Common Questions,
Clear Answers.

It depends upon the date. Some clients choose to contract a year or more in advance, while some are comfortable waiting until several months prior. Saturdays are the busiest nights, so waiting too long to hire a DJ (or any service) for a Saturday night might lead to disappointment. A booking fee is all it takes to lock in your date.

Every package and add-on is priced on our site: see wedding pricing and party pricing. What you see there is what you pay, and any package can be adjusted with more hours or add-ons.

A booking fee holds your date, and it depends on which services you book. It starts at $250 for the DJ. The balance is due two weeks before your event, you are welcome to make payments any time before that, and we accept all major credit cards (a 3% card fee applies; check or bank transfer has no fee).

We do not charge a travel fee for events within 25 miles of our office. For events beyond that, a travel fee of $5 per mile applies. If travel fees are incurred, overnight accommodations may also be required. We’ll review all travel-related details with you during the initial meeting to ensure full transparency.

Absolutely. It’s your party! While we are happy to make suggestions, you have total control over the music that is played at your event. We have clients who choose every single song to be played; we have clients who leave it entirely up to us, and everything in between. You can view songs by selecting the browse our music tab within your online planner.

We update our music library every week, so we always have the most current music. Please let us know if you have specific songs or artists you want played at your event.

Chances are we will have the music you are looking for. We are happy to play any music you wish to provide in addition to our normal library of choices. Should there be a special song you need that neither of us has, we will attempt to locate and purchase that song for you. We cannot guarantee that a particular song is available, but we rarely come across a client request that we cannot accommodate.

Most of our clients ask us to play prelude music prior to the ceremony, along with a wedding processional for the bridal entrance and a wedding recessional for the exit from the ceremony. Occasionally, we are asked to play special songs for the seating of special family members or the entrance of the bridal party. Also, music can accompany any special moments that sometimes occur during the wedding ceremony (like a candle lighting, for instance).

We are very hesitant to send potential clients to another client’s event (and we will take the same approach in not sending potential clients to your event). Besides the potential inconvenience to our client, there is no guarantee that event you visit will be anything like what you are looking for at your event. Please click here for recent and event specific references from actual clients.

You have until 6 days prior to your event to complete your online event planner. Your DJ will call and review this with you during your final meeting.

Our DJs come equipped with a microphone and are happy to make announcements and to help coordinate activities at your event, if you want them to. We plan these activities and announcements with you ahead of time so there are no surprises or disappointments at your event.

Absolutely not. Our DJs are trained to be professional, friendly, courteous and helpful. Additionally, they are trained to handle your event to your specifications. If you want a DJ to lead the "Chicken Dance" from atop the speakers, they can do so. If you prefer a more low-key approach, the DJ will gladly accommodate your wishes. At a wedding reception, our DJs are trained to enhance the enjoyment of the event, not to try to be the "star". A wedding day is about you, the bride and groom, not about our DJ.

Unless directed otherwise, our DJs wear semi-formal attire (jacket, dress shoes & slacks). For casual outdoor events our DJs wear something like a Polo shirt and Khakis.

Abell DJ Company uses online top of the line, professional-grade sound equipment. We have wireless microphones, intelligent LED dance lights, & premium sound systems.

Our modern DJ setups are designed with built-in redundancy - so if something like a laptop fails, we can seamlessly switch to a backup device like a phone. If a speaker goes out, there’s always another one running. In most cases, nothing would fully prevent us from continuing the event. Additionally, Abell DJ Company maintains a trusted network of professional DJs and backup sound systems we can call on in case of a rare emergency. We closely monitor all event-day communications to respond quickly if needed.

We typically staff between 5 and 10 DJs, depending upon the season. This is a tremendous advantage to you, as we have such a diverse and talented group to choose from. Our DJs range in age, with a wide variety of personalities, music specialties and backgrounds. If you are looking for a certain type of DJ for your event, chances are we’ve got the perfect DJ for you!

Once you tell us more about you, the kind of music you do and don’t want and the type of personality you are looking for at your event, then we match you up with the ideal DJ according to your needs.

Our DJs typically arrive about 60 minutes before the scheduled start time to allow ample time for setup and sound checks. This ensures we’re fully prepared and ready to begin at the contracted start time. If you have any special requests or venue requirements, just let us know!

For any Associate DJ package, we only require a standard electrical outlet within 25 feet of the setup area. If the setup involves a stage, please let us know in advance, as our equipment is heavy and on wheels. We also require an ADA-compliant, wheelchair-accessible path all the way to the setup location.

If an emergency were to occur - such as a DJ being unexpectedly delayed or unable to arrive - our team is prepared. We have an internal check-in system that tracks when each DJ is en route and when they arrive onsite. If a DJ hasn’t checked in as expected, or if we’re contacted by the venue or a guest, we act quickly. If we’re unable to reach the assigned DJ, we will immediately contact a replacement from our trusted network of professionals.

In reality, depending on the timing and location of the event, there may be a delay in starting our services. In such rare cases, we will always do our best to make things right. If a delay is unavoidable, we may offer two options:
1. A full refund with no DJ sent, or
2. A replacement DJ sent to complete the event, with a prorated refund based on the actual start time.

If emergency staff is dispatched and everything proceeds according to schedule, no refund will be issued for stress or inconvenience alone as a service was delivered.

This ensures fairness while allowing us to deliver a successful outcome whenever possible.

Almost never. We’ve worked in every possible situation over the years and can make virtually any room or area work. Again, please let us know if you have special needs.

Life happens, and we would much rather help you move your date than lose you entirely.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, the payments you have already made are non-refundable, because they reserved your date and turned away other bookings. They are not lost, though. Those payments carry forward as a credit toward a future event that takes place within one year of your original date, and can be applied toward any service we offer, subject to our availability and a new agreement.

The sooner you tell us, the more options you have. Reach out at hello@abelldjcompany.com or 314-266-2666 and we will walk you through it.

We believe that we provide the best service in St. Louis. We pay attention to every detail and make every effort to make every event we do absolutely perfect. We hire the best talent, and provide them with the tools to be great DJs.

Another important point is that our DJs are there to make you look good, not to make themselves look good. No egos, showboating or embarrassing behavior; just a professional in place to serve you.

Finally, at most events, the DJ “makes-or-breaks” the party. A great DJ means a great party and an event you will never forget, practically regardless of any other circumstances. A bad DJ will send people home early and probably ruin the night, no matter how nice the rest of the event has been.

Truly, the DJ might be the most critical decision one can make when planning a party. We believe you cannot find a higher quality DJ service in the region, and our prices are fair. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you.