Would you DJ a wedding for $550 in 2021?

rickryan.com said:

$250 DJ dates create more $250 DJ dates.....................Either charge a decent rate or don't charge at all.

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Fair point.

I would’ve done free… and have them pay my labor separately. I’d also remind them that this service normally costs $$$$. Free makes it seems like it’s a one off favor… $250 means he’s probably willing to negotiate to a low rate if I make a good enough case.

djtaso said:

I would’ve done free… and have them pay my labor separately. I’d also remind them that this service normally costs $$$$. Free makes it seems like it’s a one off favor… $250 means he’s probably willing to negotiate to a low rate if I make a good enough case.

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Back when my ex was an elementary music teacher, I'd do their dances. The principal wanted to pay me $100 (or was it $250?). I took it a couple of times but noticed that I was getting calls from people he knew and that knew how much he paid me. No matter how many times I'd tell a cheapie date "Don't share the price!", that is exactly what they'd do. I finally figured out that the bit of money wasn't worth the hassle or the risk of my name being associated with cheap DJ stuff. I finally decided to just do it for free if they couldn't afford a decent rate. Note, I've never had a bride try to book me at those prices.

rickryan.com said:

$250 DJ dates create more $250 DJ dates. Either charge a decent rate or don't charge at all.

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That my friends is the cold hard truth. Mixxy, are you listening??

We have a $399 package... it's 1 hour, no lights!

rickryan.com said:

Back when my ex was an elementary music teacher, I'd do their dances. The principal wanted to pay me $100 (or was it $250?). I took it a couple of times but noticed that I was getting calls from people he knew and that knew how much he paid me. No matter how many times I'd tell a cheapie date "Don't share the price!", that is exactly what they'd do. I finally figured out that the bit of money wasn't worth the hassle or the risk of my name being associated with cheap DJ stuff. I finally decided to just do it for free if they couldn't afford a decent rate. Note, I've never had a bride try to book me at those prices.

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You said it. You try to do a nice favor for someone and give them a great price to do their event. You say to them don't tell people the price I did their event for and most don't keep their mouth shut.

I've done ONE free DJ performance and it paid off big time. Many years ago a good friend who had just started his own AC company wanted to throw an afternoon birthday party for his dad. Because he was my friend and I knew he was tapped out I did the party for free. A few years later my AC crapped out. He put in a new system and some extra work at his cost. I saved over $2000. A few years after that when my late wife was dying of cancer I was unable to DJ, I was the one tapped out. A capacitor went on my unit that was not covered under the warranty. Once again he did at for the cost of parts. 15 years later the 1st unit died and I needed to replace it. He didn't do it at cost this time, but I still got it for $1700 less than his normal price. So my one and only "free" gig ended up saving me almost $4000! I guess maybe there is a time and place to do a free gig.

Here's my take on things. We don't talk enough about the level of DJ when it comes to a price. Some are just starting out and need to work on making a name for themselves. So they may do a wedding for that price to build on things. They are looking to establish themselves. Maybe once they have been doing it for a while they can increase their prices. Now obviously there are those who are way beyond that price and don't have to settle for doing a wedding for that price. That's because they have built their brand up to where they have clients who will easily pay them much more then that. They couldn't do that if they didn't have enough clients wanting to pay them much more then that. For example a DJ who consistently gets paid $1,000 or more only can stay there if they have clients who will pay them that much and not just one or two clients.

Another factor that gets talked about that has to do with a DJ charging at least $1,000 is who they are targeting their business to. Also they have to consistently deliver a great performance for clients wanting to pay them that kind of money. Now to be fair, just because a DJ can get paid that much doesn't make them a good or great DJ. That just may mean they are good at selling themselves.

Another thing that people don't think of when they say that the DJ was really good is the gear that they used. There's entry level gear, mid grade and top of the line. That can make a big difference in a DJs performance or at least the way things sound. There are events I've been to that the DJ had gear that I would use because the gear they were using was high grade gear. Yet they were not good at all. What can make or break an event is the DJ. For example it's very important to have the right music for an event and know when to play what. That can make a big difference in how well an event goes. I remember 2 DJs who had the right music to play for the event but didn't know when to play what styles of music at what time during the event. Also knowing how to read the crowd is very important and takes time to learn that part. Such things can have people bragging about how good a DJ you are and can have you charging a whole lot more then $550. That's once enough people know about you and want to book you.

Also another big part that can make a big difference in how much a DJ charges is what their setup looks like. Does their setup look like it's worth the price they are charging?

One thing that some just starting out think that this DJ business is a piece of cake and think they can make a ton of money from this. It takes hard work and dedication to get to a certain level where people will pay you a certain price. Not everybody getting into this was meant to be a DJ. Some simply put just plain suck and I'm talking about some who have been in business over 10 years.

DJ Ricky B said:

I would rather just be a guest and enjoy the wedding...

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Many here - including myself - sometimes have a hard time doing just that....we can't turn of our "DJ comparison" thought process.

dunlopj said:

Many here - including myself - sometimes have a hard time doing just that....we can't turn of our "DJ comparison" thought process.

