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Endorsements
Frequently Asked Questions for Band
Are you an agency or a band?
Band
What is the size of your band?
Large (6+ musicians), Medium (4-6 musicians), Small (1-3 musicians)
What music genre does your band play?
50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Big Band, Blues, Classic Rock, Dance, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Motown, Oldies, Orchestra, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Soul, Swing
Do you have liability insurance?
Yes
What is your band's usual attire?
Normally Dressy Black (black jacket, black collarless shirt, and black dress trousers). This coordinates with our black and white band fronts for a very professional look. Tuxedo upon request.
Do you offer live sample performances or CDs?
Our band demo is posted on our web site. We can also mail CDs if requested. Since 99% of our jobs are weddings, we do not invite potential clients to someone else's wedding without getting their permission. We respect everyone's privacy. If we have a public performance, we welcome your presence.
Are you willing to learn songs that you do not currently know?
Yes. We request 30 days prior notice and that the sheet music be available for us to purchase.
How much time do you usually need for setup?
Depending upon the size of the band, one to two hours, but you are not charged for set up or tear down time.
How much space do you usually require?
Depends upon the size of the band. We will work with whatever space we are given, but will advise space requirements once we know the number of musicians you want.
Do you have a sign or banner that you use at events?
We do not put up signs or banners at weddings, only at bridal fairs where advertising is appropriate. The focus should be on you, not us, so we don't use it as an opportunity to advertise.
What (if any) special equipment, such as disco balls or lighting, is offered with your service?
Dance lighting and optional DJ services during band breaks or in addition to the band. We also provide a Sound Technician for the band at no additional charge.
Do you usually emcee the event, or talk between songs?
We provide excellent Master of Ceremony services for announcements, but we are extremely professional and do not "show boat" or act inappropriately. We assist with the coordination of the event by working with the other vendors you have hired, including your coordinator if applicable.
How would you motivate the crowd if no one is dancing?
Our band leader is great at reading a crowd and knowing just what music to play to fill the dance floor. This only comes with experience and he has been doing weddings for over 20 years.
What is your policy on taking breaks? If you need a meal break, do you require that the client provide your meal?
We play for one full hour and then American Federation of Musicians Union rules (of which we are a member) specify one 15 minute break every hour, but we are flexible and will time breaks so that they come at an opportune time such as cake cutting so that you get the most band time as possible. We do not require that band members be provided food, but if the band leader is also providing the ceremony and cocktail music, we may ask that one meal be provided for him.
Do you play recorded music during your break?
Yes--we provide recorded background music at no charge. We also offer a DJ option for a flat fee of $150 during the band breaks where a DJ is present to take requests and the couple can provide a "Must Play" list in advance taken from our DJ song list containing over 6,000 songs.
If one or more of the band members is unable to attend, what is your backup plan?
We have never had that happen, but we have multiple subs we can call if necessary. Because we have music charts, any experienced musician (and that's all we will hire) can sub without any problem and no one will be able to tell it isn't the regular musician because they will blend in perfectly. If it is the main vocalist (and again, this has never happened and would only occur in an extreme emergency) we would contact you in advance if possible to notify you and get your permission to sub. We would never substitute the band leader or lead vocalists except in an absolute emergency.
What is your overtime rate?
Normally $150 per hour per musician, but that is negotiable.
Do you charge for travel expenses? If yes, how much do you charge?
No, unless the event is over 100 miles from Monterey, CA and requires an overnight stay. Negotiable.
What is the required deposit to secure your services?
Normally 50% with the contract, but if the wedding is a year away, we will break up the deposit in to two payments.
Frequently Asked Questions for Ceremony Music
What ceremony music arrangements can you provide?
Brass - Quartet, Brass - Quintet, Brass - Trio, Instrumental - Duo, Instrumental - Solo, Instrumental - Trio, Orchestra, Soloist / Vocalist, String - Quartet, String - Quintet, String - Trio
What instruments does your group play?
Cello, Drums, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Organ, Piano, Trumpet, Viola, Violin
What is your usual attire?
Tux, coat and tie, or dressy black, depending upon the event.
Do you offer live sample performances or CDs?
We have audio samples on our web site and we can also mail CDs. Live performances are a possibility, depending upon whether the event is public or private.
How much time do you usually need for setup?
