How much do you charge for all day wedding services?

[yourdj]

- 10 hours in the venue.
- six uplighters on control
- additional PA (if required)
- projector and screen (if required).

- Music for ceremony/meal etc.
- Master of ceremonies to introduce key parts of the day

Evening function - 4-5 hours.

What would you charge for that - just curious?

[Charlie Brown]

£600 flat.

Thats background music during the breakfast, wireless microphones and evening disco.

[yourdj]

£600 flat.

Thats background music during the breakfast, wireless microphones and evening disco.

God thats quite cheap. What do you charge for an average five hour function?
Is the all day also with the extras mentioned? :)

[ppentertainments]

It's a bit like the 'how much is a disco question'. A lot of variables involved especially if you are using different rooms, setups etc.

Basically for what you mentioned, if fairly local and all in the same room I would be looking at £850

I actually done a very similar day on Saturday (no uplighting) but was at the venue from 9am till 12am (with an hours drive either way). Due to the room layout though I needed 3 different setups during the day and timings were really tight so did need help - the fee for this was £1050. Turned out one of the best days/nights I have had and the B&G were very impressed with the service received.

[Danno13]

Came to just under £900 for me. Bear in mind, if they booked the uplighting and projector/screen hire elsewhere they could easily pay £200+ for each.

[Charlie Brown]

God thats quite cheap. What do you charge for an average five hour function?
Is the all day also with the extras mentioned? :)

Prices start at £349 for a five hour function but most of them are around the £400 mark .

I dont mind playing some background music for another £200 squid. It doesn't include any of your extras although my mood lighting prices are cheap - £150 for 20 units DMXd.

[yourdj]

Prices start at £349 for a five hour function but most of them are around the £400 mark .

I dont mind playing some background music for another £200 squid. It doesn't include any of your extras although my mood lighting prices are cheap - £150 for 20 units DMXd.

That is cheap for the lighting. That must take hours to set up?

Just 6 lights takes me 30 mins ;)

I do believe in charging an hourly rate however so it will be a bit discounted off the main DJing part but they are still using my skills to set up everything and operate it.

A hire company would charge about £500-800 flat for all the pa and optional extras + technician and transport/storage of gear. Thats without the DJ.

As mentioned pricing is a subjective thing but your all day pricing seems a bit skewed in relation to the Djing part :)

[Steve the DJ]

Sorry I pressed £1500 - £2000 by mistake, it should have been the £1000 - £1500 option. :o

[yourdj]

Sorry I pressed £1500 - £2000 by mistake, it should have been the £1000 - £1500 option. :o

Interesting only one has gone in at 995 kind of pricing?

I wish I could command that on a weekly basis.
I have one £1200 wedding next year and one this year.

By the end of 2012 I want at least two all dayers a month for 2011. I am doing about 1 at the moment. :)

Maybe the unlock the cash workshop on Monday will spark a light of somesort?

[Steve the DJ]

What sparked a light for me was actually an agent.

I always tried to charge more like I thought I was worth but would become more flexible if the diary was bare. Then I started doing some work for this guy who sells me in a certain way to a particular demographic and BOOM! I am getting £450 - £650 for a regular evening booking after his commission.

All beautiful venues or lovely private homes. My target price for the sort of all dayer you mention is now £1295 - £1495 depending on the amount of uplighting.

[yourdj]

What sparked a light for me was actually an agent.

I always tried to charge more like I thought I was worth but would become more flexible if the diary was bare. Then I started doing some work for this guy who sells me in a certain way to a particular demographic and BOOM! I am getting £450 - £650 for a regular evening booking after his commission.

All beautiful venues or lovely private homes. My target price for the sort of all dayer you mention is now £1295 - £1495 depending on the amount of uplighting.

I did a gig on Sat for an agent which is a bit ironic as I am one :p
Net fee was £460 so they must have charged at least £600 (for 5 hours).

After a £50 non Djing hourly rate, 6 uplights, projector, additional sound etc. etc.
Then it must be pushing a grand for the ten hours.

I have recently been educating and selling the packages to the client which has worked as only you can explain the benefit of paying twice what they had intended for a much better overall service.

[chrisj]

I did a wedding with 30 uplighters dmx'd and disco 7.30pm until midnight. 3 hrs in morning for me and son to set up. £500. Hotel marquee near Norwich.

