Q. How much do you charge?
A. Obviously, the most often-asked, and first-asked question. We strive to keep our prices competitive with other DJ's in our area with comparable equipment, experience, etc.

Before continuing, please take a moment and go to:

"A Typical Wedding"
(use "back" to return here when finished)

There are different packages to choose from, depending on your type of function.

For Weddings & Anniversaries, parties that require Emcee work

$549-Basic 4-hour DJ & Emcee
$584-Deluxe 4-Hour DJ & Emcee with NH Justice of the Peace services
(Note: Karaoke is for "karaoke-only" parties and not available for weddings & anniversaries)

$100-Justice of the Peace only (no DJ services)

Other Functions (Karaoke Parties, birthdays, etc.)

$400-3 hours
$500-4 hours

Addition time in all cases is $100 per hour/$75 per 1/2 hr. For Karaoke: nearly 3000 different songs! (4/28/07) It would cost at LEAST $75 to rent a machine on your own, there is a very limited song choice (500 songs or so) and you would need someone competent to run it.
*Note: Karaoke alone is also available at $400 for 3 hours, or $500 for 4 hours.

For more information on our Karaoke Services,

Click Here!

TravelI am willing to travel. I often travel 1 to 2 hours away from home to do functions. Travel outside my local area (local is detemined by me, but is 25 +/- miles from Dover, NH. Naturally, charge depends on how far I have to go.

For more information on Travel,

Click Here!

Q. After the balance of the contract has been paid, is a gratuity customary or expected?
A. Absolutely not. Sometimes clients offer a tip at the end of the function, and this is graciously accepted. However, once the contracted amount has been paid, no further gratuity is expected.

Q. Can we have you as our officiant as well as DJ & Emcee?
A. Sure. For your complete wedding & reception package! JP is included in the Deluxe Wedding Package. (only $35 more that the Basic DJ & Emcee package!)

Q. We are in need of a Justice of the Peace only. If we already have our DJ or not having a DJ at all, are you willing to be our officiant?
Sure, but with a few differences and limitations. If your date is soon (2 to 4 wks. away) and I have the date available, I'd be glad to.
For JP service on weekdays, I will book JP services in advance.
Justice of the Peace services, with no DJ services involved, is $100/local to Dover, N.H. I also have online ceremony passages to choose from at no added cost.

I consider my primary wedding function as a DJ & Emcee. DJ/Emcee packages begin at $549. It's for this financial reason I choose not to book $100 JP-only dates too far in advance. If I have no DJ date within 2-4 wks. of any date I probably won't, and be glad to officiate at yours.

Q. What kind of music do you have?
A. We have a wide variety of music on hand, whether it be for a wedding, or an anniversary party. Generally, a good variety, especially of dance numbers, is needed. If a list of "please be sure to play" is submitted to me within a week or two prior to your function, I will make every effort to acquire them.

Q. Do you take requests from our guests as well as ones we may want?
A. Yes and Yes. It's our aim, of course, to please you and as many of your guests as possible. After all, from a business point of view, there could be future clients in the audience. We also try to play them as soon as possible.

Q. What if we have some special songs we want played?
A. Provided the song list is sent (online wedding form, email, faxed, or regular mail) at least one to two weeks prior to your function. This would give sufficient time, if needed, to acquire a few we may not have.

Q. Do you work with us, or do you have a set way of doing things?
A. My attitude is always that I'm being hired by you, and I do what you want to have done. This is YOUR wedding or function. I'll be glad to make some suggestions when we meet prior to the wedding, and certainly if you need ideas or guidance, I've been to and played at many weddings in the past 25+ years, and I see how others like to do things. In the end, though, I make it YOUR decision as to what we inevitably do.

Q. Do you keep things "rolling"?
A. Absolutely. Some good examples are making sure the toast is being poured by the time the entrance of the wedding party is made. Another would be briefing the photographer and caterer at the beginning as to the format I've worked out with you, so they are ready to take pictures, or checking that food and wine toasts have been set out and ready to be served so as to not have any "down-time" You will see me "roaming around" a lot, speaking with the photographer, caterer or kitchen people, co-ordinating happenings.
Not the usual thought-of responsibilities of the DJ/MC.
For more on this, go to

"A Typical Wedding"

Q. Do you typically provide props or are you a more low key act?
A. I don't provide props, or any other what I will call "gimmicks". I believe on allowing the music to "speak" for itself. I also believe that folks want to dance, not listen to a DJ tell jokes and dress up in silly garb. After enough times of hearing a heckler from the audience shout, "Shut up and play some music!", you get the idea. I would hardly consider what I do a low key act, though.

Q. Do you need a down deposit for us to retain your services?
A. Yes. A $150.00 retainer would be needed to retain your date in our book. The deposit is not refundable, but is applied to and subtracted from your original, agreed-to fee. The retainer is expected, along with the online contract, (see blue sidebar) within 5 mailing days from when you called or emailed me to inform me of your decision to book. I will hold the date for you for those next 5 days--guaranteed.

Once the retainer is secured, if anyone else calls for that day-time, I simply inform them I'm all set with that date.

A check or money order may be sent to and payable to:

Rick Tate
93A Washington St.#2
Dover,NH 03820-3745

Email Me
or phone 603-742-4470

Q. Do you have a contract?
A. Yes. When I receive your intitial "Request For Services" I will send you an emailed price quote, and then you complete the online contract, and mail with the retainer. I will send you a copy back.
To view my contract Click Here (you need Adobe Reader to view this PDF file--download it free here.)

