A typical DJ service charges anywhere from
$600.00 to $1500.00 depending on the market and the type of service your event requires. With extra charges for additional
lighting, video systems, and time it is not hard to spend as much as $1500 or more on a DJ service.
It's hard to imagine why someone standing around playing music on a giant stereo get's paid so much. Let's
take a closer look at what a professional DJ brings to your event.
THE MUSIC
You can figure about .99 cents per song
on average. Many DJ's carry in excess of 20,000 songs in their music library's. It takes years of collecting
and thousands of dollars to have a comprehensive library that covers the most popular songs in the most popular genres.
Music libraries are updated constantly as new music comes out and represents an ongoing, never ending expense for the DJ company.
THE EQUIPMENT
Most
DJ rigs range anywhere from about $3000 to $5000 depending on the components used. DJ rigs are not merely giant stereos,
they are high quality professional grade public address systems capable of filling very large spaces with quality sound.
If you include the music library it is not uncommon for a DJ to have $25,000 or more invested in just one DJ set
up.
Just about every professional DJ I know takes your event VERY seriously. We have all heard the stories about the unreliable,
unprofessional DJ who helped make your event less than you wanted it to be. When you are dealing with a professional
DJ, this is the exception, not the rule. You get what you pay for! There are a lot of fly by night operations
out there that come and go all the time. Make a few phone calls to reputable companies and find out what you should
be paying for professional DJ services. Sometimes saving a few dollars can be the difference between an event fondly
remembered or bad memory.
A professional DJ is so much more than just a DJ, in
fact, the term DJ does not accurately described what a professional MC/DJ Entertainer really does.
A
modern MC/DJ is a unique combination of A/V technician, event coordinator, master of ceremony and all around fun person.
The modern DJ has to be able to
Set up and trouble shoot complicated audio, video and computer
systems.
They must have total situational awareness and move the party along when it needs to
move.
They need to be able to use the right music at the right time and play to you and your guests.
They need to know what not to play at your event.
They must be comfortable and
confidant speaking in front of and directing large groups of people.
They need to have a vast
knowledge of music and be able to play to any
age group.
They are excellent multitasking professionals. They must be able to interact
with you and your group while simultaneously operating the sound equipment, lighting system, video system and computer system.
And last but certainly not least, they need to be fun and encourage you and your guests to have
fun. They will sometimes work with props, and lead large groups in games, giveaways, auctions, and audience participation
events. They are entertainers!
There really is no substitute for experience and most of the DJ's I know have successfully
completed hundreds of events and have delighted and entertained literally thousands of people.
A professional DJ brings experience, reliability, professionalism and FUN to your
party. Professional Dj's will make your event run smoothly from start to finish. They will help you to facilitate
a fun and memorable event for you and your guests. A professional DJ will help make your event everything you want it to be
from beginning to end, all you have to do is show up and have a good time.