Below is a list of frequently asked questions and their answers organised into easily navigable sections.
If you cannot find the answer to your query here, please click here to email us for any more information and we will be happy to help.
General
How do we book?
Can we see you play before we book?
Do you have any references we can contact before making a booking?
How far will you travel?
Setting Up
When do you arrive to set up?
Can you arrive in the morning to set up for an evening event?
How much time do you need to set up?
How much space do you need?
We are using a generator to power our event.
How much power do you need?
How many power sockets do you require??
Equipment
What equipment do you provide?
Do you provide lighting?
We’re planning speeches/a raffle/announcements.
Can we use your sound system?
Can you play dining music over your sound system for our meal?
Can we plug our own laptop/mp3 player into your sound equipment to use?
We have hired some extra equipment to use.
Can you operate it for us?
The venue has a sound limiter. Is that a problem?
How loud are you? We have a noise limit of X dB.?
Is your equipment electrically tested?
Set Times Our event may overrun.
Can you stay later than agreed if necessary?
Songs
Can we make requests?
What about if a song we want played is not on your song list?
Can you play our first dance for us?
We are concerned that you may be too loud or rocky for our older guests.
Is this likely to be the case?
Payment And Insurance?
How much do you charge?
Do you require payment in advance?
Do you require a deposit?
How do we pay you?
Are there any hidden costs?
Do your fees include expenses, such as travel costs?
What happens if my event is cancelled?
Will you still charge us?
What if our event is affected by the weather?
Do you have insurance?
Miscellaneous
Our event has a dress code.
Can you adhere to it?
Do we need to provide you with food?
Booking
How do we book?
Please contact us first with the details of your event so we can check our availability and provide you with a quote for our services. When you are ready to secure your booking we will take your details and confirm your occasion in our diary and by sending you a confirmation of hire form in the post or by email. Simply return the acceptance slip on the bottom of the form and post it back to us with the agreed deposit
Can we see you play before we book you?
Yes. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you now can! Visit our video page here. Alternatively, we occasionally play a public date, so please contact us for details.
Do you have any references we can contact before making a booking?
Please visit our testimonials page here to view the feedback we’ve received from past events. If you wish to contact any previous clients directly, then email us and we will provide you with their details.
How far will you travel?
As we are based in Midsomer Norton close to Bath, we typically cover around this area, but will consider taking on bookings further afield. Please contact us to discuss your event if this is the case.
Setting Up
When do you arrive to set up?
Our quoted fee includes us being available up to 45mins before the start of our performance for unloading and setting up.
Can you arrive in the morning to set up for an evening event?
Yes. However, at our discretion, an extra fee may be applicable depending on the circumstances.
How much time do you need to set up?
We require approximately 45mins to unload, set up and check all of our equipment. Depending on the location. If the parking location is far away from the setup area then this could be longer. The closer the better.
How much space do you need?
We require a minimum area of 16ft (5m) wide by 10ft (3m) deep to assemble our large setup with all of our equipment, although we do have a smaller setup that can fit in smaller locations. But we appreciate as much space as possible if it is available. Contacts us if you have any concerns.
We are using a generator to power our event. How much power do you need?
In the event that you need to hire a generator from an external company, it may be useful to quote that the disco's power draw, including lighting, is no more than 10kW.
How many power sockets do you require?
To save us running unnecessarily long power extension leads, we request that the stage area has a minimum of one double-socket, preferably behind us. The sockets need to be the standard UK 3-pin type, rated at 230V and equipped with 13A fuses.
Equipment
What equipment do you provide?
Apart from a power generating device, we provide all of the equipment required for our performance. This typically includes a full PA sound system and full LED lighting equipment.
Do you provide lighting?
Yes. A full modern intelligent LED lighting system is used. This can be tailored for the occasion.
We’re planning speeches/a raffle/announcements. Can we use your sound system?
Of course. Our sound system can be used under our supervision and our sound engineer will help you out should you need to use any of our equipment. We do have wireless microphones which can be used.
Can you play dining music over your sound system for our meal?
In the event that we have completed our setup before your meal takes place, then dining music can be provided via our sound equipment. As with the interval music, we encourage you to advise us of the content or if you wish, we can compile a music selection on your behalf.
Can we plug our own laptop/mp3 player into your sound equipment to use?
Yes. As long as the device has a standard 3.5mm headphone or line out socket, we can connect it directly to our sound system. It is advisable that any appliance used in this way is run on mains power rather than by battery.
We have hired some extra equipment to use. Can you operate it for us?
