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!

A big congrats go out to Collin and Jerrika Aiken!

They wanted to have a PARTY from the beginning the reception started and party they did! The ceremony was moved indoors due to the rain, but that didn’t slow anyone down. Pete (my assistant) and I rearranged certain parts of the room to prep it for the ceremony.

Everything looked beautiful and the rain was just a sign of God’s promise to a new beginning in their lives.

The reception was great, featuring their first dance on clouds using our one of a kind system.

The dance crowd was small, but they danced large! Pete and I had a blast!

Package Chosen:

• Premier (Upgraded to Entertainment Coordinator compliments of APE)
• Custom D’Elegance Lighting Package with Uplights
• Lighted Columns
• Dance on the Clouds

Check out some amazing photos by KC Photography and a video below!

Click here to see photos and videos from this event

I saw this and absolutely went nuts– this is the most innovative idea for a wedding I’ve seen yet!

As you know, invitations can get expensive. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just do it at NO COST, just your time?

I found this video online, and it shows that the best ideas are the ones that are thought of CAREFULLY. See how this couple put their own flair into their wedding invitation. If you were a guest, how would you react? If the invitation was this exciting– how is the reception going to be?

Check it out and share your thoughts!

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.

• Does he read crowds?
• Does he take requests?
• Can he mix the music with a smooth transition that will keep the appropriate level of energy on the floor.
• Can he earn respect on the microphone?
• Will he be too busy flirting with girls to do his job?
• Is he courteous to everyone, including those who are less than pleasurable to talk with? (I’ve had my fair share of those)

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.

I wanted to share another wedding tip on choosing a very important wedding vendor: YOUR DJ!

Often, many DJs talk about wearing a suit/tux and count that as proper appearance. That’s good- but it doesn’t cover everything.
How clean is his setup? Will you see a web of wires that will earn him the name DJ Spiderman? Are his speakers clean, rust-free, and odorless? Yes– Odorless… many speakers have a carpet covering… carpet can absorb odors!!!

Most importantly…. will the equipment be an eyesore in the photos?

Let’s take it one step further and look at the setup we used for Mr. and Mrs. Ramnaught.

Look at these two photos:

Find the speaker!!!!

Give up?

Let’s look:

It doesn’t disturb the photos one bit.. and if it’s really that annoying– it can be Photoshopped out.

Neat, clean, and out of the way– how does your favorite DJ set up??

Brides & Grooms: What have you done to make your wedding unique? Watch Rock the Reception and you’ll see what I am talking about. Now, not everyone can do something as fancy as that… but you get the idea.

This really isn’t a tip as much as a segue to the coolest toast I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure where this video came from, because I’d love to meet the people who put this together!

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life… so why do you feel so stressed? There is no such thing as being born a Bride/Groomzilla…. it’s just what happens when you don’t take the stress out. So what can you do?

1) CHILL OUT!

Whenever you begin to feel stressed out, take a breather. Go enjoy a movie, a walk in the park, or visit a spa! Stressing out is not going to fix anything nor will it put you and your fiance in a good mood for the wedding. You should never have to associate feelings of stress and dispair with weddings! Whatever you do to relax, just make sure it has NOTHING to do with your wedding. So CHILL!

2) Being emo can be nerve-wracking!

One minute you’re super-excited about your wedding cake. The next minute you’re upset because you can’t find sashes in your wedding colors! Then you’re excited because you found beautiful photography, but suddenly you realize you’re behind in your planning. ARGH! How is it that you haven’t pulled all your hair out yet? This emotional roller-coaster can set you off in a frenzy!

It’s going to happen and it’s perfectly natural! Find someone to vent to… someone who ISN’T your fiance. Find someone who isn’t stressed out about the wedding and ask them to help you think with a clear head!

3) Trust God.

Enough said there. The best way to deal with the stress is to just pray… but beyond that, talk to your pastor. You and your fiance will learn A LOT about each other in the next few wedding planning stages… be sure to attend a marriage class.. not to mention the state of Florida will give you a discount on your license if you do! SWEET!

4) This is why you hired….

…a professional. Don’t stress about the day-of wedding timeline. Talk to your entertainer/coordinator about your concerns on creating the perfect day and let he/she handle the rest. If you can’t trust them to do this… find a new one. If they’ve done this plenty of times, they’ll have a plethora of ideas to help you!

The same applies for photos, cake, food, etc. You hired a pro— let them help you! Give them the vision of what you want and let them handle that stressing out stuff.

5) A wedding planner doesn’t plan YOU.

Wedding planners and coordinators are great people to have on your team.  Again, trust them to handle the stress and take their advice the best way you can… they do this several times a year and you’re only getting married once! However, they can’t control what you do…. so prioritize! If they’re helping you step-by-step with wedding plans then there’s no worries, but if you only have day-of coordination (or none at all) then you need to sit down and come up with a schedule of what’s the most important things to you, then make sure those are checked off FIRST.

6) The day before the wedding should not be the day before the wedding.

DO NOT, I repeat: DO NOT use the day before the wedding to finalize all details. Work as hard as you can to have everything done at least 3 days before the wedding. Why? Because you can enjoy these three days to lose ANY stress/jitters you may have. Spend time with your friends… go to a movie, beach, SOMETHING FUN! You should be looking forward to your wedding… not wishing you had one more day to finish planning!

7) CHECK!

If possible, pay all your vendors two-three days before the wedding! If you’re anything like me, signing paychecks will induce stress. If you plan on tipping (and you should, lol) make sure to do it in cash. Have everything separated in envelopes for easier management.
CHECK! LIST!

I’ll make this one short: DJs have checklists. Caterers have checklists. Planners have checklists. Do you? No? MAKE ONE!

9) Internet and friends are dangerous!

Have a question about your wedding? While asking your friends is important, their suggestions may reflect their style and not yours. As for the internet, stay away unless it’s coming from the keyboard of an established vendor! The best wedding tips come from the professionals you’ve hired and learned to trust. They will work hard to build rapport with and get to know you. They will apply this information to any info/tips they give you!

10) Weddings are NOT a barometer of happiness.

Can something go wrong at the wedding? Maybe. Possibly. So? Roll with it! Marriages aren’t perfect, but they will be held strong if you have faith! Weddings are living, breathing creatures and just because something went wrong doesn’t mean your marriage will go bad. Did you show up? Did he show up? Did you say “I do?” Did he say “I do?” Then you’re good to go— you’ve accomplished the mission: the rest is just icing on the cake.

Brides and grooms: don’t stress! As vendors, we’ll do everything we can to take that stress of you… but ultimately it’s up to you to make sure you don’t stress out. Don’t confuse stress for anxiety… you will be very anxious for the day you’ll be standing on the altar.. and who can blame you? Just remember to ENJOY your planning… as you’ll only do this once in your lifetime, too!

Did I forget a tip? Leave me a comment!!