FAQ’s for Events
Here’s a list of the most common questions my clients ask me about their events. Enjoy!
1. What type of sound gear does Gordon Avenue provide?
2. What about lighting?
3. What about Video screens and Projectors?
4. Can we choose the songs we want for live music and for dancing?
5. Can Gordon learn a new song for my event?
6. Will Gordon make all the announcements at our event?
7. How early will Gordon arrive?
8. How do I book Gordon Avenue?
9. What types of payment does Gordon Avenue accept?
10. What is the Client Portal?
11. Can we customize a package or service?
12. What are the travel and hotel costs?
13. What do we need to provide for Gordon on the day of our event?
Scroll down (or click question) to see the answers!
1. What type of sound gear does Gordon Avenue provide?
We provide three different types of complete sound systems for events, which we set up and tested prior to the event. (If an event requires two or more sound systems, we will set up and test all the systems before the event starts. That way Gordon can move from one location to the next, ensuring smooth transitions during the event.) We typically wait until the end of the event to tear down the gear.
The first system is a traditional PA with stereo mains. The other is a line-array style sound system made by Bose, with all the DJ equipment included (we have two of these Bose systems). The Bose tower has 24 speakers and two subwoofers, providing uniform sound coverage of 180 degrees. Whether you stand in front of the system or off to the side, you will experience the same crystal clear audio. It sounds incredible and looks beautiful. The Bose is designed to reach an audience of up to 300 people. If there will be more than 300 guests at your event contact us for a customized quote. After 300 people the price will go up, simply because we will need to bring more gear to your event.
All systems include a microphone (a wired mic for The Private Party package and wireless handheld for The Big Celebration & The Corporate Event packages) to make announcements, toasts, speeches, etc.
Depending on which package you select, FX lighting for the dance floor may also be included. See the FAQ related to lighting. (top)
2. Do you provide lighting for the dance floor? What about Uplighting?
Our“Big Celebration” and “Corporate” packages come with FX lighting, designed to spread color and movement around the dance floor. Often, this can help make your event feel more like a party. In most cases, I have the FX lights mounted to a lighting stand and placed near the DJ table. Either way, the effect will be color and movement spread around the dance floor.
We also offer uplighting. This beautiful lighting is not designed to spread color or movement around the dance floor. Instead, it becomes part of the decor of the room, highlighting walls, columns, or accent pieces. Uplights are low-power-consumption, high-output LEDs, that can be programmed to any color. Uplighting is available as an add-on at $40 per light, including delivery, setup & teardown.
As a fun extra, Uplights can also be programmed – once the dancing begins – to change or “move” with the music, making the entire room come alive!
Here are a few examples of uplighting:
3. What about Video Screens and Projectors?
Though we love video screens and projectors, we do not own or provide them. But don’t let that stop you! We would suggest checking with your venue or local providers. There are many wonderful companies that can provide this for you. (top)
4. Can we choose the songs we want for the live music portion and for dancing? How do we share that information with Gordon Avenue?
Absolutely. We encourage our clients to have as much direct input about their wedding music as possible! Unlike other music or DJ companies, we don’t want to come in with an agenda of doing “our thing.” Instead, we want to do “your thing.” In the process, we’ll offer help and advice, and ask our clients to provide me input on what they want.
We provide each of our clients with questionnaires designed to provide us with all the info we’ll need to prepare. Clients can select songs they want played (or not played) from Gordon’s “standard setlist” for live performances and give direction in terms of their “must play” and “do not play” songs for the DJ dancing portion.
Some clients love to pick out everything, while others don’t have specific preferences. Both are great! If our clients don’t have specific preferences, we’re happy to select songs that will work perfectly for the event. (top)
5. Can Gordon learn a new song for our event?
He’d love to! We have a “standard setlist” of all the songs Gordon knows & performs. We do the best to keep the list updated since he’s always learning new material. If the song you want is not on the list, no problem! Clients can hire Gordon to learn and perform a song not currently on the list for only $50 per song. (top)
6. Can Gordon make all the announcements at our event? Can he direct our guests so that everyone knows where to go and what’s happening next?
Many of our clients prefer to appoint their own MC or fill that role themselves – in that case we’re happy to provide a microphone and make sure everyone can hear. If you’d rather have Gordon make the announcements, he’d be thrilled to do so. (top)
7. How early will Gordon Avenue arrive on-site the day of the event?
Depending on the type of event we will arrive 1 – 4 hours early. We like to set up in a relaxed fashion, not rushing at the last minute, which only adds to the stress of your event. This extra time also allows us to troubleshoot any issues that may arise and fix things before the event begins. If by chance, access to the venue is delayed, we can set up much faster. We just don’t like to. (top)
8. I’m ready to book Gordon Avenue! How do I complete the process and secure my date?
Booking your event involves two easy steps:
1. signing a contract
2. submitting a 50% deposit payment
The contract establishes the basic logistical information about the event (who, where, when, etc) and details the services we’ll be providing. It also sets the terms of our agreement (sound gear, policies in case of cancellation, sickness, etc). The deposit payment for each event differs since it’s calculated as 50% of the total price. Most deposits are somewhere between $150-$500.
