EVENT PLANNING and GENERAL QUESTIONS
Will you DJ/MC at my wedding or hire someone else to do it?
Every event is personally planned by myself and will be performed by myself or our small, personable staff. Groovy Tunes DJs typically does not book contracted DJs for events. In the event, that we do contact an outside DJ for an event, you will be told up-front in our initial conversation. In the event of extreme illness or personal emergency, alternate DJs will be used to cover an event. These are the only exceptions and in 9 years of being in the industry I have never had this situation occur. I firmly believe that your special event should be just that ...special. Since I assist you in your planning of the perfect event, it only makes sense that I or my staff be the ones who perform at it to ensure all of your requests are met.
Can I come see you perform?
I no longer invite people to come to a wedding reception to see/hear me play music. I am hired by a bride and groom to perform at their special occasion and I do not want to cheapen their evening by having uninvited guests stopping by and for me to give a potential customer a sales pitch. However, I do play at Bridal Shows a few times a year and some public events where anyone is welcome to attend. Just ask me for my schedule. Additionally, there are demo videos online that you can view to see us in action. Our demo videos are updated annually so you always have a current and fresh sampling.
Do you provide a written agreement?
Any reputable DJ or business owner is going to provide a written agreement. A contract engagement form is mailed to you upon your request for our DJ services. This completed contract contains the details of your day, event, place, time, and what is to be expected by Groovy Tunes DJs. An initial, non-refundable $100 retainer fee is required to secure our services for your event date with the remaining balance due two weeks prior to your event. If you are shopping around for a DJ and find one who does not use a contract then keep shopping!
What attire does the DJ wear?
Primarily, a tuxedo or suit will be worn to most events. For outdoor activities such as picnics, pool parties, etc., we may wear something laid-back such as a Hawaiian shirt. We dress in costume for Halloween themed events.
Will you deliver announcements and emcee our event?
Announcements are part of the deal. We are happy to make announcements reminding people of facility rules and guidelines, event happenings, etc. Introductions of your wedding party, parents and others are also no problem. We wish people Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, etc.
Does your pricing change based on the experience of the DJ?
No! We do not feature pricing levels based on "expierenced" or "newer" DJs. Our staff do the job the right way...YOUR way!
Do you take breaks?
No, unlike a band, we do not require breaks during the evening. The music will be played the entire evening without interruption except where necessary for making announcements. We occasionally use the restroom but don't worry...we can program tracks to play in our short-term absence.
Do you provide music for our wedding ceremony?
Yes. We do have add-on options available to play music at your wedding ceremony in a church, on a golf course, in a park, pavilions, etc.
Do you work for Rusch Entertainment?
No, we do not and have not worked for any entertainment agencies. We work 100% independently and have done so for over 10 years.
Do you work from a standard wedding reception format?
Yes and no. We have a reception planning form with dozens of options and you select what you want to do and in what order. The list includes special dances, your first dance, the daddy-daughter dance, announcements, traditional events, cake cutting, customized events, etc. We can use a standard format if you prefer not to plan the details but most couples like to have input on their special day.
Do you use laptops, iPods, or other digital devices?
No. Although, you may see a laptop with us at an event used for organizational purposes, we still prefer to play from compact discs. We do not completely trust computer operating system environments enough to know it will not "lock-up" in the middle of your special dance. Plus, with a laptop, how would you know if we are playing music or just setting it to "auto-pilot" and play solitaire all evening?
Do you use have discounts for Sunday wedding receptions?
Yes, we do offer some special pricing for Sunday receptions. Give us a call to discuss your needs.
PACKAGES, PRICES, AND PAYMENT
To whom should I make the check payable?
Please make checks payable to Scott Bradbury. Do not send cash in the mail.
When do I need to book my event and/or send in my retainer fee?
We operate on a first come, first serve basis. Most clients book us 9-12 months in advance for receptions. Other events usually get booked 3-6 months prior. The sooner you send in your retainer fee the sooner you can relax knowing you have secured a DJ for entertainment.
How much do your charge for your DJ services?
Rates are calculated on an individual basis customized for each customer and their needs. Standard packages and rates for wedding receptions have been assembled based on the most commonly requested items and are available online. Groovy Tunes DJ’s is extremely competitive within our industry.
How much is the retainer fee and when is final payment due?
Our standard retainer fee is $100 to reserve the date of your event. Final payment is due two (2) weeks prior to your event. We do NOT accept payment on the day of your event.
May I make payments?
Yes. Some of our customers have preferred to make routine payments every month or every other month. You are welcome to "pay-as-you-go" in any amount you choose if it accommodates your budget. There are no finance charges or other fees associated with doing this.
Is there a fee for setup, travel or tear-down time?
Typically, no. There are some areas that we do impose additional costs to cover extensive travel time or overnight accommodations (example: Mackinac Island or Traverse City). Our package price quote to you will be a flat rate with no additional charges or fees. Any rare instances where we do charge travel related fees will be discussed up front and accurately estimated in put in a written quote to you.
Are there additional fees?
No. Most of our packages are inclusive with everything you need and with no additional charges or fees. There are optional add-on services for select items that you can add to enhance your standard package. Even our cordless microphones, fog, and bubble effects are included in most of our packages.
Are there taxes or gratuities?
Michigan does not require sales tax on services which means our quote to you is the bottom line. Tips and gratuities are not mandatory and are always appreciated when earned.
LIGHTING and SPECIAL EFFECTS
We can bring an array of multi-colored lights and effects to simulate a club style atmosphere or, if you choose, we can provide something of a more elegant style such as all white lighting. We have worked at receptions where the lighting has been color coordinated to enhance the bridal party dresses. Other events have required us to adapt the lighting to match that of school mascot colors or to aid in providing a "spooky" appearance at Halloween parties.
As a lifelong asthmatic myself, I have not personally found the fog mist to be bothersome and have never witnessed any adverse effects at any event either. However, manufacturer's do make the claim that it may be possible to irritate the bronchial airways in an asthmatic person. We can leave this item out of your package and substitute it with something else if this is of concern to you.
MUSIC SELECTION
Groovy Tunes DJ’s has an extensive collection of music! We have music from the 50’s and 60’s, the 70’s, 80’s Top 40 and 80’s Rock, 90’s and today’s top hits! We also carry a wide variety of dance, hip-hop, R&B, big band, Christian, instrumentals, country, disco, funk, alternative, new age, rap, classic rock, hard rock, slow songs, ballads, easy listening and more! Our music selection contains radio edits so as not to offend any of your guests.
Do you carry the newest hits?
I purchase primarily top-20 hits from each month across all charts for rock, country, mainstream top-40, etc. I select music that is suitable for family-oriented events.
Can I bring my own CD's?
Absolutely! We are happy to purchase anything you want to hear but you can bring your own CD's and we can play from them too. We can play MP3's that are burned to a CD also but we do not play from your IPOD's or similar devices due to liability.
Do you take requests from my guests?
Yes! ...provided you want us to honor requests.
May I submit a list of the music that I want played?
Our reception planning form allows you to choose top favorites, least favorites, and different types and genres of music you want played. We welcome this! However, we have stepped away from having bride and grooms pick out every song and give us a list to play in a particular order. We have found that many of the guests invited do not always prefer the same tastes as the newlywed couple. This causes a lot of disappointed guests and it makes our staff look incompetent like we picked the poor dance selections. Truth be told, many people can pick out great lists of music but a list that might be great to listen to in the car or sing along in the shower is not always the best for creating a dancing atmosphere. Allow us to use years of experience to read the crowd, take requests, honor your special songs, and mix together decades of dance music. It's what we do best!