FAQ

1. Future Sounds is a solo-operator. We do not have employees nor do we sub-contract to take on additional events.
2. All Future Sounds equipment is self-supported. We do not need a table nor do we need a chair. We prefer to be centered close to the dance floor, with the required amount of empty space and electricity for the desired package and accessories.

Below are some answers to frequently asked questions.

• Insurance: We have a yearly policy through ERGO Next Insurance.
• Initial Contact & Date Reservation: You may email anytime. Call or text the office between 9 AM and 5 PM CST for inquires and assistance regarding availability. Our office number is (210) 945-9601.
• Can we meet in person? Yes. We are more than happy to meet and discuss your needs and our services with you in person.
• Where and when can we schedule a meeting? We can schedule a meeting when the time is good for you and us.
• Do you have a samples? We have samples on our Disc Jockey page. You can also view photos and videos on our Pinterest site or YouTube site @FutureSoundsDJ. It is important to remember that each reception atmosphere is different and music from event to event can differ greatly as well. The personality that you may see and the music that you may hear, may not necessary be the appropriate style for your reception. We customize each event with a reception format guide.
• Do you take a break? We do not take any breaks. We are at your reception to play music and make announcements throughout the scheduled time-frame on the contract. Music is continuous from start to finish with the exception of momentary pauses due to various presentations, a welcome, a prayer or toast. On occasion, mariachis or other entertainers are scheduled during our contracted time.
• How many people come with you? 100% of the time it is just me.

Contracts and Booking for the Reception

• Do you have a contract online? No! Each contract is written to fit your needs with specifics to (a) personal contact information, (b) event information like time-frame and selected entertainer, (c) venue information that includes room or layout specifics and (d) service information that includes a package description and listing of additional services and equipment. We can send a digital invoice via our Square App.
• When should we book? It is difficult to know what day will be very popular in a given year. We do not hold dates. Securing the date with a $500.00 payment will block the date for you. 
• How long should we book? Future Sounds has a 4-hour minimum for DJ Services on the weekend.
  • The average reception is generally 4 hours to cover cocktail, dinner and the dance.
  • We suggest booking for the minimum amount of time that both you and your guests will be in attendance and then extending the time if needed at the reception.
  • The end time can be extended if desired by the person(s) listed on the contract.
  • It is import to note that only those noted on the contract can change or modify our contractual agreement.
• During the week, the 4-hour minimum is not required. We do not change our price or charge less on the weekday vs the weekend or on a holiday. Simple stated, the expectation to entertain your guest is the same no matter what day or time your event is scheduled. The role we play can change, amount of equipment needed can change as well as time needed can change. There are basic tools always needed. Other factors for pricing are size of space to be cover efficiently with sound coverage and number of guests expected. 100 people vs 1000 people changes the need for proper equipment and the displacement of sound.
• What if we do not have a reception site? As long as you plan to stay in the San Antonio City limits, regular package pricing will apply. As long as you have a date, site details can be incorporated into the contract down the line. 
• What if the reception is not in San Antonio. Future Sounds travels throughout south and central Texas. We have traveled north to Fredericksburg, south to Brownsville, east to Austin, Houston, Nacogdoches, Galveston and west to Uvalde.
  • We have a 30 mile radius around San Antonio where a travel charge is not incurred.
  • The travel charge beyond the 30 mile radius is two dollars per mile.
  • Wedding receptions outside the state would incur travel and overnight hotel expenses.

Music Request

• What kind of music do you have? Future Sounds offers a variety of music for your reception. The majority of our music files are clean or radio edits. If you prefer unedited versions or explicit versions of your favorite music, please let us know. I'm not paid to judge the music you or your guests choose/request or dance to nor be the the moral authority for the event. You are able to set these parameters on the format guide or with a simple note directly to us. We are more than happy to abide by your guidelines. Also, check your venue contract regarding certain types of music, language rules and sound levels.
• We do not stream music for multiple reasons. Often limited, poor wireless or web access is an issue. This is why we prefer to plan for requests before your event vs during you event. YouTube is not a resource we use at our events.
• Can we make request or a list? Yes! You are more than welcome to make a list of songs you would like to hear during the reception. An average of 15 to 18 songs are played an hour. In a four hour period, 60 to 75 songs can be played depending on the type of music and other non-music events scheduled during the reception.
• It is best if you pick a few requests to give us a direction for the event and leave room for us to adjust the music style accordingly to you and your guest mood. The mood of your guest is difficult to forecast. Regardless, pick a few requests and plan ahead to modify your requests if necessary. 
• Many clients share playlists from Spotify or Apple Music. You can make separate requests list for cocktail, dinner and the dance. Some share a single list, while others share multiple lists.
  • Some have shared lengthy hour-long lists that could not be played in time frame. Short list are better than long lists. Specific encompassing requests are more helpful than general non-specific lists. Please keep the length of time and expected guests who will be attending your event in mind.

