How Much Does A DJ Cost?
So you’re planning a wedding and are thinking about hiring a DJ to take care of the music? We get asked a lot of questions about DJs, music, and wedding services, but the most common question we hear from couples at Airwaves is: “How much should I budget for my DJ?”
The answer to this question isn’t as simple as that, as there are usually several other similar questions hiding beneath it.
Questions like:
How do I know if I’m scoring a deal or paying way too much?
Does paying more for a DJ mean they will be better?
Does paying less mean they will be worse?
What all should be included in the price that I pay?
How do I make sure that I hire a good DJ?
What could happen if I hire a bad DJ?
How Much Do DJs Typically Cost?
How much does a DJ cost? A question we’ve been asked a lot over nearly 15 years of being in the business of DJ services. It’s tough to know the answers if you’ve never hired a DJ before, so we’ve decided to take a few minutes to answer these questions for you, based on our experience performing across Canada and the US at more than 3000 weddings and events since we started in 2007.
To be clear, we’re not going to try to “sell” you to our company. We know that what we do is amazing (and our happy couples agree), but we are not necessarily for everyone. We’re writing this because you deserve to know the truth about DJ pricing, and we want to help you make an informed decision about what’s right for you.
Four Types of DJs
While prices do range slightly In the cities we operate in (Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Ottawa), there are essentially four types of DJs here in Canada:
- Bargain DJs– $500 – $900
- Average DJs– $900 – $1500
- Wedding Specialist DJs– $1500 – $2000
- Most Expensive– $2000 – $3000+
Bargain DJs – $500 – $900
Of course, there may be exceptions in each of these categories, but in general, bargain DJs:
- Are Less Experienced
- Are Working Part-Time
- Focus On Quantity, Not Quality
- Are “One-Person DJ Company”
Most bargain DJs are amateurs or hobbyists that have a regular “day job” and provide wedding entertainment on weekends as just a DJ for fun. They may be genuinely passionate about what they do but often aren’t as easy to reach and may not be available for all of the meetings and phone calls you’d like to have when planning your big day. This lack of communication can add additional stress for you through the already hectic planning process.
Some of these lower-cost DJs are just starting out or are nightclub DJs who are inexperienced in the intricacies of announcing speeches, timing the music cues during a ceremony, reading the crowd, and playing music for an audience of mixed ages and music tastes.
All that to say that they typically have less experience and knowledge of the specific skills that are required to ensure that your day is memorable and stress-free.
Some of these DJs are working full-time, offering a budget service. These DJs will charge less than the average wedding DJ cost. We call these “fast food” entertainment companies. These DJs focus on the number of weddings rather than delivering quality service. Their performances tend to be more standardized and lack personalization because they need to serve lots of couples with a minimum investment of time to make money. They exist because their price appeals to a certain percentage of the market that may be working on minimal budgets and is willing to take a risk on their DJ to cut costs.
It’s kind of like going to McDonald’s; they focus on feeding people as quickly and efficiently as possible. Get ’em in, get ’em out. Will you get what you order? Sure. Is it going to be a gourmet meal? Not a chance.
While there may be many talented DJs in the bargain category, we wouldn’t recommend this option to our friends and family. While it has worked for some, our advice is to be careful and only go this route if you know and trust the DJ (not just because they are family or an acquaintance) or can verify their testimonials.
Average DJs – $900 – $1500
The DJs in the “average” price range tend to have a bit more experience, education, and better reviews.
Average Wedding DJs:
- Are more reliable and consistent
- Play music and make simple announcements
- Are often one-person DJ company
These wedding DJs tend to take their businesses more seriously as most of them are full-time or on the way there. They show up on time (usually), play music, and offer standard MC services. Often these budget DJs entertain for all kinds of events, including weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, high school reunions, corporate events, proms, nightclubs, and karaoke events.
Keep in mind that these types of DJ companies are often “one-person-DJ-company.” This means that one single person is handling customer inquiries, responding to client emails, planning music and timelines, and going out to perform at weddings and events PLUS often working another job throughout the week.
