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Pricing & Fees

What are the prices? I find it annoying when I find something on the internet and I have to call or e-mail for a price? So I have posted our prices here for you. We are not afraid of what our prices are or scared other DJ's will see our prices. We want you to be able to compare everything we offer, this includes the price.
One of the first questions to ask yourself is what is the key factor in choosing your DJ? If it is price, then you know what you are evaluating each DJ on. If you are simply looking for someone to play background music, and you don’t imagine music being an integral part of your reception or event, then “any” DJ might be able to fill that expectation. However, if it is value, service, quality, experience, and peace of mind that your event will happen the way you want, then price should not be the determining factor.
Ask your friends who are not getting married the following questions:

 • What did you have for supper at the last wedding reception you attended?
• What did the cake look like?
• What did the table decorations look like?
• How long did you stay at the reception?
• What was the entertainment like?

The answers you get might surprise you. Most everyone can tell you what the entertainment was like. Why, because music makes a lasting impression. Music moves people. Poor music and programming can move people to leave. The right mix of music can keep people on the dance floor – all night.

What value are you putting on the success of your event? And, where are you putting that value? Do you trust that an appetizer platter or ice sculpture or bag of candy for each guest will ensure a successful event? Did you stick around all night because the chicken and green beans was the best you had ever had? Or, did you stick around because the entertainment was fun, enjoyable, and danceable.

Consider how much you are spending on your event. If you had planned on your event lasting until 11pm and everyone leaves by 9pm, will you feel like you have wasted money on the hall and entertainment? Will people leave because of bad entertainment? Yes. Your choice of entertainment is similar to an insurance policy. A good DJ will give you confidence that all of your planning will not go to waste. And, a DJ with experience can also help you plan the reception.

If you spend more money on the cake, or appetizer platter, or candy rather than your entertainment, the result you wanted might be less than you expected. Inanimate objects can't help you plan, read your audience, play the music you want and be interactive. Prices that look too good to be true usually are. Which item has more influence on your event? An appetizer platter, ice sculpture, or bag of candy will only be seen for about an hour. Your DJ will be playing music for the entire event? Don't you deserve the best quality and value for this special day that is once in a lifetime?

All of our prices include the following:

• Experience – over 20 years
• Planning consultations (in person is preferred and recommended, but phone or email works as well)
• Emcee & Announcer for the evening
• Coordination with your event professionals
• Your choice of format and music for your event
• Ability to be flexible to the situation and adapt our services to fit your event

WEDDING RECEPTION - $700.00 to $1200.00

We will set-up prior to your guests arriving. Regardless of what time your guests start arriving at the reception hall, we will start the music of your choice. The music will continue until as late as midnight. No time constraints, no worrying about whether or not you have booked the entertainment for long enough.

WEDDING CEREMONY - $ 250.00

This price applies to a wedding ceremony that is physically located in the same room or building as the reception and does not require any additional set-up or a second sound system. The price includes unlimited pre-seating music, planning and coordination of your wedding with your coordinator and of course, music selection.

WEDDING CEREMONY - $ 400.00

This price applies to a wedding ceremony that is located at a different facility than the reception and requires a second sound system. The price includes unlimited pre-seating music, planning and coordination of your wedding with your coordinator and of course, music selection.

WEDDING REHEARSAL - $ 350.00

These events usually happen on Friday nights prior to the wedding. The rehearsal will be handled with a small system minus the lights, but with enough sound to handle the event and coordinate all parties involved.

HOLIDAY PARTIES (not on the actual holiday) - $ 1000.00

These parties could be anything from a Halloween party to a Christmas party to a St. Pat's party (excluding New Years Eve). Price includes event consultation and planning, wireless microphone if needed, dinner music and dance. The price covers music for the day booked, up until midnight. (Example: if you are planning a Valentines dance, but the event date is not on February 14th, then the price would be $1000.00 for the day)

HOLIDAY PARTIES (on an actual holiday) - $ 1600.00

(Including Labor Day Weekend & Memorial Day weekend)
These parties could be anything from a Halloween party to a Christmas party to a Labor Day Weekend party (excluding New Years Eve). Price includes event consultation and planning, wireless microphone if needed, dinner music and dance. The price covers music for the day booked, up until midnight. (Example: if you are planning a Valentines dance, and the event date is on February 14th, then this event would qualify as a holiday rate. This also includes Labor Day Weekend, and Memorial Day Weekend. The entire weekend for both Labor Day and Memorial Day is considered a holiday)

NEW YEARS EVE - $ 2000.00

This price includes pre-event consultation and planning, dinner music (your choice of formats) and dance and always the countdown. The music doesn’t stop until 1:00 am.

OTHER CHARGES:

TRAVEL: For travel outside of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, the charge will be $75.00 per hour for travel. If the event is more than two hours away and is a very late event, there will also be a charge for a hotel room near the location of your event.

OVERTIME: I won't shut down on the dot of the hour if people are dancing in the middle of a song. We will let you know ahead of time (approximately 30 minutes) of when we will be stopping. If I play over 10 minutes past the agreed upon close time I charge $ 150.00 per half hour. All overtime is billed at $ 150.00 per half hour.

ADDING EXTRA HOURS: You can purchase extra time prior to the event date for $150.00 per hour if you know you want your event to last past midnight.

CONTRACT: A contract puts everything in writing and is a legal binding agreement between two parties. Hiring a DJ without a signed contract leaves you open to all sorts of possible problems.
Every year I receive calls from reception hall managers or brides asking if I can play at their event at the last minute. Sometimes it's a frantic bride calling the day of the event. All because the DJ did not show up and they did not have a signed contract. You should always do business with a DJ that is willing to give you a signed written contract. The DJ should also be willing to meet you in person so you can interview her or him. Avoid doing business with a DJ that doesn't use a contract, or is not willing to clearly explain everything that their service offers. All contracts signed are due with a retainer fee, with the balance due one week prior to the event.

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