Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Why can't I get a quote?

The most asked commonly asked question by brides to their DJ, band or entertainers. I believe this question is asked most because many brides do not know what questions to ask, prior to booking an entertainer. How many times have you booked a DJ for an event? Most young brides never have booked an entertainer.

We, entertainers, offer a variety of services to meet each clients unique needs. What are those needs? Some of the needs include the number of guest, location, length of event, size of venue, style of music, lighting, setup, design, microphones, table lighting, and much more. As you can see, depending on your needs, this is a difficult question to answer. It would be like calling a car dealer and saying, "I need a car, how much are yours?" Well the cost would depend on a lot of your preferences. If you want a used cheap car, it would not be expensive. If you wanted a high class car, it will cost you significantly more.
Image Source: http://wedding-day-bliss.com/2013/02/15/outdoor-wedding-5-ikea-lanters/

"So why can't you just tell me the cost?"

Again, it depends on what you are looking for with services. In Maine, the average cost starts at $800 for about 5-6 hours. The more hours you add to an event, the cheaper your cost. The less hours, the more you'll pay per hour. Then there are all the options and services you might be expecting when paying, let's say $800. Good DJ's will not give you a price over the phone or in an email without all the details because of this expectation. If you were to pay $800 and expect a full uplighting package and you found out on your wedding day that this only covers the music, you'd be very disappointed and frustarated with your DJ. Good DJ's have learned this lesson the hard way and will not just book on one flat fee.

How can I plan my budget if DJ's won't tell me the cost?

Good question. Below is a table of basic average cost for the State of Maine. These cost projections are only estimates. We will not honor prices posted online.


Bronze
Package
Silver
Package
Gold
Package
Diamond
Package
Style & Look
Shabby Sheik
Very Clean & Simple
Clean Look
Some Dance Lighting
Adding Uplighting and Monograms
Maximum “WOW” factor 
Hours Included:
4
5
6
6
Sound:
Minimal

Adds speakers and subs (125+ people)
4 Speakers up to 2 subs, very loud.
Maximum  Sound with remote speakers and sound processing
Lighting:
NONE
Dance Lights
Uplighting
Dance Lighting
Moving Heads
Monogram
Cake Table Pinspot
Uplighting
Dance Lighting
Moving Heads
Monogram
Cake Table Pinspot
Individual Table Pin Spotting
Gobo Breakup Projections.
Package is best for:
Simple and short events. 
Family Reunions
BBQ
Shabby Sheik Budget Wedding
Simple Weddings up to 125 guest.
Some “Wow” Factor
Low Budget Weddings
Small Parties
Reunions
Traditional Weddings up to 175 guest.
Lot’s of “Wow” Factor
All Out Parties
Class Reunions
Sweet “16”
Bat Mitzvah
Totally Astonish your guest. Maximum “Wow” Factor. This is like stepping into a movie. This package provides those amazing photo opts. 
Cost:
$600-$700
$800-$1500
$2000-$3000
$3000+

What you'll want to think about prior to contacting your DJ is, "What type of wedding are you looking for? Simple or extremely elegant." Your DJ will help you in figuring the cost. Just remeber, the more the DJ does, the more you can save. DJ's are best at lighting and sound, don't trust a venue.

As you can see, the cost of DJ's is not cheap. Here is a break down of the most basic system:

Basic DJ Equipment Cost

4 Speakers $1,000 each = $4,000
Subwoofer = $750
Microphone Wireless = $450
Mixer = $800
Mixer Case = $200
Power Conditioner = $200
EQ or Maximizer = $300
Tripods = $75 each $400
Table = $50
Table Cover = $25
Cables (stereo) = $300

Total for the most basic system: $7,450

What’s not included: Music = $$$$$, Insurance, Advertising $$$ and more. As you can see even with the most basic system, you're looking at a $10,000 investment! When you rent any tool or equipment, you usually pay 10% of the cost of the product. We have yeat to factor the cost of labor. Yes, we DJ's still need to get paid; it's why we're DJing in the first place.

Hopefully this makes more sense as to why cost begin around $800. If you wanted an uplighting package with monograms and custom programmed lighting, your DJ will most likely be bringing $30,000+ of gear. The cost of $2,000 for the equipment, labor and advertising doesn't seem too bad, does it? When you talk to your DJ, think about what you want and what you need; cost is based on equipment and labor. 

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