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What an amazing year… check out 65 events crammed into one year. I actually had 66, but one of them was not documented. 
There are so many articles about how much to spend on a DJ. I’m going on the record to tell you that every single one of them is WRONG. I’ve seen article say that you can DJ the wedding yourself. You certainly can! You can also go to Wal-Mart and buy a dental kit to do your own fillings.
Our market here is very diverse. I see DJs are high as $2,000 but mostly as low as $350. That figure scares me… not just as a DJ, business-man, someone that went through wedding planning for his own wedding… but mostly as a family man. How can someone charge $350 and make a living?
For those of you who are expecting me to tell you about how important we are to your wedding will not be happy with me. I’m not writing that at all! You already know this, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading anything I am writing. I’m going to tell you WHY we charge what we charge.
Here’s a cost breakdown for a small DJ package that can handle around 200 guests.
• Two speakers = $600/each (there are cheaper, but you get what you pay for. $600 is a very conservative number for a system that can handle 200 people.
• 1 year music subscription (multipled by the last 5 years) = $1,200
• Cheap Mixer = $300
• Cheap CD Players = $300
• WIRED (not wireless) Microphone = $100
• Tripods for speakers = $100
• Console (case to hold everything together) = $200
• Simple LED-based light show $400
Keep in mind, I didn’t add in gas, $2 million insurance policy and other business expenses, a computer (most DJs spin MP3s with a digital controller that works just like a CD player/turntables). That’s $3800 All rental companies charge at least 10% of cost. This means that to rent out this system at 10% it would be $380. In the last three years this number has averaged to about 20%. We’ll stick with a low 10%.
A simple equation to calculate price is equipment + talent = service price. Makes sense, right? Your DJ has business expenses (though he paid for the equipment, it doesn’t last forever), and he has many hours that he’ll add his talent to.
What does this conclude of our $350 DJ?
$350 (price of said DJ) take away the $380 is NEGATIVE $30.. This means the DJ either 1) values his skills at NEGATIVE $30 (or he’s paying YOU to work at your wedding) or 2) He’s bringing out low-grade equipment that won’t serve justice to the most important day of your lives. Oh, I didn’t mention.. but there’s TONS of business expenses: taxes, advertising, office capital, and non-event gas (for meetings). Even if they were booked 52 days of the year, that’s $18,200….
How can someone charge $350 and make a living? If you guesstimate the gross income after business expenses, you’d actually read “How can someone charge -$30 and make a living?”
Here’s something to think about: the numbers I gave you are for lower/middle-end equipment. We didn’t even touch on high-end brands such as EV, BOSE, or EAW that easily triple costs. Many entertainers have high-end lighting, video, or other special effects. Many of our weddings see over $20-30K worth of equipment! Many entertainers go to one or two yearly conventions to further their craft. Like any industry event, these conventions are NOT cheap.
So where do you start? Research DJs, or many will attempt to call or email you. The first question you ask should be: Are you a dedicated DJ company that specialized in weddings? What do you do to further your craft? Are you respected amongst your peers in the industry?
So how much should a DJ charge? Well, as you can tell… it all comes down to value of equipment plus value of talent. Equipment has a fixed cost, TALENT DOESN’T. Every DJ knows what he or she is worth. Once a DJ gives you a price, ask them why they charged you that. Was it low? Was it high? Was in between? A high price doesn’t mean a good DJ either… ask them for videos (recent, not some canned production in their office), client reviews, and even vendor reviews!
Behind an amazing DJ is an amazing set up. Yes, you can throw an amazing event together using mediocre equipment… but why would you want to do that? That’s like trying to bake a cake in a fire stove.. why?!?!
When I roll my console inside, I always get asked if I’m coming in to do magic tricks. LOL, it certainly does look like a magic box!
So what’s in this sucker? Click the link below for a fun read!
Why am I posting today? Simple– I have the best wife in the world!
I love you, Monica!
Two years ago in 2007 I married my best friend, Monica. Our wedding was at the Peggy Brown Building… even though it was 110º outside, we stuck it out for photos…. our ceremony was indoors (thank God!).
Just like any gig log.. I’ve attached some photos… video will come soon!!!
