Book DJ Ahmed Khan

Booking Information

Contact DJ Ahmed Khan directly to discuss your event date, venue, entertainment requirements, sound system needs and lighting options.

Past Corporate & Wedding Events

Select any page below to view the larger event résumé image.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers regarding pricing, contracts, music planning, equipment, insurance, setup requirements and event-day service.

1. Is there any way to hire you for less money?

   The prices above CAN be separated. For example, if you rented a sound system and lights from a different company, I would come out and play music for between $800 and $1,200. However, here's something to think about: Most reception halls are charging you $150 to $300 per-person for each dinner & drinks. If you add on the costs for wedding planning, decorations, the cake, tuxedos, limousines, etc., the per-person-cost can easily approach $400 per-person. If you do a simple calculation of the music costs, they can range from $28 per-person for 50 attendees and drops down to $10 per-person for 250 attendees. Simple math: The cost for the DJ with sound equipment and lighting only increases your per-person cost slightly. If you want to save money, scrutinizing the fee chart above is really not the way to go.

2. Do you offer a written contract?

   Yes. It will outline the setup requirements and other factors related to the wedding ceremony & reception.

3. Will you be the DJ at our wedding?

   Yes.

4. May we meet with you in person before we sign a contract?

   Yes. Our initial communication will probably be via telephone or e-mail. Once I gather the details of your event, I will create a written contract. I am able to meet with you at this point in the process. However, it has been my past experience that meeting in face-to-face is not necessary until we have a walk-through of the wedding facility.

5. How long will you hold our date for us?

   DJ bookings are on a first-come, first-served basis. However, if we are in the middle of discussions, I would provide you with the first right of refusal.

6. Do you work exclusively for this company?

   I am an independent DJ contractor. I play in nightclubs and at weddings.

7. How long have you been a DJ and have you done weddings before?

   I've been DJing since 1987. I have experience on college radio for 91.7 FM (Pomona). I have DJed on commercial radio stations including 1090 AM WUSS (Atlantic City), 95.1 FM WAVY (Atlantic City), 99.3 FM WZBZ (Atlantic City), and 98.1 FM WMXI (Hattiesburg). I have played small and large nightclubs. I have DJed over a hundred weddings.

8. How many weddings do you do each year?

   I book approximately six weddings per year.

9. How many other types of events do you do per year?

   I have a weekly residency at a Tango's Lounge @Tropicana Quarter in Atlantic City, NJ. I also book high school proms and homecoming dances periodically throughout the year.

10. Do you perform for more than one event in a day?

    I do not unless it's for a close personal friend.

11. What makes you different from your competitors?

    I have played a wide variety of music professionally at nightclubs, proms, private parties, and weddings since 1987. I was the resident DJ at a club in Atlantic City for 10 years. I was in charge of the DJs, sound system maintenance, and lighting system maintenance. Atlantic City has a very wide demographic base from young hip hoppers to more mature disco dancers from Latin night to Euro night. My music library has both breadth and depth. I am also a school teacher. I have been professionally trained to speak publically both on radio and in schools.

12. Have you played at our reception site before?

    I have played weddings in many cities throughout New Jersey. I have also played weddings at remote locations including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. I have played weddings in "non-traditional" settings such as under the Rotunda of the Daughters of the American Revolution Memorial in DC, the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, and on a mountain in San Francisco.

13. Do you act as the “emcee” and make all of the announcements?

    I make announcements and serve as the emcee for the wedding. I will organize the bridal party outside of the banquet hall, announce the bridal party as they enter the banquet hall, announce the first dances, introduce the best man/maid-of-honor speeches, and make other general announcements. I have much experience speaking on a microphone.

14. What do you do to motivate the crowd if nobody is dancing?

    I will develop a playlist of your and your guests' favorite songs before the event so I am in touch with the likes and dislikes of your crowd. I also try to use the microphone to “energize” your guests and motivate them to dance as needed. Careful song selection usually ensures that people will dance.

15. What if something happens to you and you can’t make it to the wedding?

    I try to arrive at the venue a few hours before the start time. This allows for traffic, car problems, etc. I also have a network of DJs who could provide backup services in the event of an emergency. Since 1987, I have never missed a wedding event.

16. Will we meet again before the wedding?

    We can conduct a face-to-face meeting in the weeks before your wedding if you desire. However, I think we can accomplish the same goals telephonically or with other technology such as Face Time.

17. Can we visit you at a performance?

    Unfortunately, I am not able to authorize this. It would amount to two strangers showing up at someone else's wedding. However, you are welcome to hear me play at my club to gain a feel for my music selection, mixing, and public announcement abilities.

18. May we speak to your references?

    These are some of the more notable weddings I've done: The O'Hara Wedding (San Francisco), The LoPresti Wedding (DC), The Chalmers Wedding (San Francisco), The Kauffman Wedding (Philadelphia), The Sluzenski Wedding (Brigantine), The Torres Wedding (Galloway), The D-Silva Wedding (Bethesda), The Pitts Wedding (Atlantic City), and The Johnson Wedding (Cape May). I'm sure they would be willing to provide recommendations.

19. How do you keep your music collection up-to-date?

    I am serviced with some music directly from the record labels or promoters. Some music comes from the Mixshow Director at a Philadelphia radio station. Some music I purchase.

20. How involved can we be in selecting music for our event?

    Please choose as much of the music as you wish. I have song lists arranged by genre in the "PLAYLISTS" section of this website. There are literally hundreds of songs there. However, you are probably busy with so many other facets of your wedding that you will not have time to peruse the lists. In this case, a more efficient way to select music is to tell me who your five favorite music artists are and what genre(s) you like. I will be accommodating to your music tastes. Quite frankly, you should be able to dance to the songs/music that you and your crowd like.

