How much?!
I thought it might be useful for me to write something about DJ pricing...
I’ve often been told by customers that they didn’t have a clue how much they would have to pay for a DJ, and prices do seem to vary dramatically. Many things can affect the price that you'll be quoted for any service, but clearly, some suppliers will quote more than others for the same enquiry.
I would strongly recommend that you don't even consider booking anyone who is quoting you considerably less than the average, no matter how tight your budget. A DJ can only be in one place at once, so that person is clearly not getting much repeat business, or work from recommendations. Perhaps their equipment is not the best? Or they themselves are unreliable, or not the nicest people to deal with? Or maybe because they are just starting out; we all had to start somewhere, but I think most DJs learn something every time they play - I certainly do! - and so the experience gained over years of regular work has got to improve a DJ's performance at your occasion.
A professional DJ should be capable of managing a dancefloor, playing different genres of music to suit their audience. They will have excellent sound and lighting equipment, and they will be easy for you to deal with, and for your venue to work with, both beforehand and on the day. They can charge more than other DJs because they are in demand due to recommendations / testimonials, and are not being chosen solely on price.
At many functions, the cost of a DJ is a pretty small part of the overall outlay. The average cost of a UK wedding is now around £25,000. The majority of professional DJs charge a fraction of that for their services, and yet they have a pivotal role in the success of the evening.
So, you get what you pay for? To an extent, yes - but not always, in my opinion, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, different DJs cater for different markets, and some who usually play in larger rooms or at more specialist gigs may have much more equipment than is required for a fantastic sound and lighting experience in a typical function room. But they have to pay for it, and probably for storage and for a larger vehicle to cart it all around as well; this will be reflected in their quote even if three-quarters of their equipment stays in their storage or van during your occasion. I also reckon that some DJs who quote the highest rates - I know of some charging thousands per night! - do so based on what they think certain customers might be prepared to pay. They can get away with doing so because for a big occasion, there is a tendency for those customers to think “I’m only doing this once” and turn a blind eye to the cost.
My fees for playing normal-ish evening hours in my local area start at £250, and depend solely on the approximate hours required for preparation beforehand, travelling, loading in and setting up, and playing at the occasion itself. I'd love to be able to display fixed pricing here, but the truth is that every occasion is different. So please contact me to tell me about what you’re planning and where, and what you'd like from me, and I'll give you a firm quotation before you agree to anything. It probably won’t surprise you to hear that I consider myself to be in the professional category of DJ, but I want to offer great value for money, too. I'm also very honest about my strengths, and I've no problem with suggesting to people that they look elsewhere if I think another DJ would do a better job for them.
If you’d like any further advice with no obligation, please get in touch.