How Much are you Going to Spend?
November 22, 2010 by Larry Green
Filed under For Couples Getting Married
In addition (or even in lieu of) what follows, here’s a link to a very comprehensive post by the author of The Flirty Blog, Stacie Tomaki. “How Much Should Your Wedding DJ Cost?” It’s well-written, very informative, and shares a lot of valuable insight from one who’s not in the wedding entertainment business.
When it comes to money, what do you have in mind?
There are some couples with whom I speak that don’t know what they want to spend. They confess, they have no idea what a “DJ” gets. After a little price shopping, it’s easy for anyone to get a good idea what the going rate is for a DJ at a wedding. This can be referred to as the status quo, which is seen by most people as the customary and reasonable rate in their area. Depending on what part of the country you’re having your celebration, there can be lots of disparity. The American Disc Jockey Association reveals: “Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00.” Why such a range? Because, what you get for your money, the extent its planned and prepared, how it’s presented, and the outcome varies greatly. It’s still the overwhelmingly widespread notion, the wedding reception needs music, and the disc jockey simply fulfills this requirement. If this is how you see your “DJ”, as the commodity providing the music and perhaps making some announcements, then for sure, what you pay should be commensurate with the service provided and at the lower end of the spectrum. However, if your “DJ” will be relied upon to provide the grounds for greater guest participation, an elevated level of guest involvement, or a more pronounced response on the dance floor, then the service is worth more, which is apt to be reflected in a higher price.
What’s your WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT worth to you?
The top header of the web pages on my site pronounces: it’s the entertainment that sets the tone of your reception, keeps your agenda flowing smoothly, and maintains the interest of your guests. Along these lines, in his book, The Best Wedding Recepton…Ever! Peter Merry says: “This purpose statement sums up what most couples truly want their wedding receptions to do: capture and hold their guests’ attention. They want their guests to stay for the whole party and enjoy themselves in the process. This purpose statement can also be condensed down to one simple word…entertainment.”
So, how much are YOU going to spend?
According to Jeffrey Gitomer, you don’t have a budget. You simply have in mind an amount you want to spend. Two questions: 1) Shouldn’t what you spend hinge on how much you want your friends and family to have a remarkably fun and memorable celebration? 2) Of course you don’t want to go into hock or take out a loan to pay for your wedding, but when it comes to what your spending money on, might it be a good idea to consider shifting your emphasis from expenses that do very little or nothing for the outcome of your celebration to expenses that ensure the success of your celebration? Depending on your wedding priorities, it’s regularly stated as well as documented, quality entertainment is seen as contributing 80% (and sometimes even more) to the success of your event. (Here are some feedback surveys from some of my own recent weddings.)
BACK TO MONEY, and one last question
If 80-100% of the success of your wedding celebration is attributed to the quality entertainment provided by the right “DJ,” would you be willing to invest 10-20% of your total wedding “budget” to assure your friends and family experience these kind of positive results? (Depending on your total budget, this could very well be a real win, win! Feel free to give me a call.)
The Best Return on Your Investment
Comments
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ERin moynahan on Wed, 11th May 2011 7:25 pm
HEy….we were just looking for someone for dj service that would also do the introducton first dance and play song requests..we were trying to keep things simple and fun and also have a small budget for entertainment…its a small reception and we dont need anything extreme…thanks!
Larry Green on Thu, 12th May 2011 2:36 pm
For all intents and purposes, sounds like your in the market for what can be referred to as a Wedding DJ, which is fine, but…what do you mean by “fun” and what do you mean by “extreme”?
Morgan on Sat, 4th Jun 2011 8:20 pm
Entertainment is a big thing for my wedding. I am getting a serious jumpstart on planning because I am paying for the wedding myself. The entertainment budget is $1000. What services are offered for that price? I am sure there is a broad spectrum, but I am looking for my guests to be entertained, my husband and I to have a memorable evening, and getting everyone involved so it is a party they will never forget.
Larry Green on Sat, 4th Jun 2011 11:10 pm
Hi Morgan! You provide a very attractive description! You want an unforgettably entertaining party in which your friends and family are involved in the fun. Sounds wonderful. I look forward to speaking with you and learning more, like where and when the celebrating will take place.