Is there anyone that isn’t the right kind of client for you?
What’s the advantage of working with a DJ who specializes in weddings?
A wedding reception is a very special type of event. It is not just a party; it is one of the most important, most memorable days of your life. You don’t want anything to go wrong. It requires advance planning, attention to details, and behind-the-scenes coordination to make things go right. An experienced wedding specialist like me provides that – and the peace of mind that goes with it.
Even the entertainment at a wedding is different. You want music that your friends will enjoy and dance to, but you don’t want your older relatives to feel excluded. A wedding specialist like me knows how to mix the music so that everyone from your college roommate to your grandmother has a great time.
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You stress “personalized attention.” What does that mean?
You deal directly with me – your actual DJ – from “day one.” I don’t send you an impersonal computer form to fill out. I don’t delegate the actual DJ’ing to somebody else. I am there with you and for you every step of the way. I meet with you in person. I am available anytime, 7 days a week, for consultations by phone or email. I listen to what you want, and offer my suggestions, and together we develop a customized plan for your wedding. And the same person you’ve done all that planning with is the same one who’s there performing for you on the “day of.”
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Why hire a DJ through a small company like Good Note instead of through an agency?
The agencies are great – at marketing and salesmanship. The agencies run their business on the basis of quantity. They may be juggling 30 or 40 events a weekend. I run mine on the basis of quality. I usually do just one event per weekend – yours. Yet I offer everything in the way of music, equipment, back-ups, and anything else an agency can.
By the way, with an agency, for every $1 you’re paying, the DJ gets only 60-70 cents. Many of the best DJs like me prefer to book themselves. I do not need a middle-man between me and my clients.
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Why do you cost more than some DJs?
Why does your caterer charge more than Pizza Hut? Your caterer uses better, more costly raw ingredients . . . prepares your food fresh and cooks it just right . . . and serves it in a classy, elegant manner. It’s no different with my DJ services. I don’t cut corners in my equipment, my music, my time, my services, my attire.
Remember, there is only one of me – I cannot clone myself or mass-produce my services. You are paying for the unique and special services of an extremely talented and experienced individual. I don’t offer the best price. I offer the best DJ services. Believe me, there IS a difference.
I do offer a fair price – I can provide my phenomenal services to most weddings for between $1,000 and $1,600. However, only you can decide your wedding budget, and only you can determine how to allocate that budget. It’s your choice. Make it an informed choice.
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What is your cost for a “4-Hour” Package?
I don’t have a “4-hour package.” What I provide is more like a “15-hour package.” I start working for you the moment you hire me, well before the day of your reception. That is one of the marks of a true wedding professional.
You are NOT just hiring me to play music for 3 or 4 or 5 hours. In addition to my performance time, I also spend many hours meeting and consulting with you, helping you create your reception agenda and fine-tuning all the details, researching and obtaining your special music requests, preparing customized CDs containing sequenced music for special moments like your Grand Entrance, visiting the site of your reception in advance, and arriving at the event early to set up. Typically, I devote 15 HOURS OR MORE to your wedding.
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How can you offer a money-back guarantee?
It’s my way of assuring you that I will fulfill my pledge to provide the finest service I can. I don’t just promise, I deliver. I don’t just talk the talk, I walk the walk. And that means going the extra mile to ensure your 100% satisfaction. My guarantee is stated in writing in our contract – if you’re not happy with my services for any reason, you get your money back. I’m in the happiness business – if you’re not happy with my service and my performance, then I haven’t done my job.
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Why don’t other DJ companies offer a money-back guarantee?
Good question. But they don’t; I do.
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Does it really matter which DJ I hire?
Only if you care about whether your reception is a success or not. Surveys show that after the wedding, 4 out of 5 guests report that the thing they remember most is the entertainment, and 4 out of 5 brides report that they wished they had made the entertainment a higher priority in their planning and budgeting.
