DJ Services

Common Questions Asked By Our Customers:

1- What kind of sound equipment do you have? And do you bring backup equipment just in case something happens to the other equipment?
[Brian Stevenson] We use professional PA systems. Our Amplifiers and Speakers are high end Yorkville sound products. We use a 3 way speaker system with 2 satellites for mids and highs and a powered sub for the bottom end. We carry backup equipment to get us back up in the event of a failure but we also have an emergency DJ on call to either fill in or bring out more equipment if necessary.  Our Digital/CD players and mixers are either Denon, American DJ or Numark.

2- Do you use CDs or a computer?
[Brian Stevenson] We primarily use a digital player designed specifically for DJs. We use a unit called a NuMark D2 Director. We don’t feel home computer systems with Windows to be reliable enough for DJ work. In addition we carry a dual CD player with our primary music selection on CDs for backup.

3- If we have certain songs that we want played for specific dances with people, and you don't have them, do you purchase them, or do we?
[Brian Stevenson] Chances are we have them and would bring them. If not, we will make every effort to get them. If they are obscure material that we will never use again we will ask that either you provide them or we would get them and add the cost to our fees. We would then give you the CD at the end of the night.

4- If we have certain songs that we want, but you don't have them and we do, can we bring them the night of the reception and lend them to you for that time?
[Brian Stevenson] Yes. Depending on how much material you are providing. Some people have asked to provide us with the entire music list for the night. We don't do those type of dances as the music selection affects our reputation and I would rather turn down a dance than have our reputation affected in a negative way.

5- Would you personally be the DJ for the night, or do you have someone else that does that? If you get sick or just can't make it the night of the reception for any reason, do you have a back up DJ?
[Brian Stevenson] I would not personally be the DJ. I have 7 DJs that work with me. They all work exclusively with me and use my equipment and music so we maintain a consistent job. We always have an emergency on call DJ. That is usually me. I am accessible by phone whenever we have bookings.

6- How many times before the night of the wedding do we have to meet to go over things?
[Brian Stevenson] Generally, when you book you would have a meeting with me. You go over what you are looking for and I will explain what we do. I will pass this info on to the DJ assigned and about 2-3 weeks before the booking he will contact you to go over your songs and the timing of events. He will also make suggestions based on our experience on how best to handle certain events.

7- If possible we would like to hear what your sound system hears like before the wedding date. Only because my fiancée’s cousin just got married in June and the person they got to DJ for their reception didn't have a good system at all. You could barely hear the music because it sounded all distorted.
[Brian Stevenson] We play at a number of public functions. One is the Acres which is a singles club on Friday and Sunday nights on Taunton Rd about 10 km east of Oshawa near Orono. Otherwise we do, One Parent Families at Pickering Rec Centre on the 2nd Sat of the Month and One Parent Families at Woodview park in Oshawa on the 3rd Sat of the Month.

8- Do you also MC the reception? Some do and some don't. This would be after our MC does his thing. You would announce special dances/songs, speeches, etc.
[Brian Stevenson] We can MC if you want us to and normally announce the special events after the dinner.

9- Do you provide a wedding reception planner?
[Brian Stevenson] We have an online wedding planner for your evening. When you book you get an ID and password to connect to your planning page. Our DJ will go through a comprehensive interview prior to your event to go through this planning information.

10- Do you come to my home to go over the details of the night in question?
[Brian Stevenson] The DJ will arrange that. Usually you will meet at his location.

11- Have you received any formal training as a DJ?
[Brian Stevenson] We have over 25 years experience and have done thousands of dances. I train all my people.

12- What are your rates?
[Brian Stevenson] We have a full service base rate of $535.00 in the local area from 6:00PM to 1:00AM. Each additional hour is $50.00 per. Travel outside our local area is $30.00 per hour.  We also offer a basic service for up to 4 hours (eg. 9 – 1AM) for $375.00 (extra hours are $50 each) . The deposit upon booking is $75.00. Lighting is an extra $100 and includes multiple effects. We also have a bubble machine which is $25 extra. Some Toronto locations may be extra – call.

13- Are you registered with any professional organizations?
[Brian Stevenson] We are members of the Canadian Online Disc Jockey Association and are registered through them. They are at www.codja.ca

14- Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau?
[Brian Stevenson] CODJA but not Chamber of Commerce.

15- What time would you arrive at the hall to setup your equipment?
[Brian Stevenson] In the local area whatever time you would like us to. Outside the local area we would arrive about 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

16- Do you wear a suit and tie?
[Brian Stevenson] Either a suit and tie or a jacket and tie.

