In our area, 3 yrs ago, most wedding DJs were getting $650-$795 for a gig.
Today, thanks to our ADJA local chapter's efforts the bar has been raised. Most all our members rates start at $1,000+
Thanks to education, networking with other wedding vendors & educating consumers that there is a difference in skilled DJs & the fly-by-nights.
In short, nothing anyone with marketing savvy couldn't do, and have done.
Bill, again, I'm sure they are capable of being helpful to in some areas where they have a presence. but that area is extremely limited. The money and affluence in this country is on the coasts. ( Actually, this is true in ANY country with a coastline.). The orgs seem to focus on the less populated mid-section of the US. BTW- I'm talking about ADJA, NAME, and a few others. The west coast has their own organizations that seem to isolate their presence in that area. The Northeast has nothing at all worth talking about. I'm told that Florida and Georgia have some sort of org, but I don't know what it's called.
Until and unless someone can explain to me why so-called national "marketing experts" aren't national, and have no presence where the money is, I see no reason to think of joining.