Philadelphia Wedding and Event Entertainment FAQs

Pricing Questions for Philadelphia Wedding Bands and DJs

How much do you charge?

Pricing depends on the artist, the size of the ensemble, and your date. Full pricing information is available here.

What is your deposit?

Deposits run 35% to 45% of the total and are due at signing. Deposits are nonrefundable.

When is the balance due?

The balance is due two weeks before your event date.

Are there any hidden or extra fees?

No. The price quoted for your artist is the cost of the performance. The only items billed separately are overtime, travel outside our standard radius, and the 5% convenience fee on credit card payments, and you will know about all of them before you sign.

Does your price include cocktail hour?

Yes, in most cases. Band pricing generally includes a soloist or duo for cocktail hour, and you can upgrade to a string or jazz ensemble if you want a fuller sound in the room before dinner.

Do you have insurance?

Yes. We carry $2,000,000 in liability coverage, which is what most venues require, and CTO is insured and bonded. We can send a certificate of insurance directly to your venue.

How much does it cost to have the band play past four hours?

Overtime is prorated from the band's four hour price.

How much to have cocktail hour for 1 ½ hours?

Usually there is no additional fee. If your venue runs an extended cocktail hour as part of its package, we cover it.

Will you "pencil us in" for our wedding date?

No. We take too many inquiries to hold dates. Booking is first come, first served, and a signed contract with a deposit is what secures your date.

How far in advance should we book a Philadelphia wedding band?

Most couples book roughly 12 to 18 months ahead, and prime Saturdays in May, June, September, and October go first. If your date is closer than that, ask anyway. Availability moves.

How do we pay, and do you take credit cards?

You can pay through our online payment portal or by check made payable to World Entertainment Inc. Credit card payments carry a 5% convenience fee.

Do you charge a travel fee outside the Philadelphia area?

We perform regularly across Philadelphia, the Main Line, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties, South Jersey, and Delaware, and we travel well beyond that for destination events.

Entertainment Questions About Our Bands, DJs, and Ensembles

What services do you offer?

CTO Music Artists produces live wedding and party bands, DJs and Fusion sets, and string and jazz ensembles, including string quartets. Production lighting for our artists is included. We keep our services to what we do best rather than selling you everything at once.

What is a Fusion set?

A Fusion set is live musicians performing alongside a DJ at the same time, so you get the energy of a band and the catalog of a DJ in one setup. It is a common choice for couples who cannot decide between the two. See our DJs and Fusion page for the roster.

Should we hire a band or a DJ for a Philadelphia wedding?

It depends on how you want the room to feel. A band gives you live vocals, horns, and a front person reading the floor in real time and stretching a song when the dancing is working. A DJ gives you the exact recorded version of every track and seamless transitions. A Fusion set puts both on the same stage.

How many people in each band?

Most of our bands are 8 to 10 musicians, and a few run larger or smaller depending on the act.

Can I reduce the number of musicians?

Sometimes, yes. It depends on the act, the size of the room, and the date, and your bandleader can walk you through what changes in the sound when a piece comes out.

Can I mix the singers from one band with another?

No. Each band rehearses and performs as a unit, and that is a large part of why each one sounds the way it does.

What is the process for hiring a band, DJ, or string ensemble?

Watch the videos, talk with us, choose your act, then sign a contract. Most couples start with a 15 minute call to check date availability before anything else.

Can we see one of your bands perform before we book?

Yes. We produce live showcases so you can watch our artists work in front of a real audience before you sign anything. Upcoming dates are posted on the site.

Do you perform at corporate events and milestone birthdays?

Yes. Weddings are the core of what we do, and we also produce entertainment for corporate events, galas, and milestone celebrations throughout the Philadelphia region. Ensemble size and set length flex to the room and the run of show.

Can you build something that is not on your roster?

Yes. Custom entertainment covers one off productions, specialty acts, and programming built around a theme or a brand. Tell us what you are picturing and we will tell you honestly whether we can produce it.

Does CTO bring a sound system?

Yes. Our acts are self contained in most cases. Events over 300 guests and travel dates are the exceptions, and we will flag it early if yours is one of them.

Who does the introductions?

Every band has a designated MC, the person who handles announcements and introductions. We confirm the pronunciation of every name with you during planning so nothing gets mangled at the door.

Do you provide cocktail music?

Yes. Options run from a soloist or duo up to a full jazz quartet.

Do you provide ceremony music?

Yes. Strings, soloists, and small ensembles are all available, and we coordinate processional and recessional timing with your officiant and planner ahead of the day.

Do you take requests from guests during the reception?

Guest requests generally go through your bandleader, who will play anything on your approved list and use judgment on the rest so the floor stays full.

Can I plan my event with you?

Yes. About two months before your date we will ask you to complete the event planning form, and your bandleader then contacts you directly to build the timeline, the song list, and the load in details.

Will we have a problem with volume?

No. Every band travels with its own sound tech and current equipment, and volume is managed room by room through the night. Dinner sits at conversation level. The dance floor does not.

Will you learn some songs for us?

Yes, up to two. We already know most current hits and the standards from every era, and we will learn up to two specific songs just for you. Requests need to reach us at least two months before the event.

How many breaks do you take?

None in the usual sense. We play continuous music, so someone is always on stage. During dinner that might be piano or acoustic guitar. When the plates clear, the full band is back up and the room gets moving again.

Service Area and Other Questions Around Philadelphia

How far do you travel?

We are based in Bala Cynwyd and perform throughout Philadelphia, the Main Line, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties, South Jersey, and Delaware. We also travel for destination events, and we have gone as far as Argentina for a client.

Do I have to feed the band?

Yes. Our agreement asks for a minimum of a deli tray with soft drinks and coffee for the musicians and crew, available before the performance starts so our attention stays on your event once it does.

Does the band drink alcohol?

No. Our musicians and crew do not drink at your event. We are there working for you.

How long does the band play?

Performance pricing covers a full band across a four hour period. Ceremony and cocktail hour coverage are handled separately, and anything past four hours is prorated.

Do you have lights?

Yes. Every band includes accent lighting for the stage as part of the production.

Do you offer room lighting or draping?

No, and that is deliberate. We refer you to lighting and draping professionals we trust. We are an entertainment company, and we would rather send you to specialists in that work than sell you a one stop shop that does neither job well.

Technical and Production Questions for Your Venue

How much space do you need?

A 20 by 8 foot stage area is ideal. More is better, and a little less is workable. Send us the floor plan and we will tell you what fits.

How much power do you need?

Two dedicated 20 amp outlets in most cases. For tented events we always recommend a generator.

What time do you arrive at the venue?

The sound system arrives about three hours before the event and the musicians about 90 minutes before. If your venue requires an earlier load in, there is a fee of $100 per person per hour, so it is worth confirming load in windows early.

What happens if a musician gets sick?

We substitute. Our agreement reserves the right to swap performers so the production runs at the same standard, and a roster this size gives us depth at every position.

Contract Terms and Booking Policies

What happens if we have to postpone or cancel?

Deposits and pre event payments are nonrefundable. If an uncontrollable event prevents the performance, you can reschedule within 18 months at no additional cost. Cancellations inside 180 days of the event leave the remaining balance due.