So, How Much Should your Wedding DJ Cost?

Because different areas have different price ranges, and different couples have different needs and budgets, it isn't possible for me to give you a definitive amount.

The best guidance I can offer is directly related to the following factors:

Do you want your guests to be able to hear the ceremony and vows by using an additional sound system not provided by your venue?

How important is the success of your reception to you and your fiance? Do you want classy intros, someone who entertains (as opposed to interrupts) your guests, unobtrusive sound systems that won't look tacky in photos and great music & dancing for your reception? How things sound and how successful the dancing goes is especially important if you've hired a wedding DJ.

If you haven't hired a professional wedding coordinator, do you need the DJ to help you create and execute your wedding day timeline to make sure all of the introductions and announcements are made at the appropriate times? Are you going to count on them to ensure that the photographer and videographer are in place for elements like the toasts, cake cutting and first dance?
Do you want a DJ you can trust? That knowing they are there will give you peace of mind that everything is going to go smoothly and that their presence will positively impact the success of your wedding and reception?

Have you ever hired the wrong person to do an important job? You didn't realize until things went wrong how important it was to you. Or maybe you were just too busy to be overly concerned and thought you could get by. Whatever the reason, regret basically sucks when you know you could have had a better outcome if you had done things differently.

If the answer to any or all of these questions is yes, you will want to hire the best, most Professional DJ you can afford. What do good DJ's charge? I will say while there is always the possibility you can find a better than average DJ at any price point, if you want a really good or great one they will probably charge at least twice as much as the average estimates you'll receive.

I hope this post has explained why and that I've made the process of locating, recognizing and qualifying a good DJ easier for you.

An Open Letter to Brides and Grooms

A friend of mine sent me this article about wedding professionals and so I thought I'd share it. It speaks tons of truth. Just wanted to give everyone an insight into the wedding business world. Courtney Hammons, owner of A Magical Affair wrote something very special that I think you should read. It is an open letter to brides.

My Dearest Brides and Grooms -

I adore you,  without you I would not have this most amazing career –  but there are some things I really feel we need to take a look at and talk about.  Weddings are an amazing time in your life and we as wedding vendors get that!  We want to provide you with the most amazing service and product and experience.  We want your guests to walk away wowed and want you to walk away with memories to last a lifetime.  In order to do that there are costs involved.  Yes Yes Yes I hear all the time how expensive weddings are and I read all the ways to “save money” and “negotiate with vendors” and so now I want you to look at it another way -

When you go to the doctor do you ask well  - since it’s Wednesday and you aren’t to busy could I have a discount?

Do you ask the hottest realtor in your market if they would take a less commission because you are sooo excited and want to work with them but you really need to make more on the house?

When you check out at your local grocery store do you ask if you can leave with the goods and than send a payment later?

Take a group of 100 people to McDonald’s and get everyone a extra value meal and you would pay on average – $675.00

Would you ask your local electric company to offer a discount since you are not home from 9am – 5pm Mon – Fri?

So why would you expect professional wedding vendors to take down their prices?  No it is not just 8 or 10 or 12 hours on the wedding day that you are paying for.  You are paying for the expertise to get you the best price on the hard goods, to know the flowers that are in and out of season, to know what food works with what wine, to know what will and will not work on a buttercream cake and how much cake you need, to edit down the 4,000 images that they shoot, to edit down the 8 hours of video they have, to bring together 10 – 12 vendors who normally do not work together on a daily basis and make it seem like they work together daily.

So next time you consider asking a professional wedding vendor for a discount ask yourself would it be okay if they came into my place of business and expected a discount?

Wishing you a MAGICAL Day ~

Courtney Hammons P.B.C.

Why Hire a DJ Over a Band and MORE?

Disc jockeys are now an essential part of American musical culture. Whereas at one time DJs existed on the fringes of the music scene, today, they are everywhere. The job description for DJs has also expanded. Indeed, whether you're planning an intimate personal gathering, a large-scale corporate retreat, or anything in between, a DJ can play host, planner, and music coordinator.

