Anyone DJ weddings for money?

I'd like to start cause I hear theres mad loot to make doing this. Anyone here ever done that? Im curious what I would need to get started. Like 50 gigs of billboard hits from the past 30 years? A P.A.? couldnt that just be rented?

Seems like easy money once you got going. Appears you wouldnt have to do **** really, DJing wise. And think about how many girls youd meet! BAM

 

As well as your DJing gear (Traktor / soundcard etc) you'd need a PA system, lights, smoke machine too. Don't hire a PA - for the cost of a couple of hires you can buy your own from eBay. Oh, and wireless mics are handy too. And some speaker stands to raise them off the floor. Mic stand too maybe.

Add to that a car or van to transport them. And you'll either get fit loading and unloading all that gear or you'll get a hernia.

Then there's the difficulty of catering of crowds of wildly differing ages and tastes. You have to be polite to the drunken guests making stupid requests.

And theres always the risk that some drunk old uncle will stumble into your gear and knock the whole lot over. So best to add insurance to the equation.

And there's often a 'pre-wedding' meeting or two in order to discuss the happy couple's requirements. And the pressure of not f*cking up their big day.

So I would say... "no"... its not that easy really!

There is no such thing as easy money!

 

p.s. All the above is why the only wedding I'm doing is a mates and thats only cos he badgered me until I said 'yes'!

 

hmmm... i think the main thing about getting into wedding gigs is knowing alot of people who are getting married.. and having them like you to begin with. And then knowing how to set up the gigs so you aren't pretentious and or obscurring the focus of the celebration. Wireless mics , rock solid play back system with mulitple back-ups, back up PA, visual elements, Tux rental that meets the satisfaction of the wedding party etc.

The name of the game is not Djing its customer service. My wedding rig = -- valued at 25k ..... and also a good website and agent is nice. Also its nice to know how to mic a choir, harp player, podium, wedding cake etc. Its really about public announcement cause that's what a wedding is.

 

It's definitely about being able to feel the mood of the "crowd" - friends and family of the of the couple; varying from 1-99+ years.

You can earn good money with it, if you succeed in getting access to wealthy clients.

First of all, you should ask yourself if this is the right market segment for you.

If you only like the latest tracks,
if you don't like spinning dinner-music,
if you don't like getting requests,
if you don't like supporting amateurs doing silly wedding-games,
if you only like to listen to (and spin) ONE genre (be it Techno, Hip-Hop, Rock or whatever)

...you're definitely the wrong D.J. for the majority of weddings I have seen so far.


I am sure that you won't be good, if you don't like it from the musical side of things. Therefore, first of all ask yourself, if you really want to deal with it; if you like mainstream-music. If you wanna do it just for the money, I know that at least some of the guests will realize it.


If you are into special musical genres then try to become one of the few well-paid club-D.J.s.

 

Agree 100% with Wedding Gigs not being easy.

Customer service is the game, and if you can't take pain in the ass people, don't do it.

 

I've been there mobile DJ 2k sound rig, full light rig, 50years of music and 100's of venues across London and the South East.

I'm not rich but did gain much experience. Weddings are all about being professional with a smile and great customer service!

Generally, you'll find the DJ is the least expensif item on the wedding list, the wedding dress is tippically twice what the DJ gets, so not a get rich quick by any means.

I've met club DJ's who get more an hour than I got for a 8 hour wedding.

 

you might Talk to Gmint (George Qually), he is around here only occassionally and is co-owner of a successful Mobile DJ service in the Midwest.

Their WebSite is http://www.midwestdjs.com/IA/Des-Moines/Mobile-DJ/Mobile-DJ/index.html

Don't tell him I sent you his way, he may not want to talk to you... Ugly Story, Nuvva Time...


Phil

 

Add to that list if you like to talk or mic shy. I've tried doing weddings and it's just not for me. I am one that likes to play music and entertain the crowd with music only. Of course I'll make announcements, but I don't want to be the focus of the evening.

