Chicago Wedding DJs - Fourth Estate Audio

50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Acoustic, Big Band, Classic Rock, Classical, Country, Dance, Folk, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Motown, Oldies, Pop, R&B, Rock, Soul, Swing

Yes

Classy and understated, but extraordinarily knowledgeable about music. We know how to fill a dance floor without being cheesy or obnoxious. Brides and grooms love us because we don't try to be the center of attention.

Black tuxedo.

No. We can get them, though we're always happy to accommodate a bride and groom who want to bring some of their own music to the party.

Seven. And all of them have been with us for more than 20 years.

Typically, we start with five hours. But we can work shorter events.

Absolutely. Our web site makes it very simple to direct your DJ on exactly how you'd like your reception to go. And if you'd like to supplement that information with a face-to-face consultation, we're happy to arrange one.

Yes. We encourage it.

Yes, including a full set of backup equipment.

We offer an optional special-effects light show. There's a video clip of it on our web site.

We can set up in 30 minutes or less. We ask that the venue provide a table and a working electrical outlet near the dance floor.

No.

We typically perform all professional emcee functions, like introducing the wedding party, announcing the cake-cutting, special dances, and garter and bouquet tosses. But once the dance music starts, we shut the microphone off. No one has ever danced to a DJ's voice.

Several ways. A slow song usually brings couples back to the floor. A proven dance song that appeals to women is always effective, and the men return when the floor is full of women. Plus, a smart DJ always keeps a popular line dance in reserve as a last resort. Even guests who don't normally dance, will join the line dances, because they've seen them a thousand times, they know how to do them, and they feel more involved in the party.

Including your DJ for dinner is your decision. Just let us know in advance, so we can plan accordingly.

We always have a replacement DJ on call.

We charge $75 per half hour after the first five hours. The money is payable to the DJ before the overtime performance begins.

We do not charge for travel. When you pay for five hours of music, the clock starts with the first note of music and ends with the last note.