Thanks to David from A Premier Entertainment (duh), Jenny & Bob from KC Photography (double duh), Cakes by Maggie, Dr. Davis (our officiant), Kelly and Christina and all our family and friends who helped make this day happen!!!
Package we chose:
Here’s the pics… just a few of the 900+ taken. Click below!!
I just HAVE to share this… check out this elaborate proposal @ Disneyland! I wonder how much money it cost to pull it off!!!
Some of you may recall the hilarity of this video I posted a couple of years ago…
This song, for years now, has been the backbone of many a chuckle amongst my friends and I.
Today, we took it to a new level. I present to you the trailer:
My hope is to show the creator of the original (who made the Hippo film to showcase his animation skills) the trailer in hopes of acquiring the source files for a high-res copy.
Just wanted to share– ENJOY!!!
Often in the DJ community there are many arguments about what makes a DJ. Many old-school turntablists say you still need to use turntables or some form of controller… not just pressing buttons on a laptop. However, I’ve seen many DJs who keep a floor packed without beatmixing and with just one button on a computer.
I personally use a computer with a controller, and I can tell you I can outmix anything I could do with CDs or Turntables.
With this thought in mind, take the following at note. I went skating today, which means I busted out my raggedy, dying, need-to-replace skates– they still work… and they probably do better than 80% of the skates out there. Quality never dies, lol. The DJ there uses Microsoft Windows Media Player. 
We always make fun of him, but not because of his choice of DJ software, after all he also uses high-end Denon CD Turntables and always manages to trainwreck his mixes. Even then, that’s not why we pick on him.
The crowd is 99% preteens to teens. I think I’m the only person there that’s old enough to drink, hahaha. Adult night’s are always on days when I’m working so I’m stuck skating on teen night. Many of the patrons are jam skaters (people who skate to the beat of the music and have set routines).
The DJ doesn’t read the crowd very well: he played rock songs NOBODY recognized (not even I), rap music with profanity, and obscure music that made everyone shrug their shoulders. Of course, when it came time to make announcements everyone ignored him as there was little respect for him. His attitude could’ve been a bit better– unless you were a single girl, you were not going to get any kind manners from him.
Since he would rather stay outside or talk to girls, he ignored the 10 second gap between each song. We watched in amazement as people kept leaving the floor.
Here’s why we laugh: he calls himself a DJ.
With the description I have given you, would you call him a DJ?
No?
So why believe anyone who says they’re a professional DJ?
Where’s the proof?
Don’t ask a DJ what he uses to mix with– that’s irrelevant, what’s important is his style.
I’ve also had the delight of talking to an amazing bride who’s doing very thorough research. As a matter of fact, she may be reading this right now. We’ve communicated several times, and even though she likes our company, she’s still researching before she makes the decision! Right on! If she chooses us, I know that she’ll be 100% confident and appreciative of what we will offer for her wedding day.
She has also gone as far as asking for proof of the DJs availability. Whether it’s YouTube, a DVD, or any form of video. Peter Merry’s Book The Best Wedding Reception… Ever!, talks about how every DJ should have a highlight reel (or numerous ones) as well as UNCUT footage. I can take the worst wedding DJ and make them look phenomenal on tape– it’s all about editing skills– so ask for raw footage.
As the aforementioned bride has done, ask for proof of MCing style. While the wedding you see may not be your wedding, a good MC should be able to shape your style into the event.
Is this a shameless plug for our company’s YouTube page? Well– yes… but many DJs in the area have videos, too. Remember, ask for real event footage, not testimonials (really, who will post a BAD testimonial), not demo reels (people dancing with music layed over), and not a generic reel. Ask to see their MCing, mixing, and interaction with the crowd.
Don’t ask to see them at an event… if they say no, it’s because they don’t want to invite people to someone’s special day, not because they’re hiding something.
One last thing– EVERY DJ can provide proof of their work. Even if they don’t have someone to film every event, they’ve worked with a videographer at some point. That videographer can provide a sample video. There’s just no excuse.
After all, you wouldn’t buy a cake just because it looks pretty on a photo without ever tasting it. 
