Q: What should I look for when shopping for a wedding DJ?
That is probably the most important question you can have. A DJ must take his or her job very seriously - seriously enough to have a very impressive track record, and naturally has a long list of referrals. Nowadays, it's easy to find a Vermont DJ business in town, but it's important to ask questions before you confide in the DJ service for an important event. Many DJs may not have the competence or capacity to accommodate you as well as an experienced DJ could. As a quick guide, it's important to have a DJ with the following qualities:
- The customer is always right... don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
Planning for a wedding is a lot of work, and it can be a process that is lots of fun, or very difficult - depending on who works with you, versus against you. Don’t forget that this is YOUR day, and that YOU’RE the one paying for the services. Don’t let any DJ service (or other vendor for that matter) disagree with you in the creative aspect of your planning.
For example, if you wanted to hear a song from the eighties that may seem obscure or out of the ordinary (but you want it all the same), don’t let the DJ reject that request or laugh in your face. A good wedding DJ is open-minded, and although he’ll offer recommendations, he’ll NEVER force something down your throat nor will he ever tell you “no”. To the same effect, feel free to put him to work for the amount of money you’re paying... give him a playlist if you want, give him a ‘do-not-play’ list if you want. Whatever DJ you choose, make sure that he/she respectfully acknowledges your needs and acts on them. Anything less should be considered a red flag.
- DJ has a comprehensive list of referrals
This is probably the most honest thing a DJ will do to win your business, because it relies on the testimony of former clients through e-mail or phone. Those former clients have openly volunteered to give insight to the quality of service, as well as business ethic. It's is VERY important to insist on referrals from your DJ service. El Folio Entertainment offers a long list of referrals on request.
- DJ does NOT use a laptop computer as a primary music player
There is no shame in a DJ using a laptop to retrieve and play a song that is hard to find and might not be so readily available. However, anybody that frequently uses a computer knows that they can freeze up and may require a reboot from time to time. This would create an unacceptable and annoying gap in the music service. Not to mention, MP3 files do not sound as good on a powered speaker system as the natural sound files on CD. El Folio Entertainment keeps all genres of music readily available on CD, and uses a professional dual-CD player that plays CDs with a very powerful anti-skip, anti-stop mechanism that can read the scratchiest CDs.
- DJ is NOT on "autopilot" for most of the night
This happens too often, and it really bothers me. Imagine: you hooking your iPod up to the sound system and just have it randomly play with gaps between music throughout the night. That's pretty much the experience you'd have with a DJ that cues up the music on his computer (or ironically even HIS iPod) to a random mix, while he just sits back and reads a magazine. Even if it's the sequence you've asked for, or the music you've asked for, your money pays for an attentive human being watching every component throughout the whole night, interacting with the crowd and adjusting. Anything less, and you might as well just be hooking up your iPod and setting the sequence yourself. El Folio Entertainment will never substitute a computer or iPod for a professional DJ (unless it's called for... i.e: during dinnertime or short excused restroom break).
- Confidence, not cockiness
As mentioned before, being a DJ is a job... not an ego. A good DJ is charismatic enough to speak lively to the crowd without having to sport a cartoony voice or sound goofy. A DJ has to have the capacity to pay attention to the needs of a crowd and adjust accordingly. El Folio Entertainment has prided itself on keeping up with the needs of audiences and adjusting on the spot to make sure the whole audience is engaged and entertained.