Equipment

• What kind of equipment do you have? The speaker systems are made by Yamaha. The mixing devices are made by Rane. The software used is Virtual DJ with a Denon controller. Wireless Microphones are made by Sennheiser. We typically have at least two microphones in ever system.
• Do you have backup equipment? Yes, we have backup cables and equipment/systems in the instance a piece of equipment fails. 
• Are lights included? The basic sound package does not include lights. We do offer packages with lighting. A choice can be made between high tech and low tech lighting or a combination of fixtures as well as up-lighting.

The Value of Entertainment …push, pull, press, pluck or pound…

by Chris Koval

 

There is nothing better than an evening with great entertainment. It can be the spark that immortalizes an evening. Great entertainment can be a solo act or a group endeavor. The benefits of our efforts amuse and inspire your guests to take part in a celebration that revolves around you, family and friends. The outcome is an evening of excitement and lifetime of memories that are truly priceless. Below is a response to the questions, "What is the difference between you and a band?" and "What is the difference between you and my iPod?"

Stages of Excitement

There are many musical stages that you and your guest will encounter as you and they progress through your wedding day. From beginning to end, there is the ceremony, cocktails, dinner and dancing. Various types of musical entertainment can be hired for each of these stages or one type of entertainment can do it all. The different types include but are not limited to string trios or quartets, harpist, violist, guitarist, organist, pianist, singers, mariachis, bands and disc jockeys. When the ceremony and the reception are located at the same venue or same room, quite often you can have the musicians for the ceremony play the music during cocktails and sometimes throughout dinner. Future Sounds can offer a musical service from beginning to end in this situation.

Making Contact

You can find numerous listings for disc jockeys online. Bands or singing groups tend to have agents and those agencies may be listed online too. Quite often the “word of mouth” and referrals from other industry professionals increase name recognition with priceless promotion to their friends and clients on social media. Those who are more focused on weddings tend to market themselves via wedding fairs and advertise on wedding resources. Entertainers who specifically work in the wedding industry realize the role they play is more than just playing music. We have become event coordinators and deal with management of groups when these aforementioned roles are missing or lacking.

Band Facts

In the old days event coordinators generally hired a band. Family, friends and music were simple aspects of life and a local experience when it came to the reception. Today those aspects are complex and diverse. Family, friends and music converge from a community that is now regional, national and sometimes international is part of the average event. Most bands are hired for 4 hours and play a limited selection of cover music or originals. Some bands may play two extended sets of 1.5 hours. The average band plays 10 to 14 songs an hour and may take 2 or 3 fifteen to twenty minute breaks during the four hour period. That’s 30 to 40 songs in a 4 hour period. In reality, you are paying for 4 hours but only receive 3 hours or less of entertainment. There is nothing better than a live performance with great musicians or entertainers. But what if no one likes the music or the downtime kills the momentum? All traditional activities generally are organized around the 20 minute band breaks. You can’t always change the style nor songs the band plays in the middle of the reception, however you can change the style and songs the DJ plays at any point during the reception.

Many years ago we worked with a large band that saturated a 20’ x 40’ stage. The sound technician was 15’ to 20’ in front of the stage monitoring the mix of each instruments volume plus he monitored the stage lighting. He additionally took up a 6’ x 8’ area. The sound system extended an additional 4’ off each side of the stage. We were just off stage using a 3’ x 5’ area. Three main differences we noticed between a band and a DJ are occupied space, available play list and the directed attention. During that event, they could choose to play from a list of over 60 songs. I, on the other hand, had over 30,000 songs. The directed attention of the guests was on the band and costuming while they played their sets. When I played between the band sets, the directed attention was on the dance floor and other events occurring in the room. Stage lighting for a band illuminates the stage. Stage lighting for a DJ illuminates the dance floor. It really is as simple as these three differences.

