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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..
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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.
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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.
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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.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Who on here are considering retiring from DJing? If so why?
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My reasoning is I reached a point where family and friends became more important than working evenings and weekends. Plus I am in a position financially where I have created income sources that don’t require my constant attention I can literally let them run themselves for weeks at time if needed, I have a couple key employees you don’t the majority of the day to day business
But ultimately is was to have more free time when the people I care about aren’t working
 
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djtaso said:
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.
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The good bands do HEAVY rehearsing. There are two local bands that I am close with. One does mashups all the time. They may add in a few lines from 3 or 4 other songs on top of the song they started. You sometimes never know what they will hit you with. They don't stop between songs during a set. The other band I know can go 3 hours without a break. They usually segue between songs but if they do stop, it is usually less than 3 seconds. Neither band relies on backing tracks. In fact, I find that most cover bands that use backing tracks do painstakingly slow song changes.
 
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djtaso said:
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.
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This is all conjecture and sounds more like your sales pitch.

Weddings are small in comparison to many other events, 150 people with a DJ is not the same as 300 - 800 with a live band at galas and other types of events.

The fact is very good bands (even for a wedding) are 3 to 5 times more costly than DJs. That's what is truly responsible for the ability to move DJ prices into the range they are at today. It's not at all difficult for wedding prospects to make a budget decision between a $12K - $18k band and a $3k - $5k DJ.

There are very few general dance bands that can't perform modern music. We could also argue that modern music isn't complicated enough to be a challenge. There's no need for a DJ when you have a fully capable band that plays continuously without breaks, has multiple vocalists, and a full complement of musicians.

I don't know where you get this 30-40 song comparison or even why that would matter since the buyer is the one who makes that choice with respect to music program. Live Bands have far more versatility with respect to how the present a song or interact with the audience's response. Fast mixing can piss off just as many people as it pleases. It's a form of slight-of-hand, (reaction by distraction) and we can't truly claim to be playing more songs if all we're doing is stringing ridiculously short samples together.
 
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Proformance said:
This is all conjecture and sounds more like your sales pitch.

Weddings are small in comparison to many other events, 150 people with a DJ is not the same as 300 - 800 with a live band at galas and other types of events.

The fact is very good bands (even for a wedding) are 3 to 5 times more costly than DJs. That's what is truly responsible for the ability to move DJ prices into the range they are at today. It's not at all difficult for wedding prospects to make a budget decision between a $12K - $18k band and a $3k - $5k DJ.

There are very few general dance bands that can't perform modern music. We could also argue that modern music isn't complicated enough to be a challenge. There's no need for a DJ when you have a fully capable band that plays continuously without breaks, has multiple vocalists, and a full complement of musicians.

I don't know where you get this 30-40 song comparison or even why that would matter since the buyer is the one who makes that choice with respect to music program. Live Bands have far more versatility with respect to how the present a song or interact with the audience's response. Fast mixing can piss off just as many people as it pleases. It's a form of slight-of-hand, (reaction by distraction) and we can't truly claim to be playing more songs if all we're doing is stringing ridiculously short samples together.
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No sales pitch... I never really have this discussion except on here it seems. I do have the luxury of working with many bands and see first hand the limitations and how crowds are reacting and how they seem to do a better job at keeping older guests on the dance floor and younger guests just hang by the bar after a while cause the songs drag out. Whether it's with a 5k band or 35k band... it's consistently the same experience.

The number of songs comparison is a matter of practicality... the majority of bands here will provide couples with a list of 100 songs that they know and will have the couple choose 30 from to hear. In the end a band will likely play closer to 40ish in a whole night during the open dancing portions over the course of 120 minutes. Bands will often offer to learn 1-2 songs that are not on their list of known songs. Now How do I know... bc I sometimes get hired to play alongside bands for the greek portion of things and then continue the american for the after party. The couple will send me the document that the bands give them to choose from a list, this way I know what the band played and not to repeat for the after party.

Again, the people choosing the band know this and are comfortable with this or they have the luxury of extending the party and doing an after party with a dj. It does come down to preference, and for some the prestige of having a band is what drives them to that decision, but more and more of todays couples would rather go with a dj who will allow them to hear closer to 100 songs in a night, has the ability to read the crowd and adjust instaneously, and deliver music in the form that millenials and gen z are more comfortable with.

