Music

DJ Cost Guide: How Much Does a DJ Cost for Your Event?

DJ Cost Guide

Hiring a DJ to entertain your guests at a wedding, birthday party, or corporate event is usually a necessity. A DJ will help maintain your schedule along with pumping up the crowd to ensure and exciting and fun night. The most common event someone would want to hire a DJ for a wedding due to the strict time line of the even along with the necessity of music throughout the night. Most of the time the hosts of the even with provide the DJ with a “Do Play” and a “Do Not Play” list for the event and he will stick to that along with choosing some of his own music to play.

At a wedding, the DJ will also coordinate the music for the ceremony which is very important for the night to play out properly. Some DJ’s will play at any event while others are specifically wedding DJ’s so it’s important to do your research and choose a DJ that will excel at your event as well as fit your budget.

Related Article: Cost of DJ Equipment

Factors of Cost

Depending greatly on the location of your event along with the experience of your DJ, the cost will fluctuate anywhere from $50 up to $250 per hour. For a 4-6 hour long event, the average price of a DJ is anywhere from $650 up to as much as $1400. Of course spending the extra money may make for a much better event as this usually means the DJ is highly experienced, has a great reputation, and references to back him up.

Extra Costs for a DJ

A DJ will supply all his own equipment such as a the speakers and simple lighting but additional lighting and props will cost extra. Many DJ’s offer separate packages depending on the type of atmosphere you’re looking for. At a wedding, many couples like to have a light which is lit onto the ceiling or dance floor which displays the first letter of their last name or even their full last name. Something extra like this will sometimes need to be specially made and will cost as much as $50 to $100 extra. There is also additional lighting or even dancers that can be provided at an extra cost.

There will also be additional fees if the event runs longer than planned. When you are provided with a quote, it is usually for a specified amount of time. Since most DJ’s charge by the hour, the longer he is there, the more he will charge. There may also be extra fees for set up and take down of the equipment as this is also extra time spent.

Ways to Save

Most DJ’s usually have a set hourly rate for certain types of events but never be scared to try to talk him down on the price. Their prices are not usually firm so most of the time they will work with you on the final price so it will fit into your budget.

If you are not too worried about having an experienced DJ, the option to rent equipment and have a friend DJ is always an open option. DJ equipment such as speakers and lighting can be rented for less than $200 which can save over $1,000 on your event.