In the Disc Jockey world there are two types of buyers...the "thrifty" and the "picky." The thrifty goes around looking for the cheapest possible price not considering the background, expertise, equipment, etc., of a Disc Jockey and bases their purchase on the cost alone. The "picky" on the other hand is looking for the highest quality performer who knows how to execute a successful event at a market value. The "thrifty" customer will be the on that says things like "What?!!? $1200 for a DJ? What do you think you are a doctor?" This is an actual quote that I heard when a bride called me for a price. I explained to her that if she needed surgery to call a doctor and that I am a professional in my field and warrant a professional fee. The party came and went and months later a friend of hers called mentioning that conversation. She told me that that woman's DJ was "cheap" yet showed up late, was poorly groomed, didn't have the music she wanted and used poor sounding equipment." She told me that the disappointment she experienced taught her that "reputation" is more important than "savings" when coming to the most important day of her life.

The Internet is a wonderful tool in finding affordable entertainment, products and services but one should know the questions to ask so that saving money does not compromise the quality of the service. Some valuable questions can be found at www.adja.org.

The American Disc Jockey Association is a non-profit trade organization which is composed of professional disc jockeys who subscribe to the same ideology of satisfying the client while striving to remain professional and advance in the mobile dj industry. The trade organization provides a way for disc jockeys to obtain liability insurance which is widely required by quality catering halls these days as well as other benefits. A "DJ System in need program" which ships an emergency DJ system to a DJ if his is stolen or destroyed prior to an event is also available to the members. Legal support for contract conflicts, breaches and/or resolution is offered as a service to both the DJ and the client in the rare case that a DJ's customer has a complaint. All of these benefits in turn benefit the client since any lawsuit stemming from an injury at the party will be aimed at the Hall, The DJ and the HOST. To save $200 on a wedding DJ and then get sued for thousands with no coverage is just not smart thinking. Someone's Aunt was spun by a dancer at a bar mitzvah and she fell and broke her wrist putting her out of work for a year. She sued the DJ, the host and the catering hall. The non-professional DJ closed his business and the hall had their own insurance...How much do you think $200 paid for in lawyer fees for the host?

Get quotes from local service providers Check referrals from past clients, schedule an appointment to discuss play lists, or visit your favorite DJs' web site.

The moral of this story is to ask the right questions and treat your Wedding DJ as you would your new car purchase. If you want a Lexus and someone offers you one for the price of a Pinto then chances are you will get a lemon... The national average of a Basic Wedding DJ is $850 to $1200 dollars per event with insurance, back up equipment, legit contracts, extensive song lists and the correct experience to make your day a success.