Among mobile entertainment professionals in the area, Brock Entertainment provides superior service. We take the fun of our guests seriously! We are naturally gifted entertainers who know how to integrate seamlessly into the environment of an event. Whether you want to keep your guests dancing all night or provide background ambience for a late night party, we will work with you to create a fun and appropriate experience.

Amazing DJs for All Events

When you hire bands to entertain, you're inevitably limited as to song selection, style, and mobility. When you hire a deejay, on the other hand, you instantly gain access to thousands of amazing songs--from today's top 40 hits to jazz classics. 

In addition to playing music, we will be happy to coordinate award receptions, speakers, giveaways, and other keynote addresses. We can work with your photographer, videographer, and event planner to ensure a seamless behind-the-scenes operation. It's no surprise that many of our clients use us again and again for their events--check out the rest of our website for testimonials and other information.

Weddings

What are some advantages wedding DJs have over wedding bands? First of all, while bands are very limited in terms of the music they can play, wedding DJs can call upon a catalog of literally thousands of classics and current favorites. In addition, bands need to take breaks between sets and they require a lot of logistical assistance. Wedding DJs, on the other hand, can set up and pack up rapidly, and they can play without taking breaks.

Yet perhaps the most compelling reason to choose a DJ over a band is that DJs tend to cost hundreds to thousands of dollars less than bands. Moreover, when you choose a wedding band, you never know exactly what you're going to get. Unless you contract for specific musicians, for instance, band leaders can "switch out" of the gig at the last minute, leaving you high and dry. You'll never have that problem with wedding DJs.

If you do decide to hire a band, most wedding couples also hire a deejay as well. Why? Because a deejay can play during the bands breaks so there is no silence or dead time during the most important day of your life. Also, a deejay can play the style of music that the band can't play that the couple wants to hear. In my 30 years of existence I have only heard one band that could play every style of music and every song that you would ever want to hear. They were amazing...that is...if you can afford $15,000! Yeah, that's how much they cost at the low end. Wowzer!

Given all these reasons and more, it's no surprise that more and more couples are choosing DJs over wedding bands. At Brock Entertainment, we know entertainment. We've been partying since 2004, and we've played for hundreds of clients. With most business coming from past client recommendations, we often play for the same clients and their families again and again.

We would love to participate in what will surely be one of the most important and memorable days of your life. Our DJs are courteous and professional, and they will work with your coordinator and the venue staff, so you don't have to worry about logistics. We will MC your ceremony, introduce honored guests, keep the dance floor hopping, and much more.

Why You Should Never Try To Hire the Lowest Priced DJWhen brides and grooms contact us about prices, many make the decision about entertainment based solely upon what a vendor will charge. There are plenty of super cheap deejays out there but they are super cheap for a reason. The point of hiring a DJ is not just so you can have music at your wedding. Even if you have music at your reception, your ipod, and even many mobile and bar DJ's, don't anticipate how different songs, even familiar, popular tunes on the radio, will affect people on a minute-by-minute basis, in a distinct social environment like a wedding. You need a DJ because your guests need to feel comfortable and enjoy your reception. Even if you do not believe you need an expert to manage your ceremony and reception, your guests do, and even if they think they don't now, they will on the day of your reception. 
If you are having a crowd of around 100 guests or more at your wedding, and you want them to stick around, have a good time, and participate, you need a DJ, and you also need some basic equipment that the deejay will bring. First, you need someone who can navigate through dinner and make confident announcements regarding first dances, cake cutting, etc... in a candid, paced, smooth way so your guests can relax and always have something to look forward to. Your best friend or a bar DJ is not the person for this job. Many of the cheesy mobile DJ's out there with fake personalities are not appropriate either. You need someone who has experience deejaying at least dozens, if not hundreds of weddings. Timing, social sensitivity, and composure is everything when it comes to handling a large crowd made up of your close friends and family.

