Wedding DJing has changed a lot since our parents got maried - but it still needs a certain blend of skills, and is still widely misunderstood by the majority of DJs. Today we blow away some of those old myths.
Digital DJ Tips is about to launch a major new guide to setting up a wedding DJ business, 21st century style, using digital gear. In preparing this guide, we came across a whole load of beliefs and attitudes about wedding DJing that are just plain wrong – and today we’d like to blow away some of those myths.
Why? Well, you may have considered wedding DJing, or even been asked to play at a wedding, but it can seem like a very different type of DJing to parties, bars and clubs – and it’s easy to let the “unknown factor” and what other people say or think put you off giving it a go.
So if you’re at all interested in wedding DJing (or have been asked to play one), do yourself a favour and read on to discover the truth about wedding DJing nowadays – and to begin to understand why, done right, DJing weddings can be a fun and lucrative addition to your DJing career.
Our 10 myths about wedding DJing
- You need lots of money to start – Maybe years ago, but nowadays – using digital gear – it’s possible to DJ weddings with a full set-up that’ll last you many years and that you can pay for out of the proceeds of just two or three bookings
- You need to be able to beatmix – Nope, not important at all. This is great for many modern DJs, because if you’re confident about your music selections but feel held back from playing in public because of your perceived lack of “club” skills, here’s one area of DJing where it really doesn’t matter one bit
- You need professional microphone skills – Arrggh! Talking on a microphone! But actually, getting “on the mic” needn’t be a catastrophe. It’s something that can be taught, and once you’ve worked on one or two basic skills, you can MC a wedding easily… and take those skills across to whenever you may be asked to use a microphone in other public DJing roles
- You need a huge lighting rig, smoke machines and so on – Nope! It’s simply not expected at weddings. Many venues have a sprinkling of “dancefloor” lighting fitted anyway, and if you really want to you can get some small lights, but nine times out of ten you won’t be expected to use them. Wedding DJing is generally about a family celebration, not a disco roadshow
- You need expensive music licences – Rarely true. While this depends where you are in the world, any venue that hosts wedding receptions generally has all the music performance licences in place, meaning you simply don’t need to let this aspect of things hold you back
- You’ll need to spend all your spare time looking for music – Again, no. It’s simply not like club DJing in that respect. The music changes S-L-O-W-L-Y, and 80% of what you play will never change. Get the right records, add a few well-chosen current hits, and you’re 95% there
- You need to have everyone dancing all the time – This is a huge myth and a mistake rookies regularly make. You’ll have a semi-full to full dancefloor for maybe the last third of the reception – sometimes more, sometimes less. Knowing when to be “background” is vital, because you’ll be “background” (ie setting the mood) for a big chunk of the time early on
- You’ll need to have and play every request you’re asked for – Actually, supremely, no! Knowing how to deal with this is key. Indeed, unless it’s the bride, you’ll learn to be very cautious of requests
- You’ll need to undercharge to get any work – Absolutely not. This is the brilliant thing. It’s simply not like playing over-supplied bar and cut-throat club slots. People want reliability, and they want to be sure you can deliver. They’ll pay whatever it costs for their big day to be perfect. The skill is to convince them of that – and then to be able to do it. Wedding DJing approached correctly is not price sensitive
- It’s easy! – This myth is only usually held by DJs who consider themselves “above” it. The truth is you need to have a very particular mix of skills, and you need to respect the job. You owe it to the couples whose weddings you DJ and to the profession itself. Wedding DJs quite rightfully get upset when other types of DJ think weddings are easy, because they know they’re not. However, it can be taught. That’s where our new guide comes in…
Be an earlybird…
Interested in exploring the possibility of DJing weddings? Our brand new course, The Complete 21st Century Wedding DJ, launches in a couple of months, but you needn’t wait that long.
If you’ve already bought the How To Digital DJ Fast video course from us, or even if you’ve signed up to our Learn To DJ Free email course, you’ll get an exclusive pre-launch discount offer on this guide in the next few days.
So if you’re interested, do one of those things now – and watch out for further details in your email inbox.