Master of Receptions

True entertainers have an ability to manipulate their musical and technical tools. All entertainers deliver a live performance. However, we each use different tools to achieve the task at hand. Some of us pluck strings, press keys or use vocal talents. It is the combination of talents that evoke a rhythm and encourage participation for those in attendance. Some guest may sing and dance, others may listen and watch. Ultimately, the way an event unfolds is unpredictable. In addition to playing music, top notch entertainers can coordinate and guide the bridal party, family and guest through traditional events. After the formalities or in conjunction with the formalities your host can direct and motivate those in attendance. This creates movement in a room and leads to interactivity around the room and on the dance floor. It is difficult to forecast the expected mood of your guests; however, great entertainers can adjust and accommodate to any level of unfolding excitement.

Disc Jockey Facts

Mobile disc jockeys can provide an evening of specific musical selections or a wide variety. Some may say we just push a few buttons. But it’s more than that. Depending on your musical preferences, our song sets are generally 3 to 5 songs. We follow a simple wave pattern that offers at least 1 slow song for every 5 songs. Generally this pattern works well for most crowds. It takes most men 1 song to get to the dance floor and dance with their significant other. So we play two slow songs in this situation. Again, adjustments are made accordingly to the pattern depending on your audience response. With avid dancers, sets are longer. With less active dancers, music sets are shorter. Unlike a band or musical group, the flow of the music is non-stop between songs and styles and flawless with respect to the original artist. Most disc jockeys carry hundreds of titles if not thousands. Depending on the musical category, the average DJ plays 17 to 20 songs an hour. That’s 70 to 80 songs in a 4 hour period. Musical entertainment is provided during the full contracted time period. Depending on the music, one major difference between a band and a DJ is 30 to 50 songs. That is a difference of hearing nearly two hours of music. Another part to this is personality and style. My adjust personality to the room environment. Often this can change in a moment due to the change in interaction and participation of guest. My style is more traditional as a wedding focused dj and company. Mixing or beat-mixing is geared toward my pop or club dance music sets. I'm more of a long-play mix vs short-play or quick mash mix.

Software Media or iPod Music Players

Music Software Programs are robust and are great tools used by most DJ's and bands.. Some media players can play hours of music in a jukebox fashion. Files or folders of music are played in a chosen or random order as programmed. Some new media players have a DJ or cross fade function that can mix or blend songs as they are played to offer a non-stop musical mixture. This feature is nice and works well in several applications. The downside to this method is less flexibility.

If you’re using this method for background sound and nothing more, it may work well and save money in the short term. If you must monitor the system for changes in music, volume and software or hardware issues, then this method may create havoc. What if the songs programmed to play during dinner end before dinner has ended or dinner has gone longer than expected? What if your hardware crashes or the song or application buffers while you are walking out to do your first dance? Loss of signal can happen too. If these issues are of no concern then this may be a good method for a simple reception.

Otherwise, most of the wedding industry entertainers use professional equipment and programs. In addition to playing music, they monitor the hardware and software and the progression of music. The hardware is made to be used day in and day out for hours. Equipment rated for home use does not meet the standards for pro-audio applications. Additionally, as mentioned above the entertainment host will act as an event coordinator and guide you through the reception. Software programs do not automatically adjust and are not as receptive or reactive to unplanned events or adjustments. DJ’s have more flexibility adjusting as needed to a modified schedule.

Closing Time

There is nothing better than an evening with great entertainment. There are some similarities between bands, DJs and even an IPod…we each can play music. But there are many differences between us as mentioned above. I realized my role as an entertainer, coordinator and a communicator and also realize how important these roles are to the success of your reception. This is a core principle to Future Sounds and what separates us from many bands, fellow DJs and especially software programs that are not commercial free.. Unfortunately, in my half of the wedding industry the value of the entertainment dollar is quite often shortchanged. The entertainment is responsible for the largest percentage of the wedding reception, but budgeted and booked in the wedding plans often as an afterthought. Some are willing to pay 2500 to 5000 dollars for a band, but refuse to spend a comparable price for a professional wedding DJ. After the ceremony, cocktails and dinner, most reception guests stay for a dance. While planning the most important day of your life …the dress, ceremony, dinner and reception, how much time did you put into the musical entertainment? If hearing the proper music and announcements during the dinner and dance portion of your reception is important, why budget the least for this part?

We are here to help. The best wedding venues, caterers, photographers and disc jockeys take bookings 12 to 18 months out. For many wedding professionals, availability is limited. If you feel that the music and atmosphere developed for you and your guest is not important, then we may not be the best choice for your reception. We are more than happy to suggest the services of others in our industry that just play music or play their music. If the music and announcements are important, check our available for your reception now and secure your date! There is no better time than now to reserve the entertainment for your wedding day! Let us fulfill the lifelong dream, share the excitement and create the everlasting memories!