It's natural to be nervous or even a little scared when organizing your event, especially if you're doing this for the first time.  Unfortunately, some companies try to use your fear to their advantage.  Here's how to be wise to scare tactics.  Be warned, this page contains truth - you might be surprised!

First, the scare tactics, how to recognize them, and what really happens.

Tactic #1:  Your event will be shut down and/or your party will end in ruin! (For whatever reason)

We've all seen the sites that strongly warn us to "do something or your party could be shut down."  To clarify, only a police officer or sheriff can arbitrarily stop your event.  Valid and legal reasons include:

• Breach of liquor license laws (ie: selling liquor to minors, over occupancy of facility).
• Illegal activity (ie: trafficking and use of banned substances [drugs] or rampant violations of the criminal code).
• Enforcement of a court order to stop the event or something at the event.

Any person, regardless of their title or position within any company, (like security personnel) can not terminate your event.  Only a sheriff with a court order can.  Remember that courts are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours, not Friday & Saturday nights.

If anyone else claims they can terminate your event, simply ask them to leave before you charge them with trespassing.  When you rent a facility, it is your decision who gets to stay and who has to leave for the length of your "lease."  It's not a public place.

Tactic #2:  Watch out for disc jockeys that use burned CDs and/or MP3s.

In Canada, the AVLA (Audio Video Licensing Agency licenses recorded music to entertainment professionals.  Licenses are available that allow individuals to copy music onto a variety of mediums, so "watching out" really means "look out for unlicensed music."  Obviously it isn't proper for a dj that doesn't pay for any of his/her music to charge you to play it.

Despite what dj web sites say, AVLA inspectors are not police, and can not legally force anyone to shut an event down without meeting the requirements in Tactic #1.  If their inspectors find a violating dj, they usually threaten him or her with lawsuits and such, which can certainly put your hired dj in a foul mood for your event!  If you would like to read for yourself, visit their website.

When booking your dj, it's a good idea to ask about licensed music.  Just in case you were wondering - yes, the music I bring to your event on the computer has been purchased - nothing is downloaded nor burned, and dj Robby D Entertainment is AVLA licensed.

Tactic #3:  You get what you pay for - spend a lot of money or your party will "suck!"

Consider that some companies charge higher prices because they have to recover the costs of:

• Large ads in the yellow pages phone book
• Bridal show fees: the booth, signage, salesperson labour, and promotional material (remember the flashier the brochure, the more money it costs to print).
• Rent for an office or commercial business space.
• Time spent meeting people for "free" consultations.

These are all normal business expenses and costs.  You can decide whether you want to pay for them or not by choosing your entertainment service wisely.

"Packages" and extras...
Just like combos at fast food restaurants, some dj companies use a similar approach to entertainment packages which results in both you and them "getting more."  For example, most companies offer wedding "packages" that include music from 6:00 - 1:00, lighting effects, a fog machine, wireless microphone, a consultation, various equipment, and more.  You may or may not want all that is included with these packages.  You should only have to buy what you want, nothing more.

Companies that employ disc jockeys...
Remember that companies that employ disc jockeys (and especially hall dj services) take a fee for the booking.  Amounts vary, but are usually around half the amount with some being less and some being more.  Remember the more the company takes out of the booking when they employ dj's that own their own equipment and music, the less there is for the dj to maintain his or her business, which affects the level of service.

Legitimate:  Get a dj that uses commercial-grade equipment.

I was once at a wedding where the dj used his home RCA DVD player and a CD walkman to play music.  In fact, he had the remote in front of the DVD player because it didn't have a play button on the front.  What's worse, he had a home stereo amplifier running his two speakers.  I asked him why he had the big black fan on top of the home amp, and he said if he didn't, it would overheat and shut off, never to turn back on until 30 minutes later when it had cooled.  Of course it would!  Here's why:

• Home equipment is not meant to run at a high capacity/volume for more than a few minutes.  When you watch a movie, the loud parts only last a short time before things get quiet and your stereo and speakers can cool off.  Shorter peak usage times mean less expensive components and parts can be used, saving the buyer money.
• Commercial amps and speakers cost many times more than home gear, and they're made to run at full capacity for many hours before they break a sweat.  That means it takes a lot more to "blow" a commercial system than it does to fry a home system.  It's not a scare tactic, but there's not much anyone can do if a home amp gets too hot and smoke rolls out of the top, or a home speaker gets "blown" and stops making noise.  What can the dj do?  Run home and get his other pair of speakers?  ;)

Legitimate:  Have a signed contract with your disc jockey.

Very important - in the case where you are paying for a service, you want to ensure you get it.  I get too many calls from frantic people crying their "dj bailed out at the last minute" and they need someone right away "for this weekend."  Don't give anyone a deposit unless you have a signed contract that ensures he or she will arrive and perform as requested, or at the very least, a receipt which clearly notes what the money is for.

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