This was taken from 20 years of my personal research in the wedding entertainment industry. It won’t matter how little or how much you pay for a Disc Jockey if he ruins your wedding day. Always meet with a DJ first before any commitment is made to see if he’s a good fit. You should find out what makes a DJ worth their fee, and he has to offer? You won’t know anything about a DJ and what he can do for you by simply asking for pricing quotes.
This does not reflect the wedding pricing packages of PME DJ Services. These prices are estimated based on Saturday in season dates for weddings approximately 5 hours of playing time.
Remember this is a get-what-you-pay-for business. Price compared to the a Disc Jockeys value for your wedding. This is very close to what you will get in a DJ for the price that you pay.
• $0 to $300 –> Friend: Friends mean well yet lack experience, talent and no professional training. What you will get is someone with no ability to direct or guide an audience because of the lack of Master of Ceremony and microphone skills. Therefore all direction is lost. They won’t know what to say or what music to play since there was no pre-planned meeting for the reception agenda. Most cases they will use poor audio equipment with no backup gear. Equipment fails, reception party over. No ability to read a crowd to establish a dance floor and build energy, like a professional can. Very limited and possible illegally downloaded music. Likely to play inappropriate music i.e break up songs, or songs with explicit lyrics. In turn means the music programming would be one sided, and more than likely a train wreck from the transitions of one song to the next. Usually will dressed inappropriate. Have no liability insurance. May show up late and set up DJ gear with sound checks while guests arrive. Friends love to party with other friends which means they will help themselves to the bar several times and lose what little focus they may have had in the first place.
Result: With the friend NOT knowing wedding protocol or etiquette, they will appear to be lost, playing the wrong music at the wrong time at the wrong volume levels. The friend may get drunk and embarrass you on the mic. Your guests will leave early thinking about how poorly planned, misguided, and possibly even talk about how horrible your wedding reception was. Remember; The person on the microphone represents you as your spokesperson on one of the biggest days of your life. I’ve been told by numerous wedding vendors that these are the worst receptions ever.
Solution: Hire a full-time professional DJ/MC that specializes in weddings.
• $300 to $500 –> Hobbyist: – This route could be even worse then using a friend, yet you may pay more. At least a friend cares about you. Hobbyists only care about your money. Most hobbyist believe it’s just a matter of buying equipment and learning how to use it to be a DJ. A professional will make his or her job look easy. If it’s only takes the effort of pushing play then everyone’s a DJ. Since it’s only about learning the equipment, hobbyists won’t seek training, let alone pay for it. Will claim to be professional MC’s because they can speak into a mic. They will use the cheapest audio equipment because they think all DJ gear is the same. Will think a planning meeting is a waste of time since it’s just about playing party music. Since they demand a small fee and care less about a contract, they have been known to not show up. Your reception will not be a priority. These guys are also known to drink believing that it will enhance their performance, and try to hit on the single guests since receptions are the place to hook up. Hobbyist will not carry liability insurance, back up equipment, or pay for the music you want etc.. And why should they? There they do this on the side and don’t command a professional fee.
Result: The worst wedding reception, you will be embarrassed, again guests will leave early talking about your wedding for yearss, but not in a positive way.
Solution: See above.
• $600 to $800 –> Part-time DJ: 80 % of all mobile DJ’s in the US are entry level part-time DJ’s with less less than 5 years experience. There are a few pretty good part time DJ’s, however they are far and few between. Many of whom work in radio or (like what I used to do) work at a club during the week and perform weddings on the weekend. Half of the part-timers have their own DJ business on the side, the other half sub-contract with bigger multi-system companies. These DJ’s will command a little more of a fee then the hobbyist. Keep in mind that if you pay for sub-contracted DJ, half of your investment goes towards the DJ performing. The other 50% of your money goes towards office rental, overhead, advertising, and sometimes equipment. Many of the bigger companies do not require their DJ’s to have any experience, training, and do not audition for talent. (This is a talent based business) Equipment, music, and transportation are usually the only requirement. Think about this; Since the DJ that sub-contracts receives only half the money, and works a full-time job during the week, how much of an effort do you think he will put forth towards your wedding? It’s not his name and reputations that’s on the line while he’s working your wedding. He’s got his full-time day job to back him up.
Part-timers simply do not have time to get the education, training, nor can they properly prepare and plan for weddings working 40 hours during the week at their day job. Other problems; Can’t meet with you at your convenience, or return calls promptly, cheap pro-audio equipment, cheap lighting system, no back up equipment , amateur MC and mic skills, same worn out routine for every wedding, may try to highlight himself and not you. Treat your wedding as just another gig to make extra money on the side. If they sub out with a multi-op company, your DJ could be gone by the time your wedding date rolls around. You may end up with a DJ you never met. Could use props i.e. (blow up guitars, wigs, sunglasses etc.) and turn your side into a side show without consulting you about it first.
Result: Average wedding to below average since many of these types of DJ’s do the same worn out routine for every wedding. Your guests will think it was average too, or just like many other weddings they’ve seen before.
• $900 to $1200 –> Professional DJ, Average Ability: Possibly full-time if not a more skilled part-timer with over 10 years experience, may have some sort of training, over 200 weddings performed. Decent mic & MC skills, direction, at least one hour of planning with the Bride & Groom. Good pro-audio equipment & lighting. May not have liability insurance. Possibly be a member of a DJ association.
Result: Better than average wedding reception. You should be happy, but it could have been much better.
• $1300 to $2000 –> Professional Disc Jockey, Superior Ability: Many years of experience, professional training, very good MC & mic skills, 2 to 3 hour planning session, direction, work as your day of Co-coordinator, Unique ideas, able to read the crowd, program the music perfectly that all your guests will enjoy, top quality pro-audio equipment & lighting with backup equipment. Always dressed appropriately, understands wedding etiquette & protocol. High standards and a member of a DJ association with continued education.. Full time pro and passionate about the DJ industry and weddings.
Result: A great memorable wedding. Your guests will be raving about how your wedding was one of the best they’ve been too.
• $2500 + –> Polished Entertainment & Superior Professional
Result: The Best Wedding Reception Ever!
A DJ will charge what they feel their worth, if they could charge more for their service don’t you think they would?
“If all Disc Jockeys were this good, they would all charge $2500 or more.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration you will never forget. How do you want it to be remembered?
(“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”)
Mark Sanchez
(602) 509-0519
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