Wedding FAQ's
There are plenty of good DJ companies in Southwestern Ontario. In
order to help you separate Vanrock Sound from the others, we have
compiled frequently asked questions and our responses to help you make an
informed
decision. Please feel free to use these questions when calling other companies
to guarantee you receive the quality and detail you deserve.
What separates you from other companies?
Are there any additional fees like travel?
Will the DJ stay with the system during dinner music?
Do you take requests?
What is your booking procedure?
How much is the deposit and which methods of payment do you
accept?
Are you insured?
Are you members of the CDJA or CPODJA or BBB?
What type of music do you play?
Who will do our show?
Does the DJ require a meal?
Do we need to tip the DJ?
What are your logistical requirements?
Do you have backup systems and DJs?
How long have you been in business?
Is your music licensed?
Why are your prices so low?
How does our DJ dress?
When does the DJ setup?
Do you have a deal if we book a wedding and stag and doe?
Do you have references?
What type of equipment do you use?
How recent is your music?
What is a dollar dance?
How do you perform the garter and bouquet toss?
Do you provide ceremony music?
What is a grand entrance?
1. What
separates you from the other DJ companies?
Firstly, our online wedding and party portal! When you book with us,
we set you up with a password and user name to the portal so that you may plan
all of your itineraries and music selections. Secondly, You receive
GuestLink, a free link for your guests to request their favourite songs before
the event. Don't worry, you are notified when guests have made requests
and can go in and edit them. Thirdly, the owner of the
company is available to assist you the night of the event for anything that you
need. No answering machines, no excuses just action and service. Finally,
our extreme attention to detail. Upon booking us, make sure that you
schedule your one hour consultation to go through all of your event details.
We attend so many events that we can answer any question you may have.
2. Are there any additional fees like travel?
We include a 100 km radius of free travel from our London office, a setup
that is one hour prior
to your start time and use of the microphone or remote microphone if requested.
One light which covers an average dance floor will also be included if
requested. As well if you require the DJ to act as an M.C. it will be
included for free. Upgrades of lights and sound are available at the following
link
http://www.vanrock.com/prices.htm
3. Will the DJ stay with the system during dinner music?
We cannot imagine why other companies would leave
during your dinner music, but it's true! We man the system from start to
finish. During the dinner it is often necessary to turn down the music to
accommodate speeches, presentations and announcements as well it is a great time
for the DJ to understand his audience through listening to speeches and
observing the guests. Quite often we find the hall's microphone to be less
than par and in turn offer ours to the MC.
4. Do you take
requests?
Absolutely!!!!!!! We have an online request system built into our
wedding portal. Not only do you get to select all of the songs you want
and don't want played...so do your guests!!! We have one of the only
online guest request systems in the business! Your guests may email in 5 or
6 requests that you may preview and edit at your leisure. It is your party and we are
there because you hired us to entertain you and your guests. You can be as
general as "do not play any country" or pick a hundred songs if you like.
5. What is your
booking procedure?
Most people choose the convenience of booking online by clicking the
book now button at the top of the home page or
you can simply call us, fax us or book an appointment for a pre consultation.
After you are booked we will send out a set of contracts generally via email which you will
review, sign and return with a minimum $50.00 retainer fee. Once we have
sent the contracts we will email you a password and user name to access the
online wedding and party portal. You will be able to make all of your
itinerary details and music selections and view what requests your guests have
made. A month or two before the event
you may wish to contact us for a complimentary consultation.
6. How much is
the deposit and which methods of payment do you accept?
We require a minimum $50 deposit per event. Your fifty dollar deposit is
non-refundable and is considered a reservation fee. The balance is payable by cheque 2 weeks prior to the
event or one week prior by MasterCard, Visa, Amex, Automatic Debit or cash.
If requested you may pay cash at the beginning of your function. If you
choose to pay any additional money on your balance, any portion over the $50
retainer is fully refundable if you have to cancel.
7. Are you
Insured?
We are fully insured with 2 million dollars liability. Most halls (especially
larger facilities) require the DJ service that is hosting the event to be
insured. Check with your hall to see if they require an insured DJ before
you hire out. This gives you the security of knowing should anything
happen you are assured that you and your guests are compensated.
8. Are you members of the CDJA or CPODJA or BBB?
We are FULL CDJA and CODJA members. They assist their members and offer
help and training programs, monitor complaints, insurance, discounts etc.
