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Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't find your question answered here, please contact us.

General

 

Disc Jockeys

 

Equipment

 

Music

 

When is the balance due?

If the venue is located within the Anchorage Borough, then the balance is due no later than before we setup on the day of the event.

If the event is not located within the Anchorage Borough, we may require that the final balance is paid in full the day prior to the event.

 After signing a contract and booking my event date, when will the DJ contact me about my event?

We will contact you within 4 weeks of your event, we will then use the next 2 weeks to finalize your playlist and timeline.  But if you have any questions at anytime between now and then, feel free to call us or email us by email.

How far will you travel to an event?

We will travel as far North as Talkeetna and far South as Homer and Seward. Venues located outside of Anchorage or Eagle River are subject to a travel fee.

What is your travel charge?

 Travel fees are assessed for venues that are located in an excess of 50 miles from Anchorage.

Distance from Anchorage (miles) Cities Cost ($)
0-50 Wasilla, Palmer, Girdwood Free of Charge
51-75 Big Lake 25.00
76-100   50.00
101-125* Talkeetna 75.00
126-150* Kenai, Soldotna, Seward 100.00
151-175*   125.00
176-200*   150.00
201-225* Cantwell 175.00
226-250* Denali, Homer 200.00
* Venues that exceed 100 miles from Anchorage are charged a $100.00 lodging expense fee.

How far in advance should I book an event?

The simple answer would be as soon as possible.  We can take reservations up to a year before the event date.

How much do I have to pay to reserve my event date?

A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 or 50% of the agreed cost of the event.  Whichever is less. Some may call it a retainer fee, we call it a deposit.  This deposit is then applied to the balance due.

Do you have any setup fees?

We do not calculate the time it takes for us to setup, so setup is generally free.  Although, if it is required for us to lift or carry our equipment onto a stage that exceeds 4 feet high or a stairway that takes you from one floor to the next, then we reserve the right to charge $50.00 per event.  This will be discussed at the time of signing of the contract so there are "NO HIDDEN" costs.

What does your DJ insurance cover?

 Our DJ insurance covers costs that may be incurred due to accidental damage to our equipment or injury that may occur.  We have a $1,000,000 liability insurance coverage.

What form of payment do you take?

 We can take cash, check, money orders, and credit cards.

During the event, if we need the DJ to play longer than scheduled, is that possible?

If additional time is needed for the DJ to perform, usually we are up to it but the discretion is up to the performing DJ.  Payment for  additional time must be paid by cash or check.

Where did the name "ONDAGO" derive from?

 The company name of ONDAGO, derives from the words "On the Go".  It was thought up from our friend, named Jay Jones.

Will ONDAGO display a banner with company name & logo?

 We do not display these items unless requested or if our time is donated to charity. 

Are your DJs experienced?

 Our DJs are very experienced and wouldn't be in this business if we weren't. We know the ins and outs to moving a crowd.  It involves choosing the right songs, keeping the appropriate tempo, and using the microphone in the utmost professional manner.

What will the DJ wear?

 The DJ will wear attire ranging from a formal tuxedo to business casual.  This will be discussed at the time of contract as it depends on the client's request. We don't want to look out of place, so we will make sure to always ask.

Do your DJs take breaks?

Our staff may take a break when its appropriate, especially if there is more than one ONDAGO staff member present at the event.  Depending on the length and type of event, we make sure that there be enough staff for a successful setup, performance, and takedown.

Should I feed the DJ?

 It's really up to you, food will not put our DJs to sleep.  Keep in mind that for a 4 hour event, the DJ may have not eaten for 6 hours. The DJ would have had to setup for at least 1 hour, play for 4 hours, and 1 takedown for the last hour.

Can the DJ emcee my wedding reception?

 Definitely, we can make sure your guests know what's going on and are not afraid to use the microphone.  It's one of the responsibilities of a DJ that performs at weddings.  If you are looking for a person to chat away all day/night long, our microphone is available to anyone you choose to MC your event. Although, most of our weddings include a 2nd person from ONDAGO to help coordinate with the banquet captain and other vendors present.

Will the DJ play special requests?

 Of course, our extensive library contains mostly top billboard tracks and we carry many classics, too.  We will use our professional judgment on what is appropriate and what's not.  Please let us know before your event on what we should never play during your event to prevent any mishaps.

