Question for soul/funk DJs that have done weddings
funky16corners
7,175 Posts
I've been approached to do a wedding this summer by a fan of the blog (i.e. someone who's already familiar with what I do).
What have those of you that have spun soul/funk on vinyl in a similar situation charged?
I'll be bringing all my own equipment.
Thanks for any help/advice you can provide.
What have those of you that have spun soul/funk on vinyl in a similar situation charged?
I'll be bringing all my own equipment.
Thanks for any help/advice you can provide.
Comments
Do they want you to MC as well?
From what I've heard, 1G is pretty much the going rate for career wedding DJs so if it's a friend (or a strutteur) you could cut them a bit of a break. Hauling your own equipment is a big pain in the ass though, so..... if you can get a grand, I'd say your doing pretty well.
The other time was in FLA and they flew my wife and I down, supplied all of the equipment, hotel room, plus seats at the reception, so I only charged $200.
Raj and I had some good listeners at Penn State!
I'll be bringing turntable, mixer, PA, vinyl, laptop etc.
Just remember to bring the usual 80s, classic rock, hiphop, "Baby Got Back", Madonna, MJ, "Humpty Dance" and Rat Pack crowdpleasers for the the other 98% of atttendees who are NOT the bride and groom.
F16C - check your FB pm's for my typical DJ rate schedule.
Got that, thanks M***!
PS my secret weapon for grandma and grandpa is the Stokes on ALON...whipped cream, which was the theme for the newlywed game..they love it and you can do no wrong after you drop that.
Yeah, I'm willing to negotiate a certain amount of that kind of stuff, but not much. I'll be up front about it and from the discussions we've had to this point I don't think it'll be much of an issue.
$1000 is totally reasonable for a stranger, and will make you feel better about playing Billy Jean.
Though, it's funny ... I just met with the mother of the bride for my next wedding (who happens to be the event planner where the wedding is being held) and she is really pushing for the Electric Slide. But the couple asked me not to play it. Seems like a weird thing to have to bug them about, "uhhhh, how serious were you guys about not hearing Electric Slide? Cuz yer mom realllly wants to hear it."
This is the truth. I'm generally hired because the couple loves the raw funk 45s I typically spin, but as Soulmarcosa said, the other 98% of the crowd probably won't dance to that. When the dancefloor starts kicking, I try to focus on songs that people know the words to as a general rule. While it may seem corny, it will get people to stay on the dancefloor. I usually aim at pleasing the older folks first and then work towards the younger folks as the night goes on. So I'll start off with Motown bangers and 50s rockers (and funk 45s!), but I never forget to slip in some slow ones for grandma and grandpa in that first hour (James Brown's "Try Me" is a favorite). Getting the seniors onto the dancefloor is always an important goal for me. Then it's on to the 80s, disco, boogie, wedding friendly hip hop, etc for the middle aged to younger crowd.
You'll have a blast. In the end, weddings are just fantastic parties.
definitely emphasize that the bride and groom get on the same page, musically, as their families and friends. The parents are generally paying for everything so keeping them happy will make your job easier. there's also the brides sisters which are typically the biggest pains in the ass. i would start a little email group with the bride, groom, families, and their close friends to make sure everyone knows what their getting into. it will save you a lot of frustration from drunk guests.
I know this is insanely low but I'm trying to earn it.
I make a good reputation for us DJ's, have fun, and get to go places I otherwise wouldn't get to go to.
For example, this weekend in Berkeley ($25 in gas there and back) I am gonna take two hundred records to trade to the stores, get a meal, start another network, and most importantly - please the hostess and host.
I am discovering that It is nearly impossible to publicly declare your eternal love for a woman in the United States without spending at least 8 grand in the process.
Yes, insanely low and, if you are doing a good job, you are selling yourself soooo short. Just think --- asshole wedding "djs" that are terrible and no one really likes but nearly everyone thinks they are the only option charge around $2000. If you are doing it right, presumably the bride and groom and everyone else is way happier with the service you provide...$15 an hour is laughable.
DJing in a club or even smallish bar pays way more than that and weddings are infinitely more work and stress for the DJ.
c'mon son!
Plus, nobody wants to set the fans back too much.
I personally only charge my standard rate for people that have a standard wedding budget. I DJ'd a wedding for a tattoo artist friend of mine in exchange for a tattoo (which admittedly, would cost me around $500 had I paid him for it). Do you have a grip of records you could offer a DJ as a trade?
I recently got married, we had a small wedding (35-40 guests) and we only spent 1500-2000 and most of that was food and booze. We didnt have a DJ because the only person I would have trusted was my DJ partner and I didnt want to ask him to work, I wanted him to just kick back, eat, drink and be merry. As a DJ, who DJs weddings, it seems hypocritical to say this, and I can't believe I am saying it, but just get a sound system and hook some itunes up to it, pick out 4 hours of music and hit shuffle on it. I dont think anyone really cares except for the drunk uncle that wants to hear "twist and shout" or some shit and really who cares about that?
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An iPod playlist will do the job even better.