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How long has On The Lake been in business?
On The Lake Entertainment, also referred to as OTL Entertainment is a new events company established in 2023, however it is owned and operated by partners Bryan and Heather Fontez who have worked in the live events, hospitality and customer service industries for a combined 40+ years. Bryan has been a full-time DJ, MC and Live Musician and Heather has been a GM and Vice President of multiple restaurant locations, banquet centres and more.
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How many events do you book per year?
When the pandemic ended, the entertainment and DJ market exploded. Bryan immediately booked over 60 events in the 2021 summer season. In 2022 we serviced over 80 events, and now in 2023 we are currently at over 100 events and counting. This continual growth is one of many reasons why we chose to start On The Lake Entertainment.
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Do you have insurance coverage?
Yes. You can relax knowing that On The Lake Entertainment is fully insured. This means that we can perform at all venues that require business insurance from their vendors, without any issues or additional fees.
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Can you provide references?
On The Lake Entertainment has many Google Reviews, all of which are five stars. If requested however we can also provide references from fellow vendors, planners, venues, and even other entertainment companies if needed.
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What types of events do you service?
We have the capacity to do many types of events from weddings to festivals, sports arenas to clubs, restaurants to staff parties, corporate galas to birthdays. No gig is too big or small.
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Can the DJ act as the MC for the evening? Is there a cost for this?
Definitely, all of our DJs have MC’d many events of all kinds and sizes. In fact many of our DJs are also professional musicians and performers with years of stage and touring experience which translates seamlessly into being a great MC. With that said, like any talent, MC service is an additional cost, and can easily be added when deciding on your package details and equipment.
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How much do we communicate leading up to the event?
If we have not already had a video call, once we have received your signed agreement and deposit and secured your event date, we will set up a introductory video call so you can meet your DJ and they can let you know what to expect leading up to and on the day, as well as some other details to start thinking about to make your event worry-free. For weddings or larger corporate/social events, our team will email you one month prior to your event with an event details form that will assist us with the event. One week prior to your event you will have another video call with your DJ to review the completed form and ask any final questions that you may have. Outside of these two video calls, the team at On The Lake will be available to you via email and phone to answer any questions you may have, and make sure we have all of the necessary information to make your event a success!
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Can you provide live bands and musicians?
We are well connected and have great relationships with a variety of musicians throughout Southern Ontario. This includes everything from sax, harpists and strings, to full bands.
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How far in advance do I need to book a DJ?
Depending on the type of event and the date, we suggest that you book at least one year in advance to make sure that the date is available. However, as mentioned above we do have a great roster of DJs and will do everything we can to make sure we are available for your special day. Book a video call with us now to check if your date is available.
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Do you have the capacity to book more than one event on the same day?
We have several amazing, experienced, high-level local DJs & Musicians on our roster to make sure that we will always be available for your event.
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What is required to secure a date?
To secure your date we ask for a 50% deposit and a signed agreement. Once the date is secured, you can always change the chosen service at the beginning of the planning process. Request a quote now to get started!
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When do I need to make the final payment?
Whilst we recommend that final payment is made a week or two before you event, so you have one less thing to worry about, we do request that the final balance be paid in full no later than 24 hours before your event day.
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What type of payment do you accept?
We prefer that all payments be made via e-transfer, however we will also accept bank drafts and certified cheques.
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What is the cancellation policy?
Once an agreement is signed, you are able to cancel and receive a full refund up to 12 months prior to your event date. Cancellations within 12 months of your event date will require us to keep your deposit, simply because most of our events are often booked a year or more in advance, meaning it will be challenging and require additional resources for us to try and fill the empty date.
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How much time does the DJ need to set up and take down?
Setup time is highly dependent on how much equipment you’ve requested and the layout of the venue. However, on average it takes about 30 minutes for just a solo DJ, 60 minutes for a DJ & basic audio system, 90 minutes for a DJ plus additional lighting or speakers and potentially more depending on the situation.
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Am I required to provide a meal for the DJ?
As our DJ will likely be there early before and late after the event, we do request that they be given a meal and beverages. Depending on the type of event, a full seat at a vendor table as a guest is always extremely appreciated.
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Do you have a back-up plan if your equipment stops working?
Absolutely. As DJs we rely on our controller to play music but it’s always connected to our laptop which can easily do everything we need for the ceremony, cocktail and dinner portions of the evening. If our laptop doesn’t cooperate, we always keep an online Google Drive containing all of your music that can be easily accessed and played via smartphone. And if the DJ's controller dies, we also keep a small back-up controller with us just in case.
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Can I provide my own playlist and "do not" playlist?
Yes, you can provide your own "do" and "do not play" lists. We always encourage that the client provides some sort of input and direction for the DJ, even if it’s just a handful of songs or artists. We really want to make sure that we get it right and while we’re great at reading a crowd, it always helps to have additional insight before we compile a playlist and get the dance floor going.
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Do you take song requests?
Yes, it’s our job to make sure that you and your guests are as happy as possible. However we also try our best to use our experience and instincts as professional DJs to mitigate and screen requests that we feel will negatively impact the energy or experience. Ultimately, we leave requests up to you to decide and will roll with whatever you decide is best for your event.
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Do you charge extra if the event goes later than planned?
No. As far as we’re concerned, we’re there for the day regardless of your end time. We typically don’t charge any more or less for time because the setup, teardown and preparation all take the same amount of effort and time. But if the party does happen to go beyond the agreed upon end time, as long as the venue is ok with it, you can count on us to stay as long as you like. And hey! If you’d like to compensate the DJ for the extra time, I’m sure they’d be very appreciative.
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Is there an expectation to leave a tip?
There is no expectation for you to provide gratuities on top of what is signed in your agreement, however if you and your guests enjoyed the experience and would like to offer a tip, it would of course be very very much appreciated.