Although these company's do help to strengthen our industry, Vanrock Sound still sets it's own stringent standards and follows them closely.
If someone tells you that you should not hire a company, if they are not a
member of any association, they may be trying to sell you, check the details of
each company's workings and see how they rate. We are in good standings
with
the BBB and we are premium members of The Canadian Disc Jockey Association and Canadian Online Disc Jockey Association.
We have not signed back up with the BBB as there were no funding
benefits associated with them. If you wish to call them you will find that
we have no strikes or issues with them whatsoever.
9. What type of
music do you play?
Most weddings have a variety of age groups. Vanrock Sound has
created a personalized format to suit everyone's needs. Unless otherwise
requested, songs are played in sets of three to five songs (e.g. 3 Rock, 3 80's, 3 Dance).
The three songs are typically top of the chart songs, keeping the music
familiar to all of your guests which is why at our parties you will often see 60
year olds dancing with 16 year olds. Each set is approximately 8-15 minutes long and
is separated by a slow song. All disc jockeys carry at least 3000
selections and update their music every week. Our DJs
are trained to fill a dance floor for a set and then change over the dancers so
that everyone has an opportunity do dance to something they like.
10. Who will do
our show?
Before your free consultation, we discuss the music styles and the
atmosphere you wish to relay (e.g. energy filled or romantic and laid back).
We have a detailed DJ Bio section to preview the
different hosts that you can select. At your request, the DJ that hosts your wedding will be present at your
consultation. You should also choose an alternate DJ in the rare case of illness.
At Vanrock Sound our DJ's are not contracted out to other DJ services.
11. Does the DJ
require a meal?
Our DJ's eat prior to going to your event unless otherwise informed that a
meal will be available. If the DJ has a very long day i.e. 3pm or 4pm to
1am we would ask that you feed them as they will not be able to leave to obtain
food. It
is always a pleasure to be offered something from the late snack table if the
DJ is not having dinner.
12. Do we need
to tip the DJ?
Gratuities are optional. Vanrock Sound employees are some of the
best paid DJs in the industry. Some companies take a portion of the DJ's
tips, we do not. Based on what the guys tell me, they get tips 30 to 40
percent of the time and on average it is between $25 and $50 dollars.
13. What are
your logistical requirements?
We require a minimum 6 foot table with a tablecloth. The table
should be located as close to the dance floor as possible and within 15 feet of
an electrical outlet. If you are having an outdoor event it will be
necessary to provide shelter for protection from the elements.
14. Do you have
back up systems and DJ's?
At present we have 12 DJ's that operate our 12-15 DJ systems and 6 Karaoke
units. We average 40 shows a week, rarely booking more than 8 in an
evening, which leaves plenty of extra DJ's and Gear for emergency use. Look
under the sound link to view more details
about back up gear.
15. How long
have you been in business?
Vanrock Sound originated in Vancouver BC in 1989. We have been providing entertainment in southwestern Ontario since
October of 1995 and now perform over 2000 shows a year.
16. Is your
music licensed?
A DJ without Avla licensed music cannot be shut down on the spot if caught
with even one song that is pre-recorded or unlicensed, however they will
eventually be charged and possibly shut down leaving many a couple searching for
a reputable DJ. Vanrock Sound uses
licensed DJ music libraries all of which are on CD to insure the highest quality
sound for your party. If your DJ uses any media that is recorded or
on hard drive without a license he is subject to penalties. A proper DJ
will display the license at their table. All of our DJs carry a license to
every event.
17. Why are your
prices so low?
Although our prices are not the lowest, we believe that when you
book Vanrock Sound, you are receiving the best quality at the best price.
The quality, care and detail that go into creating your event exceeds well beyond
the price reflected.
18. How does our
DJ dress?
All weddings are attended in a formal suit and tie (matching) unless otherwise
requested. All other functions are left to the organizer. We do not
allow jeans or other informal attire as it reflects on our image.
19. When does
the DJ set up?
All systems are
very compact and efficient, no wires are tangled or dangling out
which means set up is simple. Plug the Numark cd player in, plug the speakers in and
turn it on. We like to arrive one hour prior and be set up forty five minutes prior to our start time,
if the guests are to arrive prior to that time, we will make arrangements to set
up earlier. Our setup takes approximately 15 minutes. Many of our
DJs like to set up in the morning to avoid getting their suits dirty.