The result?
They are often slow to respond to your questions and lack depth in their customer service. It also means that if they are unable to make it to your wedding, you don’t have a DJ for your wedding (and we typically hear about situations like this at least a few times every year).
Average wedding DJs are like Denny’s restaurant; standard and mediocre food. You have more opportunities for customization; however, it’s still not ever going to be anything close to a gourmet meal.
Going with a DJ in the “Average” category is far more likely to result in a better experience than their “Bargain” counterparts. However, you may find that the response time, depth of planning, and support you receive is lacking.
While there are good “Average DJs” out there that can deliver what you are looking for, our advice is to thoroughly research a budget DJ in this category before working with them. Read reviews, watch videos, interview them using our “Top 12 Questions to Ask Your Potential DJ” (email us if you would like a copy of this), and only when you feel incredibly confident that they will deliver on everything that you are looking for should you book.
Wedding Specialist DJs – $1500 – $2000
Of course, We’re biased because our team happens to fall into this category, but there’s a reason this option costs more.
Wedding Specialist DJ Companies have lots of experience. They’ve performed for hundreds, or even thousands, of weddings and have years of experience. These DJs invest in regular training and skill development in music research, mixing, music production, MCing, lighting setup, audio setup, and so much more.
They make sure DJs are equipped with the best equipment and attend industry events to learn more about weddings and what’s happening in the DJ world. To put it short, Wedding Specialists live and breathe weddings. Now that’s not to say that they won’t work the occasional birthday party or corporate event. Still, most DJs in this category will focus the majority of their time on being wedding professionals. A professional wedding DJ charge a premium because they deliver a premium service.
Things you can expect from wedding DJ specialists:
- Thorough music planning consultations
- Prompt response time (within 24 hours)
- Backup DJ in plac in case of emergency
- Above and beyond customer service
- Additional lighting options to ensure a top-rate dance floor experience
- Articulate speaking skills
- Creative ideas and customization
- Dedicated customer service staff assigned to your wedding day
- Industry-standard, professional and high-quality equipment, plus backup equipment
- Backup plans for everything—a pro will plan for things that could go wrong, so if something does happen, you never notice
These types of DJs understand that their role is about so much more than just playing good music; their job is to make sure everything goes smoothly both on the day of and in the time leading up to your wedding. You’ll find tons of five-star reviews for these companies for a good reason—they deliver.
You can equate it to eating at a five-star restaurant. You can expect the highest level of skill, professional service, and attention to detail at every step of the way; they have a good reputation for a reason. Just like Airwaves, companies in this category are often larger, more established DJ services companies with a team of DJs and support staff, as well as thorough systems in place to provide a quality experience throughout the entire planning process and on the day of your wedding.
Two things our company provides for our couples are a backup DJ on standby just in case their primary DJ is injured or sick, as well as a dedicated Event Manager on staff to oversee the entire planning process so that our couples have peace of mind that everything is taken care of and no detail is overlooked. While this level of service isn’t that important to all couples, it is one of the reasons that many larger, more well-established companies like ours may charge more than a one-person DJ service company.
Wedding Specialist DJs are the best option to ensure that you get everything you want in your DJ (plus a lot that you didn’t even know you wanted within your wedding DJ cost). They will take the time to consult with you, find out more about your wedding, your first dance, your vision, and your style, and then follow through with their promises. Now that’s not to say that every single DJ that charges more is a Wedding Specialist DJ, but “you get what you pay for” definitely applies to wedding DJs.
Most Expensive DJs $2000 – $3000+
Finally, there are DJs charging over $2000 for weddings. In our opinion, you should only pay this rate under certain circumstances. If you’ve seen this DJ personally at an event and they did an amazing job, then it may be worth paying extra. So much of the time, though, we hear people say, “he charged more, so we thought he must be the best,” and this wasn’t the case.
