Ahh always the
first question! The answer is - 'Depends'!! If you want just a typical
4 hour evening party / wedding reception with a 6pm setup, then this
will costs less than if you require me to DJ from 12 midday, provide
background music for the meal and cordless microphones for the speeches
and then DJ from 7pm to 2am.
NOTE:
The average amount spent on a UK wedding in 2006 was £17,000.
(Source: Radio 2, Jeremy Vine Show feature on wedding
costs, 2.6.06) - and you want a disco for £60?
If the answer is yes, please click HERE
and watch this video on Google Video...
Please contact me with details of your event and I will give you a
fair and competitive price. I will require a £50 advance booking
fee for most bookings in advance of the event, which will be properly
invoiced and receipted, the balance either to be paid on the night
in cash, or by cheque a minimum of 14 days beforehand.
I can't take credit
card payment, but I can take PayPal
payment for the advance booking fee at no extra charge, or for full
payment at a £5 surcharge (to cover PayPal fees) if this is
more convenient for you. A full list of Terms & Conditions will
be supplied with your invoice when booking.
I
will:
---
Quote you one price which will include travel & setup.
--- Bring as much of my equipment as is appropriate to the event and
will fit into the venue.
I will not:
--- charge you 'hidden extras' such as travel by the mile, setup
costs, waiting time by the hour or VAT.
--- charge you more for wedding / party playlist creation or for wedding
planning if you require it.
--- bring a 'Bronze' or 'Basic' Roadshow just because you are paying
less.
[ Please Note - If you want me to play for an hour or two longer on
the night then this will be charged at an hourly rate of £25/hr...
would you work an extra hour at work for free? Additionally, by arrangement,
I can provide sound / PA for a band you have booked who do not have
their own PA, at an additional cost of £100 - see q.
7 below ]
I've
got a quote of £60, can you match it?
...The
sweetness of a cheap price is soon forgotten,
while the bitterness of poor quality is long remembered...
iPod
Weddings - thinking of 'Doing It Yourself' instead of hiring a
DJ?
I can bring along and set up my usual full sound and light system
for you to plug your Ipod into, should you wish to save on costs,
plus microphones for you to use - for Public Liability reasons I have
to accompany the equipment, but this will typically cost up to £100
less than my full service.
If required, I can take over and DJ the night if you change your mind
on the day - or halfway through the night - but an additional fee
will be payable for this if so, cost depending on how long I am required
to DJ.
So, for the price of hiring less than half of my equipment from a
hire shop, you can 'Do It Yourself' with the peace of mind that backup
of equipment - and music - is available for your special day, while
still allowing you 100% control over the music played.
However! Please watch this example --> HERE
<-- on YouTube as to why you should NOT try and do the wedding
all by yourself with an iPod and equipment hired from a hire shop...
2.
What Music do you play? Do you play requests? Can you play from a
playlist that I provide?
Yes, of course
I will play requests - if I have the song and it is appropriate to
the event then I will play it... however I do reserve the right to
refuse requests for songs with swearing or explicit sexual / drug
references at family events / weddings. If I play anything with one
of these stickers on it at a wedding, for example, it usually is quickly
followed by a 'stern reprimand' in my direction from a senior family
member...
It is your
event - so I am happy to play the music that you want to
hear; I am happy to work with you to organise a suitable playlist
before the event - either by email or a personal visit if required
/ practical... but my experience has shown that sticking rigidly to
a playlist will usually upset some people on the night, so around
50% playlist is a happy medium.
I have music from
all major genres from the last 50 years plus an extensive selection
of rock music... however I will not play music that you have
specifically asked me not to play!
3.
Do you have Public Liability Insurance / Safety (PAT) testing on electrical
equipment / Public Performance & ProDub Licence
/ CRB Certificate / are you registered with the Inland Revenue?
Yes
to all of those! All certificates are available for inspection either
before or on the night, as required.
|
The
Firedance Roadshow carries
£1 Million Public Liability Insurance
|
The
Firedance Roadshow is registered with the Inland Revenue,
all bookings are fully invoiced and receipted, with signed
contracts being issued for each booking.
I
presently hold an Enhanced CRB certificate.
|
The
Firedance Roadshow has been fully PAT tested for electrical
safety - click HERE
for more info
|
 
The
Firedance Roadshow holds a Public Performance Licence - legal
to perform in ANY venue, whether it has its own licence or not,
(e.g. is a legal requirement for outside events and village
halls where the public can attend.)
Also it holds a ProDub
licence, required for a laptop / DJ system. |
4.
Do you have microphones for me to use for speeches / announcements
etc?
Yes, I have both
cordless microphones and corded microphones which can be used as requested
/ required.
5.
Do you use a smoke machine / lasers / strobe lighting?
With the UK smoking
ban, the majority of venues do not allow smoke machines, so I don't
usually carry one - however I can bring one along if you wish but
will only use this where (i) requested, (ii) if the venue approves
it and (iii) there is no-one with respiratory complaints present.
If it is on, it can be switched off and kept off if anyone present
objects. I do not use strobe lighting or lasers.
6.
Can you turn it down / up...?
The volume level
is as you require it - I happy to turn it up or down as required.
Many events like to have a 'talk hour' where the music is at low volume
and then turn it up for dancing... if it's too loud then please ask
for it to be turned down. A 3kW system will be suitable for up to
300 people in a medium sized venue / marquee - but at full volume
would be painfully loud in a small pub back room!
7.
Can you DJ alongside a band that we have booked? Can they plug into
your equipment?
Yes
to the first - I played in bands myself for many years so am very
experienced with that - and I will always make sure I am not playing
half of the bands' setlist beforehand!
And for 2009, the answer to the second question is also Yes - however
I will need prior notice for this; it would not be possible for a
band to plug into a dedicated disco sound system.
My usual equipment is dedicated DJ equipment and not suitable for
use as a Band PA; Most bands will have (or can supply) their own if
you ask them.
I can set up sound and microphones for a solo artiste, duo or small
band (4-6 piece) for you if you wish, I have all equipment required
to set up and mix a band - 12 channel desk plus all microphones, cables
and stands required - this will normally be £100 extra on top
of normal DJ fees and is all inclusive (i.e. PA hire, sound setup,
soundchecking and microphone mixing for a 3-6 piece band in a small
venue - plus paying someone to keep the disco running while I am doing
all this!)
Click --> HERE
<--- for more details of my PA hire service.
8.
Do you use vinyl / turntables / a laptop?
I use CDs only,
plus a digital playout system; Vinyl is mainly for dance / club use
these days. I do have a laptop DJ system but this is used as a backup
source of music and searchable database, not to do all the work for
me! If I am on my own, I may use the laptop to cover a song or two
during a trip to the loo / bar / buffet or if I am helping with a
band (see (7) above) or if I have to replace a bulb
that has blown in one of my lights - but not to replace me as a DJ.
9.
My mate / brother is a wicked DJ / singer / MC, can he have a go on
your rig?
I am afraid not
- for Health & Safety / Public Liability reasons only myself can
operate the roadshow... and I am a disco not a karaoke. I can arrange
DJ input facilities as PA Hire (see --> HERE
<--- for details) with prior notice, but cannot allow random strangers
to take over on the night!
10.
Anything you won't do?
I
don't do Children's Parties / school discos, Karaoke (I am a DJ only),
nor do I do 16th / 18th Birthdays - unless there are responsible and
sober adults present! Additionally I do not have enough tracks to
cover an entire night of R 'n B, Drum & Bass or Hip Hop although
I do have a small selection.
Also I will not
play horrifically cheesey music all night long (unless you have specially
asked for it!) or music that is inappropriate to the event.