Remember, anybody can call himself or herself a DJ. Only a select few have the musical know-how, the high-quality equipment, the extensive experience, and the professional attitude to do the job right. There are DJs who’d be fine at a school dance, night club, or casual party but who are not appropriate for a wedding. There are DJs who only carry the latest hits but are easily stumped if older tunes are requested. There are other DJs who have the classics but who don’t keep up with the new music. There are DJs who have cheap equipment – which means inferior sound. There are DJs who “wing it” at your wedding – who don’t work with a detailed, written checklist.
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How easy or hard is it to reach you when we have questions or want to discuss something?
It’s as easy as picking up your phone and dialing 301-270-8520 (my main phone) or 202-213-1977 (my cell) or clicking on your email (steve@goodnote.com). You can reach me DAY or NIGHT, weekdays or weekends. I am always on call for you. I return all calls and emails promptly.
Most of my clients lead very busy lives. I work to accommodate your schedule; it shouldn’t be your job to accommodate mine. Being a DJ is not my sideline; it is my profession.
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How much music will you bring to my wedding?
I bring tens of thousands of songs to each event – all on CD, so you get the best quality sound (as opposed to the mp3 files on computers some DJs use, which are compressed snapshots of the actual CD tracks and thus do not reproduce the full range of sound through a state-of-the-art audio system). Although I don't rely on downloaded music, I can also download specific songs (via iTunes or other legal source) if necessary to fill special requests. I not only have a very wide selection of music, I have the dedication to make sure I supply you the kinds of music you and your guests want.
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What kind of equipment do you use?
I use top-of-the-line line professional audio equipment, from manufacturers such as BOSE, Pioneer, Mackie, Electro-Voice, Rane, Sennheiser, and Shure. In addition to a pair of excellent full-range speakers, I often set up subwoofers to give the dance music extra punch, especially in larger rooms. At your event, I'll play music through a pro-audio system designed especially for music, not through a laptop computer.
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Will you bring backup equipment to my event?
Yes, I will. I bring extra speakers, extra CD players, extra mixers, extra everything! Many DJs arrive at your job in a car which simply cannot hold the extra equipment they claim to carry. I travel to your event in a professional van, not a passenger car.
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Do you require a deposit, and when is the balance due?
I ask for a small deposit ($250). The balance is not actually due until the day of your wedding, although many clients find it more convenient to pay the balance a week or two beforehand.
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What will you wear at our wedding?
It is YOUR choice – either a tuxedo or a business suit. (I am equally comfortable in either.) And I don’t wear a cheap-looking tux or suit. My attire will be classy. No goofy-looking red bow-tie.
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How far in advance should we book you?
That is entirely up to you. But keep in mind that I usually get booked many months (sometimes a year or more) in advance for the busiest months (April through October) and for Saturdays in any month. You can always find a DJ on short notice. But if you care about getting the RIGHT DJ, plan ahead!
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Should we meet with you in advance?
I strongly recommend that we meet BEFORE you decide whether or not to hire me. An in-person meeting can help you – and me – decide if we’re a good fit for each other. Later, after you’ve hired me, we can schedule an additional meeting to go over all the details (in addition to talking by phone and corresponding by email). A wedding is a very special and personal event, and meeting couples in person is part of the way I conduct business as a wedding DJ.
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My fiancée and I are quite picky about the music we want – and there are some songs we DON’T want played. How will you accommodate our musical tastes?
I love working with clients who care as much about good music as I do. I work closely with you to ensure that the music I play is the kind of music that you want. Of course, when you and I discuss the music, we should both keep in mind not only your personal tastes, but the tastes of your friends and families. My goal is to play music that your guests will enjoy listening to and dancing to – while respecting your musical tastes.
As to “do NOT play” songs: I respect your wishes. For example, many clients do not want the “Electric Slide” or “Macarena” or “Chicken Dance” or similar line-dance songs. On the other hand, some of my clients do want those songs. The difference is that I always take the time IN ADVANCE to find out what YOU want and don’t want.
Remember, if you hire a DJ in whom you have confidence, you don’t have to worry about “micromanaging” the playlist. Occasionally, a couple initially tells me they want to select every song in advance, but once we’ve met and talked, they realize that’s not necessary – and that it would be like telling their chef how many teaspoons of each spice to use.
