AHHH Contract talks tonight! Help!

So i'm going to the Sandcastle tonight (apt at 730) to talk CONTRACT!!!!!!

Two questions for you girls....

Should i bring a wad of cash for the deposit, or should i just bring my check book? My mom was like....'do people still take personal checks'..and i was like OF COURSE! But, then my best friend made a point that they may not charge tax or whatever if i pay cash. What do you all think?

AND...
Anything in particular i should discuss/ask them?

THANKS!!!!!

While paying in cash for some vendors may work, I don't think (but not 100% sure) it wouldn't work for reception halls. I'm paying in cash/no tax for 2 of my vendors and a 3rd said they don't do cash/no tax. The vendor that said no is a bigger company that probably can't/won't put the money off the books. I feel like a reception hall would be the same way.

And you have to pay the ENTIRE bill in cash to avoid the tax, not just the deposit. That's another reason I don't think reception halls avoid tax, since everybody has to pay by check-why wouldn't they just bring cash instead to avoid the tax.