- Choosing the right wedding DJ
Do you know somebody who chose their DJ for their wedding because they saw him rock the house at a club? Be careful about who you choose, because a DJ who usually does mostly club work is usually not such a good wedding DJ. Clubs are meant to be upbeat and keep people dancing with the new music and club bangers; not to mention they're designed for people over 21. Weddings are meant to be sentimental and incorporate music from all generations so that everyone is happy and entertained. I've heard horror stories about weddings who hired a DJ who works at the local nightclub and played nothing but rap music [the explicit edits if I may add]. Needless to say, neither of the families were quite impressed. In fact, the loud music made people leave and kept the dancefloor empty. El Folio Entertainment, on the other hand, incorporates music that is suitable for all generations at weddings. With a vast variety of music from generations ranging back to the forties, we make it a point to play music that will keep everyone entertained - even the kids. Weddings not only have the bouquet toss and the garter ceremony, but sometimes throwing in the YMCA or the chicken dance helps everyone have a better and more memorable time. El Folio Entertainment also works very closely with the bride and groom for pre-consultation, so every song that comes out of their speakers is tasteful and entertaining.
- A great amount of attention is paid to your wedding reception plans
El Folio Entertainment does generally 52 weddings a year - one per week, and nothing more. Consider it like being served a gourmet dinner in a fancy restaurant, each client as a diner, one of the few people lucky to be there. Then, put that against waiting in line at a fast food restaurant, waiting for your order to be thrown together as clumsily as the last one was. Think about the detail and service that's sacrificed between either example. We're serious when we say that the 'care factor' is one of the most important things about being a good wedding entertainer - of course experience and professionalism is (and always will be) a must, but remember that can't be compromised with lack of human contact and communication. This can not be a "conveyor-belt" experience. The person on the other end of the phone is the person who will be Djing at your wedding, as it should be.
- DJ will consume no alcohol at your event
As the organizer of your event, you have enough to worry about and coordinate aside from the DJ. Not only can an open bar can cost an arm and a leg at times, but it makes no sense for the DJ to rack up your bar bill. Also, to be a DJ is a job, and drinking on the job is not only unprofessional, but an intoxicated DJ can lead to a humiliating and unenjoyable experience.
- Overall, the price matches the experience
Find out from the referral list provided how the overall experience is, based on the experience of past clients. As another client, they can give you the most honest insight to how the DJ does business, how reasonably the price met the expectations of the client, and finally, how well the service was.
We won't tell you to choose our services. Instead, we'll educate you on what a good wedding DJ should be, so that you may be informed while choosing the right entertainment for your wedding… that's why many people come back and choose us in the end.
Q: We really don't want lame music, nor do we want a cheesy character on the mic at our wedding. Really, is a wedding DJ for us?
A: We're well aware of the cheesy DJ stereotype. We hate cheesy DJs. We acknowledge the stereotype, then we toss it out the window. Nearly everybody's been to a wedding with a DJ. Many leave thinking how awful the DJ was, sounding like a cartoon character on the mic, while playing music that was completely out of touch. Others have been fortunate enough to leave a wedding, having had a great time - almost as though they didn't want to leave. That's why from July 2007 - July 2008, about 1 in 3 marriage parties did not want DJ Evan to leave once the contracted time was reached, as everyone was still out on the floor. Their contracts were extended on the spot, and the party continued into the night (at least until the venue needed us to close down). Our attitude is simple - the stars of a wedding are the bride and groom, and not the guy on the microphone (he's just there to keep things on track). Respectfully, the music should reflect the tastes of the bride and groom, and illuminate the night with the presence of all of the family and friends on the dancefloor. It's been proven, brides and grooms don't want some pretentious clown who acts like an attention freak - they want somebody that can make the night memorable while catering to any and all needs that they may have. That's why we invite you to give us a call if you're looking for a memorable wedding reception such as that.
Q:
What are your rates?
A: We follow package sets for different kinds of events:
Professionally educated DJ/emcee with field degree ____-Masters Degree, Administration, 2008 ____-Bachelors Degree, Audio-Radio, 2006
____-Professional DJ Experience Since 1999
Punctual and elegant Vermont DJ service
Flexible options and abilities to suit your needs
Q: What will I get in a wedding DJ for the price I'm paying?
A: This is a very important question, as a good DJ can make or break your wedding experience, and El Folio Entertainment will leave nothing to chance.
