How Much Do DJs Charge?

Prices for disc jockeys vary dramatically according to location, MC skills and popularity. There are many things that factor into the cost of a DJ at your event, such as popularity, experience and equipment expenses. The costs of purchasing music, repairs, upgrades, speakers, amps, signal processors, cables, insurance and lights all have a bearing as well.

Normally, a mobile DJ will recoup at least 10 percent of his/her equipment costs while at your event. For example, if the DJs setup costs $3,000 you should expect to pay at least $300 for an event.

Normally, the base price of any professional DJ will be more than it would cost to rent the sound system yourself from a rental shop. DJ Rates for Professional Mobile DJ's normally range from around $75 to $400+ per hour, depending on location and event type. Club DJs can command $500 or more per night, or as low as low as $50/hr depending on how many people are in attendance. Celebrity DJs can charge $10,000 or more for events.

Most of the bigger DJ companies will post their starting prices for events and parties on the above sites. The majority of Professional DJ's will have a website. All Mobile DJ's should have their own equipment. Some Club DJ's do not own any PA equipment. Always go with a DJ that has all the equipment needed for your function to avoid possible problems. If you put down a deposit, always meet the DJ in person at public location or office, do not send checks to PO boxes, paypal, etc if you have never done business with them before. Always try to work with local DJ's and local DJ companies. Some of the largest companies you find on google, simply outsource talent to the lowest bidder, so you may end up with an inexperienced DJ for a very premium price.

Many events also require more work put in beforehand, such as weddings. This is one of the reasons you see such a vast range of pricing when it comes to DJ Services. Experience counts as well. A DJ that has done 100's of events will normally cause your event to run a lot smoother than a DJ that has only done a handful.

There are a lot of things that factor in to your rate quote such as day of the week, type of event, type of equipment needed, coordination, and number of people expected. Keep in mind that just because your event may only be 4 hours, the DJ may need to invest 12+ hours in preparation prior to your event date. Peace of mind is a high commodity.