Q. Do we pay any extra for your set-up and tear-down time?
A. Absolutely not. If your function is 1:00pm to 5:00pm, that is what your 4 hour contracted period would be. We generally arrive 1-1.5 hours prior to, in this example, the 1:00pm to 5:00pm contracted time, and are ready to begin playing music at 1:00pm.
I don't believe in "nickel and diming" folks to death.

Q. What are the terms for the remaining balance? Can it be paid in advance of the function?
Remaining balance is due 10 days prior to your function. About a month before your function, I will email you a reminder. A personal check, money order or a cashier's check is fine. You may make your final payment any time after the contract signing. I can set up a payment plan with you, also. Just email me.

Q. How long have you been DJ'ing weddings and functions?
A. I (Rick) first started DJ/MC work for weddings in 1977, at the ripe old age of 23. Before that, I had some good training by way of my then mother-in-law, who was the lead singer and "Mistress of Ceremonies" for weddings. I (Rick) have been a karaoke host since working for another karaoke company, in 1992.

Q. Do you drink alcoholic beverages while working?

A. I never drink alcohol on the job--period. It's my own personal view, but I view it as unprofessional to do so. Although often times I have a GREAT time doing weddings, I see myself there as doing a job that I get paid for, and not to drink and party.

Q. Do you have a video or audio tape?
A. No, and for what I think are good reasons. I think wedding video or audio demo tapes can be so misrepresentative. In such a video or audio, most people would base their opinions of the DJ on the first 2 or 3 songs. Which 3 songs would be featured? Pop? Country? Classic Rock? Of course, it would be edited to show footage of times when the dance floor was full--see what I mean? I could shoot 4 different videos to send out, depending on that individual's musical taste and send the video that most closely matches their musical tastes--would that be really representative?

It only would show my performance according to one of my client's tastes. If you were to see me do or play something that you didn't want at your function, you would probably not want to hire me. The point is that the style of my performance will reflect your desires. I will play the songs you want, while avoiding the ones you don't. The level of personality and audience interaction will be at the right "temperature", too.

I do have streaming video on many of my web pages of myself introducing the various pages, to give you an idea of what I look like, sound like, and perhaps even a glimpse of my personality.

Q. How many different units do you have?
A. One unit. The person who wrote this (Rick) is the person to sign the contract, and to DJ and MC or Karaoke host at your function.

Q. Can we come see you at a function?
A. The vast majority of work we do is private functions, such as weddings. Although I have invited others to someone else's function in the distant past, I find the practice to be rather tacky, on my part. After all, you wouldn't want uninvited strangers coming into your function, would you?

Q. Do you have any written references? How about a brochure?
A. Yes, both. My references are online-some with email or phone contact as you go further down the page. For online references:

Click Here!

Q. What kind of equipment do you run? How powerful is the sound system? Is it O.K for a small reception of, say, 80 people, as well as one with 250?
A.Our amplifier and speaker system has a maximum rating of 260 watts per channel @ 8ohms, more than enough for any indoor setting (reception hall, gymnasium), as well as with any backyard, outdoor reception. I also have subwoofers.
That does not mean we will "blow the walls" off a small room. High-powered systems sound even clearer at low volume levels.

For more information about our equipment, including pictures,

Click Here

Q. Do you have back-up equipment?
A. Yes. All electronic components have backup systems.
In addition to the amp previously mentioned, we have a Gemini XG3000 200-watts per channel @8ohms as a backup amp. We also have packed a spare mixer, and the karaoke player, which is built in to the cabinet, can also be used as an emergency backup CD player.
*Maintenance and re-purchasing of equipment has always been important to me. In over 20 years, I've never had a major malfunction that caused music to cease permanently.
Pretty good track record, huh!

Q. What attire do you normally wear?
A. I own a tuxedo and several suits. I feel comfortable wearing the tuxedo, but I will certainly wear an appropriate suit and tie, when asked.

Q.Can we book karaoke only, for say, a birthday party?
A.Yes. Karaoke Party rates are 4 hours for $500 and 5 hours for $600. Karaoke parties are booked separately from DJ Services, and can not be combined with DJ services.

For a list of all karaoke songs we currently have (nearly 3000, including new releases!)

Click Here!

Q.If we decide to have a non-church wedding ceremony, can you marry us?
A.Yes! For your complete wedding ceremony and reception package! I am a NH state-appointed, commissioned NH Justice of the Peace. The wedding ceremony only needs to take place within the boundary of NH (with a NH marriage license) For Justice of the Peace service information, Click Here!

Q. Do you attend the ceremony rehearsal?
A. No. All of my ceremonies are very simple "repeat what I say" passages. Most of the time spent at rehearsals have to do with who walks with who, where, and at what time. All I need to do is read. Any small details can be discussed prior to the ceremony. I get to the site 1 to 1 1/2 hours prior. To view the ceremonies, Click Here
To view the "Justice of the Peace" page, Click Here

Tips on Selecting a Disc Jockey
Asking the following questions will help you to decide which Disc Jockey you're most confident with:

How much experience does the D.J. have?
Does the D.J. have a professional/proper appearance?
Does the D.J. have a tentative format as to what order the events of the reception should occur?
What kind of sound and lighting does the D.J. carry?
Will dinner music be included in the D.J.'s price?
Will the D.J. set-up before your guests arrive free-of-charge?
Do you feel confident with the way the D.J. presents himself/herself?
Will the D.J. meet with you personally before your wedding date?

Please use our
"Request For Services" form

WE WANT TO BE YOUR DISC JOCKEY!

Links to other pages within our website

If you have a question or concern not covered on this page, feel free to
Email Me
I'll be glad to answer you, and usually within 1/2 day!