El Folio Entertainment
WILL:
El Folio Entertainment
WILL NOT:
...come dressed ONLY in the appropriate attire for your wedding (or other special event).
...arrive with ALL of the information you've provided: via our online planner, via e-mail and via special request.
...arrive with ALL of the special music requested, whether or not it's on our online music database.
...answer ALL of your questions promptly and professionally.
...accommodate requests and improvise throughout the night when necessary.
...accommodate 'do-not-play' lists
...engage the audience, no matter what the age.
...stay beyond the contracted time if needed, and continue to play. (May require price negotiation)
...WILL NOT alienate members of the audience with music that caters to only ONE genre.
...WILL NOT play music with explicit or suggestive content.
...WILL NOT play music exclusively off a laptop.
...WILL NOT flash company banners or promotional materials which may appear tacky and distracting at a wedding (however we will provide business cards upon request).
...WILL NOT blast the audience out of the room by having speakers too loud.
...WILL NOT consume any alcohol.
...WILL NOT smoke, or arrive intoxicated (you never know nowadays).
Q: Before I book with you, I'd like to see you in action. Would it be ok if I came to see you perform at somebody else's wedding?
A: Weddings are a very elegant event, and there is a large amount of coordination surrounding it, including: venues, headcounts, guestlists and so on. For this reason, I can't overtly invite additional guests to the weddings of one of my other clients, even for just a quick peek inside. In other words, I can't let you "crash" somebody else's wedding. If I'm in your area on the day of a wedding, I'd be happy to arrange a meeting with you in a public place to discuss the matters of your wedding, or even let you conduct an interview on me if you will.
If you're fortunate enough to find out that I'll be working at a club on a certain night, then I invite you to join me at that venue whenever possible to see me in action. Keep in mind that the nature of club music and wedding music is dramatically different - I have plenty of experience in both. Admittance fees to those clubs may apply.
Although I can't let you crash somebody else's wedding, I can give you my reference list so that you can call the people I've serviced in the past, so that you can see what they had to say. :)
Q: I think that I might require more time than stated on the contract, maybe an extra hour or so, although I really don't know if my guests are going to stay around for an extra hour, so I don't want to commit to that now. Can I adjust the contract to have you stay for extra time on the night of the wedding reception (without having to do guesswork now)?
A: Absolutely. We understand that guests will do what they please, and it always makes for a better night when people want to stick around (including the DJ). We never make other commitments on the night of your event, so there is no pressing need for us to dismiss ourselves at the ending contract time. We charge by the hour (smallest time denomination is $75 per extra hour). Keep in mind that this is the same rate for additional hours that we charge during primary preparations of the contract - there are no additional fees or obligations when the adjustment is made on the spot. We do ask, however, that the extension you're requesting is ok with the people managing the venue.
Q: What equipment and format of music do you use?
A: I only use the most reliable and recommended equipment for my business. My CD player is a Numark CDN-88 which never halts or skips, which also is a performance CD player with which I do mixing and beat matching - a similar feature that famous DJs use on mix shows. I also study my music carefully so that music mixes better (ask for one of my demo CDs). My mixer is a Behringer VMX1000. I also use two Pyle Pro wireless mics for emceeing, as well as for guests to announce and make toasts. At every event, I use two Behringer B215A speakers for a total of 900w of power, which is enough to fill a small or large room indoors, or an outdoor venue that you can hear from a good quarter mile away. The bass response is also incredible. We don't mess around. All of my music, as mentioned before, is on CD (wav) format for superior sound. For a full list of music that I have on CD, click on the "Music" link on the left. Every now and then, for an unusual request, I will play off of my laptop computer... ONLY when it's not available on CD. Although an average of only 40-50 songs are played at a wedding reception, we have over 10,000 songs to select from. Should your venue have an open wi-fi Internet connection, we can obtain music legitimately while on the job through the iTunes music store, expanding our library of music to tens of thousands of titles of music (at no extra charge to you).