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Honestly I've been to events where the DJ was sub par or just plain terrible. I don't go up to that DJ and tell them they are doing a poor job. I stay in my place no matter how painful it is to not react. I have went up to a DJ that's doing a great job and tell them I'm a DJ and they are doing a great job. To tell the truth I have sat there and say to myself and sometimes to others I know what I would have done to make the event a success on my part if I were the DJ.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Honestly I've been to events where the DJ was sub par or just plain terrible. I don't up to that DJ and tell them they are doing a poor job. I stay in my place no matter how painful it is to not react. I have went up to a DJ that's doing a great job and tell them I'm a DJ and they are doing a great job. To tell the truth I have sat there and say to myself and sometimes to others I know what I would have done to make the event a success on my part if I were the DJ.

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We also do photography and video so we have done many weddings where they had already hired a DJ before they found us. Sharing 1 recent experience when there was literally a 5 minute delay between the processional and the bridal march while the DJ made 5 attempts before finally playing the right song. During the 1st dance it only took 4 tries to get the right song.

One of the things that makes me laugh is brides asking other brides for DJ recommendations. How many wedding DJs has that bride hired? If all the guests got drunk and danced a lot, does that make the DJ good?

Another wedding the DJ had a great tux. He also had a huge Community system, a huge truss full of lights, bubbles, and fog. The most people he had on the dance floor was 5 out of about 75 guests. I was so tempted to help him but my late wife held me back. Several years later I actually did HIS wedding. He was blown away over how I kept his dance floor packed with no tux, no trusses, only a pair of EAWs with no subs, just 2 dance lights, and no fog or bubbles. Does a tux make someone a great DJ?

ABETTERDJ said:

He was blown away over how I kept his dance floor packed with no tux, no trusses, only a pair of EAWs with no subs, just 2 dance lights, and no fog or bubbles.

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Programming and reading the room are still king. No amount of gear or gimmicks will overcome poor choices in the music department.

DJ Ricky B said:

For anybody who is willing to go out to DJ for $250...you are about HALF what the "Average DJ" cost is on thumbtack.com in USA. The DJ industry has basically been stuck around $500 or so for the last 25+ years in most markets when it comes to the average price point. This is new data for 2021...



DJs on Thumbtack cost$450 - $580
Average price

Typical price quotes for a high school dance

• 2-hour prom/high school dance: $350
• 3-hour prom/high school dance: $450
• 4-hour prom/high school dance: $500
• 5- or 6-hour prom/high school dance: $600

Here is what comes up on thumbtack.com for wedding DJ in my area based on 4 hours. Check out the most booked DJ Service. $395/4 hrs and 902 hires on there. I am impressed! It is amazing because they spend so much money on every quote they send out, or whenever a prospect contacts them they get charged for the lead as well and still offer a bottom rate like that.
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Seeing these average prices for my market makes me feel kinda proud that I have accomplished booking at much higher rates. The last time I did a wedding for $395 to $475 George W Bush was president. I can't leave my driveway to do a wedding for that low today. Apparently, there are plenty of DJs who will jump at a $550 wedding in my area...They are pricing themselves even lower than that, and don't have a problem doing so and showing their prices online. These vendor bidding sites will keep DJ rates low. But...In a way, I can't knock on these guys. Some of them have hundreds of hires on there. That means they are likely pulling 50-80+ events a year off thumbtack alone, and at $350 to $550 or so, that adds up. They might be a busy bee, and love being busy with work every weekend, and I don't want to be the weekend warrior myself any more. I guess it depends on how you look at it, but I committed to the "work smarter not harder" concept many years ago, and have tried to raise rates every year that I can in the quest for more profit, and less time involved out working events. None of these DJs are newbies or young 20 year olds. Different Strokes I guess

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To you their prices may be bottom rate and to them it's OK because they get bookings. This still doesn't tell how good or bad they are or how long they have been a DJ. The main thing is if they are happy with what they charge will that affect what you do and what you charge? You didn't mention your starting price that you consistently get. Those prices may be their starting prices. Also that doesn't tell what they have to offer for those prices. You might have a lot more to offer and a lot more experience then some of them do and thus know how to better sell yourself to get the price you will do a wedding for. The old saying is true. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

So let me ask you this and I'm not picking on you. Just an observation. Are any of those DJs you posted on here your competition?

Albatross said:

Programming and reading the room are still king. No amount of gear or gimmicks will overcome poor choices in the music department.

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Truth!

Albatross said:

Programming and reading the room are still king. No amount of gear or gimmicks will overcome poor choices in the music department.

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What about those who agree to do a job but don't have the right music for the event? They are called gig whores. Just taking on a job even though they are not the right DJ for the event just because they can get paid for doing the event.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

What about those who agree to do a job but don't have the right music for the event? They are called gig whores. Just taking on a job even though they are not the right DJ for the event just because they can get paid for doing the event.

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With today's technology there is no excuse to not have the right music. We have done weddings for every nationality/music type.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

What about those who agree to do a job but don't have the right music for the event? They are called gig whores. Just taking on a job even though they are not the right DJ for the event just because they can get paid for doing the event.

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I'm not sure I understand what that has to do with what I said.

If someone is taking jobs they aren't prepared or qualified to do... they won't do a good job. As a result they likely won't get referrals, and will probably only survive by offering bargain bin rates forever because qualified buyers will look for better service providers.