If you have ever heard the term, “quality not quantity” you would only have half of the story correct if it was about DJ Ben Ostroff. The 25 year pro has had plenty of gigs and wild experiences to say that he has basically seen it all. The mere fact that he has the quantity of 800 events alone since 2003 speaks to the quality of his skills. So how did Ben get to be where he is today?

With wedding season still a few months away, it would seem to most outsiders that event planners would have a bit of downtime during this time of the year. However this is not the case for most pros involved in EBE. For example, Elaine Igoe was recently given the responsibility of planning this year's Soccer Product of the Year (SPY) awards show at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Recent recollections

“I did a wedding this past weekend that was very small.The bride and groom are incredibly shy, and they told me that no one would dance.We came up with all kinds of alternative ideas: I had a pianist perform for the ceremony and cocktail hour and then interspersed with me [DJing] during dinner, and we were going to use him for sing-alongs. We were going to do a trivia game about the bride and groom, and so on.

With the economy down, I’ve seen any number of stories and reporter queries about people who barter their for services or items. If bartering works for you, that’s fantastic. But I will tell you, most companies that are larger than a few employees (EBE included) really can’t trade services for non-monetary payment except in certain, very rare circumstances.

Most people checking out music  — whether a DJ or a band — for their wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, corporate event, or other special occasion don’t know what  questions to ask when they look into entertainment companies like EBE, CTO, or Brandywine Valley Talent that offer multiple acts and options for your big day. Let’s take a look at a few questions that you should ask to help you know what to expect before you sign a contract for your event’s entertainment:

Now that you’ve finished handing out candy to the last trick-or-treater and stowed your Naughty Nurse costume away ‘til next year, are you ready to launch into the whirlwind months of the holiday party season? Juggling family get-togethers, social obligations, and post-holiday party preparations in this generally hectic time of year can seem like a task more suited to a clown than a graceful host, but with some careful consideration, you can enjoy the holidays and still pull off a memorable event in style.