The end result isn’t good as the clients pay way more than they need to, and the professional DJ doesn’t really want to be there. On the flip side of this, some DJs are just so busy and so popular that the supply doesn’t match their demand, and they can command a very high fee. Is this DJ better than the lower-priced “average DJ” or “wedding specialist DJ?”
Maybe, but in most cases, probably not.
At Airwaves, we have a few professional DJs who have been with us for many years, so they have built a reputation within our company. These DJs have charged more in the past and have always done a great job for us, so we’ve been happy to bill them out for more.
We’ve also hired DJs that charged $1300 instead of $2000 and had great results! In our experience, price matters to an extent, but paying more for a DJ doesn’t make a significant difference after a certain threshold.
At first, it seems like the least expensive option is the best way to go. That’s got to be the best way to save money, right? Sometimes going cheap can be a good idea, but it can also lead to a wedding disaster.
How Much Does It Cost For A DJ Per Hour?
That’s why paying more for your DJ is important up to a certain point. While there are always exceptions to the rule, if your DJ charges under $1000 might be concerned they may not be experienced, professional or reliable.
On the other hand, if a DJ charges $2000 or more, then you might be overpaying for a DJ who has lost their passion and is only doing it for a paycheck.
Ultimately, if budget allows, price shouldn’t be the only determining factor in which DJ you decide to hire. Taking the time to speak with the DJ services company, and find out about their style, approach to music, packages, etc., is the best thing you can do. Pay attention to the questions they ask you as well – make sure you feel as though they are interested in what you want for your wedding day. Look through and read any reviews you can find online, or ask for testimonials from past clients or venues if possible. You can also ask your wedding planner to suggest someone with reasonable wedding DJ prices and hire a DJ for your wedding reception.
What we found was that over 70% of wedding guests remember the music, the atmosphere, and the party the most. More than your dress, cake, décor, or even food, your wedding guests are going to remember the dance party.
Did people stay late and dance? Was the music fun, and did it flow seamlessly? Was the DJ approachable, friendly, and interactive, and did they really “get” your style?
The first question to ask yourself is: “How important is wedding entertainment to you?”
Is that okay if you end up with an unreliable or low-quality DJ? Will you still have the wedding you want without it? Is saving some money from your wedding budget worth the risk?
If it’s not crucial that you get everything you want delivered precisely to your standards, hiring a low-priced wedding DJ might be a good idea. You’ll probably find someone who shows up, plays music, and gets the job done to at least an adequate level.
On the other hand, if not having fantastic entertainment that keeps your guests on the dance floor all night long is going to be something you’ll regret, it makes sense to invest more in someone who can deliver everything that you want on your wedding date.
What Are Your Wedding Priorities?
You deserve a wedding day; that’s exactly how you want it to be. You should hear the songs you love and none of the ones you hate! Your wedding should entertain all of your guests, from your friends to your grandparents.
You should dance all night long with the peace of mind that your DJ Company has planned for every little detail and every possible thing that could go wrong. Above all, your wedding should be the entire “you.” Your style, your personality, your love story, nothing cookie-cutter about it.
You should never have to suffer through an obnoxious, corny DJ who steals the spotlight or cheesy songs you hate; this is your wedding reception.
Your Music Your Way
That’s our company motto. We believe that our couples’ personalities should shine through in the music on their wedding day, which is why it’s our job to ask questions, listen, learn about you, and then let you know if we think our team is possibly even a good fit for your vision.
Most of our couples spend between $1,000–$2,000 on their wedding entertainment, and everything we do is fully personalized.
There’s a lot involved in finding and hiring the right wedding DJ. This guide should point you in the right direction; however, we’re happy to answer any questions that you may still have or provide any additional resources you might need.
If you’d like to know more about our packages and pricing, then request a quote!
If you’re only interested in the lowest price, we’re probably not the company for you, but if you’d like to know more about what you get for the price, then let’s chat; we would love to learn more about you and your vision for your wedding.
Happy Planning!
