Why should I choose Accent Events, LLC for my entertainment?
When you’re looking for a DJ, it may seem that there are a bunch of companies who all pretty much offer the same services. What sets Accent Events apart from many of the others is our attention to detail and the personalization that we put into every event. Your special celebration should reflect who you are as individuals from the beginning to the end of the experience.
As your DJ, I “partner” with you to ensure a well-organized and genuinely fun celebration, whether it is a wedding, birthday or even corporate occasion. On the night, I coordinate the logistics, so that all you have to do is show up, relax and enjoy the experience.
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How much experience do you have?
I’ve been a professional DJ for almost 20 years and in that time have performed at over 2000 events, some 450 of them weddings. That experience, coupled with a passion for good music and a love of helping others have a great time, means that every event is unique and important.
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Can we come and see you perform anywhere?
As I’m sure you can appreciate, I respect the privacy of the couples at whose weddings I am trusted to perform. Therefore, I prefer to organize regular showcases – to which anyone is invited and welcomed -- to demonstrate my talents. I am also happy to have prospective clients contact my previous customers to answer any questions they might have. To be chosen to entertain at someone’s wedding is an incredible honor, and I’m happy to make your decision making process easier in any way I can.
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Why don’t you offer different packages for me to choose from?
Simply put, I only have one package—I promise to give you the best night I can. There are no A, B or C selections because I tailor the event to your specific needs—from the lighting, sound and musical choices to dressing appropriately for the occasion. To have a Gold or Platinum package (or other, less fancy-named options) implies that at some point you might not be receiving the best that I can do. To me, that seems to be more about price than it is about service.
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Will you personally DJ our event, or do you subcontract?
As the owner and DJ/MC of Accent Events, LLC, you can relax knowing that I am your contact at every point of the planning process. You absolutely won’t have an unknown entertainer—who’s never met or spoken with you—on your big day .
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As a single operator, what happens if you get sick on the date of our event?
In 20 years of DJing at weddings I can honestly say that I have NEVER missed an event. I have performed with the help of cold medication and even showed up after tearing my calf muscle playing rugby! True, I had a bit of help setting up that time, but the show must go on, right? In the highly unlikely event of a medical emergency rendering me unable to perform, Accent Events, LLC has partnerships with many other quality wedding professionals to ensure you have the celebration you always dreamed of.
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Can we choose our own music?
This is your day. You can provide as much, or as little, of the musical content as you’d like. There are obviously certain special songs that have an importance in your life, so they are a must for your event. But don’t feel that you have to spend hours looking through CDs to pick out tracks—we have almost 20 years’ experience in playing just the right songs at the right time.
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Can we see a list of the music you have?
I carry almost 25,000 tracks to each event, from the hits of the 1920s to this week’s charts. Every genre, every major artist and plenty of deep cuts that ensure we don’t just play the same 60 tracks at every party. To scroll through the list would be overwhelming, so all you have to do to is ask about a particular track. In the unlikely event that I don’t have it, I’ll make sure I buy it specially for your wedding or party. There’s no reason you should have to go burning CDs and supplying any of your own music. That’s my responsibility, and it’s included in my price.
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Are lights included in the package?
Of course. Lights enhance the mood, encourage people to dance and make for a more memorable night. Unless you specifically request it, I’d never dream of not providing lighting, or of charging extra for a basic set up. Accent Events, LLC predominantly uses LED, stage-quality lighting. This is important because LEDs have an extremely long bulb-life (so no failing lights at the last minute) and also use a tiny fraction of the power of conventional lights, so less chance of tripping circuits... and a smaller carbon footprint, too!
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What happens if your equipment malfunctions?
I carry backup sound and lighting equipment, extra microphones and even an exact copy of the hard drive that my music is contained on. I also still use CDs, which means I have backups to the backups, if you like!
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I’d like something different for my wedding. Will that be a problem?
No two weddings are alike. I don’t believe in “cookie cutter” packages, so if you want to throw the rule book out the window and have a wedding unlike any other, I’m happy to help and advise. Remember, this is YOUR night. You don’t have to do anything just because it’s traditional. Let the reception reflect who you are as a couple – in all your wonderful ways!
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Wouldn't it be easier to just hook up my iPod to play our favorite songs?