$100

* What kinds of music do you play? - Whatever you like. We have large collections of rock, R & B, swing, pop, hip hop, Latin, country, Big Band and alternative, plus ethnic favorites.* Do you play dinner and cocktail music, too? - Of course. We have everything from classical to cocktail piano to light jazz, either vocal or instrumental. Or we'll be happy to play special music of your choosing.* Can you provide music and a microphone for a wedding ceremony?- Yes. We do that often. And we include 15 minutes of quiet pre-ceremony music at no additional charge.* We're going to have a live dance band, in addition to a Chicago DJ. Is that a problem for you?- We prefer not to work as part of a band-DJ combination. But we're happy to work for couples who want a pianist, harpist, string quartet or jazz band during cocktails or dinner. * Do you have a page with all your Chicago DJs' pictures, so we can pick our DJ?- No. You didn't pick your doctor based on his looks. And a professional DJ is no different. The "cutest" DJ may have musical tastes entirely different than yours. So he/she may not be a good fit for your party. Be assured, you won't get some high school student, or an aging hippie with a pony tail and a Hawaiian shirt. We'll ask you the right questions to determine which of our music professionals is just right for you, your guests, and your event. Then, if you'd like to meet your Chicago DJ, we'll be happy to arrange it.* Do you subcontract your parties out to other DJ companies? Or do you use your own DJs?- Qur DJs are all employees of Fourth Estate Audio Inc. * What is your price? $750 -- Up to 5 hours of music $75 -- Each additional half hour $100 -- Add for events in downtown Chicago $125 -- Add for light show (no lighting with basic package) $100 -- Add for events that require us to carry equipment up stairs $100 -- Add for events that require setup to be completed 60+ minutes prior to performance. This applies only rarely. New Year's Eve pricing starts at $1100 for 5 hours* We're just starting to shop for a DJ. Can we meet with you?- Yes. But first, spend more time on our web site. View our video clip. Call our references. Drop in on a live performance if you like. Play around with our online song list. As our video greeting says, "do your homework." If you're getting married, make sure your fiancee sees our site, too. Then, when you're ready to make your buying decision, call us for a face-to-face meeting. If you show up and start asking questions that are already answered on our web site, you're just wasting your time and wasting gas money. It's a little like the woman who goes to the mall to buy a pair of shoes, and finds the perfect pair at the perfect price at the very first store -- and then shops at 16 other stores, and forgets where she found the shoes she liked. When we meet with you, we'd like you to be prepared to hire us if we're "the right fit at the right price." Sound reasonable?* We're just looking for the cheapest price. Do you give discounts?- Rarely. If you think the cheapest DJ is a good value, you have to start by assuming (incorrectly) that all DJs are equally good. Unfortunately, most people who "go cheap," and have a nightmare experience with their DJ, end up assuming (also incorrectly) that all DJs are equally bad. There are a few DJ companies in Chicagoland -- two in particular -- who get all their clients by offering dirt-cheap prices. And those clients learn too late just how awful a cheap DJ can be. Ask a DJ company to provide you with the names and phone numbers of its 30 most recent clients. If it refuses, RUN! Remember, if your DJ is bad, he's the only thing your guests will remember about your party, and all your careful planning will go to waste. We have earned the Better Business Bureau's prestigious A+ customer satisfaction rating. There's a link to the BBB report on us on our home page, DiscJockey.org. You can check out the BBB's rating on any of our bargain-basement competitors at Chicago.BBB.org. Be prepared for a shock.* How do you decide which DJ you assign to our party?- Each of our clients submits a Wedding Reception Fact Sheet from our web site. Among other things, the form asks for some general guidance about the client's musical tastes. Typically, we assign a DJ with the same tastes, so he'll know a lot of songs that fit well with what the client has already requested, and he can ensure the appropriate pacing for the evening. Plus, he gets to listen to music he likes! And that means a more enthusiastic performance for you.* We'd like to pick all of our dance music, and not accept requests from our guests. Is that okay?- If that's what you'd like. But unfortunately, we can't be part of it. Of the relative handful of dissatisfied clients we've had over our more than 40 years in this industry, practically all of them were couples who picked all of their music in advance. If you'd like your reception to be a concert just for the two of you, just burn a few CDs and rent a sound system. It's unfair to subject a DJ to a whole evening of abuse from your guests if they don't like the music you chose, and you won't let the DJ accept any of their requests. After enough of your guests complain about what a bad DJ you have, eventually you'll start to believe it, and blame him for the empty dance floor. If that's the case, we'd rather have them blame one of our competitors. :-)* We don't have Internet access. Can we still hire you?- Sorry. Our completely interactive web site lets you research your DJ (online video clip, performance schedule, telephone references), check our availabilty, hire us (online service agreement), pay us (online credit card processing), and direct us on exactly how you'd like your event to proceed (online party itinerary, wedding party roster, interactive music library). By using the web to share and receive information, you're able to hire your DJ with confidence without holding 5 or 6 hours of meetings, searching through books of songs, and filling out all your paperwork in longhand. Other DJ companies that don't have our technology must spend their time in those meetings, too. That's why so many of them charge twice as much as we do. It's all wasted time that doesn't contribute anything to the quality of your DJ's performance. If you hired us, and we did it all the hard way, as they do, we'd have to charge you twice as much, too. While we're always available for a face-to-face meeting, holding multiple meetings with each client is just not an efficient or productive way to do business. So we cater only to Internet-connected clients.* Are you insured?- Of course. We carry a $4 million liability and personal injury policy, even though we've never had to file a claim (we're exceptionally careful about the placement of our speakers, cords and cables). We'll be happy to show you or fax you our Insurance Certificate upon request. Beware of any DJ who doesn't carry liability coverage. It's the first telltale sign that he's not serious about his business or his clients' safety.* What is your policy on tipping? - It's an excellent way to reward a DJ who goes above and beyond, to make your party special (anything from $50 to $200 is appropriate). We don't put out a "tip jar," because it's tasteless. And we don't accept tips from your guests to play specific songs, because those songs may not be appropriate for your party. Tipping your DJ, if you choose, is your responsibility. It's just more professional that way.* Where did you get the name "Fourth Estate Audio?"