Reception Tips

Can a facility affect entertainment quality?

Very much so!  The choice is yours but here are a few hints to enhance entertainment.

• Look for smaller dance floors.  It gives the appearance that it is packed and packed dance floors attract more dancers.
• Facility lighting is important.  Guests tend to dance more if they feel like they are not on display.  The lower the lighting during the dance portion of the reception, the more comfortable your guests will feel dancing.
• Keep your guests in the same room with you.  Facilities that have patios invite guests to leave the main room, especially on nicer evenings.  These guests will generally be the younger ones and they are the majority of your dancers.  If you want to have an outside reception, plan for it to be outside.
• Make sure that your DJ is set up next to the dance floor.  It's hard for him to interact from a distance.   Also have the facility provide a 6 or 8 foot skirted table for the dj's equipment.
• Avoid in-house speaker systems.  Most are obsolete and will not provide the quality and punch needed for your event.
• Bars should be located in the main room and should be close to the dance floor.  People tend to hang out at the bar after dinner and if it is away from the main area, a good portion of your guests will be too.

Top

How many hours should my reception last?

There are several factors involved in determining this.  Obviously the first consideration is budget.  Remember it will cost you more to have your bar opened for 6 hours rather than 5.  It will also cost you more for your DJ.  However, 4 hours maybe a little short, since cocktails and dinners usually last between 2 and 3 hours.  Add in the special dances, cake cutting, bouquet & garter toss, etc and there won't be much time for dancing.

If your reception is on a Friday, remember that the majority of your guests will be working that day and will tire out much sooner than if the reception was held on a Saturday.  We don't recommend more than 5 hours for a Friday event.  Remember that you will lose the majority of your older crowd by around 10pm.  If things are going strong after 5 hours, you could always extend your event in half hour increments pending approval by the facility.

And by all means, be on time for your reception!  Many times dinner is delayed because the bridal party is out taking pictures.  This has a major impact on your whole timeline and results in frustrated guests, cold dinners and DJs trying to cram things in.

Top

Is seating important?

Yes... very much so.  If you are having assigned seating, try to sit your older guests away from the speakers and dance floor.  The volume will depend on the size of the facility.  You don't want your older guests being blown away all night.  They will not stay around very long.  There is a very delicate balance to the volume issue.  We take great care to make sure that it is not offensive but yet loud enough to generate energy and enthusiasm.  Also try not to position tables between the DJ and the dance floor.  At some facilities this is not possible.  It also helps when the bar is next to the dance floor since guests seem to congregate in the bar area.

Top

Should I provide meals for my vendors?

99% percent of the time, couples will provide meals for their photographers and DJs.  It's a nice gesture on your part and very much appreciated.  However if you wish not to, you should notify them a few days before the reception so that they can be sure to get something to eat before they arrive at your event.  It's a long day for them and nourishment is important.  As far as alcoholic drinks are concerned, our DJs are barred from doing so at an event.  They do appreciate plenty of bottled water or soda during the course of the evening.

Top

How many songs should I select?

Of course you should select songs for your wedding party entrances.  These would include songs for your parents, attendants and you and your spouse.  Typically couples pick 3 songs to be played during introductions, but some couples pick one.  If you have a large number of attendants your song should be in the area of 4 minutes long.  The proper songs will generate a lot of excitement during the introductions and set the tone for the entire evening.

You also need to pick songs for the special dances.  One for your first dance, which will probably be "your song" forever.  Another for the father/daughter, one for the mother/son and one for the wedding party.  These are typically slow songs.

You will need a cake cutting song also.  Sometimes couples like to pick the garter/bouquet song and the final song of the night.  There may also be "special songs" like for parents, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

As far as what you would like to hear during the dancing part of the reception, keep in mind that your guests tastes will vary depending on many factors, age included.  A good rule of thumb, is that you should select around 10 songs for dancing that you and your friends can relate to.  Leave the rest up to the DJ, because his job will be to read the crowd and keep them dancing.  Don't forget to provide a Do Not Play list so the DJ does not play something you absolutely despise!  Remember that in most cases you will get about 16 to 17 songs per hour.  If the dance portion of your reception lasts 2 hours you will get about 30 to 35 dance tunes.  The biggest mistake made by couples is to try to pick all the songs.  Remember you hired a DJ because you are not one.  Let him do what you are paying him to do.

Top

Do I need lighting for my event?

Lighting is a great way to enhance your dance floor and adds to the excitement.  That being said, lights do not always work well in some facilities.  If you are considering lights, be sure to ask us if the facility where your reception is being held lends itself to lighting.  Also remember that most facilities do not allow fog because it has a tendency to set off smoke alarms.  If you think you might like fog check with your facility manager first.  Bubbles may also be an issue with your facility.  They tend to make the dance floor slippery and could cause an a slip or fall resulting in injury.  You should also check on using bubbles at your facility.  You may be paying for extras that just don't work well in your facility!