A Very Poorly Prepared and Unprofessional DJ

Surveys taken by several wedding publications and websites show that:

*The entertainment chosen for a wedding or party is responsible for 80% of the event's success.

*72% of today's brides are using professional mobile entertainers for their entertainment choice.

*63% of the guests attending these functions do not remember what was served for dinner but do remember the entertainment.

*81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.

*4% to 6% is the amount most brides reserve for their entertainment.

*After their reception, 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment. Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.

*During wedding planning, brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer-reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority.

*65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding, said that if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey.

5 Tips for Hiring the Right Wedding DJ

Several months ago a friend shared a story about a wedding she had gone to. As I sat and listened I was filled with sadness because so many of the mishaps she shared were almost 100% avoidable. A bride should have the best reception ever! This article will help you avoid the same mistakes and possibly make your reception beyond unforgettable...for all the right reasons!

Your wedding is delicious celebrations of life and love between two people. Family and friends come from near and far to share in what is expected to be a joyous occasion. There is tremendous consideration given to details such as invitations, locations, cake, food, and of course the white dress. Many times all these details are handled by the bride herself and sometimes help from her Maid of Honor.


For now let's assume you have it all figured out. You are well into your planning and things are coming along smoothly...or as smoothly as possible. You have started to shop for DJs. You Google, Facebook, and even twitter looking for DJs in your price range. At first you think it can't be that hard to find a DJ. Frankly it's not. If you Google wedding DJs in your area you will find hundreds if not thousands of DJs. So the good news is that they are plenty to chose from.

The challenge is selected the RiGHT entertainment company for your event. Here are the top five ways to select the right DJ company:

Tip Number 1: Hire a Wedding Entertainer not just a DJ

When most brides start shopping for DJs they decide based on price. There is a bit of a myth about how much it cost to hire a DJ. Depending on your area DJ pricing can range from as little as $300 to as high as $1200. So how do you know what you should pay? Consider this; when you creating your budget for your wedding, the entertainment should be 10-20% of your budget. For example if you are investing about $20,000 in your wedding entertainment should be about $2000.

You might say "Wait, $2000 for a DJ to stand there and just play music?" Here is where the distinction between a run of the mill DJ and a wedding entertainer. A wedding entertainer is not just the DJ. They are a full entertainment service. This means that your reception is managed from planning to delivery of your dream. The company should work with you to plan every detail of the reception from Grand Entrance to Grand Exit. Every item of detailed planned for; first dance, cake cutting, special moments. The professional wedding entertainer also works with all the vendors at the event to ensure things like special moment pictures, makes sure parents of VIPs are in the room to witness the first dance.

Tip Number 2: Hire Based on Personality Match

Will your DJ match you and your guests in personality? How do you know what is your reception's personality style? Think about your overall theme and rhythm. Will your event be formal and elegant? Or is it easy going and summer like such as on a beach? What type of music selection will you be considering to give your event life such as Sinatra or Bruno Mars or Lady Gaga?

Your DJ will very likely be able to play any type of music but can they "play with all type of music?" What I mean here is that the DJ understands how to mix the music in a way the will be in keeping with the overall receptions style you are after; formal, elegant, or relaxed and party atmosphere.

Tip Number 3: Hire an Experienced Professional

Hire a wedding DJ specifically. Often times in order to save money brides will hire a family member or friend to be their DJ. Even worse I've heard and seen stories of people using their iPods for their wedding reception. If there is any direct plea to you is DO NOT use iPod for wedding reception. You will be deeply sorry you chose this option. Check out the video to the left for an example of what happens at ipod weddings.

An experienced professional will be watching the dance floor and making sure that people are having fun. They understand basic mixing principles in order to play what you and your guests want as well as how to mix in requests at the right time.

