How To Hire A Wedding DJ

Although budgets will vary, the average cost of a wedding in Chicago is over $20,000. In addition the Wedding DJ is one of your less expensive wedding vendors (yes it is nice to arrive in a $1500 Hummer but it won’t have any impact on the success of your reception). Most people would agree two things most guests remember about a wedding is Did we have fun?

Others use inexpensive equipment and/or charge extra for so-called “options” that are really needed for a wedding reception. The same is true with a back up Wedding DJ. Our firm specializes in wedding receptions, with over 90% of our events each year being weddings. You can find DJ for Wedding pricing as low as $500.00 but the average cost of a Full Time, reputable DJ company is typically $1000.00 to $1500.00 (with our company being at the low end of the average).

And obviously everyone wants to save money, but when looking at the full picture, if you’re spending $20,000 on a wedding, when all said and done paying a couple hundred dollars more for a professional, full time quality Wedding DJ only costs you 1% more overall, but the quality of service received will far outweigh the additional money spent as a DJ for Wedding can make or break a wedding reception.

How To Choose A Wedding DJ (Disc Jockey)

In this era of Wedding DJ entertainment, chances are you’ve heard horror stories about “a terrible DJ” that performed for a party or reception. Hiring a mediocre or bad DJ can be avoided if you ask the right questions and take the correct steps. From California to the East Coast, DJ’s come in 3 varieties: bad, average, and outstanding. There are simply more average and mediocre DJ’s than outstanding ones.

MUSIC CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR WEDDING! Before you begin Wedding DJ shopping, you need to be honest with yourself. Bad DJ’s can use slick telemarketing tactics and “sweet talk” you into paying a premium rate. On the other hand, not all the “outstanding” DJ’s are the best salesmen. The average cost for DJ for Wedding for prime time Saturdays in larger population areas is about $900 to $1,400 for a four-hour period (overtime going for $150-$250 per hour.) Wedding DJ’s should be booked as a package … just like live bands. DJ’s don’t have this flexibility with all the equipment they have to lug around and the set-up time requirement. Wedding Dj know they can base their cost and profit on this average.

So, unlike a plumber making a quick service call, the DJ faces a much higher level of equipment logistics. Wedding DJ ‘s that offer hourly rates are often times “newcomers” who are less knowledgeable about the economics of operating an entertainment business. Use the guide below when screening DJ for your Wedding.

THE VOICE! While speaking to your Wedding DJ on the phone or in person, do you feel confident that your guests will be impressed with your choice of DJ? Always talk directly to the actual DJ you are contracting. If the DJ you originally wanted is not available, BEWARE! A great DJ can always refer a bad DJ if the booking commission or “kick-back” is the right price.

If you are dubious of the How to DJ Wedding answer, politely request if the DJ has documentation to back up his claims. If the DJ balks at your request or puts up a smoke screen…pass. There are other DJ for Wedding out there with more integrity and experience. Lastly, call 3 or 4 former customers the Wedding DJ has performed for and review thank you notes that the DJ has saved.

• 4 ways to rate a DJ
1) DJ’s personality
2) promptness
3) attitude
4) crowd-pleasing ability (unless you want of rap, techno, rave or alternative music)

Ask to review the DJ’s library – again without sounding testy or like an interrogator. Contemporary DJ’s have computerized lists of their song library. 15,000 songs is a good indicator of the DJ has a good variety of music. Smart DJ’s categorize their music by decades, then the style of music within each of those decades.

Ironically, some Wedding DJ’s try to force their musical tastes onto their audiences. Like the jerk playing loud, blasting rap music waiting at the traffic light. Serious pros are strictly using computerized music and software these days. Records indicate a DJ bias towards Hip-Hop or techno music.

Cassettes are a joke, so definitely avoid DJ that uses this 25 year-old technology. No Wedding DJ should ever have any problems with this minor request. Many average DJ’s still use 6 or 8 foot banquet tables to set equipment on. Clarify with the Wedding DJ what the assistant’s total role will be. (DJ should know when to talk and when to SHUT UP!).