Are you intrigued by DJing weddings but for one reason or another haven’t got around to it yet? What’s holding you back? Let us know your reasons and any other myths you may have hear about wedding DJing in the comments!
Now go to:
4 Reasons Why You Should DJ Weddings
7 Ways to Stop Being a Freejay & Start Being a DJ
6 Essentials For DJing At Weddings
Want to escape the bedroom and play in public - fast?
Our 1000s-selling How To Digital DJ Fast video course shows you how.
Learn to DJ Free - email course plus bonus PDF book
Sign up for our weekly email course for beginners now...
Trouble choosing a controller? Visit the web's #1 guide!
DJ Controllers: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2013.
Tags: be a wedding dj, how to be a wedding dj, learn to dj, learn to dj weddings
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
This is a great article. I wholeheartedly agree with most of it.
I’ve only played one wedding in my whole life. While it showed me I didn’t really want to do weddings as a DJ, I did get ideas on how I’d like to have a reception if I ever get married.
I’d tell many budding mobile DJs not to worry if they don’t own speakers. Find places where you can rent them. Also try to have an idea on the size of the venue…because the sound guy renting them to you will make suggestions on the best setup for your needs.
I also think the slow musical growth of weddings is a blessing for many. I still go to receptions and hear the same 20 songs I heard years ago. I even think there are a set of “anthems” only played at receptions that people simply come out to hear at said receptions and nowhere else.
For those who don’t know about it, check out our guides on how to succeed as a DJ. We’ve put in things that can help budding mobile DJs grow their business as well as learn how to brand themselves.
[ link ]Great Article! For the most part, I do mostly weddings and private events. In my area, there are not many clubs so this pays the bills for me.
[ link ]I’ve DJed for 3 weddings now and spent a total of around £1000 and my setup helps me for the future
Licence-wise, in the UK it’s dependent upon where you gig (I have a gig next year that’ll be in a hotel and they requested my stuff be PAT AKA electronically tested). Other than that pub and clubs MUST have a PRS Music license to broadcast/play songs by law so that’s covered.
It can be sometimes difficult to DJ for a wedding – my last one, I had to mix on the fly instead of sticking to a set playlist I had laid on for the couple.-Things can get hectic, but if you keep your cool and don’t panic-everything will be fine
My set-up:
Numark iCDMIX3
[ link ]Pulse 2x 12″ 400W speakers and Pulse PDA300 Amp
Laptop with Numark DJ2GO with Traktor DJ Studio or Virtual DJ
Lights- Equinox DUO,BLAZE & WARP & American DJ Vertigo Tri LED
One thing worth mentioning here about #1 is that “Lots of Money” is a matter of perspective. For some people $100 is “Lots of Money”. And in that case, it’s not a myth. On the other hand, some people could drop $10k on investing in gear, and for them, they could have everything they need before they even start.
Excellent Article however. I especially enjoyed #7, Something many people don’t consider is one main focus change between clubs and weddings. In a club, your job is to bring people in, keep them dancing, and buying drinks. At a wedding, they don’t care if people are buying drinks (the venue might, but they are almost never the ones hiring you), They might want people to be dancing, but what they want most of all, is for their wedding to be a magical, monumental occasion. For many, this doesn’t mean a drunken evening gyrating to the latest dubstep mix, it means a romantic celebration of new-found matrimony with their friends and family.
[ link ]great article.
#6 is a little deceiving. yes you have 95% of the song but you spend 1-2 hours before the wedding to confirm you have all special songs and or omitting artist the couple despises.
Wedding DJ’s best friend
[ link ]Open bar and a group of friends that want to dance to anything.
Actually weddings is what brought me back into the game.
I played 2 weddings with only my laptop, a keyboard overlay and a rented PA that came with 4 lights on a t-bar above the top speakers.
Best thing: I got congratulated on how well I had done and that they loved how I could switch different genres (play more smooth things while their oldies and grandparents were still there and go to dance later in the night… with some added “fun songs” and anthems …)
As long as you are passionate, have a little feeling on what people want to hear you are good. I already have 4 more bookings, only through word of mouth advertising… Also all the people at weddings are really positive, forgiving and generally there to have a good time, so your audience is excellent.
