Before We Meet

Before Our Visit – Please visit our web site and spend some time getting to know how we do what we do. Watch our video clips. Read our reviews. If you’d like to see us at a live performance, or get a personal demonstration of our sound and lighting options, just let me know.

You’ll Be Doing Most of the Talking – This is not a meeting where you’ll ask all the stale old questions like, “What makes your DJ company different from the others?” Hopefully our web site will make that obvious. The purpose of this meeting is for me to get to know how your event is different from any other, and how we can help make your event “totally you,” and not just a generic cookie-cutter reception. For the best results, have a clear idea how you want your party to go, then schedule our visit. Remember, if you don’t have a goal, you won’t know when you’ve scored.

Who’s Making the Decision? – If you’re getting married, both you and your fiancée should visit our web site before we meet. That way, you’ll have a lot of excellent information, and perhaps some new questions to ask us. And you’ll both be in a better position to make your hiring decision if you like what you hear.

The Final Step – Our visit is ideally the final step in your decision-making process, not the first step. Once you’re armed with all the facts from our web site, the meeting will give us a chance to know each other on a personal level, and see whether it “feels right” for both of us.

Start by printing this page, and writing down your answers to these questions:

• What things have you seen/heard DJs do at parties/weddings that you liked?
• What didn’t you like?
• What are your concerns/fears about your wedding? What potential problems worry you most? This is important, because we have a wealth of industry resources who can help you insure yourself against wedding disasters, and we’re happy to share them with you.
• What types of music do you enjoy?
• Do your guests share your musical tastes, or will they also like other kinds of music?
• Do you want us to accept requests from your guests?
• Are there special announcements you’d like us to make, or special people you’d like us to recognize? Will there be “special” things happening (like a favorite uncle singing a song he sings at every family function, or a special dance or song that you and your college friends will want to perform)?
• What type of lighting would you like, to dress up your banquet room and add atmosphere and excitement?
• What absolutely has to happen at your party for you to know it was a big success? Spend some time thinking about this one, because you need to be clear about your vision and your objectives for your celebration. The better you can communicate your dream, the more we can do to help you achieve it.

It’s important to have clear goals for your big night, because our recommendations for your DJ entertainment will be based upon which of our packages will best serve your needs, wishes and budget.

Enhancements to Consider

Here are some great options we offer to complete your evening. Please feel free to ask about any of them:

• Elegant uplighting
• Monogram lighting (your name in lights)
• “Night of a Million Stars” atmospheric lighting
• Photo booth

What to Bring

Since you may be deciding to hire us during our visit, bring your checkbook. We require only a $100 initial investment to confirm an engagement.

Our Office

If we’ve scheduled a visit, I’ve already given you our address. But keep my phone number handy – (630) 654-4440 in case you get lost, or you’re running late.

You’ll notice when you arrive that we are based in a private home. Most DJ companies are. A home setting allows for a relaxed atmosphere and a more personal visit. That’s why you never see a “DJ store” at the mall. We served about 350 clients last year. That’s about one new client per day. It is simply not cost-efficient to maintain a full store or office, pay rent, utilities and insurance, and staff it 8 to 12 hours a day, to book just one event. Companies with dedicated offices charge hundreds of dollars more per event to recoup their costs; and it adds nothing to the quality of their performance.

We Can Help with the Rest of Your Planning

If you’re still shopping for these services, ask me about them. I can help:

• Wedding photography
• Wedding videography
• Video production (animated slide show)
• Dance instruction
• Catering
• Florals
• Day-of Wedding Planner

That about covers it. I look forward to visiting with you. If you have any questions prior to our visit, just give me a call. Thank you.

– Jay Congdon, President, Fourth Estate Audio