Money aside... A band is hired because people want more of a performance... a dj is hired bc they want to hear all their favorite songs and someone to maximize the dancing by being able to read a crowd, adjust on the fly, and elevate the energy.

I don't speak to gala, corporate functions, or other type of events. Weddings with predominantly 25-35yr old clients is my experience.
 
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sawdust123 said:
The good bands do HEAVY rehearsing. There are two local bands that I am close with. One does mashups all the time. They may add in a few lines from 3 or 4 other songs on top of the song they started. You sometimes never know what they will hit you with. They don't stop between songs during a set. The other band I know can go 3 hours without a break. They usually segue between songs but if they do stop, it is usually less than 3 seconds. Neither band relies on backing tracks. In fact, I find that most cover bands that use backing tracks do painstakingly slow song changes.
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Yes I have worked with bands that are 35k... extremely well rehearsed, top of line gear, multiple singers, dedicated audio engineers, etc... no band though can bring the depth of music and ability to adjust on the fly as much as a dj. For example, I played a punk rock set this past weekend... started off w/ 3 must plays, but extended it cause it went over so well. In just a little over ten minutes I played the following:

  • Mr Brightside
  • Sk8er Boy
  • All The Small Things
  • Sugar We're Going Down
  • I'm Just A kid Simple Plan
  • My Own Worst Enemy
  • First Date - Blink 182
  • In Too Deep - Sum41
  • Dear Maria Count Me In

A band can't in the moment extend the set to that degree, are highly unlikely to be rehearsed in all of those songs, and strategically play the best parts so that this portion of the night doesn't go beyond 10-15 minutes.
 
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djtaso said:
No sales pitch... I never really have this discussion except on here it seems. I do have the luxury of working with many bands and see first hand the limitations and how crowds are reacting and how they seem to do a better job at keeping older guests on the dance floor and younger guests just hang by the bar after a while cause the songs drag out. Whether it's with a 5k band or 35k band... it's consistently the same experience.

The number of songs comparison is a matter of practicality... the majority of bands here will provide couples with a list of 100 songs that they know and will have the couple choose 30 from to hear. In the end a band will likely play closer to 40ish in a whole night during the open dancing portions over the course of 120 minutes. Bands will often offer to learn 1-2 songs that are not on their list of known songs. Now How do I know... bc I sometimes get hired to play alongside bands for the greek portion of things and then continue the american for the after party. The couple will send me the document that the bands give them to withchoose from a list, this way I know what the band played and not to repeat for the after party.

Again, the people choosing the band know this and are comfortable with this or they have the luxury of extending the party and doing an after party with a dj. It does come down to preference, and for some the prestige of having a band is what drives them to that decision, but more and more of todays couples would rather go with a dj who will allow them to hear closer to 100 songs in a night, has the ability to read the crowd and adjust instaneously, and deliver music in the form that millenials and gen z are more comfortable with.

Money aside... A band is hired because people want more of a performance... a dj is hired bc they want to hear all their favorite songs and someone to maximize the dancing by being able to read a crowd, adjust on the fly, and elevate the energy.

I don't speak to gala, corporate functions, or other type of events. Weddings with predominantly 25-35yr old clients is my experience.
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Taso I'm with you. The young ones don't listen to the entire song. Their attention span is not that deep. For the formal dance songs at a wedding a DJ can play the whole song. After that the young ones will expect the DJ to do quick mixing the songs. A DJ who plays the entire songs will bore the young ones and they will think that DJ was corny.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Taso I'm with you. The young ones don't listen to the entire song. Their attention span is not that deep. For the formal dance songs at a wedding a DJ can play the whole song. After that the young ones will expect the DJ to do quick mixing the songs. A DJ who plays the entire songs will bore the young ones and they will think that DJ was corny.
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Actually that's changed too. For the first time since 2009 when I first started experiencing weddings... In 2026 I'm now consistently being asked to keep the first dance song to under 2 minutes. The parent dances for nearly a decade have been consistently 90 seconds... but the first dance, that was almost always the one song that was never cut. Even speeches/toasts are virtually getting eliminated and couples prefer to bang those out at the rehearsal or welcome dinner.

Weddings, at least as a whole, are evolving significantly into one big party and less about the formality of the moment... Gone are cake cuttings, bouquet and garter hasn't been done in years... anniversary dances maybe once in a blue moon outside of metro areas, even vows are being removed from the ceremony (and done privately for the camera). They're trying to create experiences, rather than traditional affairs. Decor is getting more personalized, Content creators are replacing videographers who provide 24hr turnaround times, formalities are virtually non existent, people are adding more live musician elements but not as bands, rather live sax or live violin and dj combos, food trucks on the way out, live portrait painters, live performers in the form of flower girls, or human disco balls, tshirt and hat tosses.

