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Stac
Member
Posts: 65
Registered: Apr 2005
posted June 19, 2005 12:39 PM
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So any of you DJ's have to hire out for your own special event yet?
Well with Linda's wedding comoing up she has decided she wanted a DJ so they get quite a variety of music. (The whole band is in the wedding party)
Because I'm in the wedding party I won't be DJ'ing it, Linda is the bride and Brian is way too shy to DJ this event.
I'm glad she gave me enough time to search cause it's not that easy. And Linda is picky and I mean picky and she expects me to find the best DJ company for her wedding.

Well so far I have took the time to check out DJ blanks shows and the one that I thought who I hear advertised all the time and is backed up the radio station is certainly not worth the $1500.00. I would be paying for their name and that is it. Basicly she programmed the songs and sat on her ass for the night. There was no communication with the guest. No chicken dance, no limbo, no twist contest (my signature) I didn't even hear her announce the Bride and Groom's Song for the special dance. She was wearing the same outfit as the bartenders and I was taught to wear something nice but to look too nice as that is the wedding party's job but to wear something you'll be noticed in when your guest want to request a song they know where to look if you're not in your booth. I just cannot believe they get $1500.00 for this. My price for DJ'ing just went up.

I didn't realize scouting for the perfect DJ was gonna be so hard.

IP: Logged

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RC the DJ
Member
Posts: 486
Registered: Aug 2000
posted June 21, 2005 04:02 PM
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...and THERE is my bone of contention: Weddings/charity events.
Some of you might call me a heretic for this, but here is my plan/philosophy on the subject of DJ'ing/KJ'ing said events.

Weddings are wonderful yet overly priced ventures, and I had vowed very early on to help fight that entire problem. I currently charge $400 for a four-hour show (minimum) with bonus time being negotiated as it happens. Karaoke costs extra, and often people neither need nor want it, but I at least inform them it's available. Sometimes I do have to charge for travel expenses, but only for getting there (the last two summers I did gigs in excess of 200 miles from home).
Three points I see about this:
1) I like to consider my cut rate as a wedding gift for the couple- let them spend the bonus money on the honeymoon!

2)I ENJOY what I do, which makes the job less work and more play, and the people have more fun that way.

3) At every wedding, there is either a couple getting married, or someone who knows someone who is getting married- I've never had to advertise, and in the last 8 years or so, my track record is 44 weddings and NO divorces! (one couple I can't seem to track, and I'm not hopeful for them, though...long story...)

My price MORE than makes up for any time I'd have to sub out for a club, and sometimes I even get done in time to go to work!

I'm half tempted to actually put together a flier set and attend some wedding fairs, but might need to raise the price by $50 just to compensate for the extra marketing.

Stac, I'm sorry you got robbed. Radio-endorsed DJ packages are the most notorious for overpriced books, and they aren't nearly as fun- (My motto is: A party ain't a party without at least one Conga Line!)

Limbo? Great! Line dancing? Sure! Chicken dance? ah....no. (gotta draw the line somewhere)

My only dread will be a couple coming to me, and during the music selection meeting will state that for their song, they want to dance to "Picture"...
I'd apologize, get up and leave, stating that I couldn't work for them....