Do You Have To Tip The Wedding Dj
Great DJs can gauge the mood of a wedding and know what songs fit the moment best. They are very significant at weddings and deserve a tip for a job well done. In normal situations, a DJ gets tipped between 10% to 15% of its total charge. Never go below 10%.
Do your research. Check out a list of DJs in your area online, their websites, videos, song lists, and see what they have to offer. This will give you an idea of whats out there, and where you should start.
Consider what you want. Are you looking for country music, classic, RnB? Only certain DJs would have the particular style and ambiance you are looking to create. This should also help you narrow down your search.
Once youve decided on which DJ or DJs might be perfect for your day, have a meeting so you can connect, and respond to the slew of questions that you might have.
The feedback you get from the DJ should give you an idea on how much experience they have in this area. Ask which events they have managed lately, how long theyve been in the business and what type of reviews that they receive.
Equipment is vital in this line of work, and depending on the size of your venue, youre going to want speakers that can accommodate it. So ask about the quality of their equipment and also ask to see them if possible.
What Types Of Jobs And Gigs Does A Dj Cater To
Weddings and corporate gigs
A DJ can charge anywhere between Rs. 10,000 to 90,000 for performing at a wedding or large scale corporate event. The price is usually on the higher end if you go for a popular and experienced DJ with a good skill set.
Radio stations
Radio DJs work on a salary basis and get paid directly from radio stations itself. They ear around Rs. 6,50,000 per year. Since there ar elimited radio stations in India, a radio DJ needs a well defined skill set and imense talent to be employed.
Bars and clubs
DJs that play at residency bars and clubs basically work on a monthly salary that ranges from Rs. 30,000 to 80,000 depending on the club and the popularity of the DJ. They get the ooportunity to play on expensive and latest equipment.
Gigs at bars, clubs and festivals
Independent DJs work at various bars and clubs as well as perform at concerts and huge fests. They charge around Rs. 20,000- 5 lakhs per gig depending on the demand and experience.
A pro DJ will charge more than one that is just starting out and looking for jobs, depending on your preference and budget go for the DJ that will best meet your needs.
What Services Does A Dj Offer
Your DJ’s main function is of course to provide music at the reception and create a great atmosphere for guestsâwhatever that means for you. DJs are total pros at reading the room and working the crowd. So whether youâre looking for nice sit-down dinner music followed by an all-out dance party, or you want something more buttoned-up, the best and most experienced DJs can do it all. Beyond the music itself, you might have your DJ be the emcee, add lighting, or even a live music aspect .
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What Is Included In A Wedding Djs Price
If youre feeling some sticker shock at wedding DJ prices, remember theres a lot more to a wedding DJs role in your wedding day than simply showing up to your reception and playing music. Heres a list of what a wedding DJs cost includes:
Time: Not only does the cost of a wedding DJ include the hours he or she will be performing at your wedding, but it also consists of the time it takes for your music pro to prepare for your big day. Before your wedding, your DJ will spend time creating your playlist and a unique script for your wedding. And on your wedding day, your DJ will travel, set up, perform, and break downnote that if he or she has to travel a long distance to your wedding, you may incur an additional charge.
Equipment: The last thing you want on your wedding day is for your DJs equipment to breakso part of a DJs fee goes to purchasing and maintaining the most up-to-date equipment including speakers, microphones, and more.
Music: Its trueyour DJ actually has to buy his or her music, and you certainly want to make sure that he or she has lots of songs from which to choose!
Operational costs and insurance: These include things like paying rent on an office, business licenses, and marketing costs. Youll also want to make sure that your DJ is insuredthis protects you, your DJ, and your venue in the unlikely event that equipment is damaged or someone is injured due to your DJs equipment.
How To Choose A Wedding Dj
Pick a wedding DJ who meets the following requirements:
- They offer fair prices that fit within your budget.
- They have a high rating on Thumbtack.
- They have mostly positive customer reviews.
- They have a friendly personality.
- They’re professional and communicative.
- They’re familiar with the music genre you want them to play at your wedding.
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Wedding Dj Price Lists
We compared the price of a wedding DJ in several different locations several major metropolitan markets like Washington DC, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as smaller cities and a sampling of more rural areas from around the country. While pricing varied wildly depending on the experience of the DJ, some obvious trends began to appear very quickly:
How Experienced Is Your Dj
So the prices I listed above are starting fees. Those fees dont necessarily ensure you get the best DJ on the block. To get a good DJ who is not a cheesy wedding DJ with real nightclub experience but has a lot of wedding experience is not easy to find! For that reason, a DJ like this will probably cost you more. Definitely well worth it though since you want a DJ who can read a room, provide top notch equipment and has a great presence as an MC.
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When Should You Book Your Wedding Dj
As soon as you book your wedding venue, you need to find your wedding DJ. Ideally, you should reserve a wedding DJ at least eight months before your wedding day. Then after hiring them, you should meet them again between 2 to 6 weeks before your wedding to go over the final setup details, playlist options and any other concerns you might have. That way, they have time to prepare thoroughly.
How Much Does A Dj Cost
So youre planning a wedding and are thinking about hiring a DJ to take care of the music? We get asked a lot of questions about DJs, music and wedding services, but the most common question we hear from couples at Airwaves is: How much should I budget for my DJ?
The answer to this question isnt as simple as that, as there are usually several other similar questions hiding beneath it.
Questions like:
- How do I know if Im scoring a deal or paying way too much?
