Hard to retire

Proformance said:

Yes, they can.
Simple reality of event planning: If a customer has hired BOTH you and a band - then the band probably isn't that versatile.
PS: All of the effects and tools built into our DJ controllers are available (and originate) in live performance.

Most bands are hired to perform within a particular range, and the most versatile bands can be cost prohibitive for the general wedding market. That's where agency comes in.

I've performed live WITH bands - segueing in and out of each other; but that's with 900+ people for something like a major pharmaceutical company - not the personal taste of bride & groom at their wedding.

Bands (musicians) are STILL the better entertainment when properly vetted and evaluated, They also remain the source of what most event DJs play - something DJs take for granted. No matter how well we mix - it's still someone else's creative work we are manipulating..

Click to expand...

So in other words, they can’t do what I said… without a dj. And in reality you can no longer say a band is the source, when much of today’s music is created on a laptop.

djtaso said:

So in other words, they can’t do what I said… without a dj. And in reality you can no longer say a band is the source, when much of today’s music is created on a laptop.

Click to expand...

Invalidating musicians? - That's ego, not reality.

DJs don't have a lock on 'fast mixing' Live musicians can be just as capable of high performance sets as any DJ.
What are the odds really, that a DJ is going to be playing alongside such a band? There's rarely any such a need.

Proformance said:

Invalidating musicians? - That's ego, not reality.

DJs don't have a lock on 'fast mixing' Live musicians can be just as capable of high performance sets as any DJ.
What are the odds really, that a DJ is going to be playing alongside such a band? There's rarely any such a need.

Click to expand...

Its a very common "hybrid" experience that bands are now offering here (bands w a dj). Different region though, where we're very club/hign energy/fast mix focused and Dj's still are more desired, even across the luxury markets. Admittedly different markets still view the band as more premium, but here... we tend to want more energy than most bands can provide. I think another drawback in Jersey is that we only have 2-2.5hrs of dancing max (broken down in 30-45 min sets in between courses and cake cutting, and typically a 1hr set at the end) and a band literally only does 30-40 songs in a night, whereas a dj can incorporate closer to 100... so you get more variety.

Again, bands just can't do remixes of songs without HEAVY rehearsing and incorporating sound elements beyond the core instruments, such as Otto Knows - Million Voices vs Love Tonight mashup (very popular at weddings for those seeking that Jersey Club vibe). So either they do need a dj or they limit the type of client they can attract... just like a dj is limited in who they can attract.

Who on here are considering retiring from DJing? If so why?