[DiscoMagic]

So I instinctivly pressed £400 - £600 witou reading the OP properly... Sorry :o

My charges are generally simple and are as follows:

5 hours DJing = £350
Extra hour DJing before midnight £50 per hour.
Extra Hour After Midnight - £75 per hour.
Early setup with the use of PA and mics £35 per hour.
Toastmaster add-on - £300 (and its a proper toastmaster service, not just making announcements"
Don't currently offer uplighting or projection so cannot comment, but I'm guessing it would be circa £400?

So total would be £1225. But it would be a great gig and I normally just have the run of the mill evening wedding at £350



What sparked a light for me was actually an agent.



What agent do you use Steve? - Sound like a nice arrangement you have there?! :)

[Pe7e]

- 10 hours in the venue.
- six uplighters on control
- additional PA (if required)
- projector and screen (if required).

What would you charge for that - just curious?

I'm not having a go Toby, but how can you get away with just 6 uplighters? I would usually recomend that sort of number for a smallish conservatory in a private house. I'd use at least 12 in a small/medium function room or marquee, and the sky's the limit in large venues

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm not having a go Toby, but how can you get away with just 6 uplighters? I would usually recomend that sort of number for a smallish conservatory in a private house. I'd use at least 12 in a small/medium function room or marquee, and the sky's the limit in large venues

How is he 'getting away' with 6 uplighters? He hasn't mentioned the size of the room or how intense the client wanted the colours.

[Corabar Entertainment]

...or whether it's 'feature' up-lighting, or the whole room.

[Pe7e]

How is he 'getting away' with 6 uplighters? He hasn't mentioned the size of the room or how intense the client wanted the colours.

You are quite correct, no details of size was given, I'd assumed an 'average' wedding disco was being discussed though, since venue size/guest numbers/special requirments wasn't mentioned.

[yourdj]

I'm not having a go Toby, but how can you get away with just 6 uplighters? I would usually recomend that sort of number for a smallish conservatory in a private house. I'd use at least 12 in a small/medium function room or marquee, and the sky's the limit in large venues

on normal gigs clients normally choose six over the total 18 I have :p .
If people want 30 uplighters then they can pay for them. :p The six are included in the price.

6 fill most of my residency function room and 8 do the lot.

Here are 4 uplighters in the same room I am on about. its basically the non disco end.

UPLIGHTING IN CAREYS MANOR - BROKENHURST - YouTube

Same room 1 extra added and one in the DJ area.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_044PTfUkGaA/TQ1qtvSVhoI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/urffECTmR9M/s320/Careys.jpg

[Andy Collins]

I charge per service, so all day includes the disco, master of ceremonies, background music and 2 mics £800

Additional P.A. (Bose compact) £150

Mood Lighting (per room regardless of amount of units) £275 (add an extra £75 if DMX'd)

[Andy Collins]

What sparked a light for me was actually an agent.

I always tried to charge more like I thought I was worth but would become more flexible if the diary was bare. Then I started doing some work for this guy who sells me in a certain way to a particular demographic and BOOM! I am getting £450 - £650 for a regular evening booking after his commission.

All beautiful venues or lovely private homes. My target price for the sort of all dayer you mention is now £1295 - £1495 depending on the amount of uplighting.

Dont suppose you care to share who this agent of yours is do you?? its not the same as mine that's for sure :)

[Steve the DJ]

What agent do you use Steve? - Sound like a nice arrangement you have there?! :)


Dont suppose you care to share who this agent of yours is do you?? its not the same as mine that's for sure :)

Not at this moment no, but I would if he starts looking for other guys or needs a DJ and I am booked.

He is only one revenue stream though (albeit a very nice one!) that only started this year and is building slowly, so I still do direct work and gigs for another agent over Xmas.


I charge per service, so all day includes the disco, master of ceremonies, background music and 2 mics £800

So with uplighting you are not far off the figure I am talking about. What about if you did the ceremony music as well?

[Pe7e]

on normal gigs clients normally choose six over the total 18 I have :p .
If people want 30 uplighters then they can pay for them. :p The six are included in the price.


Ah, it all makes sense now, I can see why they would

[yourdj]

Mood Lighting (per room regardless of amount of units) £275

what happens if someone books you at somewhere like a Guildhall then :eek: you must need about 100-200 in there. :p

[Andy Collins]

what happens if someone books you at somewhere like a Guildhall then :eek: you must need about 100-200 in there. :p

I don't have 200, and that's not a room - thats a hall :p

[Andy Collins]

So with uplighting you are not far off the figure I am talking about. What about if you did the ceremony music as well?

Ceremony music is an extra £150 on top of my all day fee.

[DiscoMagic]

Ceremony music is an extra £150 on top of my all day fee.

