A Fair Price

You'll find a wide range of prices for all wedding services, and DJs are no exception.

In a future post, I'll discuss why some DJs are more expensive than others.

Here, I want to address why the same DJ might charge a different price for your wedding than he does for another.

Legitimate factors in a DJ's pricing structure include:

• What month is your wedding? Fees for peak months like May, June, September, and October trend higher than those for off-peak months like November, January, and February.

• What day is your wedding? Most weddings are on Saturdays. Many DJs offer a discount for Thursday, Friday, or Sunday weddings.

• How many hours will the DJ perform? Many DJs quote a base rate for a 4-hour performance, with extra hourly rates for "overtime."

• How much equipment is needed? Your reception might require the DJ to set up multiple sound systems in different places -- for example, a cocktail hour outside the main ballroom.

• Are you using the DJ for the ceremony? This is an extra task that might trigger an extra fee.

• Does your event require travel outside the DJ's local region?

All the above are LEGITIMATE pricing considerations. They are based on OBJECTIVE factors that reflect supply-and-demand and the amount of work involved.

Unfortunately, some DJs vary their prices based on ILLEGITIMATE factors. We'll discuss those in tomorrow's post.