Top

Should I tip my DJ?

Tipping is a matter of choice and completely up to you.  Most couples do tip their DJ, especially when he does a great job of keeping your guests entertained and happy for the entire evening.  When you tip a DJ you're letting him know that he did do a great job and executed eveything that you asked for in a professional manner.  He will leave your event without questioning himself on whether or not he delivered a great performance.

Top

Tips To Hiring A DJ

Can we meet with your company ahead of time to go over wedding details?

Yes.  We recommend it.  Many people mistakenly believe we’re only about the music.  That is not the case.  The DJ helps coordinate timelines, announcements, speeches, and vendors.  Cake cuttings, name pronunciations, speeches, and of course music selections are discussed in an advance consultation.  We will not do a wedding without a face to face consultation.  Not meeting with you personally and discussing your wishes will generally result in a poor performance.  If a company tells you it's not necessary they are not interested in what YOU want.

Top

Should you ask your company to provide references?

Yes.  By all means! A high percentage of our business has been directly referred to us by our highly satisfied clients.  Many of our clients have agreed to let you contact them by email.  They are your best way to find out how good an entertainment company is.  We also suggest that you ask your facility manager or other vendors if they have worked with us or seen us perform.  It is important for them to feel comfortable with your DJ, who should be coordinating the timeline of the event.  You should know who you are dealing with before you hire anybody for such a special occassion.

Top

Is your company insured?

Yes. Signature Entertainment is a corporation and fully insured to perform in all facilities or outdoor events.  Many banquet facilities require certificates of insurance before letting mobile sound systems work at events in their facility.
This is important protection for you, your guests and the facility in the unlikely event of a mishap.

Top

Can we hear your DJ company perform before deciding?

Yes.  Without question and at no obligation.  If you are still undecided after our consultation process, we strongly encourage clients to come out and see us perform.   This gives you peace of mind and simplifies your decision.  It is also a testament to the consistent product we put out for our clients, knowing that every DJ performs at the same high level.  And of course all visits are cleared with the couple whose event you will be viewing.

Top

Can Signature Entertainment fit into your wedding budget?

Yes. How important is a great event to you?  You can scrimp on your dreams, if they are not important to you.   If you’re like most brides, they are very important.  And it is the entertainment that brings these dreams to life.  Entertainment does make the event.  Besides, there’s no need to go with anything less than the best, Signature Entertainment.  When you compare apples to apples you are actually getting more for your money.  We don't believe in handing you a price list and meeting you the night of your event.  It's not the way we do business.... although it would really cut our expenses.  After all, entertainment typically costs less than five percent of your budget, but provides 95% of the fun.  And we won't confuse you with gimmicks like bronze, silver, gold and platinum packages or discounts on inflated prices.  You pay by the hour and get the best we have to offer.  We also offer online payment with major credit cards for your convenience.

Top

How long has the company been in business and will they still be around on the day of your event?

Yes.  Signature Entertainment has been incorporated and in existance for the last 5 years.  Prior to that the majority of DJs working for us have been involved in the entertainment business for at least 10 years and some as long as 20 years.  We have experienced tremendous growth over these 5 years because of the quality and committment we give to our clients.  We are not hobbyists.  We take our business seriously and we know the importance of what your event means to you.  We will be around for many years to come because all of our associates are committed to what they do.

Top

Will your DJs take requests? Will they avoid playing certain songs?

Yes.  When you contract us to do your event, you will have access to our immense online library of music to choose your Priority Requests and Do Not Play requests.  This can be updated right up to the day of your final consultation at your leisure and will be reviewed by you with your event DJ.  At the event your DJ will know what he must play and what he must not play.  If you need help picking songs, our friendly staff is always available to make suggestions. 

Top

Are your DJ's qualified?

Yes.  We are very selective and particular about our DJs.  Our DJs represent our name and we would not settle for anything but the best qualities.  All of our DJs are trained in the Signature method before any of them do an event for us.  Our staff of DJs are comprised of personable, mature, neatly groomed and experienced individuals.  They have done hundreds of events, large and small, and can adapt to the most demanding situations.  Many of them have radio experience and club experience in addition to wedding experience and hold a variety of awards attained through excellence in the field.  We also insure that the DJ at your event is "age appropriate".  Training and techniques are on going in group meetings to insure that you are getting the very latest in entertainment.  They are constantly evaluated at their performances and by online client surveys after each event to insure ongoing quality.

Top

How far should I book in advance?