I had never thought I would love to DJ at weddings so much in the old days.
[ link ]Thanks for the article. Comes just on time for me. I was called to work for a company that organizes weddings. I have to go to a interview this week and I was not feeling really sure about it. After all almost all of us want to play on club parties. But after reading this, Im actually thinking that wedding dj-ing is not bad idea at all. Im going to try it and I hope I´ll like it. I don’t think it would damage my dj carrer. It could only help me to earn some extra cash and to meet new people.
The only thing I sugest if you are about to get involved in wedding dj-ing is to use a different dj name and not the one you are using for club parties. Thats a good way to avoid critics and bad prejudice.
http://www.youtube.com/user/radosWAVE
[ link ]http://www.mixcloud.com/Radoswave/
I can speak from experience on this one and I love that your covering the misconceived area of mobile djing.
I work for an established Mobile DJ as his 2nd (I’m the DJ who does the 2nd booking on a date) and all I had was my laptop and controller to start. He sent me to gigs with all his expensive lights and speakers so that covers points 1,4 and 9 (as an established DJ his prices aren’t low and you get a good cut).
I highly recommend this route to new DJ’s worried about getting gigs. Not only did I get to DJ out in public on a regular basis but I also gained a strong mentor to guide me around sound systems and general DJing. This guy was no mixmaster either, he just could sniff a crowd out so quicky and have the correct music for every single occasion.
I’ve also learned some valuable lessons about song choice and reading a crowd. You will be surprised how often a 50 cent track, with the right timing, hooks a the right crowd at a wedding.
Its definitely a challenge and it can be hella stressful sometimes, but I personally find it incredibly rewarding knowing that I was an integral part of a special occasion that someone will remember forever.
[ link ]Thanks for sharing your experiences, Zigs. I also discuss working for mobile DJ companies in the course book, as well as in the supplemental video. It can absolutely be a good way to gain experience, and it’s how I started in the business many years ago.
That said, I put the course together to help people who want to dive right in and start working on their own. There are drawbacks to working for a DJ company—I once worked for a large organization (20+ DJs) and had some pretty horrible experiences, including being sent to a fairly remote location with wonky equipment. There’s nothing more ferocious than an angry bride! I managed to avoid evisceration, but that moment made me realize I needed to strike out on my own.
I think the best companies to work for are the small ones. Shadowing a pro can be extraordinarily helpful for someone new to this, and if you ask politely, some top-notch wedding DJs will let you tag along (and maybe pay you for helping carry equipment, fetch drinks, etc.). It’s worth asking if you take the course and you still feel a little apprehensive.
[ link ]Great article, just 2 quick points, don’t go telling everyone they can do it (just being selfish), and surely the myth thing becomes a mythes after the wedding
[ link ]THX Phil!
I do a lot of private/wedding/corperate parties and it’s NOT easy!
Easy is standing in a club, playing remixed “Top 40″.
A lot of wedding-parties has ben ruind by unexperienced dj’s.
Why don’t you have a examina at the end of the course and if you pass it you get some kind of certificate to show that you have some education in the subject?
I book a certified dj before someone that just claim he has experience.
[ link ]When I see articles like this I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
I keep trying to type a lucid, well thought out response and I just keep having to pick my jaw up off the floor.
The only thing I agree 100% in this article is #10. It’s not ‘easy’ – particularly if you plan on doing it well. The problem is the bar is set so low that it’s not even funny – it to the point where half assed is the status quo.
As for money – there are guys in my market doing weddings for $250. There’s one guy who drives in 400 miles to do a wedding for $420. Given the amount of work involved, you’re better off doing club gigs at $150 a night because you don’t have to put in the time to prepare like you do for a wedding nor schlep in a PA system.
[ link ]We are going to teach a tried and tested, non-nonsense system for getting paid as well as possible DJing weddings wherever you may be, and then how to do a great job. We’ve tested this stuff already with real DJs and we’re really excited to get the system out there! It should help to prevent some of those stories you relate.
