Aza Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 From word of mouth, someone has contacted my girlfriends mother asking me to DJ at their wedding Apparently, the person who is getting married is approached a few dj's (i think maybe cheesy ones) and they want around £500/£600! You would think thats pretty close to some proper big name dj in a club!!!! Anyways, I have yet to speak with this person, but I need to establish what sort of music they wish for. I am not a party dj if you get me... My girlfriend has suggested some commercial(ish) stuff and a load of funk and bootlegs. I may consider this if its worth it (i think ill have to take my kit as well). I think my services will be required for a fair part of the day (at least 4-5hours), what sort of figures would you guys suggest? LOL - I remember one of my first gig's in the town centre was £30 for 2 hours, which at the time I was well chuffed with I will more than likely be up for it, because I am sure I will earn more than if I went to my part time job on a saturday for, plus its a good day out and moreover, there will be lots of champagne and munchies I will definately need to speak with the person in question, but would strongly appreciate your help people :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIGGZY Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 I SAY DO IT MATE IF YOU CAN! (opps caps) i cant help u on prices as i am not a dj, however you nether know who will be there so it could lead to something else. Not only that the spread of Nibbles and Booz will make the night even more worth while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Difficult one mate, I did a few birthday parties for people. Did around 3 hours and charge them £60 - £80, but I provided all the equipment, lights, PA System. I did kind of know these people so I did it at a cut price. I'd say probably a couple of hundred wouldn't be much different from the majority of wedding/party DJs. They may be looking for you to provide a whole set up, lights etc ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aza Posted April 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Well I think I will have to definately bring my own equipment. Despite being reluctant to do so because it sh!t hot, but if its worth the money then why not, especially as it will be a good day out! I do not have any lights, the only thing I have is a strobe, which my mate gave me back in the uni halls when we had a rave - lol! What sort of music did you play at your previous parties etc? I was chatting with Ste - do you think £250 is reasonable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neuro Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Any experience is good experience Aza matey! The only qualm I'd have is choice of music. You see these old fogies DJing at parties and whilst their tunes might be right down cheese avenue, they know how to work the dancefloor to cater with the range of ages attending the function, be it weddings, 'discos', or whatever. I'm sure you have enough core material to pull it off though, so I say "go for it!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aza Posted April 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 the only stuff i have really is bootlegs, a fair bit of funky house and also the likes of shakedown - at night etc.. lol! I am very tempted to at least organise something, but if I have to play vengaboys or something then I am not sure I will be comfortable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 When i did the parties I used CDs mainly, and just played lots of pop and stuff that I managed to get on CD. NOW compilations are always a winner!!! £250 sounds like a tidy sum, I'd be ahppy with that. If you're going to have to hire lights etc, add a bit on and tell them that a cut of the money is going to be used to cover equipment costs etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsteve Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Getting the right tunes is the biggest problem. Once you've got them, just bite the bullet for the 1st 3 hours, then once the old fogies have gone, get the tunes on! Just the experience in itself will be enough, but not sure what you'll do about lights. Some venues have their own and you can use them. If not, its a big expense getting them in for just one night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 I managed to rent some lights from a shop here in Derby when I did my parties. Rented a couple of lights for like £30. Admittedly the venues weren't very big so small lights worked fine. If you're looking to hire some, phone around a few shops near you to see how much you could rent them for. Then add it onto how much you're charging. To be honest mate, it's not your full time job so I imagine for a few hours work you'd be happy with a nice amount rather than charging loads for yourself and struggling with money for lights etc?? Maybe...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neuro Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 If you've not got many lights, how about hiring some hot dancers as a distraction? Strippers might be a bit too far, it being a wedding and all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie Brown Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 £250 sounds about right. Go for it.......its sure to be a laugh. For starters you need to find out how many guests will be attending the wedding reception and the evening party. I think both Steve and Tim's advice summed it up perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIGGZY Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 I would imagine u will have to slip some cheese in, can anyone think of any essential wedding songs? I have have only been to one wedding and was too young to remember, but i bet there is some funny ones out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadrant Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 can anyone think of any essential wedding songs? YMCA! (Dee-dee Da-da Da-Da-bah)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsteve Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 S Club 7 Eminem (there's always one 6 year old who will insist on it) Kylie Soft Cell (dj's chance to mix into some dance from here) Black Lace That bloody Bryan Adams song Chesney Hawkes and to finish...New York, New York Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonB Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 This is what you need: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Ultimate-Cheese-...1QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neuro Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 This is what you need:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Ultimate-Cheese-...1QQcmdZViewItem lol I bet Aza's having second thoughts about this Wedding now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie Brown Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 Queen and Abba type tunes usually go down quite well with most age groups. Gets them on the dance floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aza Posted April 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 Thank you everyone for your inputs. I am getting a bit scared about this now. I need to get in touch with the guy, ill see if they want me to do a set after hours or something. I am not entirely sure... It seems a bit weird - mixing tracks with the likes of trance and especially after just finishing a few mixes, then being associated with the likes of ABBA etc :S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsteve Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 Maybe you could do the last 90 minutes or something? Start off with a few bootlegs, funky house, etc and still time for a bit of trance at the end? Given the chance (and the right occassion) I'd be happy doing that for nothing. Most of the weddings that I've been to, the music is stop-start and rarely mixed. Although I did go to one not so long back, where the DJ realised that trance classics were getting people up to dance and he made a reasonable effort at mixing them. He obviously had very little practice or experience behind him and he took a bit of grief for it. At least he tried I suppose :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aza Posted April 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2006 Yeh good effort and cheers for the advise Steve. I think I will deffo have a word with him and be up for doing that as you possibly mentioned. Its the experience and also chance to have some fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakey Posted April 22, 2006 Report Share Posted April 22, 2006 YEah you might aswell have a word with him mate. To be honest out of the weddings I've been to anything dancey has killed the dance floor. It tends to be too specialist for the wide range of people that will be there. I recon if you're going to do it be prepared with a lot of oldies and cheese/pop etc then see how they react to cheesier dance etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsteve Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 There's quite a good section in 'How to DJ (Properly)' about doing weddings on page 124. Sorry, but its too long for me to type here, but worth reading if you've got a copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonB Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Tis indeed! shall scan it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonB Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 A few years ago Ii took my kit down to Portsmouth for a mates 21st (his flat's small living room!) to play to like 20 people tops and i didnt have a clue really what to play, I knew rock stuff (had cdrs s***loads of 7 inches rock lp's etc.) would be the main thing but even then what to play when or whatever, I did manage to bung some short mixes of dance stuff in as well (Col requested Aurora-Ordinary world a week or so before th shindig, I didnt have the original so ened up playing teh Condor and A&B mixes after each other!. Other stuff was Basemnet Jaxx, Phats & Small comercial biggies I spose). This mate liked what I played and said I did a good job but the stone facedness of everyon in the bloodey room didnt giev any indication of what they were liking or hating or whatever! ha ah nightmareish thats the only time Ive played out in a sense ha ha! Anyhows random ramblings aside, as mentioned by Steve: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsteve Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Good effort Jason 8-) btw Aza, don't forget 'We Are Family' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.