Frequently Asked Questions

What is the latest you can play to?

We are happy to keep playing right up to 4am if required. However we will have to comply with the local licencing laws, please check with the venue to find out any restrictions. If your venue's licence says the music must stop at midnight, then unfortunately we will have to stick to that.

Can you carry on after the agreed and booked finish time?

We are normally happy to continue beyond the agreed finish time; however, it is subject to your venue's permission and our other commitments the following day. Many venues have licensing restrictions that may prevent us from extending the duration. The charge for an over-run is specified on the booking confirmation page and should be settled immediately in cash or by credit or debit card. It is best to let us know in advance if you would like the provision to continue beyond the finishing time shown above. 

Can my guests make requests?

Yes, they are very welcome to requests tracks, and where appropriate we will try to play those requests. However, there are a number of reasons why we may decide not to play a request, they include not having enough time, the track is unsuitable for the event, or they are simply dance floor-clearers. You can also use the guest request feature on the planning portal so guests can make requests and dedications ahead of the day

Can I give you a list of tracks to play?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, we suggest you send us a list of around 10 tracks that you and your guests would like to hear. This gives a good idea of what you and your guests like. You can either email your playlist to us or use the online portal service through our website. If you wish to give us more than 10 tracks, then we will treat the first 10 track you give us as high priority (and we will attempt to acquire any tracks we don’t have), and all others as ‘play if possible’. You can also send in a ‘Do not play’ list.

Please send your list a couple of days before your party so we can make sure we have the songs you want. When putting together a list, we recommend you to choose mainstream music that the majority of your guests will know. It is important to note that while we will always endeavour to play all requests, we make no guarantee to do so. The maximum number of request tracks we can take is 40.

What equipment do you use?

Audio:
BOSE F1 Model 812 Flexible Array Loudspeaker (Pair Of)
BOSE F1 Subwoofer (Pair Of)
Mackie SRM450 v2 Active Speakers (for backup or used in addition on larger events)
Pioneer DJM-800 Digital Mixer
Pioneer CDJ 400 CD/MP3 Player (Pair Of)
Numark CDN-35 Twin CD Player (Backup)
Tapco 8 Channel Live mixer (for Karaoke)
HP Pro Laptop Custom Built PC with 19" Touch-screen
Sennheiser Freeport handheld mic.
Shure PG58 Wired Handheld Mic

In our Lighting show, we use:
Chauvet Mini Kinta IRC (pair)
Chauvet Intimidator Spot 255 IRC
ADJ Mega PAR LED Light
ADJ LED Megabar
Equinox Kamikaze Laser
Martin Rapture light effect
Martin Magnum 500 Smoke machine
ADJ MyDMX Lighting Control Software
Sanyo Projector x2 (for Karaoke)
42" TV (for video)
And not forgetting our Ford Transit van to move it all.

What are your power requirements?

We need at least 2 dedicated standard 13amp power sockets OR 1 dedicated 16amp socket reasonably close to the set up area, not on extension lead or reel. If you are hiring a generator for your event, please allow 3kw for our rig.

Please check to see if your venue has a Sound Limiter. Sound limiters cut the power to our equipment in the event of too much noise. We intensity dislike sound limiters as they can cause prolonged breaks in the entertainment or event curtailment should an outage damage our equipment (which can happen when power is cut and then re-applied). It is important to note that clients will be held liable should our equipment be damaged as a result of poor or interupted power supply.

What are your booking terms?

Here is our current booking terms as of May 2023:

1. Timings and setting up

On the day of your event, we aim to get to your venue in good time to set up. We (Sound Entertainment) require at least 90 minutes to load in, set up the rig and test, and we will need clear, unobstructed, and (as far as possible) step-free access from the unloading area to the setup area. If there is a significant distance from the unloading area (i.e. the nearest safe place to park our vehicle) to the set-up area, then this will significantly increase the amount of time it takes to get set up. You (the client) must let us know if there are any access restrictions at your venue, such as if the setup area is not on the ground floor, or if the distance between the unloading area and set-up area is more than 20 meters. We cannot be held responsible if access restrictions prevent us from being ready for the start time. At the end of your event, it will take around 60 minutes to pack up. PLEASE NOTE: for karaoke, we require an internet connection to provide karaoke tracks, which we can obtain either by the mobile network (EE) or the venue's WIFI. If there is no or a poor internet connection available at your chosen venue, the choice of karaoke songs will be severely limited.