- Does paying more for a DJ mean they will be better?
- Does paying less mean they will be worse?
- What all should be included in the price that I pay?
- How do I make sure that I hire a good DJ?
- What could happen if I hire a bad DJ?
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Do Wedding Djs Provide Their Own Lighting
Many DJs offer basic lighting services as part of their packages, which usually includes uplighting , spotlights, and/or a disco ball. If you’re looking for more elaborate lighting, you might have to hire a separate company that specializes in event lighting. That, or your DJ can work directly with a lighting company and outsource the design on your behalf.
On the other hand, if youâre working with more of an all-inclusive wedding venue, they may have their own sound system and lighting rigs. So, that said, if your DJ doesn’t include lighting or charges extra for it, but your venue does, then this could help you save on costs. Caveat: built-in venue sound systems are typically not nearly as high-end as DJ sound equipment. So if youâre concerned about that, do the legwork to understand the differences.
Average Djs $900 $1500
The DJs in the average price range tend to have a bit more experience, education, and better reviews.
Average Wedding DJs:
- Are more reliable and consistent
- Play music and make simple announcements
- Are often one-person DJ company
These wedding DJs tend to take their businesses more seriously as most of them are full-time or on the way there. They show up on time , play music, and offer standard MC services. Often these budget DJs entertain for all kinds of events, including weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, high school reunions, corporate events, proms, nightclubs, and karaoke events.
Keep in mind that these types of DJ companies are often one-person-DJ-company. This means that one single person is handling customer inquiries, responding to client emails, planning music and timelines, and going out to perform at weddings and events PLUS often working another job throughout the week.
The result?
They are often slow to respond to your questions and lack depth in their customer service. It also means that if they are unable to make it to your wedding, you dont have a DJ for your wedding .
Average wedding DJs are like a Dennys restaurant standard and mediocre food. You have more opportunities for customization however, its still not ever going to be anything close to a gourmet meal.
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Wedding Specialist Djs $1500 $2000
Of course, Were biased because our team happens to fall into this category, but theres a reason this option costs more.
Wedding Specialist DJ Companies have lots of experience. Theyve performed for hundreds, or even thousands, of weddings and have years of experience. These DJs invest in regular training and skill development in music research, mixing, music production, MCing, lighting setup, audio setup, and so much more.
They make sure DJs are equipped with the best equipment and attend industry events to learn more about weddings and whats happening in the DJ world. To put it short, Wedding Specialists live and breathe weddings. Now thats not to say that they wont work the occasional birthday party orcorporate event, but most DJs in this category will focus the majority of their time on being wedding professionals. Wedding Specialist DJs charge a premium because they deliver a premium service.
Things you can expect from wedding DJ specialists:
- Thorough music planning consultations
- Dedicated customer service staff assigned to your wedding day
- Industry-standard, professional and high-quality equipment, plus backup equipment
- Backup plans for everythinga pro will plan for things that could go wrong, so if something does happen, you never notice
Wedding Dj Pros And Cons
- Pros: Less expensive than a band, a DJ can keep the party going all night long, with endless music, and absolutely no dancefloor rules.
- Cons: The wrong DJ could kill the tempo of your reception just as fast as a good one would get it going.
- Are weddings your primary focus? At what locations have you performed before?
You want to be sure that they are primarily focused on weddings and they know what it takes to properly entertain a wedding party. You want a wedding DJ, not a club DJ those are completely different types of events.
Even if they dont only perform at weddings, you want to be sure that they are well rounded enough to cater to different types of audiences.
- How do you customize your song list for each couple? Can you provide new wedding songs?
Find a DJ who is attentive enough to understand your wants and the style you aspire to achieve for your wedding. With this, he can create a playlist that will work for each stage in your wedding reception without missing a beat.
He would know how to work around your do not play song list, to figure out which type of songs will be best for your event.
- Can you make a visit to our chosen venue beforehand?
The size of a venue and even the location of the DJ widely impact the sound, and so a visit to the venue is important before the big day. You need a DJ who already knows how important this is and agrees off the bat to make a site visit beforehand to check out and understand the rooms acoustics.
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Category 2 Average Djs
Taking things to the next level, budget wise, means added experience and reliability. DJs that fit into this category should be able to offer more in the way of communication, performance, and versatility. However, these DJs are still often in the apprenticeship phase of their career.
The average DJ, while motivated to grow, is still working on their craft and probably gaining practice at a range of non-wedding parties. From bar mitzvahs and corporate events to reunions and homecoming, these DJs may take their job seriously, but they lack the seasoned experience of a wedding specialist DJ.
Choosing a DJ from this category will likely offer a slightly elevated experience when compared to the Bargain DJ, but you and your guests arent likely to enjoy above-average entertainment.
If your wedding requires only punctuality and background noise, the average DJ might be an okay choice for you. For a more memorable experience, from planning to party, your wedding will be better served by a wedding specialist DJ.
What Can You Expect
Who knows! While working as a wedding coordinator I have seen amateur DJs show up minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start with an iPod and a speaker using Spotify to stream music. No transitions, no clue how weddings flow and it completely changed the vibe of the day.
This is why hiring a budget DJ is such a risk. Sure theres a chance you are getting a great deal on a good DJ but you really have no idea if they will show up and if they will be able to deliver your vision. When a DJ charges such low prices you have to wonder where the costs are getting cut. What quality is their gear? Are there any back-up plans? Will they take a higher-paying gig and leave you out to dry a week before the wedding? You just dont know.
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