Trusted. Personal. Loved.

HOW DO I DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DJ SERVICES?

The DJ is the glue that holds your celebration together, so making a well-informed decision is key. That said, choosing a DJ service can be confusing and overwhelming. How do you decide which DJ to hire? How do you make a decision about price and quality? How do you determine which company will truly provide service that ensures that you and your guests are the focus of your celebration?

Figuring it all out is not as hard as you might think. The DJ industry pretty  much falls into two types of services. Although they come in all shapes  and sizes, there are some general reoccurring themes within the two  categories.

Type One companies view their DJs as entertainers. These DJs perform best when they are the center of attention. Props, games, line dances and  lots of interaction on the microphone.

Type Two companies view the DJs as facilitators of music, announcements and events. Attention is focused on the clients, the guests and the music being played. The DJ’s interaction on the microphone is most often reserved for coordinating events and making formal announcements.

We fall in the Type Two category.

WHAT OTHER KEY DIFFERENTIATORS SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

After figuring out what style of DJ you prefer, it really comes down to two things: Resources and Value.

Resources: Once you have made your initial deposit, we will provide you with all the right tools and information that you will need to help communicate what your music and event expectations are. The truth is that most DJ companies don’t know how to ask the right questions, and that often leaves the DJ uninformed and unable to deliver a quality experience.

Our resources are designed to make sure your  event is just the way you want it, with no unpleasant surprises.

Value: Value is determined by a core mix of metrics: professionalism, ease of communication, response times, online resources, flexibility, equipment, time at event and price. The ultimate question for you is: What sort of  value can the DJ company provide to your wedding?

Our all-inclusive flat rate package has everything you want and need at an  unbeatable price. Our value is unparalleled on Long Island, which is one of the many reasons we have been and continue to be a leader in the  industry. However, if you find the same quality of service for less than we offer, we will be happy to price match any competitors’ package. 

 HOW DO I EVALUATE EQUIPMENT?

When you compare DJ services side by side it seems as though each one boasts that they have the best sound and light equipment. Many companies go to great lengths to tell you why their equipment is better. Let’s pause for a second and consider this important question: What role does equipment play at your reception?

Well obviously, without equipment, you would not have the means to play the music or set the mood. However, the equipment by itself is of little  value to you if there isn’t a trained individual operating the controls.  Equipment is only one piece of the puzzle.

Since each DJ company makes its own choice concerning equipment, the  next question you should ask yourself is: What influences their  decisions? How do they decide between the myriad of lighting effects,  amps, watts, and speakers? We take a comprehensive approach that  addresses two imperative issues: Quality and Space.

Quality: Does the sound and light system provide quality sound and proper lighting?

Space: Does the sound and light system limit its invasiveness? The equipment should not detract from your event site’s ambiance.

If you feel overwhelmed with the equipment issue, take a moment to put it  into perspective. Thinking about it in these terms may be helpful:

When you go to a job interview, does an employer doesn't ask you about all the features of your car. The employer is thinking about the value you  can bring to the company. It is assumed that you have a reliable method  of transportation to get to work.

Just like getting to work is your responsibility, DJ equipment is ours.  Professional and up-to-date equipment should be a necessity to be in  business, not a key point of differentiation. We have a professional sound and light system that is right for you and your site.

WHAT IF WE WANT A SONG THAT IS NOT ON YOUR LIBRARY?

With over 30,000+ songs and constantly growing, our music library is quite extensive. However, if we don’t have a song/s you would like, just add the song name and artist to the Supplementary Song section of your DJ profile and we will get it for you. 

CAN WE BRING OUR OWN MUSIC?

Yes, absolutely! Our DJ systems are set up with our state-of-the-art. Feel free to provide music and your DJ will play it.

HOW MUCH MUSIC CAN WE PLAY IN AN EVENING?

A typical four hour dance allows for approximately 50-60 songs. On average, wedding guests make between 20-30 requests.

 CAN YOU PROVIDE MUSIC DURING THE CEREMONY?

We do provide ceremony coverage for an additional charge. Contact us for pricing.

HOW DO I ACCESS THE SONG LIST AND PROFILE?

You can access the song list online through your smartphone or computer. Your personal play lists and profiles can be accessed through our music request app.

HAVE YOU PERFORMED AT MY VENUE?

The answer is probably yes. We have performed at virtually every venue on Long Island, as well as some venues in New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Feel free to contact us to find out the last time we performed at your site.

HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE YOUR DJS HAVE?

Our DJs vary in their years with Drive Up DJ's, but all have one important  thing in common: they produce great events! We proactively seek out only personable, professional, and hard-working individuals with a love of music to join our team. We believe that many of the skills required to be a good DJ can be taught, but integrity, personality, and character are inherent. To make sure that our new DJs develop all these important aspects of service, they participate in our DJ Mentor Program, which combine classroom learning and on-the-job training.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHO OUR DJ WILL BE?

We take pride in our ability to match the right Associate DJ to your event. We use several criteria in making the selection including, but not limited to: your personality, song list, and event site.

CAN WE GO TO A WEDDING WHERE YOUR DJS ARE PERFORMING?

Drive Up DJ's respects the privacy of all our clients; therefore, we do not allow clients to attend events to view our services. After all, would you want a complete stranger at your wedding distracting your DJ with questions?  We believe that our focus should be on the wedding couple and their guests, not on selling our services to other brides and grooms.

WHAT HAPPENS IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?

As with all of our services, we have a reserve DJ on call in case an  emergency arises, giving you peace of mind. And in addition to reserve  DJs, we also have a weekend manager and an on-call technician to handle any other situation that might arise.

WHAT IF WE DON'T GET THE RIGHT VIBE FROM OUR DJ WHEN WE SPEAK WITH HIM/HER?

After the phone consultation, should you not be satisfied with the DJ  selected, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately and we will match you with another DJ.

WHEN WILL WE HEAR FROM OUR DJ?

Your DJ will call you the Monday or Tuesday of the week of your wedding to finalize all the details. 

CAN WE PLUG INTO YOUR SYSTEM FOR OUR SLIDESHOW OR LIVE MUSICIANS?

Yes, your DJ will be happy to discuss your specific needs in detail during your phone or in-person consultation.

DOES THE DJ BRING EQUIPMENT (AMPS, MICROPHONE, ETC...), OR DO WE/OUR RECEPTIONS SITE NEED TO SUPPLY IT?

We bring all the sound and light equipment needed for your event.

DO YOU HAVE AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT WE CAN RENT FOR THE CEREMONY AND/OR RECEPTION?

We have limited equipment that can be rented directly through us. Multiple microphones or extensive A/V needs should be handled by an A/V company and technician. Contact us for more information.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT BREAKS AT THE SHOW?

We have backup equipment and a backup technician scheduled on the day of your wedding should any problems arise. Typically, power cords are the most common things to break down so our DJs always carry multiple spare XLR and power cords for a very quick repair. They also  carry screwdrivers in the event that a screw needs to be tightened or  replaced on a stand or a speaker. Drive Up DJs are trained to handle  equipment issues on site and can engage in short term alternative  solutions if needed until the replacement part is delivered. Should  a speaker or another major piece of equipment fail, the on-call  technician would replace the broken part. This is an extremely rare occurrence.

HOW MUCH ROOM WILL THE DJ NEED? DO I NEED TO PROVIDE A TABLE?

Our DJ system is versatile enough for any space, large or small. Your DJ  will need a 6’ or 8’ space for the speakers and lights.