Q: Do you offer a demo cd of your work? I'd like to hear what you have to offer.
A: Due to copyright laws and royalty issues, I'm not licensed to re-distribute or broadcast any of the music I use at my venues. Don't get me wrong, as I'd love to - I'm sure it would be one of my strongest selling points, as I do a good amount of mixing, beatmatching and so on using state of the art equipment. Having years of practice mixing music in the wedding industry under my belt makes a large difference, not to mention the competence that a person can offer with a Masters Degree, as well as a Bachelors degree in audio.
The best thing that we have readily available to offer which speaks towards the benefits of our business is the extensive list of business references (which are made available with every contract) as well as the testimonials we offer on our website. The people on our reference list would be happy to enlighten you, as far as their experiences were with me, as well as insight to my business ethic. We also invite you to view the video on our main page, which offers info on our mission to serve you.
Q: How loud do your speakers get?
A: Our speakers have the capacity to get really loud while maintaining crystal clarity - but that doesn't mean we'll use all of the power at our disposal. We will make the music loud enough to fill up the room, without driving everyone out of it.
Q: Am I required to pay the full balance BEFORE the date of the event?
A: Absolutely not. The only thing that we need beforehand is the deposit, which should have either been returned via mail with the contract, or via the Internet by way of your online planner. You do not owe the full balance until during or after the event. You may pay in full in advance if you'd like, however, we recommend that you wait until the date of your event to pay up, so that you can decide on a proper gratuity for the service you received.
Q: What happens if somebody else requests my date of service before I've been confirmed?
A: Our policy is a rather simple one. We will only honor ONE client per date - that is the client who submits their deposit first. In the nature of this business, it's not unusual to send out multiple contracts to multiple clients for the same date - even if only one is going to be honored. This is because over the course of booking months in advance, plans can change during the process of planning a wedding. In the past, some people eventually decide on options other than a DJ, for reasons of: finance, date change, family emergencies, resources, conflicts, and so on.
Therefore, we may send out more than one contract per date. This way, nobody is left uninformed, business isn't refused, and we can help you find another Vermont DJ through our consultation and recommendation if somebody else acts on the date you wanted. El Folio Entertainment will NEVER cancel an event once it's confirmed, nor will we accept a better-paying event for that date through another party (as some DJ companies do, which is really unprofessional and annoying.)In El Folio Entertainment, we try our best to maintain fairness between all parties, and we gladly accept input from any and all of the people we do business with.
You will immediately be notified by either mail, e-mail or phone if:
The date you request is already pending with somebody else
The date you request is at risk of being acted on by another party
The date you requested becomes unavailable
Q: How soon should I act after I receive the contract?
A: In a year, there are approximately 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays (104 dates total). In the same year, we receive over 500 requests to fill those dates, (most often on Saturdays and Sundays, which are prime wedding days of the week.) Brides, grooms, parents, and vendors come to our web page to make requests for their special dates. Unfortunately, most of those requests get turned down because those dates are already filled by others.
If you are lucky enough to find your date available, and you request a contract, there is still always the chance that somebody else might want the date as well. To ensure that your date is confirmed before anyone else has a chance at it, the best thing to do is to act soon. We offer an online wedding planner which allows you to pay your deposit online - once that's paid, you're confirmed. If you'd prefer, you can pay your deposit by check instead.
Q: Do I pay sales tax in addition to price I'm quoted?
A: No. Tax is included in your total, and filed by us later on.
Q: Is it safe to make payments using the online planner?
A: Absolutely. The reason that is, is because ALL ONLINE PAYMENTS by us are handled by PayPal. When you enter a secure page, a picture of a lock usually appears next to the web address - that is an indication that you're on a secure server, and that the information you're providing is secured. You do not need a PayPal account to make payments online - there are forms to simply fill in your credit card or check information.
