FUTURESCAPES ENTERTAINMENT

Q.  Who will be my DJ when I hire Futurescapes?

A.  DJ Chris is the owner of Futurescapes Entertainment.  Chris is always in charge of your event and will usually bring extra help.  Chris is 34 years old and has been entertaining for 14 years now.  The company and it's reputation mean a lot to Chris, so you can rest assured that we will put as much effort into making your event a success as if it were for our own families.  It is this level of personal attention that sets us apart from other local DJ companies. 

Q.  What type of music will you play at my event?

A.  We will play whatever type of music you and your guests want.  Our music library is very broad.  It is our primary goal to keep your guests happy and dancing.  Music is my favorite hobby and that is why I enjoy my job.  Genres include Dance, Top 40, Pop, Hiphop, R&B, Rock, Alternative, Swing, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, Disco, Funk, Reggae, Classical, Jazz, Blues, Easy Listening, Latin, Soft Rock, Country, Irish Folk, and others... If you think we do not have a song, tell us what it is and we will get it. 

Q.  What will you wear to my event?

A.  We will wear whatever is most appropriate.  For most events we wear a very nice suit with a black tie. If your event is less formal or casual, we will come dressed appropriately. 

Q.  My venue coordinator gave me list of preferred vendors and DJ's...  why should I hire you and not them?

A.  Most venues keep a list of preferred vendors because they have a lot of prior experience with those vendors.  These vendors work there very often and are very familiar with the facility.  However, these lists are free advertising for DJ's.  They do not have to work to obtain your business and therefore may charge you more.  It is not uncommon for one of these companies to charge you $1000 or more for the same level of service that we can guarantee you will recieve from Futurescapes.  Furthermore, it is very likely that the other DJ company will send out a hired novice DJ.  When you hire Futurescapes you will get a DJ with a personal investment in the company.  We want your guests to be so impressed with our service that they will hire us for other events.  More for less... that's why you should call us before the DJ's on your venue's "list".

Q.  Where does your music come from?

A.  We do not use Limewire or any other filesharing program to illegally download music.  Our music collection comes from a variety of legitimate legal sources and has never been copied or pirated.  We buy CD's.  We often use iTunes and also subscribe to Promo Only which is a music source available to DJ's.  Our digital files are uploaded at the highest quality possible.  We use Traktor and VDJ computer software and Denon CD players with realistic turntable control.  Today's digital tools give us many impressive control options.

Q.  How much time do you need to set up?

A.  We like to arrive at least an hour and a half early in order to set up and sound check.  If we bring lighting or do ceremony sound, we will need to be two or three hours early to set up.  We do not charge extra for setup time, it is built in to your quote.

Q.  How much space does the DJ require?

A.  If we provide a full lighting truss, the DJ requires a 12 foot x 6 foot setup area.  If space is limited, we can downsize, but lights or sound amplification equipment may need to be reduced.

Q.  Do you take requests?

A.  We will certainly take requests unless you specifically wish that we do not.  We always try to stick to the theme however.  We will not play a heavy metal song in the middle of your wedding reception just because your Cousin Eddie requested it.  We will not play any music with explicit lyrics unless you specifically want that.  We have many "radio edits" of popular songs, so yes, we can play that 50 Cent song and still keep it clean!

Q.  Do you require a meal?

A.  We are not guests at your Wedding or Party.  We are working.  We do not expect a meal.  We eat before work, and do not require a meal unless we are working for more than 8 hours straight.  Paying for another meal is just an expense you should not need to foot. 

Q.  Do I need to tip the DJ?

A.  Tips are not expected or required.  Please do not feel obligated to tip.  If you feel we did an exceptional job, you are welcome to tip... but planning a wedding or other event is very expesive, and we understand this.  The best tip you can give to us is a referral.  Please tell your friends and family what a great job we did at your event!  We will be glad to give you a $25 discount for each referral that results in a booking. 

Q.  What do you do if a piece of equipment fails?

A.  We have redundancy built in to the set up and we also have back up equipment.  A DJ's worst fear is the sound of "dead air".  Problems happen all the time for DJ's... whether it be a blown speaker, a CD skipping, or a computer crash...  but with me, you would never know.  We are always prepared with a back up solution.

Q.  What is the American Disc Jockey Association?

The ADJA is professional organization that provides a code of conduct for DJ's.  ADJA code of Professional Conduct.
The ADJA also provides many resources for DJ's.  We pay monthly dues to be a part of this organization.

Q.  Do you have insurance?

A.  Yes.  We carry liability and equipment insurance.  We are covered for up to $2 million dollars in liability insurance which covers property damages and personal injuries.

Q.  Why is it important to be insured?

A.  Accidents happen.  Heavy 100 lb speakers can get knocked over by a guest who's had too much to drink.  Injuries could result.  Insurance protects you, your guests, the venue, and myself from claims and lawsuits.  Most professional banquet halls require all of their vendors to be insured to protect them.  Do not take a chance by hiring a DJ who does not have insurance.  Insurance also protects you and your guests from damages to my equipment.  We will be bringing equipment to your event with a value of over $10,000.  If a drink gets spilled onto my mixer, we will make a claim to the insurance company, we will not try to hold you responsible.  How's that for peace of mind?

Q.  Do you use professional equipment?

A.  All of our equipment is new, maintained, and of professional quality.  The equipment we use is of higher quality than most mobile DJ's use.  We want to have the best possible sound and the most reliable equipment.  Our equipment is cased and protected.  JBL, QSC, Denon, Yamaha, and Shure are all brands that we use.

Q.  Do you provide a written contract?

A.  Absolutely.  With this contract in hand you can sleep at night knowing that you have booked the area's best DJ's for your event.  You can now stop worrying about the entertainment and focus on the food, drink, flowers, photos, etc...  Good Luck with all your planning.  Your hard work will be rewarded with a wonderful and unforgettable evening.

Q.  Why are DJ's so expensive? 

A.  Real professional DJ's have a lot of overhead.  When you hire us, you are getting: a sound and lighting system worth well over $10,000, a music library with an estimated value of about $15,000, personal consultations to plan your event, many hours worth of music planning and preparation, hours worth of set up and take down, a real company with real operating expenses,  insurance coverage, and the most personable and lively DJ's around.

Q.  Why do I even need a DJ, why can't I just use my iPod?

A.  As is often the case in society, some things or ideas become trendy with little thought to practical implementation. A few years ago, it was the idea of a "sponsored wedding" that somehow everyone would want to donate their services to you in the hopes of getting business from others. Sounds like a good idea, but never really took off because all the vendors realized that a sponsored wedding only generated more requests for sponsored weddings, not more business for them. So people that overspent on some items counting on the reception being paid for by others soon were in trouble as their budget was gone and they were still missing major parts of their event program.

Today, the trendy topic is DIY receptions by using an ipod and a rented sound system instead of a professional wedding entertainer, the DJ. This idea is fraught with peril, because a great event is more than simply gear and music. It is the talent that a qualified professional brings to the event that matters most. It is what allows for a smooth flow to the event, with no embarrassing surprises. A Professional DJ from the ADJA provides you with confidence that your event will flow smoothly and will be an event that you, your family and guests will never forget, instead of one they would like to.  Click here to see what happens when you use your iPod for a wedding.