they are an employment agency, not a talent agency.
The person
who owns or manages the "agency" is responsible for advertising,
marketing,
telemarketing, buying and servicing equipment, updating the music
library and finally, recruiting and training part-time disc jockeys. As
you can see, "agencies" generate large operating expenses.
"Agency's"
fees can run $200-$500 or more, for a 4 hour reception. With all the
expense the
"agency" incurs, perhaps you're not getting the "talent" for which
you're paying. Keep in mind, that when you employ an "agency" the
actual DJ working your reception is usually paid an hourly rate,
receiving, maybe $15.00 an hour. Maybe a little more.
With the
value you place on your entertainment and the price you're paying for
that service, you deserve the best – an accomplished professional.
Indoors or
Outdoors
Usually
wedding ceremonies and receptions are held indoors. Many are now being
held at
outdoor gardens and other out-of-doors locations.
If you plan
to have an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour or reception, be sure to
tell any
entertainer who may be performing during that particular outdoor
segment.
Make
arrangements to have suitable cover over the stage or DJ area in case
of inclement
weather.
Make sure an
adequate number of electrical outlets are available for the band, DJ,
or any other performer. Check with your entertainer to establish how
many outlets are needed.
The Contract
The first
thing you should do after selecting your entertainment is secure a
contract from the
individual or company.
This will
insure that you get what you want from the entertainment. It should be
written in plain,
easy to understand language and contain the following terms:
- Date
- Times (Start/Finish)
- Location
- Price
- Overtime Policy & Fee
- Deposit Policy & Amount
- Cancellation Policy
- Travel Fee (if any)
Let's look
in
greater detail at some of these points.
Prices or
Fees
Prices will
vary from band to band or from DJ to DJ.
When making
your selection consider experience, reputation, availability,
professionalism and style.
With bands,
also consider the number of members or size of the group. Band prices
are as low as a few hundred dollars and can range upward as high as you
like. DJ fees start as low as a few hundred dollars and also can cost
$1000, $2000, or more.
Overtime
Overtime is
the extra time you would like your entertainment to perform beyond the
contracted time.
This may be
appropriate should you require additional music due to "late-running"
ceremonies, or because a great party is in progress and you'd like it
to continue.
Know
beforehand if the entertainment is available for overtime and how much
it will cost. This
should be included in the contract.
If you are
considering going beyond the contracted time, discuss it with your
entertainment to
allow them an opportunity to program the music accordingly. Waiting
until the last minute may
make it difficult to regain the momentum your party had just 15 minutes
earlier.
Be sure the
reception facility can accomodate your overtime request if plans change
during the reception.
"Off-Hours"
"Off-hours"
are times like 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. or 4:00 until 8:00 p.m.
Some bands
or DJ's prefer to book 2 engagements per day. For example: Reception
"A" is from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. allowing the entertainment an opportunity
to also play engagement "B" from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. If an "off-hours"
reception is booked, the entertainment cannot accept a
second engagement on that day.
If you are
planning a mid-afternoon reception, check with your entertainment to
ensure that this
doesn't create a conflict with another engagement.
Ask if there
is any price difference for an "off-hours" performance.
Travel Fee
It is not
unreasonable for entertainers to charge an additional fee for traveling
outside a "local" area.
This might
apply for distances over 20 or 30 miles. Fees may be charged by
distance or by
actual time traveled.
If you
choose entertainment that is not based in your "local" area, inquire
about the amount and whether or not a travel charge is included in the
price.
Deposit
Most
entertainers require a deposit when signing a contract for an
engagement. Deposits may
range in amounts from 20% to 50% of the total entertainment fee.
The contract
should specify under what circumstances you might forfeit the
deposit.The deposit should be fully refundable if the entertainer is
unable to perform.
Cancellation
Sometimes
unforseen circumstances can force the cancellation of a wedding.
You should
not lose any part of your deposit because of natural disasters such as
hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding or other similar occurences.
If you are
compelled to cancel your wedding for personal reasons, you may forfeit
all or part of your deposit. In some cases you may be responsible for
the entire entertainment fee.
Give ample
notice to your entertainment if you must cancel your reception. In such
cases professionals will be willing to work with you. If the
entertainment is forced to cancel for a reason beyond their control,
they should be responsible for making sure entertainment is "covered"
by an equally acceptable replacement if possible. You should be given
sufficient notice of any such changes.
Final Payment
Final
payment for musical services may be paid any time before the end of the
reception, or
immediately upon its conclusion. The method of payment (check/cash)
should be agreed upon prior to the engagement.
Summary
When your
entertainment contract is signed with a band or a DJ, you should have a
great sense of satisfaction knowing that this major task in preparing
for your wedding day is complete.
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