Wow :eek: :D... What do your clients get this for this??? Music, speakers and operator? Anything else? Do you ever get any "thats expensive" type comments...

I think I am missing a trick :daft:

[chrisj]

Just been told 'That's expensive' when I just quoted £325 for a 7.30 'till midnight wedding at a hotel. The future bride said 'The hotel disco is only £250, we'll probably book that'.
I didn't argue and just replied 'Well that leaves me available for someone else,thank you'.

[ppentertainments]

Wow :eek: :D... What do your clients get this for this??? Music, speakers and operator? Anything else? Do you ever get any "thats expensive" type comments...

I think I am missing a trick :daft:

I thought £150 was quite a standard 'ball-park' figure for ceremony music. Don't forget ceremony music normally entails a complete different system to what is used on your disco, speakers place down one side of the room (or some people put speakers right around the room) as well as precise timings for the bridal party entering the room. Backup is also an absolute must, yet space is generally very limited.

Generally if people take ceremony music they also take the option of afternoon music and Master of Ceremony services.

[Paul The Party Dj]

I've been watching this thread since Toby started it and decided not to post a figure because the actual package described wasn't really the same as outlined in the heading and poll at the top.

I'm delighted to say that in the last few months I've secured a £900 booking and two £800'ers. They are all ceremony through to party bookings and the final price agreed is discounted slightly from the original price I quoted. None of them include more kit than I was booking out for £450/£500 this year - the big difference is starting from the ceremony.

I fully expect to get my first £1k booking next year. Without the information I've found on the forums, attending Derek's last workshop, Dave Reid, and the help of new friends, I'd still be going out at £295/£395. So thank you to everyone who has helped me - even if you don't know that you have!

Cheers

[yourdj]

Wow :eek: :D... What do your clients get this for this??? Music, speakers and operator? Anything else? Do you ever get any "thats expensive" type comments...

I think I am missing a trick :daft:

I think you need to meet Dave Reed. Its not just your time that you charge for. How many people would know firstly what kit to get, then how to put it together and then operate it. not only that to hire the kit set it up and bring it back to the hire shop would cost about £150 for a small set up and allot more with someone to operate it :)

Next time you are with a bride or groom give them an amp and speakers and watch them try to set it up properly :p Many DJ's have allot of talent they just take for granted. And thats before they get behind the decks and select the right music or say the right things at the right time. ;)

You also are not just the DJ, but the accountant, marketing director, customer laison officer, sales executive as well as adding outgoing, tax and the likes, so when looked at with a business mind its a bit more complicated than just saying OK I am there for one hour playing a couple of tracks i will charge £x. :) You need to be paid for more than just the time you DJ if you are a serious full time operator.

I understand that mentality if someone has a full time job and its just for beer money or for fun, but this is a full time business for me.
I am not having a go - just quoting what £450 dave keeps going on about. :)



I fully expect to get my first £1k booking next year.
Good for you Paul you deserve it. You really do have the best attitude to our business of anyone I know. :beer1:
I got three for next year and the brides have not even hesitated at the price. They have said "great I will book you" so thats a bonus.

Its the ones that hire an LED dancefloor for more money than me that make me worry. Thay are nuts :muppet: But that is what they see as an important part of thier day so thats fine with me.

[yourdj]

This post must be bringing me luck - just opened my emails and have an order for an all day wedding next year :D £900.

Just woken up as I was working last night.

[Vectis]

I fully expect to get my first £1k booking next year. Without the information I've found on the forums, attending Derek's last workshop, Dave Reid, and the help of new friends, I'd still be going out at £295/£395. So thank you to everyone who has helped me - even if you don't know that you have!

Cheers


I suppose a sexy new website often helps seal the deal? ;)

[DiscoMagic]

I think you need to meet Dave Reed.

Who is this Dave Reed guy ? :confused: :confused:


I suppose a sexy new website often helps seal the deal? ;)

ANother great site Vectis, I want one! Please let me know you will be free - I don't mind waiting... Haven't got the time to sort mine out really :(

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Who is this Dave Reed guy ? :confused: :confused:



He owns RSD Music and has a general marketing plan which he applies to DJs, some of which is interesting and other parts I don't agree with.

Worth a listen though.

[DiscoMagic]

He owns RSD Music and has a general marketing plan which he applies to DJs, some of which is interesting and other parts I don't agree with.

Worth a listen though.

Thanks Darren - :beer1:
Where can I get a listen of it?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks Darren - :beer1:
Where can I get a listen of it?

