Frequently Asked Questions
Is my deposit refundable? No. Deposits are non-refundable in most cases. Your deposit is made as a statement of your intent to fulfill the contract. When your deposit is made, we will have your system reserved for you. No further reservations can be made that would cause over-booking. Your contract and deposit is our binding agreement that we will provide the service requested and not back out of or resell your contract. We have in rare instances refunded a deposit. You can always ask, but you will probably be denied. :-) A cancelled contract to us is a lost opportunity to do business, so we do take our contracts very seriously.
Is there an additional charge for transportation? Yes. We charge transportation on each system, per mile, one-way from Brookings. You will be responsible for those charges that are clearly identified on your contract. (i.e. transportation to Sioux Falls for the Black Tie System is 55 miles x .35 = $19.25)
Are there any other charges besides the system prices listed? There may be. We do charge transportation and Sales Tax (6%). Occasionally a customer may have special needs that will incur an additional charge, such as steps to load in on, attended dinner music, early setup, wireless mic rental, etc. We will let you know if any additional charges will apply. There are no additional charges for setup--that is included in the system price.
Is there a limit to the length of the dance? All of our system prices are for up to a 4 hour dance (except Karaoke only, which is 3 hours). Overtime is usually available, however, we do request to know in advance if you might want additional time. Unless requested in advance, it is the entertainers discretion to play additional time, as their schedule for the weekend might already involve a lot of travel time, etc. If you contract overtime, it will be provided and you will be responsible for paying for it. If you notify us that you might want overtime, the entertainer will be aware of it, your request will be noted on your contract, and your entertainer will play the additional upon request and payment. If a spontaneous decision is made at your event that you'd like to continue, it is then the discretion of the entertainer to continue. The same overtime rates apply, but the entertainer is not obligated to the additional time.
How much does overtime cost? Overtime charges vary per system, and based on the 1/2 hour. Overtime for Holidays may be higher and will be noted as such on your entertainment agreement. Overtime for the Black Tie System is $25 per 1/2 hour, the Premier System is $50 per 1/2 hour. The Premier VideoDance or VideoDance System is $100 per 1/2 hour. Overtime for the Ultimate VideoDance System is firmly set at $150 per 1/2 hour. Overtime rates are set to ensure that our entertainers are appropriately compensated for their long days' work. Please realize your entertainer has been working since he/she left Brookings for your event, and will not be done until the system is packed up and driven home. A typical day for an entertainer doing a Black Tie System in Sioux Falls will involve at least 9 hours of work, often much more. A typical day for the entertainers working an Ultimate VideoDance System will be at least 14 hours of hard work plus any driving to and from the event. While long days are common, we do expect to compensate our employees for those efforts.
Will the DJ setup prior to my dinner or reception? Depending on your schedule, it is often possible for the entertainer to setup prior to your reception. We do prefer to setup prior to any guests arriving. There is typically no charge to setup to your reception A very early setup may incur a small fee, which we will openly discuss and make you aware of. Exceptionally early setup does drastically extend our DJ's day, and we will compensate them for the additional time. We want to make sure your DJ is not worn out before your event starts! We do careful scheduling to make sure we set up at an appropriate and convenient time.
Will the entertainer be present during my dinner or reception? The entertainer is not required to attend the system during a dinner or reception unless requested to do so in advance. There is an additional charge (overtime) for the DJ to work above and beyond the scheduled 4 hour dance. Your entertainer is contracted to be ready to start at your scheduled time and end at your scheduled time. We may schedule setup prior to the reception, however, that does not provide for music or entertainment during that time. Your DJ will be present and ready to start at your contracted time. Often unattended dinner music can be provided at no charge (on request). Occasionally the system time schedule of 4 hours will include the reception or part of it, and a shorter dance. The 4 hours included can be any style of entertainment you would like. If you would prefer a shorter dance time and an attended reception where the DJ can make announcements or introductions, that is fine.
Can I bring some of my own music? Sure. We will play any of your requests. If you have music that is unusual or would like a style we do not offer a big selection of (international for example) we welcome your additions. We do provide fairly extensive music libraries, and can provide a selection from most genres, however, so it is not usually necessary or required. We will not necessarily play music brought in by anyone other than our customer directly--that will only be played as appropriate at the discretion of the entertainer. At youth events, the music played will be appropriate for the audience--edited or chosen discriminately and to the satisfaction of the sponsors.
Can I provide a list of favorite songs? You are welcome to make a list of some of your favorites. We do carry quite a variety of music, and do also take requests from your guests. Please realize that a list of 10-20 songs gives the entertainer a great idea of your music tastes. Our DJ's are very good at choosing songs to match your musical tastes, and that is part of the service you are hiring. Since we will only be able to play 50-60 songs in a 4 hour time period, an extensive list is usually not necessary. Conversely, you are welcome to note any songs you do NOT want played as well.
Is it common or necessary to tip my DJ? If so, how much? It is not uncommon to tip any service provider (caterer, florist, photographer, DJ) for exceptional service. You are not required to tip your entertainer, nor will you ever be asked for a tip. We believe that a tip should only be offered for exceptional service; the way it was originally intended! If you feel your entertainer performed above and beyond your expectations, then by all means feel free to offer a tip. A tip to your entertainer goes solely and directly to him/her. No proceeds will go to the company. There is no standard for tipping service professionals. In the entertainment business, typical gratuities will range from $10 to over $150 for a single entertainer. Any amount is appreciated as it is paid directly to the entertainer(s). If you choose to tip, do according to the service you received and as your budget allows.
Feel free to call 888-999-6335 or email any additional questions you might have!