17- How many songs do you have in your library of music?
[Brian Stevenson] We carry over 9500 + in our standard set. Note we do not carry entire albums, only hits. People only dance to music they know so why carry music they don't know? We can accommodate any special requirement you might have. Our standard library is put together from requests for over 25 years and is kept up to date adding some 40 songs every month.

18- Would we get a chance to look at your library before the wedding day? And would we be able to let you know basically what we want and what we don't want played for types of music?
[Brian Stevenson] Check out our Web site, our listing is on it for downloading. We welcome your input as to music selection, it is part of your online planning page.

19- Do you offer a wireless mic for speeches, etc?
[Brian Stevenson] Yes, our DJs carry wireless microphones and their use is included in our rates.

20- Do you/would you provide cocktail/dinner music? And if so, is there an additional cost, or is it just the additional $50.00 per hour?
[Brian Stevenson] If it is within your booked time it is included otherwise it is $50.00 per hour.

21- Do you offer a basic effects lights with this package? Do you offer one at all?
[Brian Stevenson] Our lighting package is $100.00 which consists of 4 semi intelligent  and intelligent effects. As well we have a bubble machine for an additional $25.00.

22- Are there any additional charges, for an example, for setup or travel etc.
[Brian Stevenson] Not in local area.

23- Does your price include tax?
[Brian Stevenson] Yes

24- Do you provide a written contract and guarantee?
[Brian Stevenson] We provide a written agreement including the name of your DJ and their contact information. No DJ service provides a guarantee that I am aware of but we have never missed a booking in 30 years of service.

25- Do you DJ full-time or is this just a weekend job?
[Brian Stevenson] This is a part time business for me but we have been doing it longer that any DJ service in the area.

26- How many years of experience do you have as a Disc Jockey?
[Brian Stevenson] I have been in business since 1973. My DJs range in experience from 20 years to over 5 years. My DJs also go through special training for weddings.

27- Are you able to handle requests? Do you have a reliable indexing system so you can respond to requests at a moments notice?
[Brian Stevenson] All our music is cataloged for the DJ by Artist and Title. We can retrieve and get a song cued in seconds. Our digital systems are fully searchable.

28-You had said in your email that you send out appraisals after all your dances and that they always come back as either excellent or very good. Could I request to see some of those appraisals?
[Brian Stevenson] You may go through all my appraisals. Some are available on our web site.

29- Do you request a down payment on your services, or do you want to be paid in full?
[Brian Stevenson] Deposit is $75.00 and would be returned to me with a copy of the agreement.

30- Do you take payments for your services?
[Brian Stevenson] You can make payments if you like as long as the balance is paid by the date of the booking, we have had people give us 4 or 5 postdate cheques to cover the balance.

31- Why are your rates so much lower than other DJs?

[Brian Stevenson] People think that because they pay more they will get a superior service. Our sound systems are more current and of a higher quality than most other services and our DJs have more experience than most. The truth is, most DJ companies price their service high because people are willing to pay it.

32- Can I meet the DJ prior to booking? What if we have a clash of personalities, can I request a different DJ?

[Brian Stevenson] Generally you would meet your DJ a couple of weeks prior to your event. All my DJs are hired based on personality. They have to be the type of person you immediately feel comfortable with. They are professional and are there to do what you request of them. There will not be a personality clash. We don’t hire “egos”. If you want to speak with the DJ prior to booking we can arrange him to call you and discuss your concerns.

    

Best Music Services has been providing great music in the Durham and Surrounding regions since 1973. We focus on the customer's and your audience's music tastes to custom tailor the music selection.

Most people that contact us for DJ services ask the one big question "How Much?". Unfortunately this is a disaster of a party just waiting to happen. Price is absolutely no indication of how good or bad a DJ is. Quite a number of people that contact me feel that one DJ is as good as the other. This couldn't be farther from the truth.

A DJ that may only have been in the business for say, 5 years, can purchase the best music and lighting systems available. But if he has been only doing dances for teenagers he has no frame of reference to play for an older audience. Try tuning your radio to a station with music you really dislike and imagine having that as the music for your event. For some DJs that music is all they normally play.

On the other hand some long time DJs are stuck in a rut. They have a choice selection of music that goes over most of the time and they stick with it. They don't like the music of today and therefore don't buy any of it. Their equipment has been performing well for the past 20 years so why change it. They may have no concepts of mixing techniques.

Best Music Services concentrates on the following:

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