For insurance purposes, we claim no responsibility for the setup and/or operation of external equipment not owned by us.
The venue has a sound limiter. Is that a problem?
In most cases, no, unless the limiter is particularly sensitive. However, to save any inconvenience, we would advise that venues with sound limiters are avoided unless it is absolutely essential, as they can be extremely frustrating to work around. If choosing a venue with a limiter is unavoidable, we recommend that you contact the venue and ask for the limiter’s trip level in decibels. This information will help us to minimise any disruption by taking the necessary precautions with our equipment.
How loud are you?
Our volume level will vary depending on the venue, but ultimately we can control it within a certain range.
Is your equipment electrically tested?
All of our equipment is checked and maintained on a regular basis to ensure it is safe to operate under normal conditions. If any faults are found, the items are immediately removed from our rig and sent away for professional repair. Set Times
Our event may overrun. Can you stay later than agreed if necessary?
We appreciate that all events may slip behind schedule and we are willing to adapt to any situation as it presents itself. However, if your event is delayed by more than an hour, we ask that you discuss the circumstances with us, especially if a later finish time is apparent. Songs
Can we make requests from your song list?
Absolutely. You can make as many choices as you like or you can leave it entirely up to us, if you prefer. The simplest way to let us know your selection is to complete the relevant section on our booking form.
What about if a song we want played is not on your song list?
Not a problem. As with the requests from our song list, there is space on our booking for you to make suggestions. We can’t guarantee that we will play every one of your choices, but we’ll do our best!
Can you play our first dance for us? Yes. As the first dance is arguably the most important song of the evening and we want to make sure that we will play it as and when you require. Please make sure you lets us know in advance the song you require.
We are concerned that you may be too loud or rocky for our older guests. Is this likely to be the case?
We value ourselves on being musically appropriate for the functions that we are booked for. What we mean by this, is that we will take into account our audience and react accordingly. As well as adhering to your requests as closely as possible, it also means that we will adjust our performance intensity to fit the situation. As a result, our music is suitable for all age groups and in many cases, the younger guests are often shown up by the stamina and smokin’ moves of the older generation!
Payment And Insurance
How much do you charge?
We have prices to suit all occasions and all budgets. As all occasions are different we need to know more information about your party or event so we can give you an accurate quotation. For an accurate quotation.Please contact us on 07969 394152 or email james@hddisco.co.uk We confirm all bookings in writing and there is a 20% deposit to confirm your booking.
Do you require payment in advance?
In most cases, no. However, we will inform you at the booking stage if payment in advance is required. Any payment made will be promptly acknowledged with an invoice/receipt for your records if needed.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. We will ask for a 20% deposit to cover our administration costs and to confirm your booking. Any deposit made will be promptly acknowledged with an invoice/receipt for your records if needed.
How do we pay you?
Unless we have requested an advance payment, the fee can be paid on the day of event, preferably when we setup or at least before we start playing. Payment methods will be discussed with you after your booking has been received.
Are there any hidden costs? Do your fees include expenses, such as travel costs?
Our quoted fees are ‘all inclusive’ and incorporate all of our expenses. The only time we may inform you of a change to your quoted fee is if your initial enquiry does not accurately reflect the service we need to provide.
What happens if my event is cancelled? Will you still charge us?
If the function is cancelled within the six months leading up to the specified date, we reserve the right to charge 20% of the agreed fee to subsidise the loss of full payment. Cancellation or termination of our performance on the agreed date will incur a charge of between 50% and 100% of the full fee, depending on the situation that is present. We will discuss with you the amount owed under these conditions.
What if our event is affected by the weather?
In the case of events, we request that the organiser takes all reasonable steps to ensure that any disruption as a result of the weather is kept to a minimum. Should weather conditions affect our performance or safety, we reserve the right to terminate the engagement at any point, either temporarily or permanently. If you are using a marquee for your event, please make sure that the structure is safe, stable and completely water-tight.
Do you have insurance? The venue has asked if you have Public Liability Insurance?
In the unfortunate event of an accident,we are protected by a £5 million Public Liability Insurance policy which covers all of the equipment. The certificate of insurance can be produced on request should the venue or organiser require proof. Miscellaneous
Our event has a dress code. Can you adhere to it?
If you’re having a special occasion with a dress code, please inform us in advance of what you would class as suitable attire. If no advice is given, we would typically dress smart, i.e. a formal shirt and black trousers.
Do we need to provide you with food?
We don’t insist on it, but are always grateful if we can be accounted for in the catering arrangements. Whether this means us having access to the evening buffet or having some packed lunches put aside, we are not fussy.