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We are going to have a wide range of people at our wedding – different age groups, different families, different musical tastes. How will you get them all to dance?
That is precisely the sort of thing I am so good at. I know how to mix together various types of music throughout the evening – to give everyone the “chance to dance.” Some clients prefer me to focus on music with broader appeal early in the evening (including music the older relatives can dance to), while saving the wilder rock and R&B until later in the evening. That can work, although generally I find it best to vary the musical styles throughout the evening. That way, all your guests feel welcome – none of them feel excluded – because they'll hear such a wide variety of music.
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Do you take requests from our guests?
Yes, I am happy to. Remember, my #1 goal is to make YOU happy. BUT I know that you will be happiest if your GUESTS are happy. Of course, if there are certain songs that you do NOT want me to play even if requested, I will respect your wishes. And I will always use my best judgment to avoid playing inappropriate songs (e.g., if your 13-year old nephew wants to hear Korn or Rage Against the Machine).
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What about music during cocktails or dinner?
I can provide background music during cocktails and dinner. I can recommend various types of music that create a nice atmosphere during those periods – music that is pleasing to the ear, played at a lower volume than for dancing. Melodic jazz is often an excellent choice – whether vocals like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong or instrumentals like Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” album, a selection of big band instrumentals, or bossa nova (Brazilian jazz). Contemporary artist Norah Jones is another popular choice.
Of course, with my huge music selection, I can customize the cocktail and dinner music to your taste. Since we’re not concerned about getting people to dance during cocktails and dinner, the range of music is endless. It can include “straightahead” or “smooth” jazz, classical music, light rock, world music, folk, and so on.
Even if the cocktail hour is located in a separate area, it is usually no problem for me to hook up an extra speaker in that other location.
If you prefer live music during cocktails and/or dinner, I can locate just the right musicians for you. And you save money when booking live musicians through me rather than through large booking agencies that add huge mark-ups to the musicians' fees.
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Can you provide music outdoors?
Absolutely! In fact, my sound system sounds great outdoors. I have hundreds of feet of heavy-duty extension cords – all I need is access to a power outlet. Rain, direct sunlight, or extremes of heat or cold can damage my equipment and CDs, so I will need protection from the elements (such as being under a tent or patio roof). And we’ll need to check with your venue to make sure that outdoors amplification is permitted.
Remember, I trouble-shoot all the logistical details BEFORE the day of your event, so the wedding itself goes smoothly. (Not every DJ does this – sad but true!)
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What about music during the ceremony itself?
Yes! I can provide all your ceremonial music – prelude, processional, and recessional. It takes an experienced DJ to know how to do ceremonies, but that’s why you’re hiring a DJ like me, right? There is an additional charge for the separate set-up and extra time involved in providing pre-recorded music for your ceremony – but it's less than the cost of live musicians and sounds just as great (sometimes better!). I have a smaller, very portable system that can be used for ceremonial music.
If you prefer live music for your ceremony, I can locate just the right musicians for you. And you save money when booking live musicians through me rather than through the large booking agencies that add huge mark-ups.
Whether or not I am providing music for your ceremony, I can provide microphones and a small sound system if you'd like your ceremony amplified so your guests can hear it better.
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What is your style on the microphone? Do you serve as MC? Do you try to “entertain” the crowd?
My style is low-key and professional. I make whatever announcements you wish me to make, in a clear and pleasant voice. (And I pronounce everyone’s name correctly – another one of those little details the lesser DJs too often overlook.) I don’t attempt to talk with phony gusto like a TV game show host or Barnum & Bailey circus ringmaster. You won’t hear me asking if there any “party people in the house” or that sort of thing. You won’t see me demonstrating the Macarena or handing out cheesy plastic props to your guests.
A fine chef pleases your guests by cooking and serving fine food – not by going around slapping folks on the back while they’re eating, exhorting them to eat their salads and extolling the virtues of the main course. I’m the same way. I entertain your guests and get them dancing by playing great music – not by pestering them!
I am not the center of attention at your wedding reception. You are. I am there to facilitate a great time for you and your guests.