Most clients book us nine to eighteen months in advance of their event.  Some dates may sell out early due to popularity and surrounding holidays (especially in the summertime).  Here's a good rule to consider.  If your wedding is in the May thru October or the month of December time frame, 12-18 months.  January thru April and November, 6 to 9 months.  When booking novelty dates like 7/7/07, the sooner the better.  The weeks before and after Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, go very fast.  Sometimes 2 years in advance!  Unfortunately, we have a limited number of qualified DJs, so if you are considering Signature Entertainment DJ in Buffalo, Niagara Falls or WNY for your event, call us asap.

Top

Do you work with out of town couples?

Yes.  Believe it or not, about 30% of our weddings are booked by out of town couples coming back to the area for their reception.  Many banquet facilities recommend us to their out of town clients because of our attention to detail, and online interactive planning web page which makes it easy for couples to build their timeline and music requests.  Our friendly staff is available 24/7 to answer emails and phone calls about your event.  Our customer service is second to none.  In 2008 we provided services to couples from Hawaii, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Texas, California, Massachusetts and downstate NY.  We will arrange your face to face final when you are in town even if it's days before the wedding.  Initial consultations can be done by phone if that is more convenient for you.  Remember.... at Signature Entertainment, it really is all about YOU!

Top

Is your music library extensive and diverse?

Yes.  We have thousands upon thousands of songs to complement any event.  Because of our close ties to the music industry nationally, we have the latest music available before it reaches the charts and in a variety of genres.  We also have a library of tunes that stretches from the 40's to todays hottest hits.  We own all the cds that we use for our digital systems and they are converted to mp3s at the highest sound quality.  We believe it is unethical to download songs from online sources for commercial use.  We also believe that there is a definite quality issue with downloaded songs that you should be aware of.  In the unlikely event that you have a particular "special song" that we don't have we will accept an original copy from you prior to the event so that we can check it out and play it the night of the event.  This is a very rare occurrence.

Top

Do you have backup in the event of failure?

Yes.  All of our equipment is backed up, but more importantly, it is thoroughly checked out when arriving at the event.  Whenever possible, depending on the facility, the equipment for your event will be set up earlier in the day.  And at Signature Entertainment, we go one step further than most.... we have back up DJs ready in the unlikely event that your DJ is unable to perform due to sudden illness or those little things that happen in life when you least expect them.  You don't get coverage like this from independents and hobbyists.  We know how important this event is to you and provide contingencies to make sure it is executed to perfection.

Top

Does your company accept credit cards?

Yes.  We accept VISA, Mastercard and American Express credit cards for your convenience and you can pay online securely through our website.  You can pay as you go and credit cards are a great way to accumulate points towards air travel for your honeymoon or other perks.  Call us for more details.

Top

Does your company provide an interactive website?

Yes.  Our clients have the ability to layout the specifics of their event and select their favorite songs online at their leisure up to two weeks before their event.  As far as we know, we are the only company to offer this service in the Buffalo area and our clients love it.

Top

Am I getting real value for my dollar?

Yes.  We believe we have a very low price for the quality and services we provide.  We think it's a real value when you look at all you get for your dollar.  Two face to face consultations, interactive website, mature and highly skilled DJs, 24/7 customer service, insurance, backup and the list goes on and on.  All for one great price.  We have a minimal amount of add-ons pertaining to long distance travel and special equipment requirments.  That means no setup fees, no tuxedo fees and a lot of other add-ons our competitors use to pump up their selling price.

Furthermore we do not believe in "package selling" so we won't try to sell up.  We also don't believe in discounts except for off season events pertaining to weddings.  So we won't quote you an inflated price and then offer you a discount. Simply stated you basically pay for the number of hours you desire and get it all. 

Top

Will I have a signed contract?

Yes.  If you decide to book with Signature Entertainment, you will get a legal contract to sign that effectively protects you against any defaults in our agreement.  This contract will be presented to you at your initial consultation for your review.  Signature guarantees to hold your date for 14 days from the date of the contract, pending your signed return of the contract and a deposit of 20% of the contract price.

Top

Why are some companies cheaper than others?

First of all and probably most important, good talent isn't cheap!  Experienced DJ's get more for their events and so do you.  Experience really does make a difference.  Secondly, cheaper companies tend to be run out of their pocket with no support staff.  This usually makes them hard to reach and quite frankly they just don't have the time to spend with you.  The cheaper the price, the more likely the DJ is a part-timer or hobbyist.  And lastly, good equipment is expensive, but you get what you pay for.  It's less likely to breakdown and certainly you will be able to tell the difference in quality.  And don't overlook other things like the music source, (obtained through places like Limewire, does not pass the quality test), insurance, appearance and many other little things that go into a reputable business.

Top