[ link ]Whassup MusicMeister?
[ link ]If there are guys in your market doing weddings for $250, I’d bet you can still do weddings for $1,000 and up. In my market, there are also guys who low-ball the pros and get gigs. Hey, that’s fine—it’s not worth my time to play for peanuts.
Once you are known as an *excellent* wedding DJ—and not a cheap hack—you can easily charge top dollar for your market. That won’t happen instantly—you’ll still need to work and gain experience—but if you get into the market and do a good, over time *word-of-mouth* will become your best form of marketing. No one blinks when I tell them my rates because they know I’m a professional and I’ll blow the budget DJs away. The couples I aim for are the ones who don’t want to scrimp on the music because they know how important it is.
Another key to being able to keep your rates high is how you interact with the couple when they’re interviewing you. I get into that in the book—nearly every time I meet with a couple I walk away with a check deposit. The key is assuring them you are a professional, but also easing their anxiety and letting them feel like you are flexible, attentive, and competent. If they feel relaxed and assured after talking to you, an extra $500 will not be an issue.
[ link ]Scott,
[ link ]You are so right about the pricing. I get people always wanting to lowball me, and I tell them that my time and equipment is valuable to me. I think my rates are reasonable as I charge $125/hr, if there is no coordinator, and $100/hr with a coordinator. I dont charge for the 30 to 45 minutes I play before the reception. Because I know most receptions never last as long as they are booked for.
But you are right, if when you meet them, you have your contract and explain what they are getting, its easy to get your 1/2 down deposit, at that meeting.
DJ’s need to understand that you need all clean music, a nice suit to wear. You are not playing at a club, and they really aren’t there for you. You are really just the background noise, while they have fun. Sometimes, you need to help the newlyweds out and get the function moving along so they can do the bouquet toss and garter toss, you need to hype the crowd up so they get a good amount of singles on the floor to catch them.
No need to worry about who is dancing, as long as you satisfy the parents of the couple, and the couple, you are pretty good with everything. I like to get the line dances out the way after they eat, so the older folk can go home early and toward the end of the event, I will play the newer club music for the younger people who are still there. Its not always the same, but thats the M.O. I use and adjust accordingly for each event. My goal is to walk out there with everyone happy and ahead of schedule.
Some people (like me) prefer to do gigs were you have to prepare and realy focus on the task.
[ link ]I get up to $1000 for a wedding and I don´t mind the extra work a mobile gig brings.
An ordenary club-gig any half wit can do
250??? seriously, I am thankful I do not live in your area… big weddings here are WAY more. A grain at least and you still cost half as much as a decent wedding band.
[ link ]I thoroughly enjoy reading your articles and find this one to be spot on! I used to spin weddings in the “old days”,(vinyl) and found it not to be that difficult. I have to say the one point missing is to listen to the wishes of the couple and yes, make sure you have ALL the songs they want, (you aren’t going to play them all, trust me). I remember getting over the fear of not having a packed floor, but as you point out its about them and thier day to celebrate with family &friends. I get so much satisfaction knowing I helped make it possible! Keep up the good work!
[ link ]I’ll do it, but I will have to find an alternative to those ugly purple vests that I see a lot of these cheese ball professional DJs wearing.
[ link ]Purple vests are the best!
[ link ]Learning how to do weddings is also an entrance to start doing corporate/anniversary and other private parties.
I spend last weekend at a skiresort playing at two corprate parties. I lived like a king for tree days with everything free, doing what I love to do, and I got paid to do it. Life is really sweet
[ link ]For 5000 euro you are set to go with a compact set that fits in a station wagon and that could easily serve 150 peoples weddings or corporate events.
It isn’t the easiest thing in the world, since 100% preparation isn’t possible, but that’s the beauty of it. On the fly shifting genres and handling situations and requests without stopping the party. On the other hand it isn’t rocket science, once you get the hang of it.
