Things to think about when hiring a Dj for your event....
Disc Jockey rates vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability and personality.
Consider this when pricing your DJ service:
You should consider your DJ service an insurance policy that ensures that all of the other money you spend will not result in bad memories or a less than enjoyable occasion. You do get what you pay for. Good entertainment is NOT cheap, and cheap entertainment often is NOT good!! And yet many people will pay far more for a cake, flowers, or food than they will for the most crucial ingredient at a party – the music. When was the last time you saw a cake reading a crowd and spinning a CD, motivating a dance floor crowd, or making announcements in a dignified elegant way? Further, when was the last time you heard a guest tell you “Boy, that prime rib was great, I can’t wait until I go to another party to have that again”? No, that DOES NOT HAPPEN. Instead, they talk about the music that was played, and whether they had a good time or not. The music is always what they will talk about and whether the DJ was any good or not.
Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00 with an average of $1,200.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight.
A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for "4 hours". Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.
While we dont normally charge near the national average we do feel that in the entertainment industry you do get what you pay for. You may find a dj for $350 and if your guest have a great time and everything goes well then you got a deal. But a real professional has lots of experience and lots of high dollar professional equipment. There is music to be purchased and so many other aspects that go into things.
We are not saying to pick the most expensive dj because this is not always the best approach either. Take the time to get to know the dj you are going to hire. Ask as many questions as you want, after all you are the one that is going to be paying them to provide their services. If they are a great dj they will be more than willing to go the extra mile to ensure that you are satisfied and not worried about your special day.
Here at Your Occasion Dj's we use top of the line professional grade equipment. We have backup equipment with us at every event just in case the worst could happen. We ensure that in the event of a system failure that we will have the party back up and running and wont let you hanging on your special day.
We have never missed and event for any reason. Your day is special and we treat it that way.
What about a contract?
A contract is something that is very important and your Dj should provide you with one. This should be signed by you and the company. Always make sure that you have a written contract. Anything added or special should be in the contract as well.
A few other things to think about when hiring a Dj:
Prompt return of your phone calls or Emails:
You should expect to get a call back or an Email back within 24 hours. Many DJ’s are out working and may not be able to return your call within an hour or two.
Willingness to meet with you and present his/her service:
Will the DJ try to meet with you soon, or is he/she just trying to book the date sight unseen? Is their material neat and professional looking, and is their presentation organized and informative?
Do your prices include the sound system, speakers, wireless microphone for the toasts, etc?
Each of these extras can add up quickly. Your event space may already have them available, but it's good to have backups in case of equipment failure
Is the price too good to be true?
It seems that the DJ is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a venue, food and clothing. This often leads brides and party planners to shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources. This often backfires when holding out for the lowest price. However, if you have adhered to the guiding principals noted here, you will know to avoid services that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level of quality and attention to detail that EVERY client deserves!