20. Do you have
a deal if we book the stag and doe with the wedding?
When you book your stag and doe with the wedding we will take $50 off of
each event. You will also have your choice of several different gifts
like 200 stag and doe tickets or a crown and anchor etc...When we are asked to discount a show we will take into
consideration the type of event, the day that it falls on and the reason a
discount is needed. We also offer ten percent off on Sunday to Friday
events or events that fall between January 2nd and March 31st.
21. Do you have
references?
Always ask for NEW references, as so many people will give you last year
or the year before...if it is a successful company they can provide you with
emails from last week...we can every time!!!!
We come highly recommended by some of the largest wedding specialists in
Southwestern Ontario including Collins Formalwear, Garber's Bridal, Sophie's
Gown Shop,
Columbia Photos and many of the catering and banquet facilities. We have many references available and
will be glad to share them at your request. You will note that in the DJ
bio's there are some testimonials written about some of the hosts. Also
check out our online list of testimonials CLICK HERE
22. What type of
equipment do you use?
Vanrock Sound uses systems that contain Dual Numark CD Mix Stations that contain a mixing board to allow for
continuous music flow with no "dead air". The average system
runs about 450 watts a side. Some of the brand names we use are Yamaha, QSC, Denon, Elite,
Mackie, Numark and Crest.
23. How recent
is your music?
We always have the newest music as soon as it is released. Every week the
DJs are updated with new music. If you have any special requests, simply
fill them out in the online wedding portal and we will have them for your date.
Other General Questions:
24.
What is a dollar dance? A dance usually
consisting of 2 songs. The Bride and Groom take the dance floor while
guests take short turns dancing with the newlyweds. There are three
methods of choice that may accompany this dance. 1. Maid/matron and best man
stand at the side of the dance floor and collect donations for the couple. 2.
Guests tape money to the bride or groom before they dance with them.
3. DJ announces that this dance is complimentary. The third method
is used as a means of getting the "duty dances" finished, which frees
up the evening for talking and relaxing.
25. How do you perform
the Garter
and Bouquet toss?
THIS
FORMAT IS OPTIONAL AND LEFT TO YOUR DISCRETION!!
Our format
is to call upon all of the single women in the room first. We have both
the bride and groom involved with both segments. When we have all of the
single ladies on the dance floor, we begin by telling them that the bride has
informed us that she had never dreamed how fantastic this marriage thing was until
now. Then, we have the groom kiss her passionately just to prove it. We then
say that the bride is a little sad to see all the ladies she cares about, so lonely and
unwed and that the only way they are ever going to attract a husband is if they
dance (boom....in comes dance music usually picked by you). After
the ladies dance for a bit, which is not hard to get them to do, we have the bride
toss the bouquet. All of the single men are then called to the floor. When they
arrive on the dance floor in front of the seated bride we say "why don't you show the bride what she's
missing now that she's married. We will usually have two guys or so ready
to strut their stuff, but if no one starts to dance we start hounding them and
saying " It's obvious why you are single" or we may stop the music and ask the
ladies what they think of the men's dance. Either way, we get them dancing and
when they've put on enough of a show we tell the groom to go out and join his so
called friends and show them how a real man dances. He must then crawl in
to get the garter (optional). The music we choose for the Garter is You
Can Leave Your Hat On by Joe Cocker. When the groom starts his crawl we
can change it to your favourite song.
26.
Do you provide ceremony music? If the ceremony is during the
time that you have booked us, there are no extra charges for us to do your
ceremony music. If you require us to set up at a different location and
perform ceremony music, then there is an eighty dollar charge.
27. What is a grand entrance? When the
Bride and Groom arrive at the reception hall, a typical scenario is to have all
of the guests take their seats (this should be announced prior to the Bride and
Groom entering the hall). The entire wedding party (or head table) should
be introduced into the hall in the same order that they entered the ceremony
(with groomsmen being paired to the respective bridesmaid). Some people
will have each person come in individually and play an entrance song for each of
them. Other couples will play one song for all of the attendants and then
have a separate song for themselves and some will play one song for the entire
group. If you choose not to have a grand entrance then there should be a
formal introduction of the head table.
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