Musically the younger generation is so diverse. They grew up listening to everything, having more music than ever accessible to them. They also didn't listen to radio...which makes each group have it's own distinct personality and sound beyond the standards. As I said, they want to create a feeling and a vibe... for some that is the standards... for some its reminiscing to high school and college years... for some it's Jersey shore club vibes... for some its Warped Tour... for others its ratchet frat party basement vibes from their college years... and for most... it's all of the above. Which is why a dj is more capable of bringing all of those vibes in one night than your everyday band.
 
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djtaso said:
Weddings, at least as a whole, are evolving significantly into one big party and less about the formality of the moment...
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You need not presume to be misunderstood.

This is not 1985
You're describing yourself against a backdrop of wedding styles that are long out of date.

It's like Christopher Columbus planting a flag in the new world as a 747 flies overhead. :)
Reference: (DJ Convention, DJ associations, et. al.)
 
musicdoctordj said:
Plus...when people see an 8-foot banquet table covered with 1200+ CD's (in their original jewel boxes, I might add)...they are more in awe than when they see a DJ with a laptop and two speakers on sticks...and then wonder "Why am I paying this guy $1500 for this gig...I could do it myself!".
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I think you are seriously overestimating people.
Most people don't care how you play your music, as long as you play good music that they want to hear.
Only other DJ's care about that.
I'm not convinced anyone will be impressed that you are using old technology.
In fact, it may have the opposite effect.
DJ gear is not like owning a classic car.
And in the days of digital technology....most people have the capability to pretty much do it themselves.

"He was a real sucky DJ, but damn I was impressed that he was still using CD's"

And for the record, I am not attacking you for your choice of equipment or media.
I am still using dual mp3 players, because I am comfortable with it.
 
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Ausumm said:
I think you are seriously overestimating people.
Most people don't care how you play your music, as long as you play good music that they want to hear.
Only other DJ's care about that.
I'm not convinced anyone will be impressed that you are using old technology.
In fact, it may have the opposite effect.
DJ gear is not like owning a classic car.
And in the days of digital technology....most people have the capability to pretty much do it themselves.

"He was a real sucky DJ, but damn I was impressed that he was still using CD's"

And for the record, I am not attacking you for your choice of equipment or media.
I am still using dual mp3 players, because I am comfortable with it.
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AMEN to your post! Taso my point was that at one time people would listen to an entire song and not a piece of a song. There were songs back in the day that were called 12" records. There are songs that were 7 minutes long and songs that were 15 minutes long. One of those songs was Rapper's Delight. I used to rap the entire song. I can't do that today.

Now the songs that are being made today for the most part are 4 minutes or less. That's for the new songs of today that the young people listen to today. Back in the day songs were created in a recording studio. Today people can make a song from a computer and a software program. You don't have to use a recording studio today.

The young people of today don't listen to the whole song unless it's played through a device of some kind or the radio. Even the radio station doesn't play the entire song most times. They have cut a great song short and that upsets me. I can be loving the song and all of a sudden they will cut the song short. Even the DJs on WBLS don't play an entire song. They do the quick mixing thing most of the time.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
AMEN to your post! Taso my point was that at one time people would listen to an entire song and not a piece of a song. There were songs back in the day that were called 12" records. There are songs that were 7 minutes long and songs that were 15 minutes long. One of those songs was Rapper's Delight. I used to rap the entire song. I can't do that today.

Now the songs that are being made today for the most part are 4 minutes or less. That's for the new songs of today that the young people listen to today. Back in the day songs were created in a recording studio. Today people can make a song from a computer and a software program. You don't have to use a recording studio today.

The young people of today don't listen to the whole song unless it's played through a device of some kind or the radio. Even the radio station doesn't play the entire song most times. They have cut a great song short and that upsets me. I can be loving the song and all of a sudden they will cut the song short. Even the DJs on WBLS don't play an entire song. They do the quick mixing thing most of the time.
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Yes... I have those songs and am well versed in house tracks that are 7-13 minutes long (you gotta remember I've been doing this since early 2000's).