Who from ONDAGO will be at my event?

We plan to provide you with the DJ that you have been in contact with during the event planning process.  We may include one more staff member to either assist with setup or assist with playing some tunes from your playlist.

Will the DJ invite prospective clients to my event?

 To this date, there has been no need to invite a prospective client to someone else's event.  We highly rely on referrals and advertising for us to land our future clients.  If we have a client that is interested, we woulod make sure to check with you first.

What type of equipment do you use?

 We only use professional audio & lighting for it's quality and reliability.  We do not use any home audio equipment. 

If I also have a band, is it possible for them to connect to your speakers?

Yes, our system has the ability for a musician or small band to connect their instrument microphones to our sound board.  Although, we do not provide microphones that are designed specifically for instruments; we can sure accommodate to help provide dual entertainment.  Please let us know beforehand if you are interested in using this.

Do you have back up equipment?

 Malfunction of our equipment is very rare. However, we do carry backup parts and also have many work-around features that allow us to provide a successful event. We also have the ability to trouble shoot any problems that may arise.

For our wedding ceremony, can you provide microphones and speakers?

 We can provide  wedding march music, speakers, and wireless microphones for you if you need your family and guests to hear your "vows" and your "I dos".  If we are DJing you reception, we can add a ceremony setup for an additional $100.00.

Do you do provide karaoke?

Yes, we currently offer our clients to add some karaoke to their events.  We actually subcontract from a preferred karaoke provider in which includes a selection of over 16,500 song titles.

How much time do you need to setup the equipment?

We request that the client allows us access to the venue 1 hour before the event for setup and 1 hour after the event for takedown.

How well does your sound system do outside?

 Simple answer, it's awesome.

Do you provide a dance floor?

 No, unfortunately we don't offer this.  We do know of a company that can. Please contact us if interested.

For an outdoor event, what does the DJ require?

 We require that the client shall provide overhead shelter for the setup area.  We also reserve the right, in good faith, to stop or cancel the services should the weather pose a potential danger to the DJ(or property of the DJ), or anyone else.We also require that the client shall provide a 15-20amp circuit outlet from a reliable power source within 50' along the wall of the setup area.

How much space is needed for the DJ's equipment? 

 We require a minimum of a 6' x 6' area for the DJ and tables.  Additional space may be needed for speakers and lighting stands/trussing.

Are you able to play my personal CDs with your equipment?

 Yes, not a problem.  Please let us know 2 weeks before your event as we try to make sure everything gets played accordingly and at the appropriate time.

What kind of lighting do you have?

 We provide state of the art club-style lighting effects.  It consist of LED intelligent light fixtures that move, change color, strobe, and even react to the beat of the music.  We also include ambient light fixtures to add light to the room.

Will the fog machine set off the smoke detectors?

Possibly, because many venues use smoke detectors that measure the density of particles in the air, fog effects (especially dense fog effects) can "fool" the detectors and trigger a fire alarm. If you are unsure of what type of detector your venue has, consult with the head of maintenance or your event location manager.

We have never set off any alarms during any of our events and know that there is no reason to overuse the fog.  The fog really adds an awesome effect to our light show.  We use a water-based fog machine.

Where do you get your music?

We get most of our music from subscription services.  We currently are subscribed to the full selection of www.tophitsusa.com and a platinum subscription from www.xmix.com.  We also purchase lots of music locally in Anchorage which include CDs and Vinyl.  We do order from online vendors from time to time.  One place where we don't get music is the internet.

How many songs do you have?

 We have over 30,000 tracks ranging from subscribed music compilations to full albums.

What type of music format do you use?

 We prefer to use the vinyl with Technics brand turntables as we want to keep to the roots.  Some venues require less space to be used or are only a couple hours, so at time we would bring the table top CD players.

Do you have clean versions of songs with "questionable" lyrics?

 Yes, our music subscription service and a local box store provides albums without the "parental advisory" or "explicit lyrics"  label.  Our subscription services offer many songs that are clean and suitable for students and radio play.

Why a personalized playlist?

 We believe in making your event, "YOUR" event and  giving your event the special attention and time. We don't believe in cookie cutter playlists. New music comes out every week, so why not play the latest and greatest?