Hiring a DJ can be quite expensive. Most wedding DJs at least $200 an hour, though prices can soar to nearly $1000 an hour in some areas. The price may seem outrageous, but considering the quality of the entertainer, the cost of equipment, music library and royalty fees, as well as travel costs, the fee becomes more understandable. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to negotiate a lower cost than what a DJ quotes. Most DJs’ fees still contain a considerable markup.

The first rule of negotiation is to be reasonable. You cannot expect a DJ to lower his hourly fee to minimum wage. A DJ’s hourly rate accounts for all of the work done to maintain and upgrade equipment, royalty fees for music played at your event, and the general costs associated with running a business, including taxes. It’s also important to remember that a wedding is a much more labor intensive festivity compared to a backyard BBQ or 50th birthday party, so you cannot expect the DJ to lower his rate to match the rate of these types of events. Understand that cost of living and supply and demand also drive the DJ industry like in other sectors. A DJ in New York City is going to be considerably more expensive than a DJ in more rural portions of the country. When negotiating rates, be sure to check with the rates of other disc jockeys in the area. It’s typically reasonable to ask a DJ to match his price with a local competitor.

Understand the quality of the DJ. As stated in the previous paragraph, it is usually reasonable to ask a DJ to match his hourly rate with the rate of a competitor, but be sure to check if the competitor is in the same tier as the DJ you are looking to book. Quality is important in the DJ industry and the “you get what you pay for” bit applies at all times. If a tier one disc jockey is charging $350 an hour and a local competitor in the same tier is charging $300 for the same wedding services, ask the DJ why he is charging $50 more. Give him an opportunity to explain why he deserves to be paid more. Maybe he has better equipment. Maybe his fee includes MC services. By understanding the break-down of the DJ’s rates, you can begin negotiating by requesting to eliminate certain services you deem unnecessary. If the DJ does not have a particular reason for charging more, ask him if he’d be willing to match the price of the competitor. If you have a strict budget and must lower the costs further, do not expect the price to drop any more than another $50 per hour unless you have an extreme circumstance that appeals to the disc jockey. By explaining your budget to the disc jockey, you give your DJ an opportunity to work out a price agreement that meets both of your needs.

Negotiating a price with your disc jockey may seem like an awkward task, and sometimes almost impossible, but by raising legitimate concerns and remaining reasonable with the disc jockey, it is almost always possible to reach an agreement that meets the needs of both parties.