There are four ways to pay: credit/debit card, bank transfer, check, or cash. The most popular way is with a credit/debit card. Once you have decided what package (and any other additional services) you want for your event, we will send you a Proposal, which will include the package details, contract, and invoice. Once we receive the 50% deposit and signed contract we’ll be officially booked. Woohoo! Your date will be secured and you can breathe easy.
Your final payment will be due on the day of the event by card, bank transfer, check, or cash. Whatever works best for you! Paying the remainder before the event starts is usually best. That way you can just enjoy your celebration without things like “we still have to pay Gordon!” in the back of your mind.
If you decide to make the final payment via card or bank transfer, we kindly ask that you pay the night before or earlier, by logging into your Client Portal. (top)
9. What types of payment do you accept?
Gordon Avenue accepts payment via credit/debit card, bank transfer, check, and/or cash (payments in cash must be made in person). Your deposit and final payment do not have to be the same form of payment either. Many of our clients prefer to pay the deposit with card and the final payment with cash or check. It’s a matter of preference. We can accept all four forms of payment, in whatever combination is best for our clients. (top)
10. What is the Client Portal? And how do I log in?
We know how crazy planning an event can get. So we want to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. The Client Portal is your best friend. All of our emails back and forth, invoices, contracts, and questionnaires will be there. Everything, in one spot. No more searching through endless emails to find links to questionnaires, invoices, etc. I mean, who wants to do that?! Simply log in to your personal Client Portal and everything will be waiting for you.
How do you log in to your personal Client Portal? Once the booking process is complete, we’ll send you an email with a special link where you will create your secure password. After you’ve set up your password, you log onto your Client Portal at any time by following these steps. . .
1. go to our website (GordonAvenue.com)
2. click on the “client portal” tab on the top of the webpage
Then simply put in your email and password, and you’re there! (top)
11. Can we customize a package or service?
Yes! The packages listed are simply the most popular configurations of our services. Each can be customized by removing unwanted services, adding additional services, or starting from scratch. In such cases these packages serve as “pricing guideposts.” (top)
12. What are the travel costs? How are they calculated?
Most of our events are close enough that we do not need to charge anything extra. But sometimes this is necessary. Travel costs are determined by how long it takes us to drive to the event location and back home. Here’s how it works:
* Our first hour of travel (roundtrip) is FREE.
* Any additional hour of travel (roundtrip) is $50 per hour.
(i.e. 2 hours roundtrip = $50; 3 hours roundtrip = $100; etc.)
Hotel Room requirements are determined by travel, event timeline, and the season of the year. Here’s how it works:
*3 HOURS: At 3 hours of travel (roundtrip) we kindly ask our clients to book us a Hotel Room for the night of the event.
*WINTER: During the winter months (December-March) we kindly ask our clients to pay for a Hotel Room (the night of the event). (top)
13. What will Gordon need on-site the day of the event?
I require my clients to provide a few simple things for me on the day of the event:
1. Ensure all performance spaces are covered. This means that you have access to a covered space (tent or indoors) or that you’ll reserve a popup tent for us (8ft by 8ft) for each uncovered performance area (we proivde one 8×8 tent with each package). We simply cannot set up thousands of dollars of gear with no cover and then “hope for the best.”
2. Provide a meal for Gordon and his wife, Tarah. Either the same food you’re serving your guests or a “vendor meal” from your caterer
3. Provide safe and adequate power within 100 feet of all performance areas. We don’t mind running extension cords to power, but we don’t carry more than a few hundred feet of cord. Plus, if there’s no power, we need to know ahead of time, so we can reserve you a generator or battery power supply.
4. Reserve for us a free parking spot, please. We like to show up early (2-4 hours depending on the situation) and won’t be leaving until after the wedding. So we will need a good place to unload (reasonably close to the performance areas) and a parking spot to park our car until the wedding is over. We don’t mind a little walk, but please keep the distance reasonable.
Note: Some venues do not have any parking for Vendors and require them to pay for parking. Since we’re going to be there 2-4 hours early, and won’t leave until late in the evening, parking can cost us a fortune. Rarely, a venue doesn’t have free vendor parking, so most likely this won’t be an issue. But if this is the case, we kindly ask that you pay the parking fee or find another viable solution.
5. Provide a 6-foot table, linen, and two chairs, adjacent to the dance floor, on which Gordon can place his DJ gear (for “Big Celebration” and “Corporate Event” packages only). This enables us to travel in a more fuel-efficient vehicle that doesn’t fit a table of that size. (top)