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Q?
Are your rates negotiable through price matching or other discounts?
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A.
Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment’s rates are based on our cost of doing business as well as the value of the services we provide. We take all events seriously and attend to each in a professional manner. We are confident you will find our prices to be exceptionally competitive. If you do find a comparable service and package for less cost, we will do our best to match or beat the price. When you book our services, you're not only paying for incredible DJ and Emcee, you're paying for the peace of mind that comes with hiring a professional and experienced event planner with your goals and desires foremost in mind. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Can we choose the music to be played at our event?
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A.
Flexibility is key! Your satisfaction is always Darling Events’ top priority! Keeping the dance floor packed is influenced by many factors, including the order and style in which the songs are played, the way songs are mixed together, and Emcee and DJ interaction ... not just which songs are played. We've had clients that have chosen every song for the entire event and others that have left the music selection completely up to us. Our recommendation is to provide us with a list of "must play" songs and list of "play if possible" songs. This will leave plenty of room for requests from your guests and DJ selections. You may also stipulate that we not take requests from your guests. But have fun and select music you want to hear and dance to. We aim to make everyone happy, but our clients’ wishes come first. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Can we have a “do not play” list?
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A.
Sometimes the “do not play list” is equally important or more important than the request list itself! Rest assured that if a guest requests a song that is on your "do not play" list, it will not be played. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Can we meet the actual DJ before booking?
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A.
This is a very understandable concern. We, too, have heard horror stories from people who went to see a particular DJ OR emcee and then got a completely different and absolutely horrible DJ or emcee for their event. Fortunately, Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment’s team of dedicated professionals have been entertaining since our founding, so you never have to worry about getting "the new guy" or the "DJ in training." Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Do you carry backup equipment?
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A.
Your special event could very well be one of the most memorable days of your life. So Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment must offer you the highest level of dependability. We keep a complement of essential backup equipment on-site at all times for all events. It's kept under the table for quick access. If a component were to fail, it could easily be switched, seamless and unknowing to your guests. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Do you hang any banners or other advertisements?
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A.
Absolutely not. Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment prides itself on being elegant and professional at all times. The extent of our "advertising" is an unobtrusive stack of business cards next to our equipment so guests can easily take a card without interrupting the DJ or your event. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Do you have a video or can we come view a live event?
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A.
Studio-edited video demos can make anything look appealing! We believe the only way a prospective client can make an informed decision is to see us in action. If you would like to see a demonstration of our work, check out our candid videos on YouTube. It’s important to mention and that the videos you watch are custom tailored to the client’s wishes. A 25-year-old bride and groom will have completely different entertainment and songs played than that of someone twice their age perhaps getting married for a second time. So if you hear the song “Mony Mony” or the “Macarena” it doesn't mean we have to play it at your event! Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Do you have insurance?
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A.
Yes! We are fully insured. Most venues today require an insurance binder before they allow any entertainers (or most vendors, in fact too) on their premises. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Do you have references available? May I contact some of your former clients to see what it’s like to work with you?
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Absolutely! Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment is more than happy to connect you with some of our past clients with whom we've enjoyed a great working relationship. Contact us for our referrals sheet. You can also read some of our past clients' testimonials here.
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Q?
Do you offer a contract or written agreement?
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Absolutely. Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment’s contract is straightforward and written in plain English so that you can understand the terms before signing. It is signed by both parties and offers you a high level of protection and dependability. With the contract, you can be assured that there will be no hidden extra charges or surprises at your event. The signed contract and deposit officially reserves your date and of course an executed copy will be sent to you for your records. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Do you take breaks?
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A.
Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment’s DJ and MC services are truly uninterrupted and non-stop. From our scheduled start time to our scheduled end time, the DJs and MCs will never pause to take a break. If you prefer to have a band, keep in mind as an alternative that we can play alongside bands to suit and complement one another. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
How do I know I am hiring the right Event Planner?
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A.
Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with your event planner and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match. At Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment, you will meet with fun, energetic, professional, experienced, organized, detail-oriented, imaginative, people, possessing mature judgment, patience and the know-how and experience to orchestrate your special day. Contact us to meet with an event planner and see if there’s a fit.
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Q?
How early should we book?
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A.
Simply put...the sooner the better! Some of the most popular dates can and do book as early as one year or more in advance. Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment’s suggestion is to be prepared to sign a contract as early as 8-12 months before. Depending on availability some dates remain open until the month before. So if you're planning an event for next month, it's worth it to check our availability. If you're just starting your planning, try to make your final decision as soon as possible to ensure our availability. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
How far will you travel?
