Useful Information
Written by Alan Garner
Professional Disc Jockey.
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YOU'LL NEVER BE SORRY WHEN YOU INVEST IN QUALITY
The information featured on this page is the answers to the questions that are most
frequently asked when booking a mobile disco and travelling discotheque. Whether or not you choose to book
me or choose an alternative supplier, please make sure that you ask these questions to make sure that you get
one of the few professional quality mobile discos and DJs.
What Equipment do you use?
Professional Equipment and there's a huge difference between
your general hi-fi and what professional mobile discos use. Professional
equipment is designed to loaded in and out of vehicles, withstand the
transportation process and be used each and every day. On a whole,
domestic hi-fi equipment is just not designed to withstand this. For
example, the venue may have a very bouncy dance floor, when 15-20 or more guests
start dancing, the movement is so great that it causes the CD's to jump, as you
can imagine this is particularly bad when dancing. Professional CD players
are designed to 'read ahead' of what is playing out of the speakers, so if a
bouncy dance floor does make the CD jump, the player has time to go back and
read it again, so the song is, 9 times out of 10, not affected.
Can we choose our own music?
Quite simply, yes. When you book with me you receive a
questionnaire that asks questions about 1st dance, 2nd dance, any special
requests, type of music in general and any music not to be played. I'm
happy to work from spreadsheets, listing your songs in a specific order, or I'm
happy to work with general guidance, it's your special day and you deserve the
music you want!
How do we know you
will turn up?
Every booking I receive
is confirmed in writing with legally binding contracts, which layout exactly
what will happen, they confirm the venue address, contact on the day, dress
code, time i will arrive, what time i will be set up by and what times you need
me to work, and the agreed fee.
Are you able to supply
background music?
For a small additional charge I am able to
supply whatever kind of
background music you would like during your wedding breakfast / meal. Normally I would set up before you
sit down for dinner / the wedding breakfast and set up my laptop or mini disc to play the style of music
you request.
What will you wear?
My standard dress code when i'm working for
weddings is bowtie and tuxedo, however, if you think this is too smart i can
wear trousers and shirt or dress up within the theme.
What are the different
options available?
I generally have a
trailer full of equipment which is taken to events. The show can be 3m
wide up to 5m wide depending upon the space available. For weddings there
are two optional extras for weddings which are a 9m black backdrop to give the
show more of a production show feel and a venue colour system whereby i can
illuminate the venue with up-lighters in any colour in the visible spectrum.
Is your equipment
safe?
All of my equipment is
tested annually and certified for electrical safety, (certificates available
upon request) this is not a compulsory
test (but, it will become standard one day). I also have sufficient circuit breakers (RCD
devices) which are placed on every plug socket where I get a supply.
Do you have insurance?
I have £2 million public
liability insurance. With more and more 'no win, no fee' legal companies
around, it is really important to check that your DJ and Disco has public
liability insurance. A professional DJ
will have no issues with showing you confirmation of his PLI insurance and you
should insist on seeing a copy!
Will it be loud?
Generally, any disco will be
loud, however, if at any point during the event, you feel that it is too loud or
guests have complained, I won't be offended if during the night, you ask me to turn it
down, nor, will I turn it back up again five minutes after you ask either!
I've booked a band as well,
can you work with them?
As a professional DJ I have no
problem working with any type of act that is booked to appear on the same event
as me, more often than not we end sharing each others equipment to save on
space, for example the band may use my lighting and I will plug into their
speakers or vice versa. Any professional DJ will have no problem working with
other entertainment / entertainer.
Are you available? How soon
should we book?
Generally the best wedding DJ's
get booked up between 6 to 10 months in advance, of course there are exceptions
to the rule, check my datesheet for my availability. I operate a very strict first
come first served policy, this means that once I have accepted a booking for a
specific date, the date in question is struck from my diary and nothing else
will be taken on this day.
We'd like to book you, can
we see you work first?
It's difficult to come and see
me work, the majority of the functions that I work at are weddings and corporate
functions, and it can cause problems if uninvited guests just turn up. It
also may put you off what I do because I tailor the music to the clients
requirements, and you may not like what you hear if I'm playing some weird and
wonderful music that a client has requested.
What Will It Cost?
| Guide to Fees and Optional Extras. |
Fee:- |
| Standard Fee, based on arriving at 1730 setting
up for 1900 and playing music as required from 1900 - 0100 |
Generally fees between:- |
£300 and £350 depending on location. |
| Early Set Up Fee (includes background music
during drinks reception & wedding breakfast & use of radio microphone
during the speeches. |
Earliest Set by time:- 1330 |
£50 |
| Black Backdrop (up to 9m wide and 4m high),
blackout the stage area to give the evening more of a production feel. |
This adds approx 30mins to the set up time:- |
£75 |
| L.E.D. Mood Lighting, colour your
venue to any colour within the visible spectrum, lights can be static,
move the beat or cycle through colours. The uplighters use very
little power, so can be used in marquees or venues where conventional
lighting may not be suitable. The brightness of the lights can
also be controlled to set the correct atmosphere throughout the night. |
When booked as an optional extra, these would have to be
installed before any guests arrive at the venue. |
Fee's start at £140 for up to 8 uplighters, and just £70
per set of four additional units it's a cost effective and great
additional thing to have. Because the LED uplighters use very
little power, you can have as many as you wish. |
| When booked on their own without the disco. |
Packages start from £225. |
YOU'LL NEVER BE SORRY IF
YOU INVEST IN QUALITY
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