Weddings FAQ

AVAILABILITY:

Are you available on my date?
Please see my date availability page to find out.

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PHILOSOPHICAL / STYLISTIC / GENERAL INFORMATION:

What genres of music do you enjoy playing?

  • I would put this in terms of tiers. If left completely to my own devices, my top-leanings are towards: Indie, 80s, Glam Rock, Retro, Manchester, Postpunk, New Wave, Britpop, The Minneapolis Sound, Shoegaze, Bristol, British Invasion, & Soul.
  • On a secondary tier, I would say that I have a lot of fun playing: Contemporary Pop, Motown, Hip-Hop (of all eras), Classic Rock, Funk, Disco & Post-Disco, Girl Groups, and Old-School Rock ‘N’ Roll among others.
  • Where can I listen to mixes?
    For live recordings of me in action, see this page, or my profile on Mixcloud.

Where can I see your past playlists?

Do you bring your own equipment?
Yes. My system is completely mobile, all I require is a source of electricity and a small working surface. More on the technical specifications of my system here (bottom of page).

How many weddings have you played?
At this time, I have MCed & played at 200 weddings. (Updated September 2018)

Are you insured?
Yes. I have an active $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy with R. V. Nuccio & Associates, Inc. of Toluca Lake, CA. Certificate of Liability Insurance available upon request.

Do you have a sign or banner that you use at events?
No. The only promotional items I bring to the event are business cards.

What is your usual attire?
Formal. (Suit)

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PRE-EVENT PLANNING STAGE:

Is there a limit to the amount of music that can be requested?
No limit. I’ve had couples provide only a few songs, and other couples that have given me dozens of specific songs. It’s up to you.

If you do not have one of the songs pre-requested by the client, do you require that they provide it?
I don’t require it, but if my client wants to share files with me, I always appreciate it.

Is the client able to meet the DJ before booking?
Absolutely. An in-person meeting is recommended. The main reason this is useful to me is for me to get a very strong sense of my client’s personal taste… which I use as the basis for creating the sound for the event. I’m available most weekdays in the afternoon/evenings and weekends after noon. Having said this, it is possible to achieve these aims over the phone, particularly in cases where the client is outside of the New York City area.

Can the client submit a do-not-play list?
Absolutely. The more information I can mine from you the better… the goal is to be in-synch with your likes and dislikes. A a “do-not-play list” provides very valuable information.

Do you book yourself for more than one event in a day?
Absolutely not. This is one of the functions of the deposit, to reserve that date solely for you.

Note on file transfers
Because of their large size, please do not send WAV music files. AAC and MP3 are the preferred file formats for music transfer.

What is your backup plan in case you become unavailable on the day of the event?
Yes, I do. I have a network of other DJs that work in a compatible style that are willing to substitute in place of me should an emergency occur.

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DURING THE EVENT:

How much time do you usually need to set up? Do you require that the site or client provide a table for you to set up on?
I like to set up 2 hours before “showtime” (aka when the first guest walks into my space). The minimum setup time needed is 1.5 hours. I do ask for a working surface of 2’x3′.

Do you usually emcee the event or talk between songs?
I have a live mic at all times, and commonly do announcements as requested. I do not make a practice of interrupting in-between songs, though. My mic is also available at all times for toasts, and special announcements.

How would you motivate the crowd if no one is dancing?
This is almost never an issue with me, unless you are talking about that very short period right after dinner before people get onto the dance floor. To get things started, I simply put a track on that is *impossible* to sit still to. Philosophically, I find it very camp to use talking as a way to motivate people to dance. It’s about the music, not spoken words.

What is your policy on taking breaks? If you require a meal break, do you require that the client provide your meal?
No I don’t. Typically, I might have a plate with me at my workstation, but I am usually working at the same time. I do not require a special separate “sit down” meal time.

Will you arrange for recorded music to play during your breaks?
Non-applicable. My breaks are never longer than a minute or two.

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ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON FEES:

What information do you need to provide a quote?
Event date, event location, and an approximate itinerary.

Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. I accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover payments through Square.
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What is your overtime rate?
$100 per hour for overtime.

Do you charge for travel expenses? If yes, how much do you charge?
For weddings within the 5 boroughs, I do not charge for transportation. There is a $150 charge for weddings occurring outside of the New York City area.

What is the required deposit to secure your services?
Half as a deposit to reserve the date, with the balance due whenever convenient, including the actual date of the wedding if you desire. Advance payment-in-full is acceptable if desired, and earns a 10% discount on the total.

Do clients usually tip?
While not required, a tip is always appreciated if the client feels that I provided exceptional personalized service, attention to detail, and professionalism. Most tips fall somewhere in the 5%–15% range.

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—DJ Ceremony: New York Wedding DJ

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