Band vs. DJ

[mayachel]

How big a price difference are we talking? I have to say, that this is the area I feel the most in the dark about. No idea what sort of numbers to be expecting. So far, the first two companies I''ve contacted were already book, and so did not send a price sheet the third is available but responded to my request for price point by offering to send a free DVD? Really? Is it going to be that much money that they feel the need to butter me up? I don''t like the beating around the bush.

 

[cocolaw]

i have no idea! we did not even look at djs. we booked a jazz trio and they sent us a cd of their music. we also booked a bagpiper for the ceremony and he did not send us a cd. i think our music is very reasonable.

 

[ash313]

Hmmm, I suppose this depends on how many members are in the band, what type of music, and of course where you live.

We are in mid-Michigan, and booked our DJ for $750. Future sister-in-law booked, in the same town, a five-person full band (they are AWESOME!) for $5,000. So, HUGE price difference!

Our bagpiper for the ceremony (us too, cocolaw!! We have very similar taste, I am noticing) is $150.

Hope that helps!

 

[jcarlylew]

i am trying to decide which one i want too, and the prices are throwing me off. i don''t understand how i could pay more than $100 bucks an hour for someone to do 20 minutes worth of talking and selecting songs to play.
then again, i don''t want to be burdend with the responsibility!

 

[cocolaw]

thank you leeny that''s a compliment to me!!

jcarley: thats so funny!! my caterer said that at a wedding she went to, the couple had a bunch of john denver songs on an ipod set to repeat for the whole event, and everyone had a blast hahaha

 

[Haven]

I think there''s a pretty big difference, but it depends on what type of band you want.

We had an eight piece orchestra and they were AMAZING. I think they cost $6,000 for the reception, but it could have been more. I really don''t remember.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

All the bands we looked at were in the 1000's of dollars. On the other hand, a good friend of ours happens to be the best DJ in town (he plays at all the nightclubs) and he'll be attending as a wedding guest but I had him to help me pick a great DJ that I'm looking forward to having. He listens to all my ideas and is willing to play our un traditional music at the wedding (we're mixing in some ska and some punk music, bc well, that's what we like *shrugs*) and we're only paying 600 i believe

 

[tlh]

We had a band play at our wedding, I don''t remember how many members there were... 5-7? and it was 10K. We also had an Orchestra for the ceremony itself, and that was another chunk of change, but I honestly don''t remember how much. My friend hired a DJ, and it was around $500 and only 5 people out of the 100 guests danced, it was just background noise, but the wedding was full of fuddy duddy''s. (Even the bride and groom didn''t have a first dance, or family dance, NOTHING... so it wasn''t an expense that was important to them. So that was wellplayed on their part. Though because no one was dancing, everyone croweded them and expected to chit chat all night long... which they complained about later... )

At my Bro''s wedding he had a friend do the DJ, and it was a lot of fun! (And he did it for FREE, though my bro paid him around $100.) Same settup, but the crowd was a lot different, and LOTS of people danced... but unfortunately his equipment overheated, and they had to rush out and grab a boom box and hook up the speakers... and the party continued.. so sometimes mishaps happen when you don''t have a trained professional... though, the crowd didn''t care - it was almost like an intermission! HA!

So there is a huge difference in pricing. Good luck on your decision and your wedding planning!

 

[mayachel]

Great! Thanks for sharing your perspectives and experiences everyone. So far, the one band I''ve been in touch with is a little over $4000 for 5 members, and just under $5,000 for 7 members for 4 hours. It is actually sounding like a bargain, at the very least par for the course as the going rate.

I do want a wedding where the dance floor is busy all night long. A few people have told me that can be so dependent on the music.