He's doing seminars at BPM, writes in Promobile mag and does other seminars round the country at various NADJ meetings etc

[Ecstatic Events]

He's doing seminars at BPM, writes in Promobile mag and does other seminars round the country at various NADJ meetings etc

....or you could always go and buy something from him. The price you are charging and what you COULD be charging is bound to come up :D :D :D

Nice guy, I havent heard one of the seminars yet mind you.

For the record I selected £600-£800. If I were to charge any more than this, I dont feel I would be offering value for money.

[DiscoMagic]

He's doing seminars at BPM, writes in Promobile mag and does other seminars round the country at various NADJ meetings etc

Jolly good - I'll have a listen at BPM :)

[yourdj]

A I want one! Please let me know you will be free - I don't mind waiting... Haven't got the time to sort mine out really :(

I think that will of great benefit. Your site is good but I do feel not very effective from a clients point of view.
The most noticable is your main picture is in a nightclub or something but you are selling a mobile DJ service. Sorry ;)

Have you posted it on here to be slated. I do mine each year :D



Worth a listen though.

:agree: Nice guy - I do not take everything as gospal but its good inspiration and he is a good speaker.
He will probably mention the "specialist" from last year who does every service imaginable or the NADJ members in wales saying "you cant get that round here" - cue Simon Fletcher :D
He does bang on about repetition and play by his own rules - i must have heard that story 15 times now :D

This is him:

MVI_2171.MOV - YouTube

[yourdj]

Also automatic audio is a big NO-NO ask vectis (sorry I double posted) :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

I know we all charge differently, and I can see how everyone can come to their different figures - except those coming in at below £600 for that lot without committing financial suicide!

This isn't a dig, or anything like that, but would anyone who has voted for the £600 and below option care to give a breakdown of that figure?

1. 10 hour gig (4/5 hours main; 5/6 hours day time / background / ceremony inc acting as MC throughout)
2. 2nd PA in separate room
3. Projector and screen
4. Uplighting

[NKR]

I know we all charge differently, and I can see how everyone can come to their different figures - except those coming in at below £600 for that lot without committing financial suicide!

This isn't a dig, or anything like that, but would anyone who has voted for the £600 and below option care to give a breakdown of that figure?

1. 10 hour gig (4/5 hours main; 5/6 hours day time / background / ceremony inc acting as MC throughout)
2. 2nd PA in separate room
3. Projector and screen
4. Uplighting

Hmmm Interesting thread. I have just quoted you Angela as it provided me with the OP without going back - laziness is a virtue.

Slight tangent here is our breakdown of all day.

1. On site for ceremony to provide background for guest arrival and then live singer for brides arrival and aisle and also live vocal during signing register.
2. background music and then 1 hour live swing set during wedding breakfast.
3. Master of ceremony function and radio mic for speaches.
4. Evening DJ set.
5. 2 x 45 minute live vocal sets.
6. Colour co-ordinated wash lighting (large LED floods) for evening guest arrival and first dance.

On site for probably 13.5 hours including set up, sound checks and break down.

The cost is £900.

Still get the old (how much?).

[DiscoMagic]

Also automatic audio is a big NO-NO ask vectis (sorry I double posted) :)

Not sure what you mean by this :confused: :confused: :confused:

Of course I didn't put it up to be slated... I wanted some feedback on which I will act. What's the point of putting it up for review otherwise?

[yourdj]

Not sure what you mean by this :confused: :confused: :confused:

Of course I didn't put it up to be slated... I wanted some feedback on which I will act. What's the point of putting it up for review otherwise?

When I say slated - criticism is 10 tims better than praise. We all know whats good about our websites but not always what wrong.
Needs to be taken with a pinch of salt (including these comments as its you site).

I am talking about the audio on the index. The only sites I know that still do this are the pop up adverts like mac keeper and party poker.
Even some porn/webcam sites do not have audio unless you select it so as they realize you may be in a public place or sitting in front of your wife :D

I know you can switch it off but if ever (which is next to never) go to a site that has audio and is not a must see I backspace imediately.
its normally quite high on the website mistake lists: http://marketplicity.com/common-website-mistakes-to-avoid/

I am not having a go. If I am in danger of insulting you I will retire from doing so. :)

[yourdj]

Ah - just booking a restaurant for tonight and I found a website with sound on it. I stand corrected :D

http://www.merchantssouthampton.co.uk/

[Corabar Entertainment]

I know we all charge differently, and I can see how everyone can come to their different figures - except those coming in at below £600 for that lot without committing financial suicide!

This isn't a dig, or anything like that, but would anyone who has voted for the £600 and below option care to give a breakdown of that figure?