 

yeah make sure u got a back up system and DONT rent unless u know that its good stuff! ive done 4 weddings the first one bombed! had cheap rental equipment and the system went down twice!

it is good money but stressfull, id include a partner, its a lot of work to do on your own

 

Most new wedding jocks lose this attitude after the first wedding season. There's a lot of planning in the months beforehand, meetings galore, and it is a lot for a single person. I almost always bring a partner, makes it easy to go to the bathroom and cue up games and such. Even then you'll be too busy taking requests and watching the crowd to pick up girls. I guarantee you'll be wiped that night and sleeping in the next day. The money's good if you can keep up with it, though. You have to pretty much be able to play ANYTHING and transition between genres, definitely a different skill from just beatmatching and timing a double-drop. On top of all that, someone has to hire you with no experience to even get the first gig under your belt - couples want to hire DJ's with wedding experience, and they very often will ask for references if they didn't get your contact info from a friend already. It's a pretty loaded market too so hopefully you know a lot of people who are getting married, spinning for a few friends is a great way to get started.

 

Sorry to interrupt you guys but could the owner of dark blue Ford Escort, registration number...

 

Telly really sums it up, spot on..

I'm doing a gig next month for a couple I know really well. I havn't done a wedding in 10 years and I have to say I am really looking forward to this one, it's being held in a Castle and there is going to be some serious Eye Candy at it.

I have turned down a fair bit off weddings in the last couple off years, though this one should be a cracker, the couple have been at my parties and they do be still dancing the following day giving it loads, and after speaking to the groom to be, I asked what would they like to hear, and the response was, Funk, Soul, Tunes from the Hacienda era and the usual stuff that I play, which makes it so much easier...

Can't wait to see everyone dressed up in suits giving it loads to The Happy Mondays, etc..

Bring it on.. ... ... ..

 

The computer says no

One of the advantages of DJ'ing weddings with Traktor is the search facility. Previously I've had people tell me " you must have it" when I've had to turn down their request as I did not have it in my cas or CD zipper. One guy could not believe I did not have Freebird and it took two ushers to prise him off the DJ box.

Nowadays I can type in a request, hit the return button and if it's there it gets played and if it is not. "Oh the computer says no." No argument, no pleading and an acceptance that not all DJs have a copy of Artemisia and Bits 'n' pieces.

I do now of course.

 

That's so funny! It throws into sharp relief the fact that you're not there to educate these people with your great music taste but rather to play any old ***** that they might want.

I did a wedding for a mate of mine but she was adamant that I don't play anything crap (by which she was meaning Black Lace & Village People not Monolake or Autechre) so I played an evening of classic up tempo Motown & disco.

I had a great time & it did get me thinking "I could do this" but reading this thread has definitely changed my mind.

 

That's like the Travel Agent sketch in the show "Little Britain".

Very Good...

 

I love Little Britain. Also, once I had someone's drunken uncle threaten to kill me if he didn't hear ABBA within the next three minutes.

 

As well as the rig, you may also want to consider tax implications, insurance (Both for your kit and 3rd party) and check how you stand with music licences. Also maybe look into courses on how to run a small business.

imho

On one level it takes what most would consider an enjoyable "hobby" and turns it into work, which can take the shine off it. There's alot of responsibility you're taking on when you say yes to anything that involves working at a wedding (food, music, photo's whatever!).

If you are going to spend time and money to set yourself up for it, it makes sense to treat it as if it were a proper job, and you were a model employee.

 

after figuring all the expenses their per-use cost and the per use wear and tear and the return per-use. And you figure those against common place rates and figure out your own rate while trying to pay yourself for your time! The client usually sneers at your reasonable quote which has happened on my last two calls this year. Seriously unless they have real money everyone wants to low-ball you. You can' make money djing a wedding for 500$ Especially if there are any travel expenses. Maybe if you are doing three a week and using a 1000$(cheap) sound system with toy equipment but I don't. My show starts out at $1200 for getting there and plugging into the wall. A professional band may cost twice that .

 

Every good Dj or Turntablist has paid their dues in free gigs...I'm I correct?