You do not need to beatmix, but it’s a nice to have. More important is “being a reliable partner”, create a nice looking website with some good info on yourself and what you do. And the most important to get the gigs flowing in is get some references by brides on wedding-forums …
There is a difference in wedding parties in different countries … in Belgium, the opening dance is often round 23h while the party ends at 3-4 o’clock in the morning. The first hour the older people get their going with some disco and swing stuff but the last hours (depending on the guests off course) isn’t that different for a dancepub or even a club.
[ link ]5000 euro?! Can’t you have proper gear for way less?
just an example and it’s not my gear –
S4 – 800eur
Laptop – 1000 eur (that enough for quite a nice one)
2 400w speakers (enough for 150/200 people depending on location and how loud you like your music) – 600 euros
Cables, plugs and lights – 400 euros
tadaaa – that’s 2800 euros and you can definitly go wayyyy cheaper!
[ link ]change S4 for 2 midi controllers and a mixer for easily – 500 euros instead of 800.
drop the lights and then just rent whatever you need and you’re saving another 250 euros. so you can easily spend around 2000 euros and i’m including a laptop – which i guess 90% of the people already own. without the laptop, drp the value to 1200 euros and you’re more then set to go!
of course you can spend 5000 and don’t spend any more for the next 5 years easily! get yourself a couple of 500w EV speakers , Get a vestax/A&H/Pioneer mixer and a couple of denon SC2000, an audio2 and another spare audio2, get a good reliable mac laptop and a hardcase for your gear and voila – 5000 euros. but if people want to start with just around 1000euros, it is very possible. not everyone has 5000 outta the bag like that!
[ link ]You are right … but if you start weddings, look at it as a business. Get it first time right. Provide your clients with decent sound, if you invest in good speakers, they go a lifetime.
That’s when you start making money.
You can indeed skip on lightning, but with a few effects, some uplighting your rig looks 100x better and more expensive and makes you look more professional.
[ link ]So when will the book be available to those who had previously purchased the other media? I have some weddings coming up in the next couple months and this would be a huge asset to read over prior to my engagements.
[ link ]Imminently. Watch your inbox!
[ link ]The Wedding dj is very lucrative business. I paid £300 last year for one for 4 hours work. Worth every penny because the guy was very very good!! My biggest issue with wedding dj’s in my area is that they turn up, put a mix cd on and stand by the bar until 9.30. Music wise there are a great number of classic wedding songs that everyone expects and fills the dance floors everytime. Weddings are about the bride and groom so ask for their 10 favourite tracks and sprinkle them in during the night. Another good idea for weddings with no expense is to get all their guests to make a request as part of their rspv. This type of service should command a higher fee.
[ link ]Kevin, please bear in mind that in fairness the £300 you paid for your wedding DJ was quite cheap as it was well over 4 hours work, please don’t forget the supplied equipment, loading of vehicle, transportation,fuel, build up & breakdown of equipment as well as music purchases & the experience of the DJ, now calculate the actual hours worked for your £300.
[ link ]oh no bet the wedding djs are spitting feathers cause dj dick is going to be out there charging just 50 quid to do a wedding and ruining another sector of the professional dj industry.Its a good job you dont need a special qualification to be a dj like doctors lawyers and virtually every other profession.
[ link ]It’s funny how things change around the world.
I’m a private events/parties (including weddings) Dj in Argentina.
Weddings here are just the same as private parties: during the reception (I don’t know if we talk about the same in this point – eating, basically, or doing time till everyone has arrived if the party is after eating) you can just play whatever you want as long as you keep the volume down… Then, its always the same: some classic hits if a part of the audience is older… then straight forward to reggaeton and stuff, and then just plain electro pop.
Definitely it’s not easy, you have to please a wide variety of people, sooner or later you learn to deal with that.
Regarding the cost: I’ve done it for almost 7 years and I don’t own anything but a Mixtrack pro and a Mac (I’ve bought both only these year).
So yes, go ahead, dont be afraid, you just have to be there in order to learn.
Mic? I’m pretty fobic with people, but not when it’s time to work, and definitely not when I have to grab a mic and talk to a bunch of strangers.
ps: Keep up the good work, although I’ve been playing for years, it’s only now that I own some equipmen I started to learn the technical aspects of djing. And I mean it, I know how to handle crowds, I know how to read a crowd, etc, but I TOTALLY sucked at technical issues, not even a clue on how to beatmatch etc. Now that’s changing thanks to you guys.
