As long as my calendar shows I'm available for your event date, just fill out my Quote Request Form. I'll respond within 48 hours (usually much sooner) with an accurate, up-front quote and I'll offer some dates and times for a consultation.
The following methods are accepted for the initial booking retainer payment or any other payments toward your balance:
On-the-spot requests for Overtime (to continue beyond contracted ending time) must be paid in-person with cash or credit/debit card before Overtime service can commence.
Wanna keep the party going? Overtime is available for $75 per half-hour, payable by cash or credit card. Just remember to check with your venue first: some venues have their own overtime charges, and others do not allow overtime at all.
My current rates for weddings are listed on my Weddings page. No surprises, no guesswork, no "sales pitches" to try to get you to spend more than you planned. For other types of events or for voiceovers, prices vary depending on the specifics of the request... let's discuss!
Definitely! Just tell me a little bit about your event plans. I'll respond with a quote and we can schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to answer your questions and discuss your plans further.
To help promote social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am only offering meetings by videoconference or telephone at this time. Once the pandemic subsides, I will bring back the in-person option.
No problem! As long as you have a date and a venue, you don't necessarily need to know the exact start/end times of your event when you request a quote. Just make your best guess. If you decide to book, we'll use those estimates as "placeholder" times on the initial contract. The contract can always be updated later if you need to change the times.
Based in Central New York (just a little east of Syracuse), my weddings have taken me into the Finger Lakes, the Thousand Islands region, the Adirondacks, the Southern Tier and even as far as the mid-Hudson Valley.
My standard rates include travel up to one hour each way between my home and your venue. This includes all venues in Utica and Rome, even if they're just a few minutes over an hour away. The map here provides a general idea of that radius -- click or tap for a larger view.
Venues significantly over an hour away will incur additional charges for time/mileage. Exact amount depends on distance, but it would be included right up-front when you request your quote.
Check my availability calendar. If your date is listed as available, let's talk! Even if I'm not available, I can share some suggestions.
Absolutely! The Do Not Play list is just as important as your must-play list. Feel free to ban specific titles, everything by a certain artist, or even entire genres of music. Should any guest request anything you've banned, I'll politely tell them I cannot play the song.
You can request as many songs as you like! For weddings, I couples to split requests into two lists:
That being said, this my professional opinion based on experience, but if you would prefer more control over the playlist, let me know what you have in mind.
My library includes thousands of songs covering every major genre, and I'm always adding more. But if your request lists include anything I don't already have, I'll get it.
Yes, if a meal is being served, I require a meal as well. However, most wedding vendors (myself included) don't partake in cocktail hour or bar service while working. Knowing this, some caterers offer discounted "vendor meals." Ask your caterer before you submit your final meal count.
Nearly all of my bookings are private, invitation-only events. Just as I am sure you would not want me inviting complete strangers to your wedding, it would not be appropriate for me to invite you into somebody else's wedding. However, I'm proud to refer you to the dozens of reviews previous clients have written about my services since 2011.
There is never a break in the music. My only significant break is for dinner, but I always have plenty of music queued-up before I walk away... and I return to my station promptly after eating. Once the dance floor opens, I may occasionally step away to refill my water or coffee, or to use the restroom, but I am directly there and back as quickly as possible.
Similar to my presentation style on the radio, I aim for a pleasant, upbeat approach, without going "over the top" and sounding fake or gimmicky. But I am not the type of DJ who speaks between every single song "just because." Once the dance floor opens, the music takes the lead -- I'll make announcements as needed, but I also respect the fact that you and your guests are there to enjoy the music and each other's company, not to hear a DJ talking every 4 minutes all night.
Yes, I usually serve as both the DJ and the emcee. I'll make the formal wedding party introductions and any other announcements needed, basically providing "crowd traffic control" to keep the event flowing smoothly, and as close as possible to the planned timeline. I'll also help facilitate events like the cake cutting, bouquet toss or any other events or games you want to include in your reception.
Yes! See my Uplighting Page for more details.
No problem! I've done plenty of outdoor events. Overhead protection for my equipment is required, rain or shine. Tents, gazebos, pavilions or porches all work just fine. If none of those will be available, I can bring my own canopy tent, but there is a nominal fee for the additional time/labor involved.
If you're planning an outdoor wedding, check out my Peter's Pointers blog post, "6 Must-Haves for Outdoor Weddings."
No signs or banners are displayed at weddings or other private events. (I think that's tacky.) However, I may place a nominal amount of signage on or near my setup when doing public or non-profit events, especially if I am performing at a discounted rate or donating my time and services.
Generally, I arrive 1½ to 2 hours prior to the contracted start time to load-in and setup for an event. It depends on a variety of factors. Let's discuss the specifics of your event, and I can tell you exactly how early I'll need to arrive.
In the rare event your venue does not allow ample time for setup and/or teardown, I may need to hire an assistant so that the same amount of set-up work can be accomplished within your venue's timeframes. Should this be necessary, the additional cost for the assistant would be added to your price quote.
Yes, I own all of my equipment. It is never rented or loaned out to anyone else.
Just one: me. When you book Peter Naughton, you get Peter Naughton. I personally handle every step of the process -- from answering your initial quote request to booking, planning, performing the event and packing-up all the gear at the end of the night.
Weddings: tuxedo or suit -- whichever is closest to how the men of the wedding party will be dressed.
All other events: Tux, suit, business casual or casual (to match the level of attire being worn by the event's organizers).
I bring backups of all my sound equipment -- laptops, hard drives, mixers, amplifiers. If something fails, I can just swap it out and keep the party rolling.
Yes, and a certificate of coverage can be provided upon request. Even if you decide to hire someone else, please make sure they have insurance. Never book an uninsured DJ; it could wind up costing you big time if anything goes wrong. Want to know how? Check out my Peter's Pointers blog post: "Why You Should Never Hire an Uninsured DJ."
