My highest paid wedding

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B

Bill Kexel

Well-Known DJ
Dec 5, 2006
2,097
59
65
Phoenix, AZ
I recently set a new record for my 25+ yrs of DJing weddings.
The wedding I performed at I made $2,400.
For me, I never thought it was possible.

This was a 6 hr gig. It was for a ceremony & reception. (I did not attend the rehearsal) The only upsell was for a photo montage (I created it & provided the equipment) My lighting is very basic (no uplighting, LEDs Etc.)
The event was actually $2,300 + $100 tip.

I can remember it wasn't that long ago, I would be lucky to make that in a month of Saturday night weddings.

$2,400 may not be a big deal in some areas & for some DJs, but here, I knew that some DJs have been getting these rates for a while now, and it pushed me to want to know HOW they can command these type of rates???

I found it's mostly about the service & the attention to detail (hand-holding) that you provide for them. It's not how much flash & effects you bring. (my customer didn't even ask if I had lights!) Bride's will pay more for someone that will walk them through everything & provide them with peace of mind.

For me, every wedding I've done this year was in the $1,200-$1,900 range, so hitting the $2K+ mark for me was huge.

I wonder how it is in other areas? What's the highest grossing wedding you've had?
 
Still haven't cracked the 2K limit, I know that a couple of the other DJs in town do it. So far my largest is about $1800.00, with quite a few upgrades
 
Bill Kexel said:
I recently set a new record for my 25+ yrs of DJing weddings.
The wedding I performed at I made $2,400.
For me, I never thought it was possible.

This was a 6 hr gig. It was for a ceremony & reception. (I did not attend the rehearsal) The only upsell was for a photo montage (I created it & provided the equipment) My lighting is very basic (no uplighting, LEDs Etc.)
The event was actually $2,300 + $100 tip.

I can remember it wasn't that long ago, I would be lucky to make that in a month of Saturday night weddings.

$2,400 may not be a big deal in some areas & for some DJs, but here, I knew that some DJs have been getting these rates for a while now, and it pushed me to want to know HOW they can command these type of rates???

I found it's mostly about the service & the attention to detail (hand-holding) that you provide for them. It's not how much flash & effects you bring. (my customer didn't even ask if I had lights!) Bride's will pay more for someone that will walk them through everything & provide them with peace of mind.

For me, every wedding I've done this year was in the $1,200-$1,900 range, so hitting the $2K+ mark for me was huge.

I wonder how it is in other areas? What's the highest grossing wedding you've had?
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Well, my highest that I actually have done was about $1000, but I have one coming up later in the year for about $4000 - total fluke that I got it, and my actual take will only be $1700 after all is said and done.

In my area if you can get $1000, you are doing VERY well indeed. $750 is normal around here.
 
Have busted the $2000 mark several times on several gigs but never without either a lot of work and equipment or a lot of long hours for the event.
 
I`m averaging $450 for a wedding this year which is pretty high for this market most are in the $200 to $250 range.

I did one last year for $750 with upsells
 
I recently set a new record for my 25+ yrs of DJing weddings.
The wedding I performed at I made $2,400.
For me, I never thought it was possible.
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I went ahead as sent a thank you note on your behalf to Mr. Ferrell. After all you and in fact all of us owe it all to him.:sqlaugh:


That's great news to hear and remember you did it all yourself. You now have set yourself a bar. Step on up and enjoy the drinks on the top shelf.

My top to date is just under $1600. Nothing special just a ceremony included. No lights but I did throw in the Bose because my clients deserve the best.:sqwink:
 
$600, ceremony and reception. We're considering the addition of an uplighting package in another year or two, after we purchase a new vehicle for hauling equipment.

For people concerned with appearance, we might consider adding a Bose system as part of a high-end package to make a lot of impact with a tiny footprint in the room. In addition to higher-end weddings, this could give us an edge to get into corporate mixers on campus and in the research park (corporate business park off-campus).
 
For people concerned with appearance, we might consider adding a Bose system as part of a high-end package to make a lot of impact with a tiny footprint in the room.
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Since I like to spark debate the first concern should be about sound when using the Bose L1's. For people wishing to have a more even dispersed sound and a unit capable of offering a comfortable sound experience that has proven to be guest friendly then offer them the Bose. And they take up less foot print room and look really cool.:sqwink:
 
Ron Auger said:
Since I like to spark debate the first concern should be about sound when using the Bose L1's. For people wishing to have a more even dispersed sound and a unit capable of offering a comfortable sound experience that has proven to be guest friendly then offer them the Bose. And they take up less foot print room and look really cool.:sqwink:
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LOL!
:sqbiggrin:
 
Ron Auger said:
...Bose L1's.
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Oh for the love of.... let's not go there in this thread too! :sqlaugh:

Seriously man - over 2k thats AWESOME! Great job. My largest single event to-date so far has been just over $1000. With my most recent rate increase though, I'll be hitting that figure more and more often now though.

That's still nothing in my market - I know the guy here locally ("Wedding Entertainment Director") that Matt used to talk about all the time - guy STARTS charging 2k for a 4hr reception. Lighting, montages, monograms, love stories, all the goodies - it all goes up from there! With prices like that, imagine what his rates would be if HE started using Bose!

:sqeek:
 
Oh for the love of.... let's not go there in this thread too!
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Just keep telling yourself it's only equipment, it's only equipment.:sqwink:

Aren't you in the same market as the Amazing Randy? I would figure he's got the bar set so high you all should be well over $1000.
 
Ron Auger said:
Aren't you in the same market as the Amazing Randy? I would figure he's got the bar set so high you all should be well over $1000.
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I've heard that name:) Don't know him though.

Nah - I only started about 4.5 yrs ago, and so my pricing has been steadily increasing since.

I'll never make as much as a lot of my contemporaries because Im the rarest breed of dj's (prolly the only one really) who thinks/feels that dj pricing should be based on real-world tangibles and a simple cost-plus pricing structure.

Given that I'm a single-op and my overhead is practically nothing, I can only justify so much. :sqlaugh:

Simply charging "the market rate" (whatever the heck THAT is) or "what the other guy" is charging just never made sense to me.
 
Ron Auger said:
Just keep telling yourself it's only equipment, it's only equipment.:sqwink:

Aren't you in the same market as the Amazing Randy? I would figure he's got the bar set so high you all should be well over $1000.
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You have to remember that the "amazing" Randy has to sell "HOW TO" DVDs to make ends meet! :sqlaugh:
 
Please...

Don't knock the Bose L1s until you've heard it for yourself for 30 days. Otherwise, a wise friend said *Quit 'cher bitchin'* -and fork over the $4800.

On the topic, My highest is $1800, including a $300 tip.

I will be $2000 soon, why? I deserve it.
 
AlbanyAMS said:
Don't knock the Bose L1s until you've heard it for yourself for 30 days. Otherwise, a wise friend said *Quit 'cher bitchin'* -and fork over the $4800.

On the topic, My highest is $1800, including a $300 tip.
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You tell them. $4800? I only payed $4500.



I will be $2000 soon, why? I deserve it.
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Who says?
 
AlbanyAMS said:
$450O?

Anyways...

Well, I figure this, 14 years of a full time service and my survey ratings are at 99.9%. I can prove it, can you?
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I wasn't challenging you. I was just wondering why you think you deserve it. Is that what you tell your clients when they ask "why so much"?

What it comes down to is it doesn't matter what you think. It doesn't matter what I think. You are only worth what your clients are willing to pay. So, out of curiosity I ask why do you think you deserve it. No need to get defensive.:sqwink:
 
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