2. Set up area

The area you wish us to set up must be clear of furniture (we don't need any), level, solid, safe, dry, and practical. We have the absolute right to refuse to set up if, in our reasonable opinion, the setup area is unsafe or the venue is unsuitable or dangerous. The rig can be scaled to best suit your venue, but as a minimum, we require a space of 3m (w) x 2.5m (d), with a headroom of 2.2m. That gives us just enough room for our DJ booth, sound and lighting stands, and a little room to move around the back of it all. While setting up or taking down, you must ensure that your guests (especially children) remain clear of the area. The setup area must allow access to an adequate, properly earthed, electrical power supply. We require two dedicated standard 13amp wall plug sockets or one dedicated 16amp socket within a reasonable distance of our set-up point. Any damage to our equipment caused by inadequate power supply or power interruption, including damage caused by generators or forced disconnection by a sound limiter, will be charged to you.

3. Deposit and Payments

We require either a deposit or full payment to secure a booking, and a provisional booking will be canceled if a deposit payment is received within 7 days. All deposit payments are credited towards the total, with any outstanding balance due no later than on our arrival at your event. Deposit payments can be paid by bank transfer (preferred), cheque, or credit/debit card. Balance payments must be paid by either cash, bank transfer (via faster payment), or credit/debit card. Any payment made by cheque must have cleared before the start of your event. Should payment not be made on the night of the event or within other payment terms we have expressly agreed to, we will charge a £20 late payment fee. If payment is not forthcoming within 14 days after the event, we will refer the matter to our solicitors, and any legal and recovery costs will be charged to you.

4. Cancellation

If you need to cancel your booking for whatever reason, please let us know in writing (email acceptable) as soon as possible. Deposit amounts are non-refundable if you cancel the booking. If you cancel within 14 days of your event date, we will require you to pay the total amount due for the event. For this reason, we recommend you take out event/party insurance to cover this potential loss. In the unlikely event we can no longer attend your event, we will notify you as soon as possible in writing. If there are 14 days or less away from your event, we will attempt to find and arrange an alternative, similar service on your behalf. If we cancel and there are more than 14 days until your event, we will notify you of the cancellation, refund any money paid, and endeavor to refer you to an alternative supplier.

5. Instructions, Music and Requests

We are very happy to accept reasonable music requests from you and your guests in advance and on the night itself. We will endeavor to play as many requests as possible, up to a maximum of 40; however, we will exercise our judgment on track requests and may choose not to play a track if we believe it is unsuitable or inappropriate for your event or might harm the atmosphere. We may decide not to play certain music if, in our opinion, it is likely to encourage dangerous behavior on the dance floor. Other than track requests, we will only accept instructions from you personally (or, where applicable, a venue manager), and only you can ask us to continue beyond the agreed finish time. Any extension request beyond the finish time shown above is at our discretion (and, if applicable, the permission of the venue manager), and any overrun charges will become payable immediately at the rate shown above. Any requests made by a venue manager or any other body in authority (e.g., police or local council) will override any instructions you give (e.g., asked to lower the volume or stop the music).

6. Guests' Behavior and Security

You are responsible for ensuring that your guests behave appropriately towards our staff and take reasonable steps to protect our equipment and personnel at all times. Any form of abuse, whether verbal or physical, actual or implied, directed towards our staff will not be tolerated. We have the absolute right to stop the music, pack up, and leave if we feel the safety of our staff or equipment is under threat. In such circumstances, a refund will not be given. You must ensure that the dance floor area and the immediate vicinity are free from any hazards or dangers that could cause harm to our staff or equipment. Any loss or damage to our equipment caused by your guests, intentional or otherwise, will be charged to you. You are responsible for reimbursing us for the repair or replacement costs of any damaged equipment. If your event requires additional security measures, such as crowd control or entrance management, it is your responsibility to arrange for and cover the costs of such security arrangements.

7. Food and Drink

We do not expect any food or drink to be provided to us at your event; however, it is always appreciated when it's offered.

8. Liability

We will always use our best endeavors to attend and deliver the service to you in good time for your event. However, in any and all situations and circumstances that result in delayed or non-performance due to issues within our control, our liability to you is limited to the refund of any monies paid in relation to the event. We accept no liability for any delay or non-performance that is due to any circumstances beyond our reasonable control (e.g., fire, flood, severe weather conditions, or equipment failure). We accept no liability for any damage or loss to personal property and personal belongings, including vehicles, howsoever caused.