Absolutely, but your wedding should never be about what’s easiest, it should be about what’s best for your big day. After all, it would be easier to buy a couple hundred subs from a sandwich shop to feed your guests, but most couples would never dream of doing that on their wedding day!
The entertainment portion is the most important factor in a reception, both in creating memories and ensuring a smooth flow to the night. Your personal tastes and song preferences will be a priority, and we will have discussed them in advance. However, as your DJ, I am also the Master of Ceremonies and will coordinate the speeches, organize the schedule, make announcements and adapt to last minute changes. I doubt your iPod can do all that, let alone know how to pronounce the best man's last name!
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In which areas do you perform?
I’ve DJ'ed in different countries, so distance is no object. Obviously it factors into the pricing of the night, but it’s incredibly flattering to be told “we want YOU to do our wedding”, so that is the most important factor. As a rough guideline, anywhere outside of about 70 miles from Milwaukee would incur a travel surcharge.
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How long in advance should I book my entertainment?
I’m a believer that the venue, entertainment and photographer are the three elements of an event that cannot be booked too early. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. With Accent Events, you can easily guarantee your date with a 25% retainer and then budget to pay the balance near the actual date of the celebration.
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Do you charge by the hour?
I don’t charge by the hour, I charge by the event. That way you know that I’m focused entirely on making your day unique, not on watching the clock. Besides, with all the hours of planning, moving equipment, client consultation and performance that we provide to make your event sparkle, if we charged by the hour we’d probably have to raise our prices!
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How much do you charge?
That depends on a number of factors, such as whether your event is during peak season, the distance I’ll need to travel, whether extra equipment is required, etc. The detailed pre-consultation necessary for a wedding (compared to a corporate event, for example) also differs and can affect the price. Basically, my charges can be from $200 for an evening of pub trivia, up to around $1200 for certain weddings. I tailor my final cost to providing you with the best value for money to match your requirements—and I promise that you will know upfront exactly what that cost will be. To do that, all I ask is that we get the chance to take a few minutes to discuss what you want from your big day. I strongly recommend taking this time, as a customer, to ensure you and your DJ are compatible and on the same page. A decision this important should never be about price only.
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Why do some companies have hidden costs?
Many do this as a way of justifying higher pricing. Just imagine seeing a new car with a sticker price of only $5,000. Amazing, right? However, wheels cost more, windows cost more, the steering wheel is optional, and oh, of course you'll want add-on brakes too… It doesn’t take long to figure out that the $5,000 price was never intended to be your cost.
That’s how I feel about some of the add-ons that entertainment companies charge. Dinner music and lights are often seen as income-generating upcharges, but to my mind they are as vital to the success of your event as wheels on a car. As such, they are always included in my pricing. I prefer honest, upfront pricing to “bait and switch” tactics.
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So you don’t have add-ons?
The only additional cost you might incur would be if you want live musicians, such as a harpist, jazz guitarist or string quartet for your dinner or cocktail hour music. I can also provide a traditional, kilted Scottish Piper for those who’d like to honor their Celtic heritage and have bagpipes as a part of their ceremony or reception.
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Does dinner or cocktail music cost anything extra?
I provide dinner and cocktail music as an all-inclusive part of my service. Setting the mood early is a vital part of the event, and also ensures a more professional and sophisticated ambience. With your approval, this gives me time to connect with your guests, ask about requests and continue to plan how the night will unfold. Only if I provide live musicians will there be any additional costs, and these will be agreed upon prior to your big day.
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What time do you set up for our event?
That depends on when your guests will start to arrive. I will be set up, with background music playing, dressed appropriately for the party as guests walk through the door. No one wants their DJ to be carrying heavy equipment through the party and setting up while guests are standing there! This is another reason why I don’t charge by the hour.
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I am interested. What happens next?
Let's talk! You can send me an email by clicking "contact us" at the top of this page, or give me a call at 414-750-4504. If you'd like, we can set up a FREE no-obligation consultation. Generally this consists of an hour or so over coffee (on me, of course!), or at your home, to discuss your plans for your event. We can all ask questions to discover whether we’ll be a good fit. This meeting serves as the first step in a journey that ends with me knowing you well enough to provide exactly the memorable evening you always imagined…
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A wedding DJ should never be the star of the show. That honor belongs to the happy couple. A good DJ puts his personality on the evening. A GREAT DJ puts your personality on the evening.