- The "Fourth Estate" is a nickname for the news media (coined by the 15th century British parliamentarian Edmund Burke). And in addition to being a professional DJ since 1965, our founder and president, Jay Congdon, has been a newsman for most of his adult life. He's worked as a radio news anchor and reporter at Chicago stations WBBM, WMAQ, WKQX and WJMK, to name a few. He's also been a television news producer and writer. Now you know.The Ten Biggest Mistakes Brides Make* Spending Too Much.It's easy for an excited bride and groom to get swept up in planning a spectacular wedding without stopping to add up the expenses, especially when parents are covering most of the cost. As much as you'd love to have a fairy-tale wedding with every imaginable luxury, you'll soon discover that economic reality has a way of interfering. Start by shopping for a reception hall and dinner for your invited guests. That's likely to be your biggest expense. Then make a budget, allowing for a gown, tuxedos, a limo, a minister/rabbi, flowers (for the wedding party, parents, church/temple, reception hall), decorations, favors, music (both ceremony and reception), and a generous fund for miscellaneous expenses. Keep records, so you know how you're doing in relation to your budget. And don't bounce any checks!* Too Many Guests.Don't invite more people than your reception hall can hold, assuming that a lot of them won't show up. If you invite 300 guests, and you expect 200, but 250 people show up, the room won't magically expand, and 50 additional dinners won't magically cook themselves. You'll have to send some people away. Assume that 80 percent of the people you invite will show up. Make sure your room can handle at least that many people, plus a few more. And plan for a few extra meals in case some people who RSVP'd "no" suddenly show up.* Overworking Yourself.Planning a wedding is a lot of work. Don't turn down anyone's offer to help you with some of that work. The Internet is full of advice on wedding planning. If your budget allows you to hire a professional planner, that's wonderful. But in most cases, the families handle the planning. Friends, parents and future in-laws can do things like addressing invitations, gathering information about entertainment options, and helping you shop. Shower them with gratitude when they volunteer to help. It's also a good idea to give them some nice gifts on your wedding day to show your appreciation.* Ordering Your Gown Too Late.Allow at least six months for your gown to arrive, especially if it's a designer gown. Leave plenty of time for delivery and fitting, both for the gown and your bridesmaids' dresses. Don't expect the gown to be the perfect size when you open the box. Even if you buy your gown off the rack, you'll want to have it fitted within a month of the wedding. If you tell a gown designer you're getting married five years from today, you'll probably be told that the gown will take four years and two weeks to make. That's because the designer doesn't want to deliver the gown early, then get blamed when you put on an extra ten pounds before the wedding. * Forgetting to Book Hotel Rooms.Your out-of-town guests will need places to stay. And if you wait too long to reserve hotel space, they'll all end up staying at your apartment. Many hotels offer discounts for blocks of reserved rooms. But check in advance to make sure it's not a big weekend like the Super Bowl, the Indy 500, or the Marathon. Start looking at hotels a year before the wedding. Once you know how many guests will need rooms, book them at least eight months before the wedding. Then let your guests know the name and phone number of the hotel, so they can reserve their individual rooms with their credit cards.* Ignoring Religious Considerations.The site of your wedding ceremony will almost certainly have requirements and restrictions that you'll need to observe. Consult with your clergyman within a month of your engagement. Discuss available dates, required pre-cana courses, dress code, music selection, and any other considerations that might cause any conflict. Once everything is settled, you may put down your deposits and hire your vendors.* Letting Your Marriage License Expire.A typical marriage license is good for a limited time. Don't let it expire before your wedding date. Check with your local County Clerk's office about the requirements for applying for the license, and the time required to get it. If you're getting married for the second time, be sure to provide your divorce papers from your first marriage.* Crash Diets.If you have your wedding gown fitted within a month of your wedding, you shouldn't have to go on a crash diet to look good in it. Also, don't get any major beauty treatments like facials or tanning sessions the day before your wedding. The risk of burns, blisters or infections will far outweigh any small benefit such treatments might give you. You'll look fabulous if you just take good care of yourself, eat sensibly, and get enough exercise and sleep. You don't need last-minute enhancements.* Sweating the Details.Don't try to over-choreograph your wedding reception. If you and your fiancee want to practice a special dance or speech, that's fine. But never lose sight of the fact that your wedding reception is just a party you're throwing for your friends. Relax and enjoy it. If you spill red wine on your gown, the cake collapses, your uncle Todd gets drunk and makes a pass at the minister's wife, and the banquet room's sprinklers suddenly go off, and at the end of the evening you're still married, you win! Just have a good time. Your work is finished.* Cutting Corners on Entertainment.If you're hiring a band, expect to pay a lot of money. A group of musicians cost more than just a single musician. And a band won't know every single song you like. Find out which songs they do well. And expect the songs to sound different than the way they sound in your CD collection. Bands like to add their own personal touches to the music they play.If you have a more modest entertainment budget, a DJ is an excellent option. A DJ's music is always on key, and it's exactly as you remember it. He/she has a much bigger song selection. He/she doesn't take a 30-minute break every time the dance floor is just getting full. And -- this is important -- he/she can turn the volume down if it's too loud for you.The most expensive DJ's will probably bring a much bigger sound system than you need, and play it at much higher volume than you need. Too many of them also spend a lot of time on the microphone, talking and singing over the music, because they believe you're paying extra for their personality. The truth is, your DJ shouldn't be the center of attention at your reception. He should be a professional master of ceremonies when it comes to handling your introductions, special dances, cake cutting, garter/bouquet and other special announcements. But he must also have the discipline to turn off the microphone and let the music do the work when it's time to dance. The cheapest DJs are usually cheap for a reason. And if you hire on price alone, you'll learn that reason the hard way. Most couples obsess over their wardrobes, menus and decorations. But your guests' most enduring memory will be how much fun they had, or didn't have, at your reception. If a bargain-basement DJ ruins your party with bad equipment, poor song selection or poor emcee skills, he's the only thing your guests will remember, and all of your careful planning will be wasted.One other thing. If you pick all of your dance music in advance, and you don't let your guests make requests, the entire reception will become a concert for the bride and groom, and the guests will feel cheated. And they'll leave early, with a bad memory of your reception. As we said earlier, your reception is a party you throw for your friends. Let them have a good time, too.