A wedding Dj is different from say a club DJ. Club DJs play what they want and often time find it difficult to deal with lot of requests for songs they don't listen to. However, there are some club DJs who also have played at weddings. Talk to your DJ to determine their comfort level with weddings if you are considering someone who mostly plays at clubs.

Tip Number 4: Ask Lots of Questions

Conduct pre-screening interviews on the phone, in person, or by email. This will help to clarify your needs, get a sense for the DJ's competence. Be prepared to ask lots of questions such as; What is your overall performance style? How comfortable are you with taking requests? What is your guarantee?

How they handle their conversations with you is key to determine how they will handle your overall relationship.

Tip Number 5: Hire a Dj Who Writes Up a Contract

Contracts or agreements are a good idea for everyone all the way around. It will protect both parties and hold everyone accountable for delivering on their end. Professional wedding DJs work hard. They will do everything in their power to make sure your event is flawless. You have also been working diligently to ensure your event goes off without a hitch or as close to it as humanly possible. To that end hire a DJ who uses some form of contract or agreement. The contract should have all the details of the reception such as date, time, location, set up time and break down, when they must be out of venue, special requests, overtime clause, and anything else that you and the DJ service feels it is important to include. Wedding DJs who are good are booked early and in advance. Therefore expect to pay up 20% deposit to secure the date with your DJ.

There are many other things to consider when hiring a DJ. However, in my experience these are the key top five things to consider. Wedding entertainers are few an far in between. When you hire a professional it will make all the difference in the world for this once in a life time event. Make it grand. Make it the best wedding reception ever!

Here are a few subpoints to consider as well.

Prompt return of your phone calls or Emails: You should expect to get a call back or an Email back within 24 hours. Many DJ’s are out working and may not be able to return your call within an hour or two.

Is the price too good to be true? It seems that the DJ is often the last service chosen, after much of the budget is expended on a venue, food and clothing. This often leads brides and party planners to shop for the cheapest price possible because of a lack of resources. This often backfires when holding out for the lowest price. However, if you have adhered to the guiding principals noted here, you will know to avoid services that have a rock bottom price because they will not be able to display the level of quality and attention to detail that EVERY client deserves!

Is the person knowledgeable about your type of event? There are all kinds of DJ’s. Club DJ’s, wedding DJ’s, Rave DJ’s…the list is endless!! Can the DJ you interview handle your type of event? Ask the DJ how many events of your type that they have done.

Does the DJ use professional grade equipment? If the DJ does not have pictures of his or her gear, you should ask to set up a time to see the equipment or see pictures of the DJ’s set up. Although there are many fine home stereo equipment components made, they are not suitable for commercial or repeated use and varying room conditions. The DJ should be able to tell you what they use and characterize the equipment as professional grade.

Consider this when pricing your DJ service: You should consider your DJ service an insurance policy that ensures that all of the other money you spend will not result in bad memories or a less than enjoyable occasion. You do get what you pay for. Good entertainment is NOT cheap, and cheap entertainment often is NOT good!! And yet many people will pay far more for a cake, flowers, or food than they will for the most crucial ingredient at a party – the music. When was the last time you saw a cake reading a crowd and spinning a CD, motivating a dance floor crowd, or making announcements in a dignified elegant way? Further, when was the last time you heard a guest tell you “Boy, that prime rib was great, I can’t wait until I go to another party to have that again”? No, that DOES NOT HAPPEN. Instead, they talk about the music that was played, and whether they had a good time or not. The music is always what they will talk about and whether the DJ was any good or not.

First Blog Ever!

Hey everyone! Thanks for checking out our website. This is our first blog ever! I thought it was about time to start posting how our events go and letting you know just what we do, how we do it, and how much fun we having doing it. I will try and post lots of pictures from all the events we deejay so you can see for yourself how much fun everyone has. If you are looking to have a blast at your wedding, party or event then we can help you out. If you have any questions or would like us to write blogs about anything let us know. HERE WE GO!