Questions
What makes DJ Gary Manheim worth our investment? My care and concern for your special event is second only to your own. I am able to bring my experience from over a thousand performances to your one special night. This means I make your vision of the perfect celebration a reality. My fresh look brings a new definition to "experienced DJ." I've been entertaining for over 20 years; but there is nothing old about DJ Gary Manheim. My system is uniformly sleek and state-of-the-art. I believe that being a successful disc jockey requires100% musical expertise, 100% customer service satisfaction, and 100% professionalism. The investment you make in my services reflects the expertise and quality that I bring to your special event. Top Is setup time included in your price? You never have to pay for setup or takedown time. I typically arrive two hours prior to your scheduled start time and will be set up long before your first guest arrives. But it's on my own time! The same applies for takedown time after your event. Top Do you take breaks? My services are truly uninterrupted and non-stop. From the scheduled start time to the scheduled end time I will never pause to take a break. Much unlike bands that need to stop and rest, I can just keep playing straight through your event! Top Can we choose the music to be played at our event? You'll be unbelievably amazed at how flexible I am when it comes to music selection! That's because in the past 20 years I've learned that keeping the dance floor packed is influenced by many factors, including the order and style in which the songs are played, the way songs are mixed together, and DJ interaction...not just which songs are played. I've had clients that have chosen almost every song for the entire event and others that have left the music selection completely up to me. My recommendation is to provide me with a list of "must play" songs and list of "play if possible" songs. This will leave plenty of room for your requests and those from your guests as well. You may also stipulate that I do or do not take requests from your guests, it's truly up to you. But have fun and select music you want to hear and dance to. After all, it's your celebration! Need Help? Check out my Suggested Artists page. Top Can we have a "do not play" list? Sometimes the do not play list is equally important or more important than the request list itself! Or maybe you've been to one too many weddings lately and are sick of the typical wedding songs. Any specific songs or general types of music you absolutely despise should go on your "do not play" list. Rest assured that if a guest requests a song that is on your "do not play" list, it will not be played while letting your guest know diplomatically. Top What if we want a song that you don't have? While my 15,000+ song music library encompasses the widest variety of hits from the 1930s to today, it's possible you may have a few obscure requests that are not in my repertoire. In this case, I would be more than happy to play your CD. As you're making your request list, simply indicate which songs you'll be providing. You can bring your CDs to me at the start of the event and I'll promptly return them to you at the end. You don't even have to worry about labeling your CDs because mine are in special sleeves that will distinguish them. Top How loud do you play the music? One of the greatest complaints of bands and DJs alike is that they play the music too loud. It doesn't have to be that way! During cocktail and dinner hours (if applicable) the speakers will be strategically positioned for even sound coverage throughout the banquet room at a comfortable level. When it's time to dance, the speakers will be repositioned for maximum sound coverage on the dance floor and minimum sound exposure throughout the rest of the banquet room. This means that on the dance floor the music will be at a very comfortable, yet powerful enough level for dancing. Throughout the rest of the room the music will be less predominant and your guests will actually be able to carry on a normal conversation without screaming! Top Do you carry backup equipment? Your special event could very well be one of the most memorable days of your life. So I must offer you the highest level of dependability. I keep a complement of essential backup equipment on-site at all times for all events. If a component were to fail, it could easily be switched, seamless and unknowing to your guests. Top Do you hang any banners or other advertisements? Absolutely not. I pride myself on being elegant. While I appreciate referral business, I feel my services speak for themselves. I will not hang any banners, logos, or signs on my equipment. Nor will I put any advertisements on the dinner tables. The extent of my "advertising" is an unobtrusive stack of business cards next to my equipment so guests can easily take a card. Top How interactive are you? A very familiar question! Often times when a prospective client is looking for the perfect DJ they search for one who fits the level of interaction they're looking for, whether it be conservative or outgoing. I actually let you decide how much interaction you would like. I can be conservative, outgoing, or anywhere in between. By default, I'm only as interactive as necessary to keep your guests having a good time on the dance floor. In any case, you'll never hear me yelling, screaming, or even singing over the microphone. Even at my most outgoing level, I still remain totally professional and never steal the spotlight! Top Do you have a video or can we come view a live event? Studio-edited video demos can make anything look appealing! For this reason, I've decided the best way a prospective client can make an informed decision is to see me firsthand. So come on out and see me in action! I will ask you in advance if this is acceptable to you or not at your reception and then respect your decision. Often times once dancing starts the banquet room doors are propped open. You can very easily sneak a quick peek without crashing the party or intruding. It's an excellent way to see how I interact, hear the quality of sound, and view the complete DJ system set up...all things you can't effectively observe from a video. Please keep in mind when you come out that the hosts of the event have selected the music they would like to hear and the amount of interaction they would like to have. Since I would never take time away from a current event to book a future event, please feel free to contact me the following day with any questions. I will always gladly honor a client's request to have their event remain private. If you can't make it out to a live event, I can set up a phone conference to discuss all the details. Top Do you offer a contract or written agreement? Absolutely. My agreement is straightforward and written in plain English so that you can understand the terms before signing. With the agreement you can be assured that there will be no hidden extra charges or surprises at your event. The signed agreement and deposit officially reserves your date. If you have any questions or concerns about the terms, just ask! Top Is tipping/gratuity expected? By no means is tipping/gratuity mandatory or expected. I charge a professional rate for a professional service. This means you won't see a tip jar on my table. If at the end of the night you feel I have surpassed your expectations and you would like to tip me, I would accept it as the utmost compliment. But you're under no obligation to do so. Top Should we feed you? One of the most popular questions! The answer is that it is completely up to you. With setup and takedown time, I'll often be at your event for nearly 9 hours. My only request is that you let me know either way ahead of time. This way I can stop and pick something up along the way, if necessary. If you choose to provide a meal for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. But don't worry if you're working on a tight budget because there is no meal clause of any kind in my contract! Top What is the deposit and when is the final payment due? I require a 50% deposit and signed contract to reserve your date. I will gladly accept your personal check or money order for the deposit. The balance must be paid prior to the start of your event in cash, certified check, cashier's check or money order. However settling up before the date works best since it will give you the freedom to relax and enjoy your event! Top How early should we book? Simply put...the sooner the better! Some of the most popular dates can and do book as early as one year in advance. My suggestion is to be prepared to sign an agreement as early as 8-12 months before. If you're just starting your planning, try to make your final decision as soon as possible to ensure my availability. Top Are your rates negotiable through price matching or other discounts? My rates are based on my cost of doing business as well as the value I place on the job. I take all events seriously and attend to each in a professional manner. I am confident you will find my prices to be competitive. Top |