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Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment travels all over Long Island, Manhattan, NJ, CT, or as you will note from our testimonials -- even as far as Tampa, FL! Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
How loud do you play the music?
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One of the greatest complaints of bands and DJs alike is that they play the music too loud. It doesn't have to be that way! During cocktail and dinner hours (if applicable) the speakers will be strategically positioned for even sound coverage throughout the banquet room at a comfortable level. Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment ensures our DJ’s and Emcee’s make the guests comfortable and will work with them or a Maitre’ D to allow for everyone’s comfort while ensuring an overall great experience. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
How often can I contact my event planner?
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Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment is available to you whenever you need us. We offer unlimited phone and email consultations. We understand this can be a very stressful time for you and we want to be there to assure you that everything will be perfect every step of the way. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
How will my Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment planner help me stay organized?
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Check out our Free Event Planning Guide. This is just a small sampling of the kind of planning your Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment planner undertakes on your behalf. Our over 25 years of experience and over 1,000 professional events successfully organized ensures we never miss a beat and keep everyone focused on one goal: your happiness.
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Q?
I have a coordinator included with my package at my venue, so why do I need a planner from Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment? Isn’t it the same thing?
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Banquet managers at venues are not event planners. They are essential liaisons with the venue and perform a critical role in ensuring that you have a direct line to the hall personnel, for example, to control the temperature in the room, power, coat check … things like that, but they are not event planners. Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment works carefully with the banquet manager to ensure your event is everything it should be. Our attention to the details allows the banquet manager to put their focus on their staff and their facility to ensure that your dinner reception is absolutely perfect. The venue has hired the banquet manager and/or Maitre' d to work for them. You hire Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment to work for YOU. Contact us to meet with an event planner to learn more.
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Q?
Is setup time included in your price?
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Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment’s protocol is to arrive almost an hour prior to your scheduled start time and will be set up long before your first guest arrives. But it's on our own time! The same applies for takedown time after your event. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Is tipping/gratuity expected from the DJ?
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By no means is tipping/gratuity mandatory or expected. Darling Events/D.E. Music Entertainment charges a professional rate for a professional service. This means you won't see a tip jar on our table. If, at the end of the night, you feel the DJ has surpassed your expectations and you want to tip him, we would accept it as the utmost compliment. But you're under no obligation to do so. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Should we feed your staff?
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This is one of Darling Events most often asked questions! The answer is that it is completely up to you. With setup and takedown time, we'll often be at your event for 6 or more hours. Our only request is that you let us know either way ahead of time. If you choose to provide a meal for any of Darling Events on-site staff, we would be very grateful. We suggest not including us in your count since usually at least one guest doesn't show. But don't worry if you're working on a tight budget because there is no meal clause of any kind in our contract! Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
What if we want a song that you don’t have?
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While our 13,000 song music library encompasses the widest variety of hits from the 1940s to today, it's likely you may have a few obscure requests that are not in our repertoire. In this case, we would be more than happy to play your copy. As you're making your request list, simply indicate which songs you'll be providing. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
What is the deposit and when is the final payment due?
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We require a $100 deposit and signed contract to reserve your date. The final payment of the remaining balance is due the night of the event in cash or check made payable to DARLING EVENTS. You may pay us in advance if you prefer as we understand it is one less thing to worry about come the day of your event. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
What makes your company worth our investment?
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Darling Events’ careful planning for your special event is superseded only by your own. We are able to bring our experience from over a thousand events and performances to your one special night. This means we make your vision of the perfect celebration a reality. Our fresh look brings a new definition to “experienced”. Darling Events has been planning events and entertaining crowds and clients who demand and deserve the very best for over 25 years -- not 5, 10, 18 or 20, but 25 years! That counts for a lot of happy and satisfied clients and, of course, brides and grooms too. Darling Events musical systems are uniformly sleek and state-of-the-art and of course each DJ and MC is highly polished and energetic. We believe that being a successful entertainer requires 100 percent musical expertise, 100 percent customer service satisfaction, and 100 percent professionalism. Contact us to learn more.
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Q?
Why should I hire Darling Events?
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Hiring an Event Planner or Coordinator is an incredibly personal and critical decision. You need an organization that has the experience and desire to take your vision and make your dreams come true. You need a company that will help keep you on track and organized when work, family, and life in general make doing it all yourself impossible. Most importantly, you want someone you can trust with one of the most important days of your life. Darling Events understands that our client’s needs come first. Our entire team is dedicated and committed to meeting those needs and exceeding your expectations. The proof of our success is the large number of referrals we receive from former clients as well as repeat business from those clients, who in most cases, become our friends. Contact us to learn more.