If you're playing to the same generation as you did 20 years ago, then you can continue to do the same extended mix format... as that's what they expect. However, if you're playing weddings, which revolves around 25-35 yr olds... who are constantly changing behaviours despite the age staying the same... you need to adjust. They don't even listen to radio... am frequency is disappearing from new cars. They listen to spotify... the moment they don't like the song or don't know a part, they skip. No ads, no waiting for the right song and hearing new songs in the process. They get instant gratification. DJ's at weddings are rarely introducing new songs. The dj's are now creating a night that is curated specifically for that couple.
 
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Mixxy, When was the last time you played for young people?
 
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sonic-vision said:
Mixxy, When was the last time you played for young people?
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It was a mixed crowd for the family. I understand what you're asking me. I'm not the DJ who will transition from one song to the next song in 90 seconds or less. My brain doesn't work that fast. My partner is great at that. He knows that style of music for the young crowd.
 
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djtaso said:
Actually that's changed too. For the first time since 2009 when I first started experiencing weddings... In 2026 I'm now consistently being asked to keep the first dance song to under 2 minutes. The parent dances for nearly a decade have been consistently 90 seconds... but the first dance, that was almost always the one song that was never cut. Even speeches/toasts are virtually getting eliminated and couples prefer to bang those out at the rehearsal or welcome dinner.
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Once again our markets clash LOL. If I did any of that I would be placed outside with my gear and the door locked ;) I did one last year they used Freebird for the Mother/Son dance start to finish and specifically told me don't cut it. Another Father/daughter one that was close to 9 minutes. They had me produce a mashup it was basically an evolution of dance type thing. These are the rarity and occasionally I do get one that wants it cut short but it's rare

Another last year was a little over 2 hours of speeches almost an hour from the brides parents alone. That is unusual but it averages 60 minutes any given night
 
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Jeff Romard said:
Once again our markets clash LOL. If I did any of that I would be placed outside with my gear and the door locked ;) I did one last year they used Freebird for the Mother/Son dance start to finish and specifically told me don't cut it. Another Father/daughter one that was close to 9 minutes. They had me produce a mashup it was basically an evolution of dance type thing. These are the rarity and occasionally I do get one that wants it cut short but it's rare

Another last year was a little over 2 hours of speeches almost an hour from the brides parents alone. That is unusual but it averages 60 minutes any given night
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For a clearer understanding... I am NOT making these decisions. These are choices being made by the couple. I don't even suggest it. The only thing I do is ask in our final meeting "are we playing it in full or are we cutting it short and where". This is a decision they've made on their own. What I will say though is this is being heavily pushed in the tik tok sphere where other couples are talking about how their wedding was so fun bc they kept formalities at a minimum and had one big dance party, or they hate going to events as a guest and dances drag. Tik tok is literally shaping everything right now, and we in a way have no control over it. Go against "the trend" and they'll view you as out of touch or not prioritizing the couples vision.

We have 4hr receptions... can't do 2hrs of speeches lol... people get bored of 10 min speeches. But again... regional differences.
 
What it's about is this. Some of what a DJ can play at an event is about the type of event, what type of music does the client want the DJ to play, the people attending the event and location for the event. Some areas may want a DJ to play Country Western music because that's what they listen to in that area. Again it's about the music the client wants the DJ to play. Taso you talk about doing weddings for 25-35 year old brides. People in that age group will mostly want a DJ to play the latest top 40 stuff that's popular for the moment. At least the weddings that you do. They will want the DJ to not play the entire song. Just play a small piece of the song and move on quickly to the next song. You said it right. At that age they don't listen to the radio. They listen to Spotify and other sources like that.

There are plenty of House Music Festivals throughout NJ. Those festivals will feature DJs that will play deep underground house music and club classics. What those festivals are about are attracting people who enjoy that kind of music and just out to enjoy themselves. I don't hear people wanting to start a fight or any such wild stuff like that.

I personally like doing events that I can feel safe. I don't have to worry about a fight breaking out or anything like that.

What I find is that venues that charge a good amount of money for a client to have their event in their venue don't usually have to deal with such things because certain people aren't going to pay a lot of money to have an event. They are going to look for a venue charging $1,000 or less. Preferably under 1K. I'm just very cautious because no amount of money can replace my life. That's where if I don't feel comfortable about doing an event I will pass on doing the event.

When I first came back we would do anything, anywhere. I was just excited to be back doing what I love to do. At my age now and maturity level I'm very careful about the type of events I do and where the event is at.
 
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