Frequently asked questions

• What kind of music do you play?

  Anything that fits your event and your crowd — clean, family-friendly versions by default. (Explicit versions only if you specifically ask.) Tell us your favorites and the vibe you’re going for, and we build the night around it.

• Can we give you a must-play and do-not-play list?

  Absolutely. Your must-play list makes sure your favorites get heard, and your do-not-play list is just as important — we honor both.

• Do you take requests during the event?

  Yes, if you’d like us to. You decide up front how open the request list is, and we’ll always keep it appropriate for your guests.

• How do we reserve our date?

  Send us your details through the scheduling page. We’ll confirm availability and send an itemized quote; once you’re happy, we put together a simple contract and reserve your date.

• How far in advance should we book?

  Popular dates — especially weekends and wedding season — fill up early, so sooner is better. Booking ahead also lowers your price: weddings save $10 for every month in advance (up to $120), other events $5 a month (up to $60). That said, it never hurts to ask about a date that’s coming up soon.

• Do you travel to our venue?

  Yes. We’re based in the Shenandoah Valley and regularly play across Northern Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Travel beyond our local area may include a mileage charge — see our rates for details.

• Do you offer any discounts?

  Yes. Every new client saves 10% (weddings included), and booking early saves you more — weddings take $10 off for every month in advance (up to $120), other events $5 a month (up to $60). You can save another 5% by paying with cash or check, and there’s a $50 discount for weekday, military, or non-profit events. See our rates page for the details.

• How many songs should we request?

  As many or as few as you like — both extremes work. Some clients send several pages and we play from the list, reading which ones the room wants; one wedding requested exactly one song (their first dance) and left everything else to us, and everyone had a great night. Title and artist is all we need, and if a particular version or mix matters, just say so. See our planning page for what helps most.

• What format should we send our music requests and timeline in?

  Whatever you’re already comfortable with. Type it into an email, send a document (Word, PDF, Google Doc), a spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets), a Spotify playlist link, or any combination. There’s no form to fill in and no format to match — we’d rather you spent the time on your event than on formatting a list. See our planning page for the details worth including.

• Do you provide lighting?

  Yes. Dance-floor lighting and uplighting are available to set the mood and make the space feel like an event. See our rates for options.

• What makes Family DJ “family-friendly”?

  It means everyone — from the flower girl to the grandparents — can enjoy the music, whether they’re dancing, watching, or just listening. We pay attention to lyrics and themes and quietly filter out anything objectionable, a habit built over years of playing for church groups, elementary schools, and families with high standards. For weddings, it means music that’s fun for every generation in the room.

• How experienced are you?

  Carl has been a DJ for over fifteen years and grew up playing family-friendly music for groups of every type and size. He also loves to dance — so he knows what it’s like on the other side of the speakers, and he reads a room accordingly.

• Will we get the DJ we booked?

  Yes. The DJ named in your contract is the DJ at your event. Only in a genuine emergency — like a serious illness — would we assign another DJ, and if that ever happened we’d contact you right away and handle the coordination to bring them fully up to speed.

• How early do you arrive to set up?

  For most events, about an hour before your start time for setup and a sound check, and we allow time to take down afterward. Bigger setups take longer — a second sound system, uplighting, or anything with special requirements — so we arrive earlier as needed. Either way, there’s no extra charge: setup and takedown are included. Worth knowing how the time is counted: your start time is when we need to be set up and ready to go, and your end time is when we can begin taking down.

• What’s included with every booking?

  Every booking includes a professional DJ/MC for the whole event, a professional sound system with up to two wireless microphones, a backup sound system on hand, access to our full library (many thousands of songs, growing all the time), and setup and takedown. Optional extras like dance-floor lighting and uplighting can be added — see our rates.

• What happens if equipment fails during our event?

  We bring professional gear and keep a backup sound system on hand at every event, so a technical hiccup doesn’t stop the music. Special events are often once-in-a-lifetime — we plan for that.

• Can we see your reviews or references?

  Absolutely. You can read reviews on WeddingWire, Google, and other platforms — see the links on our site. References are available on request, and after your event we’d love it if you left a review too.

• How will you be dressed?

  We dress appropriately for your event — typically formal for weddings, or to match whatever your occasion calls for. Just let us know the dress code and we’ll fit right in.

• Why hire a DJ instead of a band or a playlist?

  A professional DJ gives you versatility a single band or a playlist can’t: access to virtually any song, the ability to read the room and adjust on the fly, seamless transitions with no breaks, and an MC to keep your event running on time. You get the music you actually want, played right when it lands best.

No questions match “”.