Before I start, I encourage you to read my other blogs about what a wedding DJ does before continuing. That being said, a question I see online is why are professional wedding DJs so expensive? Many factors go into a wedding DJ’s pricing, and I will break down a few for you.
Wedding Prep time can be extensive.
The first factor in a wedding DJ’s price is the time the DJ spends on your wedding. Not just the actual time they play but also the time that goes into the preparation for a wedding. The amount of prep work that goes into a wedding can absolutely be a reason a why wedding DJs can be more expensive than most other kinds of DJ.
Preparing for a wedding is VERY important for the success of a wedding. Like the couple has spent months planning a wedding, so has the DJ. A professional DJ will spend as many hours as needed with the couple leading up to the wedding in planning the wedding, from answering questions regarding the timeline, helping the couple curate the perfect soundtrack for their particular wedding, and then getting (i.e., buying) the music needed for the wedding and organizing it, preparing all of the DJ related logistics (such as what equipment is necessary for a particular venue and then preparing the equipment for the event, etc.). By the time the wedding day comes, a professional DJ has spent AT LEAST 20 hours of prep work before the wedding.
The length of time a DJ is ACTUALLY at your wedding comes into play.
On the actual wedding day, the DJ is usually one of the first vendors at the wedding. A DJ must set up all of their equipment before the wedding starts, which can take hours depending on the scope of the event and services offered. For example, if the DJ is also doing ceremony services, add on not only the time of the ceremony but the hour before the actual start time, as that is when your guests will be arriving for the ceremony.
After the reception, the DJ is usually the last person at the venue. Most other vendors leave when their service is done (i.e., once the food is served and plates taken up, the caterers typically leave at that point in the night). The DJ cannot start breaking down until the last song of the night is played. After the guests have all left and the bride and groom are gone, the DJ still has to break down all their equipment and load it into their vehicle.
Professional DJ Equipment is EXPENSIVE .
The cost of professional sound equipment is another factor in why a wedding DJs are so expensive. Professional sound equipment is costly. One professional PA speaker can cost between $800-$2000, each. A professional DJ controller or turntables/mixer combo can range between $1000-$3000. A good microphone is a MINIMUM of $600. A workhorse of a computer is going to cost thousands. It’s not uncommon for a typical wedding DJ setup to have between $5-10k invested into it, and that’s for just a standard wedding reception.
Also, If a wedding is taking place at a large venue that requires more sound equipment, or if a wedding requires more equipment for things like ceremony services, extra lighting, and extra backup equipment (to ensure the party keeps going if something unforeseen happens), it’s easy to see how that 5-10K figure can quickly balloon into $20-25k worth of equipment a professional DJ will be bringing to the event.
Regular business costs are also a factor.
Another group of factors that goes into the price of a professional DJ is the back-end business costs. Yes, even in 2023, music costs money. A professional DJ pays for their music. Does the DJ have business insurance? Do they have a website? Do they do any marketing? Is the DJ alone at your wedding, or do they have other employees who will also be there (Assistants, MCs)? All of those things factor into the price of a professional wedding DJ.
Experience plays a role in how expensive a wedding DJ can be.
The last thing that I’m going to touch on briefly is experience. A professional DJ has years of experience and expertise in performing in front of crowds. The more experience a DJ has, the more personal knowledge they bring to the wedding to ensure the event is a success and the peace of mind to the couple that they are in good hands.
As you can see, a DJ’s final price reflects much more than “playing music at a 4-hour reception”, and most DJs truly undercharge for the amount of work they actually do. If you are in the Gulf coast area (AL, MS, FL) and are looking for a DJ that won’t “beat you up” on pricing, feel free to reach out anytime at djlynch.com!