21. When do we need to submit our music requests and event details?

    I will need a few days before the event to procure any songs that are not already in my collection.

22. Do you take requests from our guests?

    I will try play requests but it should fit into the general theme of the playlist you provided. For example, if you provided 10 disco songs on your wedding playlist and one of your guests requests a heavy metal song, I would probably not play it. I am very good at gauging a crowd's musical stylings.

23. Can we submit a “Do Not Play” list?

    Yes

24. When do you arrive to set up for our wedding?

    Generally, I try to arrive at least two hours before the scheduled start time.

25. What will you wear when you set up and break down your equipment?

    Since I arrive so early, I will be in casual clothing to load-in and set up. Before guests arrive for the reception, I will change into formal attire.

26. What will you wear to our wedding?

    I usually wear a tuxedo with a black, red, or light blue bowtie and patent leather shoes. If the groom will not be wearing a tuxedo, then I can adjust my wardrobe accordingly.

27. How much of a deposit is required to secure our date?

    I usually charge 25% of the fee in advance. The balance of the fee for services rendered in the amount of 75% of the fee shall be paid in the form of cash, certified bank check, or money order payable to AHMED KHAN at the beginning of the event.

28. What is included in the cost of my event?

    My prices are outlined above. It's a combination of prep time, travel, equipment used, and performance time.

29. How much would you charge for overtime?

    I bill out overtime at $100 per half-hour.

30. What do you require from us?

    I will need a six-foot table on which to set up the CD decks, mixer, and laptop. I will need a separate 20-AMP power supply recommended for every amp rack. A separate 20-AMP power supply recommended for lights. If an item is not available, a similar substitute should be supplied. Usually I will ask you to put me directly in touch with the banquet manager.

31. Do you require a meal?

    I do not want you to pay for a meal for me. Occasionally, the servers will offer to fix me a plate. If I feel it will not interfere with the flow of the event and it will not be too conspicuous, I will accept.

32. Are you insured?

    I carry a liability insurance policy.
    

    • Each Occurrence: $ 1,000,000
      
    • General Aggregate (other than Products-completed Operations): $ 5,000,000
      
    • Products-completed Operations Aggregate: $ 1,000,000
      
    • Personal and Advertising Injury: EXCLUDED
      
    • Legal Liability to Participants: $ 1,000,000
      
    • Damage to Premises Rented to You: $ 1,000,000
      
    • Medical Expense (other than participants): $ 5,000
      
    • Medical Payment for Participants: $ 5,000

    Some reception sites have taken the step of requiring all vendors working at their facility to provide proof of insurance before the wedding. In this case, you will have to make arrangements for the liability insurance policy rider to cover the DJ performance. They are fairly inexpensive (less than $250 in some cases), Liability insurance protects you and the reception site in the unlikely event that a guest gets injured or the reception hall gets damaged as a result of the DJ.

33. Do you take any breaks?

    No

34. What is your policy on alcohol or smoking during the wedding?

    I do not smoke. I drink at the wedding if it is offered to me by the host.

35. What kind of equipment do you use?
    • MICROPHONE:
    Shure Wireless or Shure SM-58 corded
    • MUSIC PLAYERS:

    Pioneer CDJ-2000nx2

    -plays cds & mp3s

    Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ controller

    -plays mp3s

    Pioneer DJ SR-2 controller

    -plays mp3s

    Pioneer DDJ-ZX controller

    -plays mp3s

    Pioneer CDJ-1000

    -plays CDs & mp3s

    Denon DN-5000

    -plays CDs

    • SPEAKERS FULL-RANGE:

    SYSTEM #1-JBL PRX715 active (750 W RMS each @ 8 ohms)

    
    

    SYSTEM #2-JBL PRX912 active (750 W RMS each @ 8 ohms)

    
    

    SYSTEM #3-Mackie HD-1521 active (750 W RMS each @ 8 ohms)

    
    

    SYSTEM #4-QSC K10.2 active (1000 W Class D (500 W LF + 500 W MF/HF) continuous

    
    

    SYSTEM #5-QSC K10.2 active (1000 W Class D (500 W LF + 500 W MF/HF) continuous

    
    

    SYSTEM #6-QSC KW-153 active (1000 W Class D (500 W LF + 500 W MF/HF) continuous 2000 W peak)

    
    

    SYSTEM #7-EAW LA-325 passive (600 W RMS each @ 4 ohms)

    
    

    • SPEAKERS SUBWOOFER:
    SYSTEM #1-JBL(PRX915XLF) (__W 15") powered
    
    SYSTEM #2-JBL(PRX918XLF) (__W 18") powered
    
    SYSTEM #3-Yorkville ES18P Elite Series (1600W 18") powered
    
    SYSTEM #4-Mackie(HD1801) (__W 18") powered
    

36. AMPLIFIERS:
Crown iTech-8000 (4000 W @ 4 ohms) or Crown XTi-4002 (1200 W @ 4 ohms)
37. PROCESSOR:
dbx Drive Rack
38. Do you bring backup equipment with you to the wedding?

    I've never had the need for a back-up. My equipment is in excellent condition. I keep it well-maintained.

39. Do you have a wireless microphone?

    Yes

40. Do you have a light show?

    I do. The effectiveness of the lights depends on the time of day and the wedding hall's ambient lighting. Most weddings do not need a light show although some couples desire up-lighting against the walls/corners.

41. Do you set up a sign or banner with your equipment?

    It depends on the venue and the occasion and the wishes of the sponsor. If a guest asks for information about booking me, I will hand him/her a business card or QR Code.

42. Do you belong to any professional associations or trade groups?

    I am recognized by the recording industry as the former director of the Atlantic City Record Pool which is a group of DJs who are serviced and authorized to play new music as it is released.