1. 10 hour gig (4/5 hours main; 5/6 hours day time / background / ceremony inc acting as MC throughout)
2. 2nd PA in separate room
3. Projector and screen
4. UplightingNone of the sub-£600 voters care to share this info then? :(

[Paul The Party Dj]

I suppose a sexy new website often helps seal the deal? ;)

I didn't want to embarrass you by gushing about how pleased I am with my new site ;)

Plus I don't know if "sexy" is a good description ... all the pictures are of me and real couples. :eek:

Anybody who's been on this forum for a while will know that Vectis really does deliver exceedingly good sites - if you're new, you've now been told.

Glass raised ~ cheers :beer1:

[Daryll]

I cannot answer all the questions , because I don't offer projection , nor am I an MC , but......................
I shall be honest..
My wedding charge is £285 , up lighting is £170 , these prices are on the web site , so all can see , now a condition on my contract states the up lighting includes a mandatory early set up , so we then have £455 , and considering I earn £85 per day in my other job , thats a good days wage.
Lets go through a few details.

This is purely metaphorical , not taken from a real gig

Van loaded at 10:am
up to 1 hour drive ( thats my area , max)...11:am
Set up uplighting and disco ( that is if it is practical to set up) 2 hours...1:pm
If they need speeches , a small 100w powered speaker , stand and a radio mike. ( all in set up time)

Sit around until , shall we say 4:00pm , then background until 7:00pm , auto mix , yes I use it for background.

Disco from 7:00 until midnight.
break down 1 1/2 hours...thats 01:30 , hours drive home 02:30 , so thats 16 1/2 hours for £455.

Thats £27 ph , take a third off for out goings , that leave £18 ph , almost twice what I would earn in my day job , I am happy with that.

However if I offered a projector and I was MC for the day , I would add £250 to the price, that would take it to £705

I can feel the reply s being typed now , but at least I have tried to answer Angela`s question

Daryll

[Corabar Entertainment]

Thanks, Daryll - that at least explains part of it... you haven't quoted for everything that was asked for, and if you had, you wouldn't be in the sub-£600 bracket.

I'm guessing that there is a lot of cross-purpose talk on this thread, because I really cannot see how anyone could come in under £600 for....


1. 10 hour gig (4/5 hours main; 5/6 hours day time / background / ceremony inc acting as MC throughout)
2. 2nd PA in separate room
3. Projector and screen
4. Uplighting

...and make it a financially viable proposition.

Thanks again, Daryll for sharing - much appreciated :)

[yourdj]

I didn't want to embarrass you by gushing about how pleased I am with my new site ;)

Plus I don't know if "sexy" is a good description ... all the pictures are of me and real couples. :eek:

Anybody who's been on this forum for a while will know that Vectis really does deliver exceedingly good sites - if you're new, you've now been told.

Glass raised ~ cheers :beer1:

Its doing what it should be on google thats for sure. :)

Still cant believe we only have two on the 8-900 (one of which is me).

I am not one to talk but:

:offtopic:

[Paul The Party Dj]

Its doing what it should be on google thats for sure. :)

Still cant believe we only have two on the 8-900 (one of which is me).

I am not one to talk but:

:offtopic:

Guilty, your honour :zip:

Sorry Toby, to make up I'll enter my band on the survey.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Still cant believe we only have two on the 8-900 (one of which is me). :confused: :confused: What on earth are you looking at, Toby? There are 11 votes for £8-900 :daft: :daft:

[yourdj]

:confused: :confused: What on earth are you looking at, Toby? There are 11 votes for £8-900 :daft: :daft:

Sorry meant 900-1000.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Sorry meant 900-1000.Yep, there are only 2 voters in that bracket, but I'd still like to know what you're on 'cos....


... we only have two ... (one of which is me).

Nope. Wrong again. :D :D :D :p :p

[yourdj]

OK its been a couple of weeks and I am quite shocked that allot of people would charge £500-600 on average with all those added extras, but I suppose that is the average spread for most of the mobile DJ trade and it covers all sorts of client sectors.

I do think whoever ticked the 400-600 is really doing themselves a disservice -
assuming they are half competent DJ's as ten hours work with at least 3-4 hours preparation and then travel etc. is not a mean feat.

I only asked as I currently charge £895, but am intending on increasing this to £995 next week and include a massively improved (and ongoing) master of ceremonies service. I am also thinking of offering a second and third option going up to £1995 with starlit dancefloor and increased uplighting.

Interesting to hear your thoughts.

[musicologydisco]

£350. Don't have uplighters or screen tho'