How much should DJ entertainment cost?
Written by curator Eric Sampson (Jem) of The DJ Firm:
Photo cred: @stevensjpeg
Hello fellow planners, industry friends and couples planning their big day! I am back again with another topic that I think most couples struggle with when budgeting for their wedding. The task of fitting everything they want into a box. However big that box may be, there will be some heavily weighted decisions to be made. Let’s try to make DJ entertainment a little less complicated for you.
The question:
How much should DJ entertainment cost?
The Answer:
Well, this is a super loaded question because music is subjective to the taste and wants of the couple. Everyone wants their guest to have the time of their lives and most couples just want to ensure that their DJ entertainment is trustworthy. There are also couples that want all of those things, but want a DJ that can give a musical experience and that can deliver high-end aesthetics for their reception space. Like I mentioned in my previous post, If you value entertainment and think it is an integral part of the evening then finding the right fit should trump cost. Based on my research and fellow industry friends, I would say the general average cost for a capable reliable entertainment company in the Chicagoland area lies somewhere between a base of $1500 to a top base of $3000. When I say “base” I am referring to a minimum amount of time required, general equipment, and service rendered for that cost.
I think it's super important to evaluate the value you get for that base price. Things to consider here:
Is the DJ talented and will they meet my needs?
Do I know how the DJ will be?
Does the timing meet my event needs?
Does the equipment provided meet my event needs?
Ultimately if the company really values what they offer across the board then it's probably going to cost more than the average. Here are some other factors that affect cost when it comes to entertainment:
Experience
Quality of gear
Companies business model (Meaning solo or promoting multiple DJ’s)
Service expectations
Some companies have more overhead cost then others.
This is only my opinion, so I hope it will shed a little bit more light when it comes to budgeting for your DJ Entertainment. Please remember to give my team a follow on all platforms and you can find all of our links here (https://linktr.ee/thedjfirm). We would love for you to join our community so give us a shout and share this post if it was helpful. Thank you so much for taking the time to connect in advance and please reach out to Eric@thedjfirm.com with any feedback, questions, or comments.
Photo cred: @stevensjpeg