15 minutes to one hour, depending upon whether or not you want our optional ceremony sound system.
How much space do you usually require?
Minimal
Do you charge for travel expenses? If yes, how much do you charge?
No
Frequently Asked Questions for DJ
What music genres are in your collection?
50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Acoustic, Big Band, Classic Rock, Classical, Country, Dance, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Hip Hop, Jazz, Motown, Oldies, Orchestra, Pop, Punk Rock, R&B, Soul, Strings, Swing, World
Do you have liability insurance?
Yes
Describe your DJ style:
Professional & experienced, but fun and upbeat.
What is your usual attire?
Dressy black (black jacket, black collarless shirt, and black dress trousers) Coat and tie or tux if requested.
If you do not have one of the songs pre-requested by the client, do you require that they provide it?
No, we will do that at no charge as long as we can download it, but the client is welcome to provide their own compilations if they want.
How many other DJs do you work with?
Four
What is the minimum amount of time you will DJ for?
Three hours unless it is in combination with some of our other services, such as our band and then there is no minimum.
Is the client able to meet the DJ before booking?
Yes
Do you specialize in any ethnic or international events?
We do many multi-cultural weddings and have music from all over the world.
Can the client submit a do-not-play list?
Absolutely!
Do you bring your own equipment?
Yes, we are totally self-contained.
What (if any) special equipment, such as disco balls or lighting, is offered with your service?
Dance lighting at no charge if requested, ceremony sound system for an additional charge, multiple P. A. systems for different locations within a venue for an additional charge
How much time do you usually need to set up? Do you require that the site or client provide a table for you to set up on?
45 minutes. No.
Do you have any extra space requirements?
No. Our set up is very compact and state-of-the-art.
Do you have a sign or banner that you use at events?
We do not advertise at weddings because we feel it is inappropriate. We do have a banner we use at Bridal Fairs where advertising is welcome.
Do you usually emcee the event or talk between songs?
We provide excellent Master of Ceremony services, but we are not overly talkative and do not grandstand. Professional, but fun.
How would you motivate the crowd if no one is dancing?
The DJ knows how to "read the crowd" to play the kind of music that will keep the dance floor full. This ability comes only with many years of experience and we have been doing weddings for over 20 years.
What is your policy on taking breaks? If you require a meal break, do you require that the client provide your meal?
We do not take any breaks. If the job is more than 4 hours we ask that a meal be provided, but the DJ sits behind the DJ table to eat and doesn't normally leave the room.
Will you arrange for recorded music to play during your breaks?
No breaks are taken, but if one is, music will continue to play because we can set our DJ system to auto play.
What is your backup plan in case you become unavailable on the day of the event?
That has never happened, but we have other DJs who work for us that we can call. Not only do we have a plan for backup DJ, we also have backup equipment in case we have any problems. This is very important, so make sure the DJ you hire brings backup equipment or you may end up without music.
Do you book yourself for more than one event in a day?
On occasion, if both events are at the same location or nearby and there is sufficient time in between the events.
What is your overtime rate?
$200 per hour
Do you charge for travel expenses? If yes, how much do you charge?
Not unless the event is more than 100 miles from Monterey, CA and requires an overnight stay.
What is the required deposit to secure your services?
50% with the contract. We turn down other work once we are booked and never sub out to another DJ or bail on you even if another more lucrative job comes in. This happens with other DJs more often than you can imagine, so if someone is willing to book without a substantial deposit, beware because you may find yourself looking for another DJ at the last minute.
Additional Questions and Answers
We offer a solo guitar & DJ combo or a band/DJ combo for the best of both worlds!
Tips and Advice
Hire professionals that you trust and then relax and enjoy your special day! If your wedding is in the Monterey Bay area, hire local vendors who are familiar with the area and with each other. Paying more money to bring someone from the city doesn't mean a better value. We have some incredible musicians and other vendors in the Monterey/Carmel area who have settled here because of the beautiful surroundings and less hectic lifestyle. It's the perfect wedding destination! |
4.9/5.0
;)
; "Everyone has fun when we DJ.")
; "Impromptu conga line.")
; "Steve Ezzo & state-of-the-art Bose DJ equipment (P.A. is thin pole to left of Steve).")
; "Steve Ezzo of Steve Ezzo Entertainment performing ceremony music.")
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