Consumer Electronics

How Much Does DJ Equipment Cost

Cost of DJ Equipment

 

If you are hosting any sort of special occasion such as a wedding or sweet 16, the chances are you will want a DJ. They are the life of the party and will keep things running smoothly and on schedule so you don’t have to worry about it! A DJ, or disc jockey, plays music, provides lighting, and pretty much sets the entire mood of the night; none of this would be possible though without an extensive list of equipment and accessories.

Factors of Cost

The main pieces of equipment that a DJ will need to put on a proper performance are mixers, a turntable, speakers, synthesizers, and software, along with maybe even a laptop. The prices on all this equipment can drastically vary based on the quality and brand name that is being purchased.

• A mixer can come in multiple forms such as a table top mixer or pioneer mixers. These are what controls most of your settings and effects. Depending on the brand, quality, and location, they range from $60 up to $2,000.
• You cannot be a DJ without a turntable. This is a very important piece of equipment which will cost you anywhere from $60-$200.
• Speakers and subwoofers can be either very cheap or very expensive depending on the quality you are looking for. If you are going to go cheap anywhere, do not go cheap on the speakers as this will be the most noticeable aspect to the crowd. Poor quality speakers lead to a poor overall mood and unhappy customers. You can find speakers for as little as $30 or as much as $600 but a good range to stay in is probably between $250 and $500.

For a complete set of high quality DJ equipment, plan to spend no less than $1,500. If you want to be successful, budget a little higher as it will quickly pay itself off after only a few gigs. Remember, wedding DJ’s typically get paid between $500 and $1,200 just for one event!

Extra Costs

Besides the main four aspects of DJ equipment, there are also many other accessories and small pieces of equipment you’re going to want just to make your job easier and make you more successful. Purchasing all this equipment separately will lead to a higher overall cost but it will also give you the flexibility on purchasing the exact brands that you want.

An iPod and laptop are also very useful tools to have by your side as a DJ. Most DJ’s will download the music onto a laptop and then transfer the music to an iPod which hooks up to their sound system. Headphones are not a must-have but they are nice to own although that is just one more added cost.

Ways to Save

Purchasing all that DJ equipment would be quite silly for only one night of use for a special even. If you only need it for a limited time, consider renting the equipment or using a professional DJ. If you’re not looking at a career in the field, don’t waste the money on all this equipment and cut the cost in half by renting it.

Purchasing used equipment from sources such as Craigslist and Ebay will cut your cost by at least 50%. Once something has been used, the value drastically decreases, which could lead to an extra chunk of money in your pocket if you purchase previously owned equipment.