Randal Stout Entertainment

Don’t know what to ask whenever you’re looking for a disc jockey?  These will help, or at least let you know what the bare minimum of service should be…

You don’t play all those cheesy songs, do you?

Bite your tongue.  The majority of the time I spend in getting to know my clients is knowing their tastes, understanding the atmosphere they wish to create at their party and being able to have the music that is played reflect their personalities.

If you show up for work unprepared, you’re flying by the seat of your pants.  I’ve seen the DJ that plays something cheesy or worse yet, something inappropriate at a formal event.  Why did they do it?  They didn’t know you well enough to make sure it doesn’t happen.  That is why I spend so much time with my clients.

This other guy says he offers all the same services that you do for half the price.

First of all, for the level of service that I provide, you will not find a better deal.

Now that being said, let me explain it.  The Academy Awards were hosted for several years by Billy Crystal.  He is an excellent Master of Ceremonies:  he kept the evening flowing smoothly, he speaks very well in front of an audience, his humor transcends all age groups, basically nothing less than the best.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t have hired him, right?  The next year, David Letterman was given a shot.  You either love David Letterman or you hate David Letterman.  Unfortunately, he is not as versatile a speaker as Billy Crystal.  Letterman’s comedic timing was off, his jokes that work well late at night fell flat on the prime-time crowd, et al.  Can you guess who wasn’t asked back?

I’m in a unique position.  I get to see how much people learn about weddings as they go through the planning process.  In the beginning, you’re taking it all in.  A person will hire me based upon my personality, but it still hasn’t been made clear to them 100% why they hired me instead of someone else.  As the planning goes on and we get to know each other, it becomes clear.  They know in their hearts that with the level of attention and planning that we do that they are going to have a great time at their reception.  Then their wedding day comes and when they see all of their guests having the time of their life, they realize that spending a little more was the best thing that they could have done.

When I show you my “report cards”, you’ll understand everything I just said.  Or better yet, when you fill out the report card on me, you’ll believe everything I just said. 

If I book your services, are you the disc jockey that will be at my event?

Many companies are multi-system operators and hire people to do their parties.  These can either employees or the events can be sub-contracted to other disc jockeys.  Nothing is wrong with either of these if you know about it up front. The number one complaint about the disc jockey industry is that the person that the client hired at the meeting is not the person who showed up at their party. Events such as a wedding are so personal that you want to build a relationship with your wedding vendors.

I have taken the approach that if I charge a fair price for my services, there is no need for me to book other people.  If the date you are looking to book is unavailable, I will help you find other professional disc jockeys in the area that are true professionals and who feel the same way.

I will be the person at your event.  It is guaranteed in my contract.

Is the price too good to be true?

Sadly, the disc jockey is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a venue, food and all of the other things that go into making a wedding beautiful. This often leads brides and party planners to shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources. This often backfires when you hire a disc jockey who will offer you a very low price. If you follow the guiding principals noted here, you will know to avoid services that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level of quality and attention to detail that every client deserves!

How many times have you gone into a store and seen the sign that says “cheap service isn’t good and good service isn’t cheap.”  Unfortunately, it’s true.  A professional disc jockey charges a professional price.

Will the disc jockey you hire meet with you to help you plan your event/reception?

Does the company seem more interested in contracts and money than honestly wishing to help you plan your event?  Many shows require several meetings to plan.  How much help are they offering?  Is the person who is helping you plan the person the actual disc jockey that is going to be at your event?  What might happen in the translation?

Let’s face it, it takes a lot of time and effort to plan a wedding reception or a Bar Mitzvah.  I meet with clients on a regular basis offering suggestions on how their event can flow.  Together we work out an itinerary for the evening from start to finish and nothing is left to chance. 

Is this your full-time career or a part-time hobby?

Ask yourself, what’s the difference between someone who does this full-time vs. part-time:  Are they good enough to make a full-time income?  Do they take all of their shows with as much seriousness as someone who is able to devote a full week of time to the preparation of my event?  If they decide they want to go on vacation after they have agreed to do my event, what happens?  How soon will they be able to return a phone call to me if they are working a 40 hour job elsewhere?

For me personally, while getting started in this business it was a part-time career.  For the past seven years it has become my full-time income.  My office is open 10am to 6pm Monday through Friday, and clients are able to contact me via cell phone whenever it is needed.

Do you use a written contract?

Never do business with a wedding vendor or party vendor that does not use contracts.   Contracts are made to protect both the consumer and the vendor.  Make sure the contract provides you with equal protection.  A one-sided contract makes you feel like someone is hiding something.

I’ve never done a show without a contract and will not do a show without a contract.  My contract offers equal protection for the client and myself.

Do you have references?

I ask each of my clients after their event if I may use them as a reference.  They are added to my recent reference list for approximately one year.  This list along with my show evaluation forms are copied and presented to every single client.

Call them.  That’s why I give them to you.  Call them even if you just want to feel good about the decision you’ve already made to use my services.

Do you use professional sound equipment?

The term professional equipment is very subjective, but use this as a guideline:  if the person uses anything that can be purchased from Best Buy, Circuit City, Ultimate Electronics or Radio Shack, chances are it’s not professional equipment.

What if something goes wrong?  Do you have backup equipment?

Many professional organizations such as the American Disc Jockey Association require that a disc jockey have backup equipment.

Some companies have an emergency person that they can contact if there is a problem with their sound system.  The only problem with this is:  how far away are they from the venue?  What if your event is far away from town?

Between the equipment that I bring into the venue and my truck outside, there is always enough equipment for two complete sound systems (two mixers, two amplifiers, four speakers, four CD players).

Are you insured?

What’s the worst possible scenario at a party?  Who knows, but that’s why we have insurance.  I carry commercial general liability insurance to protect your guests from such things.