Question 1

What are your rates?

Accepted Answer

For Saturday events, our rates start at $2150.00 working with an associate DJ, $2400.00 working with DJ D-Mac. Friday/Sunday events on non-holiday weekends are discounted 20%. More information about rates is available here. For a more detailed quote, please get in touch with us. Ask us about our new special budget reception-only package priced at just $1350.00 and $1600.00, respectively.

Question 2

Why are DJs so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Compared to the cost of venues, caterers, photographers, planners, decor and flowers, DJs are usually the lowest cost wedding vendor. But they are still not cheap. Hiring a real DJ to do what real DJs do is expensive. Consider this short list of job requirements: • communication skills • planning skills • audio engineering skills • emotional intelligence • punctuality • flexibility (musically and logistically) • well-maintained equipment • physical fitness for moving said equipment • years invested in the craft and art • a priceless music collection This combination of creativity and responsibility is in short supply.

Question 3

What gear do you carry to events?

Accepted Answer

While there are some variations in each DJ’s specific equipment list (mainly in choice of mixer, controller, turntables or CDJ, and laptop), we all carry professional mobile audio gear, including: • pair of Technics SL-1200M3D turntables • Rane TTM 57SL mixer • Rane Seventy-Two mixer • 2+ pairs of QSC K8 powered monitors • pair of QSC K10 powered monitors • pair of QSC K12 powered monitors • Mackie SRM150 Compact Active PA System • Shure model 55SH Series II ‘Elvis’ microphones • Mackie 1202VLZ4 audio mixer • Mackie ProFX8 audio mixer • Apple MacBook Pro laptop • Rane ONE DJ Controller and Mixer • Rane Serato Scratch LIVE digital DJing system

Question 4

Are you insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as many venues require outside entertainment vendors to carry insurance, we carry a comprehensive $2,000,000 liability insurance policy that extends to D-Mac and all DJ associates.

Question 5

How much experience do you have?

Accepted Answer

As founder and principal, I personally have over 15 years experience as a professional DJ, including weddings, corporate events, and club experience. I am also a current member of the American Disc Jockey Association.

Question 6

Can we come and hear you play?

Accepted Answer

Weddings are private affairs so we cannot extend an invitation to potential clients, but you are very welcome to come and hear us play at any of our regular club gigs. While it is definitely not the same environment and playlist that you’d experience at a wedding or corporate event, you can still get a good sense of our DJ skills and the diversity of music we always play. Indeed, we have worked with lots of clients who have told us they knew we the right DJs for their event after coming to a club or other gig open to the public.

Question 7

What areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We cover primarily the Metro DC area (including Washington, DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the Eastern Shore). But we have also provided services in Philadelphia, PA; Chicago, IL; Buffalo, NY; New York, NY; Portland, OR; Portland, ME; Rehoboth Beach, DE; Louisville, KY; and the Outer Banks, NC.

Question 8

Do you travel for events?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do! We’ve been all over the place. No destination is too far, whether that be Leesburg, Virginia, Louisville, Kentucky, or Lahaina, Hawaii. Please contact us for a custom quote for your destination event.

Question 9

How extensive is your music collection?

Accepted Answer

The digital collection is formidable and literally growing every day. This makes obtaining special songs for your event that are not already in our collections that much easier. We will work with you to make sure we have everything covered.

Question 10

Do you DJ LGBTQ+ weddings?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely, yes.

Question 11

We are having an traditional Indian reception; can you play Indian music?

Accepted Answer

Definitely. From traditional ragas to Bollywood to Bhangra and Indian hip-hop, we have a sizeable collection of Eastern music and can blend it seemlessly with Western sounds to keep all your guests happy and on the dancefloor.

Question 12

Do you provide lighting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, from Edison bulb string lights to programmable LEDs, we provide comprehensive full service lighting solutions.

Question 13

Can you fulfill MC duties?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely, yes. From introductions to last call, and all announcements in-between, we can guide the flow of the evening with as much enthusiasm or restraint as you require. That said, we are most definitely not mic-rocking non-DJs, encouraging you and your guests to get up and do the macarena. We’ll keep it simple and clear, and then we’ll shut up and get back to party rocking.

Question 14

Do you provide karaoke?

Accepted Answer

While our primary focus is on the dancefloor, we do partner with our excellent friends at District Karaoke to provide the service.

Question 15

Do you have backup DJ(s) just in case?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do. When a DJ is booked for your event, a substitute DJ is also booked. The substitute has access to the same playlist and schedule from the beginning, so in case of emergency, the sub is fully aware of the event details (documentation, playlist, and schedule), and isn’t simply coming in cold. Meaning there will always be a DJ fully prepared and ready to go if your assigned cannot perform at your wedding. We do not leave our clients high and dry.

Question 16

How are you attired for weddings?

Accepted Answer

For weddings we are dressed appropriately in tailored suits and ties. For black tie events, we can dress more formally by request. Our wardrobes are as diverse and stylish as our DJ sets.

Question 17

Can you furnish references?

Accepted Answer

Yes, [with their permission] I can provide the contact information of recent clients who will be glad to share the details of their experience with you.

Question 18

Do you provide discounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we furnish a variety of discounts [please keep in mind these discounts cannot be combined]: • 10% discount for payment-in-full [at time of signing, when the event date is a full 4 months out] • 15% discount for active servicemen and servicewomen • 20% discount on Non-Saturday* events [Friday and Sunday] • 40% discount on Non-Saturday* events [Monday thru Thursday] For events falling on or around major US holidays, full Saturday rates apply.

Question 19

How far in advance do you usually book?

Accepted Answer

We usually are booked for weddings 7-9 months in advance. But 12-14 months is becoming the norm. For last-minute weddings (3 months or less) during the peak months (May thru October), we will often still have the depth in our team to accommodate your event.

Question 20

How do we get started with working with you?

Accepted Answer

After a no obligation initial meeting about your event in which we find out some details including date, location, start & end times and the kind of music you are looking for, I will prepare a personalized letter of agreement and send it via email as a PDF or mail a printed version (your choice). Once it is signed and returned along with the requested 10% deposit (payment can be made by check/money order or via Paypal–see Online Payments), the date of your event is officially reserved. The date of your event can only be guaranteed after a deposit has been received.

Question 21

What do you require to hold our date and our preferred DJ?

Accepted Answer

A 50% deposit holds the date and DJ. However, we understand and respect that some clients take their time with decision-making. Because of that, we do our best to treat our clients they way we ourselves want to be treated: with consideration and respect. We’re not going to book your date and DJ out from under you while you’re reviewing our proposal. If by chance we get other interest in the same date and the same DJ before we’ve heard back from you, you’ll be the first to know.

Question 22

How often may we contact you about our event after the agreement is signed?

Accepted Answer

As often as you like. We certainly appreciate a client who takes an active interest in the music and logistics leading up to their event! Customarily, we expect the play list from the bride and groom 6 to 8 weeks prior to the event so that your DJ can properly prepare the tunes you’ll hear throughout the evening. Working from your play list, we’ll fill in the gaps and provide the audio glue, so to speak, that holds it all together.

DJ D-Mac & Associates

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