New Year's Eve 2012-13

I'd like to thank Michelle Haskel for a great event on New Years Eve. The Mariner's Church was rocking and decked out for a big welcoming of 2013. This event included dance lights, moving head lights, and basic uplights. At the stroke of midnight we had a balloon drop and confetti cannons shooting confetti 25' in the air. Thank you for a great night. Here's a link to images and video. 

Hidden Cost or Real Charges

A question I often get is in regards to charges and fees. Too often, we are taken for granted with these two terms. Get a credit card with low interest, miss a payment and you'll learn quickly about hidden fees and charges. I have personally met people who were hit with hundreds of dollars in charges; it's scary. As a DJ,  we want to eliminate these fears to be sure you can enjoy your day without worry.

I know dozens of DJ's in my area. many of these DJ's don't chage for an array of services. When I ask about how they cover the expenses, they just laugh and say, "We just charge even more, this way we can make money on the services that are "included."" In other words, the cost just went up so they can tell you they don't charge for extra expenses.

Here is a list of expenses that I frequently encounter:

• Custom Lighting
• Extra Equipment
• Longer Cabling
• Rental of a Generator
• Extra Access to the Venue
• More Labor for Complex Setups
• Extra Travel Time
• More Gas for Travel
• Wear & Tear on Vehicles
• Custom Gobos (price ranges $10-$500)
• And many, many more...

I can see how clients would be scared of "hidden fees." Hidden expenses make us all frustrated. I'd encourage other DJ's to take my advice and itemize the expenses for your clients. Show the client what they are paying for and how much it cost. Obviously, if you spend an extra $200 on a custom gobo that will only work for this one client, they don't expect you to cover that expense. I don't feel that any client would be against paying for expenses that are legitimate.

At M.R.K.E., we will itemize all your expenses, so you can see where your money is being spent.

Your Wedding Budget

If this is the first time you’ve considered hiring, you’ll find that everyone knows someone who could do it for you. Don’t be swayed by a favor in exchange for making or breaking your wedding day. The ability level of DJ’s and the equipment of DJ’s vary greatly from one to another. In 1999, Modern Bride conducted a survey of brides after their wedding. The survey found that most brides wished they had spent more on their entertainment, and less on food or attire.

The average cost of a wedding, according to “The Know”, is $27,800. The 1999, Modern Bride conducted a survey before and after brides weddings. They discovered that many brides did not budget appropriately. They asked two specific questions, “What percent of your reception budget was spent on those items?” and then “What factor proved most important to the success of your wedding?” The results are graphed below.

In my interviews with wedding and event planners, budgeting for entertainment should be at least 10-15% of your budget for weddings and 50% or more for other events (School Dances, Corporate Functions, etc...). If your wedding budget is $10,000, then you should allow $1,000-$1,500. IF you’re budgeting $20,000, then $2,000-$3,000 should be your entertainment budget. According to brides surveyed, they wished they had allocated more than 4%, when they acknowledged that the entertainment was the the largest determining factor at the reception.

The results of this survey indicate that brides did not allocate the correct budget for their entertainment. It is through a consultation with a DJ that you can learn about what a DJ can offer concerning entertainment. Entertainment can offer much more than music. Entertainment also includes, equipment, lighting, programming, planning, organizing, rehearsing. Do you want to risk your wedding, just to save a few hundred dollars on entertainment? If entertainment is a major factor of your reception, shouldn’t you budget accordingly.

Keep in mind, when you receive quotes from DJ’s, experience, equipment and lighting will affect the cost. Not all DJ’s understand equipment and lighting; it’s investment is enormous. Your special day must be prepared with a knowledgable, experienced and equipped DJ. Ask your DJ for a breakdown (itemized list) of services rendered, this way you can compare what’s being offered. This way, you’ll make an educated and unbiased decision to ensure your day will be a success.
Bride Statistics*...

• 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.

• Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.

• During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer -reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!

• When asked 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.

• 65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey

*These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine in 2003. Sources include: Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; Brides Magazine, 2001.