Nobody at El Folio Entertainment sees your credit card or checking information - we will only receive your payment. When you use PayPal, your financial information is never shared with the merchant. PayPal is trusted by many different notable online stores, including eBay.
Q:
Does your equipment include lights and decorations for my event?
A: Absolutely! With all wedding packages, we include a lighting package that will make your event very memorable for the whole night (at no extra cost!!). We recommend that your event be at night or in a dark environment to optimize our lighting experience. Our lighting package includes:
- Activator Color Light Effect (2nd on top)
- Colorbank Light (3rd on top)
- Rotating Starball Light (Discoball)(bottom)
- Fog machine (if desired)
- Bubble machine (if desired)
- Strobes
- All lighting, special effects units mounted on our secure lighting truss.
Q: Do you have backup equipment and music?
A: Making sure that everything goes as well as planned is something that I insist on, so to be safe, I have a backup speaker set and DJ CD player on hand. I also keep all the music that I have on CD on my computer as a reserve. All of my equipment is industry standard and I only use the MOST trusted equipment, so that you don't need to worry about a thing.
Q: Where are you located?
A: My business is based out of Arlington, Vermont in Bennington County. I'm willing to travel, in fact, my business thrives on it. No event is too far away, and I'm proud to serve all of Vermont as well as the capital region of New York.
Q: What experience, skills and qualifications do you have?
A: I've been DJing professionally since 1999, and I've actively been serving since. I specialize in weddings, birthdays, proms, dances, private parties, karaoke service, and well, there's not really an event I haven't accommodated. Please do not hesitate to ask for a list of my business referrals when booking with me.
There is no official school qualification for DJing, but a bit of technical know-how goes a long way - so, I do have a bachelors degree in audio-radio production. Having the technical qualifications I do helps immensely in problem-solving as well as quality assurance. One thing that college won't teach you is reading an audience - that's why I also have vast experience in multiple club venue settings including (amongst others):
The Wobbly Barn; Killington, VT
TABU Nightclub; Killington, VT (Where I opened for a Ministry of Sound DJ)
Electra Nightclub; West Lebanon, NH
Rockett Superclub; LaColle, QC
Plage D'Arcachon Ampatheater, France
Q: I want to plan a party for my kid. Will lyrical content be an issue?
A: No. I pay strict attention to lyrics, and I make sure that music is edited for content for all ages. As a matter of fact, El Folio Entertainment has a large selection of Disney's Disneymania music and Disney artists, (ie Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, The Cheetah Girls, Ashley Tisdale, etc.) which is perfect for young audiences.
Q: Can I have a mic to address my crowd?
A: Sure. In fact, all venues include a wireless mic for your convenience.
Q: Can you addlib and make announcements?
A: Yes. That's not a problem. If this is an important event where the dialog is vital (such as a wedding entrance or performance), then please get me a script fashioned as soon as possible before the event so that I can rehearse and keep from messing up when that event comes.
Q: What variety of music do you have?
Q: Are you punctual?
A: Yes. In fact, I always try to get to the venue as soon as possible, preferably at least TWO hours before the scheduled time. Although we have a keen sense of direction, we use GPS navigation in our vehicle to make sure we ALWAYS find our way.
Q: It's good that you're ahead of time, but do you charge for that extra time?
A: No - setup time is included, and is expected to begin two hours before contract beginning time.
Q: Traditional weddings are nice, but we're different - how well do you handle theme weddings and special (maybe odd) requests and details?
A: I've done theme weddings, including: halloween, Star Wars, Rocky Horror Picture Show, even a Lord of the Rings wedding - all a success. Also in college, I was always relied upon for many different student functions which my performance was put on the spot, including: talent shows, fashion shows, bachelor auctions, up-all-night parties and gameshows. For the price you pay, it's my firm attitude that everything can go just as you plan, given the proper amount of communication and detail. Rest assured, you can work with us to create a wedding that's unforgettable, not just for you and your guests, but for me as well.
Q: It sounds like you have some satisfied customers. Can I have some references?