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What if we want a friend or family member to MC our event?
If you prefer that a friend or family member serve as MC, I am happy to work with such an arrangement. For things to run smoothly at your reception, it will of course be important for me to closely coordinate with your designated MC, and I will want to meet or speak in advance with him or her so we can go over the agenda together step-by-step. Attention to detail and commitment to a successful event is the hallmark of my DJ'ing, regardless of whether I or someone else serves as MC.
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Will you play a CD that we provide?
Certainly. Of course, first ask me if I have the music you have in mind. If I don’t have it, and can’t get it, I’d be delighted to play your copy.
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What happens if you are sick? Is there a backup DJ?
First, I have never missed a gig in ten years of DJ’ing. Second, even if I were not feeling well, I’d be there, and you’d never know. After all, it’s like show biz – the show must go on. Third, in the extremely unlikely case that something happened which absolutely prevented me from making a gig, I would find you a replacement DJ at no additional cost to you. I have contacts through some of the DJ booking agencies, as well as through professional groups like the American DJ Association and the Association of Wedding Professionals.
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Do you have references?
Yes, I have many satisfied clients who can provide references. Out of respect to them, I prefer to supply you references after we’ve first determined that there is a good chance you’re interested in hiring me. Let’s first see if I’m a good fit for your needs and if my fees are within your budget. Then you can do a final check by contacting some references. (By the way, I assure you that the testimonial quotes on the Good Note website are actual quotes from real clients!)
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How early do you show up at our event?
I aim to arrive at least 90 minutes – a full hour and a half – before I’m scheduled to perform. Why?? Because on your wedding day, I’d rather be an hour early than a minute late. And if some unforeseen situation arises – like bad traffic or a broken elevator – I’ve allowed myself an extra cushion to arrive and set up on time.
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How many breaks do you take?
None. Nada. Zero. Zilch. I can keep the music playing continually throughout the entire time period you hire me.
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How much space do you need to set up?
For my main set-up, all I need is a table and access to a standard power outlet. Typically, the table is a standard rectangular shaped banquet-style table that nearly all caterers and hotels supply. Those tables typically come in two sizes -- 6 or 8 feet. I prefer an 8-foot table (to allow me easier access to the over 1,000 CDs I bring), but I can work with a 6-foot table. In addition, each speaker takes up a few square feet of floor space. Of course, if you plan to have dancing, you’ll want to include space for a dance floor.
For a side set-up (such as in a separate cocktail room or a ceremony), I need very little space at all, and no table need be supplied – I set up everything on portable stands.
Don’t worry. I’m expert at fitting into just about any space, large or small. I’ll consult directly with the venue to make sure I’m familiar with the physical lay-out.
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Do you supply a wireless (cordless) microphone?
Yes. An excellent quality one. Your guests are welcome to use it to make toasts and so on. I also bring a second microphone (corded) which always stays with me. I can even supply microphones and amplification for your ceremony.
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Are you comfortable providing DJ services at same-sex weddings and commitment ceremonies?
Absolutely. I've done so numerous times and am happy to do so in the future.
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Are you insured?
Yes, I have liability insurance through Travelers Insurance Group, a leading and very reputable insurance company.
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Is Good Note DJs just you – or do you book other DJs as well?
At one time I had a business plan to expand by hiring other DJs as Good Note DJs. But over the years I found it almost impossible to ensure that other DJs performed up to the same very high standards that I set for myself. Nowadays, I do all weddings MYSELF. (However, for the occasional non-wedding event, I do have some other DJs to whom I will refer jobs.) It’s in writing in your contract – you’re not just hiring “a DJ” – you are specifically hiring me, Steve Hoffman.
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Is there anyone that isn’t the right kind of client for you?
Well, my flexibility and dedication ensures that I can accommodate nearly every couple. However, I prefer to work with clients who appreciate the importance and value of my services to the success of your reception. I might not be the best choice for you if the music and DJ are very low priorities for you, or if you’re not willing to spend a little time “helping me help you” by engaging in the collaborative planning process that I find works best.
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