Weddings Pricing (without the pricing)
- Thread starter D1E
- Start date
Packages, smackages... I have a minimum charge that differs depending on what day of the week it is. There is no way I'm making any less on any given way because the client needs less time / equipment. If you want to book me for a Saturday in August, the charge will be $995.00 plus tax and includes up to 7 hours of music set-up in one location and a Martin Acrobat to light the dance floor. If you want me for five hours, it's the same price. Having a pool party? Same price. 3 Year old's birthday party with 30 people, same price. You get the picture... The price is venue dependent of course but applies to 90% of my gigs. Larger venues require more audio gear and lighting so I will include it in the quote. I also offer uplighting, gobos, etc. at an additional charge.
Abbey: Yes, for Saturdays for June / July / August and the first weekend in September (our long weekend) my Saturday rate is 995.00 plus tax. Fridays / Sundays are 895.00 plus tax. Monday to Thursday weddings are 795.00 plus tax. Receptions here are normally 7 hours long, from 6 PM until 1 AM or 5 PM until 12 AM with many wanting you from 5 PM until 1 AM (8 hours).
I also do a lot of onsite ceremonies at golf courses and the like. Prelude music to the ceremony normally begins anywhere from 2:30 to 3:30 typically with extended cocktail hour between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. It makes for a very long day...
I am sure you get a lot more $$ out East.
I also do a lot of onsite ceremonies at golf courses and the like. Prelude music to the ceremony normally begins anywhere from 2:30 to 3:30 typically with extended cocktail hour between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. It makes for a very long day...
I am sure you get a lot more $$ out East.
No! A lot of DJ's in this area start at $350 for 4 hours. Seven hours usually gets a DJ $550.
Hey I'm moving out west.
People here don't hire DJ's on features or FX but on price.
Hey I'm moving out west.
People here don't hire DJ's on features or FX but on price.
Abbey, there are a lot of lower priced Craigslist DJs out West, too many to count actually... I don't even try to compete with them. I am referred by many venues which in conjunction with my long standing reputation, keeps me quite busy.
Side note... I DJ'd a number of weddings for a group of friends when what I believe to be was the last guy to get married in the group contacted me to DJ his wedding. I gave him a more expensive quote because he was in one of Vancouver's largest venues and I don't do gigs half-as$ed. I believe the quote was $1400.00 and it was 8 hours long to boot. He baulked at the price and wanted to know if I could do it for less $$$. I said that I would be happy to do it for my regular rate if he eliminated about 200 guests from his guest list and booked a smaller venue. Needless to say, I didn't get the gig. A month or two after, I ran into one of the couple's friends that I had DJ'd for (wicked good time) and they mentioned something to me about their friend telling them what I had said about getting a smaller venue. They thought it was funny... What can I say? I grew up listening to Steve Martin and enjoy my one-liners.
Side note... I DJ'd a number of weddings for a group of friends when what I believe to be was the last guy to get married in the group contacted me to DJ his wedding. I gave him a more expensive quote because he was in one of Vancouver's largest venues and I don't do gigs half-as$ed. I believe the quote was $1400.00 and it was 8 hours long to boot. He baulked at the price and wanted to know if I could do it for less $$$. I said that I would be happy to do it for my regular rate if he eliminated about 200 guests from his guest list and booked a smaller venue. Needless to say, I didn't get the gig. A month or two after, I ran into one of the couple's friends that I had DJ'd for (wicked good time) and they mentioned something to me about their friend telling them what I had said about getting a smaller venue. They thought it was funny... What can I say? I grew up listening to Steve Martin and enjoy my one-liners.
Currently we do not, we will in the next month or two add the packages to the site with the launch of our new redesigned website, Prices will not be included on the website though, they must call for Pricing.
We post our packages on our site, but not pricing. Currently. We do not offer a FLAT fee. Our packages are Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus! The differences? Silver, 4 hours a la carte. Gold, 4 hours with our dance floor lights. Platinum, with Ceremony, cocktails, reception, dance floor lights and ot. Platinum Plus, same as Platinum, but with our Photobooth...
I've had Silver, Gold and Platinum for Years. No need for a Bronze. Gold is for the brides that are price conscience. We sell more of the Gold and Platinum. Now with the Platinum Plus, which it includes the Photobooth, brides prefer that if that is what they are looking for. This way, with our packages, we are hitting EVERY demo and we keep our pricing affordable.
Besides organizing the contract part of the business, we have just started working on creating promotional advertising brochures/pamphlets in an effort to differentiate our packages we will be offering.
While I'm not exactly sure which route I will take.....I am leaning on towards three packages as well. A low budget package...basically sound...no lights...four hour event, nothing fancy. Great for small parties.
Then possibly our second package. Something like....basic lights, sound...basically your typical bar event, for medium sized parties.
And then our grand enchilada...the whole works. Video, Lights, Sound...everything all included for a great price as opposed to the other two events. Try to entice them to spend that extra couple hundred bucks or whatever it is..and make the most of it.
I need to work on where I am going with this yet...but I kinda have a general idea as of right now.
While I'm not exactly sure which route I will take.....I am leaning on towards three packages as well. A low budget package...basically sound...no lights...four hour event, nothing fancy. Great for small parties.
Then possibly our second package. Something like....basic lights, sound...basically your typical bar event, for medium sized parties.
And then our grand enchilada...the whole works. Video, Lights, Sound...everything all included for a great price as opposed to the other two events. Try to entice them to spend that extra couple hundred bucks or whatever it is..and make the most of it.
I need to work on where I am going with this yet...but I kinda have a general idea as of right now.
What happens when they choose a package that is NOT adequate for the room? You tell them so but they refuse to budge. Do you upgrade at no extra cost or what?
no packages
no add ons
no complicated formulas
I provide a sound and light show
and I charge by the hour
no add ons
no complicated formulas
I provide a sound and light show
and I charge by the hour
SemiRetired DJ
DJ Extraordinaire
OK, so how do you compute that?
My experience has been with groups of 200 or less and for that two speakers always worked.
The way my Master System is designed, Speakers will change depending on the Venue. I can add or minus depending on venue. Two of my racks (DJ Console/Station) and Process Rack (Includes two amps) are constant. Additional Amp Rack with a 3 way crossover is added when the 3 way system is used.
Two Way System (Options)
2 Bose 802s
2 Bose 802s with 1 JBL Loaded 15 " Regular Sub
2 Bose 802s with 1 JBL Scoop
2 Bose 802s with 2 JBL Scoops
2 Bose 802s with 4 JBL Scoops
3 Way System (Options)
2 Tweeter Cabinets, 2 Midrange Cabinets and 2 JBL Scoop
2 Tweeter Cabinets, 2 Midrange Cabinets and 4 JBL Scoops
I can add/integrate any part of the 2 way system above as fill to the 3 way system.
If needed, for additional sound reinforcement, I will rent bigger or additional gear.
In other words I have approx 10 configurations of Sound Systems. Depending on which one I need to use, I price accordingly as my base price for the System alone. Hours (Anything over 4 hours), ease of load in/out, distance etc will also be factored in to get to the final price.
I have never been a fan of complicated pricing.
"by-the-hour" has always worked great for me
and has NOT confused one of my clients.
the only problem I see is the the "admin fee"
I completely understand from a DJ point of view.
but from the CLIENT'S point of view, it may take some explaining.
why not bump up your "per hour" rate and skip the extra charge?