A: Absolutely. References are available on request.
Q: Do you give discounts for schools or non-profit organizations?
A: Absolutely! However, this is something that we need to negotiate beforehand and have a mutual agreement in. Discounted or non-profit events are still subject to the contract process. I will not provide music to organizations that are providing alcoholic beverages to minors under 21 (in the United States). If there are any illegal drugs at this event, forget it. If I arrive to find out there are either of these things present, I am within my legal right to cancel on the spot.
Q: I like your website. Who did it? Can they re-do my website?
A: Thank you very much. Actually, I constructed this website. I would be happy to do up your website the way you want it done. Just get in contact with me and I'll see what I can do.
Q: Can I pay for your services by credit card? How do I do this?
A: Because it costs money to pay by credit card, we prefer checks.
Q: Where can I get more information about your Vermont DJ service?
A: You can go to the full terms and conditions by scrolling down or by clicking here. You can call me on my cell phone at (802)-558-3800. My e-mail address is e1foley@aol.com. Contact me anytime.
OFFICIAL TERMS
Official
Terms and Conditions (as of 7/1/08)
All
sales are final. BALANCE MUST BE PAID ON OR BY
THE DATE OF THE VENUE. NO EVENT IS CONFIRMED NOR IS ANY
SERVICE RENDERED UNTIL DEPOSIT IS PAID. Venues
require a nonrefundable deposit of $200 which is deducted
from the total amount quoted. In the event of a cancellation,
deposit will not be refunded. Client cancellation within
two weeks of event will result in a charge of half of
the remaining balance on contract - cancellation any time
prior will not result in a charge. NON-WEDDING EVENTS: (for non-profit & educational
institutions only)
Non-wedding events are charged by a $25 hourly rate. There
is a $45 hourly charge instead of $25 between the hours
of 10PM and 8:59 AM. All events must be charged at least
two hours in duration. Events over four hours pay double
hourly rate for each excess hour ($50/hr instead of $25
and $90/hr instead of $45). Events $300 and under are
not required to pay a deposit. WEDDINGS:
Weddings and wedding reception events are charged by the
package. DJ reserves the right to use discretion of musical
content according to audience. Wedding package price applies
to all new contracts until 9/31/08. GENERAL:
Client must provide sufficient power and waist-height
table for equipment at the location of service (lightshow
will require a separate circuit from sound system to function
simultaneously). In the event that client does not sign
receipt on either and/or both ends, service may be refused.
In the event that an event ends prematurely [due to lack
of attendance, change of schedule, etc.], client is still
required to pay full contract price. All payments made
online are final. In the unlikely event that the client(s)
is/are responsible for any abuse, destruction, or mishandling
of equipment or other property (such as dropping), he/she/they
may be charged accordingly for repairs or replacement.
Client is not responsible, however, to damage done by
the elements, such as sunlight, rain, hail, etc. After
8PM, all events must be moved indoors or under a tent
to prevent equipment failure that comes from night time
humidity. If client is not satisfied with the service,
a new price may be negotiated after the event, not before
or during. Most, if not, all of the songs that are played
have been edited for audiences of all ages, but in the
unlikely event that explicit language transpires on songs,
DJ is not responsible. The client’s personal music
may be used during the venue, and will be returned after
it is used, but DJ is not responsible for any lost or
stolen property. The client may use the microphone to
address the crowd, but language must be appropriate, and
it must be at the consent and or discretion of the DJ.
There is no drunken or otherwise intoxicated use of the
microphone. No illegal substances may be used on premise,
and the DJ reserves the right to discontinue service accordingly
for substance abuse. ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINKS NEAR
THE DJ EQUIPMENT because in the event of an accident,
equipment failure may occur as well as electrocution.
Children must remain attended, as climbing speaker stands
can pose a safety hazard. These rules are subject to change,
but the client only needs to comply with the rules that
he/she signs on the original contract.