[ link ]SUPER AWESOME AND 100% ACCURATE AND TRUE… JUST AS ALWAYS BY THIS SITE!!!!
[ link ]Great feature, thanks for posting!
Im a professional wedding DJ & most of the 10 points are accurate, however i do think that lighting provided by the DJ is as important as the music, from subtle to uplifting.
Agreed, it’s not essential to beatmatch your music like a club DJ at a wedding, but if it’s possible between certain tracks then it’s a must as it keeps people on the dancefloor.
It’s certainly not easy to DJ at a wedding as stated in youe post, also you have to please ALL ages with a mulitude of different genres let alone specific meaninful tracks that the bride & groom have selected. Club DJs have it quite easy in fact by playing just one genre of music throught their set.
[ link ]Weddings require a lot of prep work before hand, to make sure you have exactly what the bride and groom want. They can be a lot of fun, and you know you’re giving these people a night they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. That’s a really beautiful thing. I’ve done four weddings in my life, and they’ve all been for friends. As it turns out, before I really understood the market, I really undercharged. But hey, friends are friends.
Remember – it’s harder than it looks. You can’t just play what you want. You can be an artist, but you really are customer service. Recognize that fact, and recognize that if you do your job well, you will make many people VERY happy. And that is a level of job satisfaction that is rarely seen elsewhere, no matter what field you’re in.
As a side note: customer relations are key. Stay in communication with the couple. Be responsive to their needs. Stay on top of the scheduling of the wedding. A LOT of people will ask you questions about when the cake cutting is happening, when the first dance is, etc. Be ready with answers and you will leave a great impression.
Also in the US, you may need DJ insurance, depending on the venue. Don’t miss out on a gig because of this!
[ link ]I agree with most of the points except for a couple….I currently run the DJ service for the biggest banquet hall in my town and have been DJing weddings for almost 20 years (started when I was 15). Anyways, beatmatching, believe it or not, is a crucial part of djing weddings, especially if you want to stand out from the countless other DJ services. More and more younger people getting married grew up in “club culture” and expect that kind of vibe nowadays for at least part of their wedding reception, especially when you are playing top 40 or hip hop. Personally, I try to beat match as many songs as I can, even when the 2 genres of music don’t match. Secondly, keeping on current music is crucial as you have such a wide variety of clients/preferences that you need to be on top of as much as possible. I download on average of 200 songs per week, not saying that I will play all of them but you just never know. Good article overall, just my personal take after doing this for so many years.
[ link ]Great article. I have been dj’ing weddings for over 10 years. I would just add that attention to detail is one of the most important roles in being a wedding dj. It is so important to review music and events with the bride. We have prided ourselves with on the spot coordination. This helps the night flow so much smoother not only for the bride and groom, but for the dj as well. Again, great list! Cheers.
[ link ]Fantastic article, Im a part time DJ who never wanted to do it, but after doin one Wedding I all of a sudden had 4-5 more gigs… now ive done 21 here in NZ..
[ link ]Made many mistakes but learnt from them, remaining calm and trying to enjoy it in those difficult times is a must, if they are drunk and you are struggling it is as if they can sense it and then comes the name calling etc… My amp blew up once, just as I got them groovin -no where to hide, and sometimes ive used all my best tracks to get them on the floor and when they finally were ready to dance I had nothing left, it is not an easy game at times but you def. have to know your retro tunes, my friend an ace beat mixing club DJ vows never to do a wedding again…
Great article, Phil. I agree wholeheartedly about not expecting to have a packed dance floor the whole night. There is a natural ebb and flow to weddings and you need to work with that. When you DJ at a nightclub you know that everyone is there to dance and it’s up to you to make it happen. At a wedding everyone is there, primarily, to see the couple get married – not everyone will even like dancing! It takes a certain kind of inner strength not to base your perceived success on the fullness of the dance floor and how much love you get from the crowd.
[ link ]