
Wedding FAQ's
There are plenty of good DJ companies in Southwestern Ontario. In
order to help you separate Vanrock Sound's service 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 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 selection. Second, The owner of the
company is available to assist you the night of the event in anything that you
need. No answering machines, no excuses just action and service.
What
additional fees are there?
We include 100 km free travel from our London office, setup 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.
Does the DJ
stay with the system during dinner music?
We cannot imagine why other companies would not have the host available
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 speaker.
Do you take
requests?
Absolutely!!!!!!! This is another question we don't understand why
some other companies can't grasp the concept. It is your party and we are
there because you hired us to entertain your guests. Naturally we put the
requests in the group they belong in, so, if someone requests a rock song we
will place it in the rock set. We also make sure that the song is not on
your do not play list and is appropriate for the event.
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 which you will look
over, 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 where you will be able to make all of your
itinerary details and music selections. A month or two before the event
you may wish to contact us for a complimentary consultation.
How much is
the deposit?
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.
Are you
Insured?
We are fully insured with 2 million 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.
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 (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 8-11 minutes long and
is separated by a slow song. All disc jockeys carry at least 3000
selections and they are updated with new music every two weeks. Our DJs
are trained to fill a dance floor for a set and then change over the crowd so
that everyone has an opportunity do dance to something they like.
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 case of illness.
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
one we would ask that you feed them as they will not be able to leave. It
is always a pleasure to be offered something from the late snack table when the
DJ is not having dinner.
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.
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 may be
necessary to provide shelter for protection from the elements.
Do you have
back up systems and DJ's?
At present we have 12 DJ's that operate our 8 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.
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.
Are you in
good standing with the CDJA or CODJA?
Yes. The CDJA and CODJA assists it's members and offers
help and training programs, monitors 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 CDJA and we are premium members of The Canadian Online Disc Jockey Association.
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. 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. How will 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.
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 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.
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 $40 off of
each event. We have special offers on all of the time. Simply ask us if there
are any specials. 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. Do you have
references?
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 on 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 referrals REFERRALS CLICK HERE What type of
equipment do you use?
Vanrock Sound systems 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.
How recent
is your music?
We always have the newest music as soon as it is released. Every 2 weeks 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. top
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