Karaoke Forums

I am researching DJ services for a wedding and I have come to realize that having Karaoke would be sooo much cheaper...

I thought that since a regular DJ wouldn't have all the issues of drunks, song slips and crap they have to deal with, that a dj would be much less expensive....

Gosh, I could hire Lonman and Knightshow to do a show together and and pay both of them their regular fee and still not touch what a regular DJ is charging.....

Someone enlighten me...Why such a difference in price???

_________________
Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

Regular DJ's got big heads.  LOL

_________________
ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

_________________

I think KJ's just enjoy their work more thats why we charge less. If I do A wedding DJ job I always charge A lot more than if it was a karaoke show.

_________________
ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

Could be you are running into DJ's that charge a set fee for a one time gig... vs.. KJ's who price is significantly lower because they are doing a weekly gig.  

I know we certainly charge a lot less for our weekly gig ... where we know we'll have a certain set "wage" every week all year long .. than we do for our DJ services.. which are one time gigs.... hence a much higher price.  

I guess if you figure 50 or so weeks at lets say 150 or so a night .. vs.. lets say 400- 600 for a one time gig .... you aren't really looking at high DJ prices.  

At least... that would be my guess about what you are running into.  Not sure tho.  I know around here.. that is what happens.  DJ's are in the 400-600 dollar range for a wedding... vs.. a karaoke show each week at maybe 150-200 a week.  Ya cut the "regular" bar owner a deal .. and keep it "affordable" .. for steady weekly wages vs. the one shot wedding.  

Anybody else have a take on this ??

_________________
[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

So is it harder work to DJ rather than KJ?  Seems to me the way you mix your in between music and the karaoke music, that would be more difficult..  Rather than a DJ who only segues back to back song that ussually flow..I don't know...

I do know that I have done both...with stationary systems and the DJ thing was way easier for me...And it has been a few years ago....

_________________
Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

Club karaoke & private karaoke is alot different in prices for me anyway.  Clubs are generally steady work which is the reason, private shows are 1 time shots as a rule & the party throwers generally expect to pay more - hence you can charge more.  Dj's can make or break the party as well & the more upper priced ones are (again as a rule) the more established & proven dj's that earn their worth.  A couple companies I have worked with in the past charge $1000 minimum to upwards of $3000 (average $1500) per show & are booked EVERY weekend - sometimes twice per day.  They are the best weeding dj's i've ever seen by far.  But in that price they also do the full event coordinating as well - they'll work with the bride/groom & get everything planned out & will make the schedule work all while keeping the crowd alive & energized at the actual reception.  

This is what fries me about karaoke prices, because we do have more invested, have to bring a little more & generally do SOME dj'ing at private shows as well & the prices have nosedived in comparison to where they should be - THANK YOU UNDERCUTTERS & PIRATES!!!

Dj's - again, can make or break a party, they have to read the crowd & be able to change a song on the fly if no one is responding to get their moods into a party mentality.  Karaoke is fairly cut & dry, the singers pretty much dictate what music will be played, the host can change up the order of things to break up slow sets or all one genre, but most won't even do that.  I personally HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE karaoke at weddings!  But that's just me.....

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I think shotgun and Lonman nailed it on the head.
Remember just because they are advertising a certain price doesn't
mean you have to pay that. I would talk to them and try to haggle the price
down. I know if I am having trouble booking a certain date, I'll do it cheaper.
If it is a gig that is closer to me I will do it cheaper also. It never hurts to ask.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

To me, the biggest difference between doing a KJ gig and a DJ gig is the set up. On my KJ gig, I bring similar equipment for audio but my lighting is just minimum and sometimes none at all if the venue has lighting already. Most of the private DJ gigs, I have to bring a lot more lighting gig, to add the ambience, which adds to bigger load to carry, longer time to set up and take down. That's why I charge more for the DJ gigs than KJ gigs usually.

_________________

Seize the day and SING!!!

WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD WORK A WHOLE WEEK FOR 150 TO 200 BUCKS???

                                                     :shock:

Think she meant per night.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Alot of us did !   When I started working (at 11) I got below minimum wage (which was $1.25) in credit towards merch.  Worked throughout HS for less than that... AND for many reason's too.... Worked construction under the table for under 200 a week summers, and had a job with a paving crew NOT just for the money, but I needed to stay in shape,  tire myself out, and work... It supplemented other income, yet even today, for three-four nights a week, if I loved something I did, and needed the money, not as a sole source of income, but to supplement something else I'd work if I liked the people and what I was doing...PLENTY of times when I didn't need the money, I did jobs and gig's for nothing... SOmetimes a person just needs to work to get out've their head.....

I never judge what another person takes home, or agree's on. When someone needs money, they take a job.. For whatever reason.. I'd gladly work $200 a week  20 hours/week to supplement a day job.  What I won't do now is work for $600 a week net, and subject myself to horrible work conditions, excessive stress, and dishonestly... Soon when I'm completely retired, I'll likely again find something in a hobby related area, assisting, or doing something when money is no longer an issue, just because I can afford to.... and like what I'm doing...


In brief, each persons arrangement is their own business..  If someone is collecting wages because of injury, wants to get out've the house, and doesn't want to cheat the system, more power to them, ASSUMING they are between jobs, and don't want to screw up their benefits by declaring a job they might have for three months KJ'ing I won't judge either, unemployment when I was on it in the past was HORRIBLE regarding part time work.. THey really didn't have a system conducive to attempting to declare a job that you could otherwise work cash under the table for... In some cases I WON'T fault the ocassional "cash under the table arrangement", I know how intolerable certain agencies can make themselves... If someone is DJ'ing or KJ'ing a few nights a week free, to get out....and they like it Who am I to judge ?  Is that any less honorable, than the people who are going to the bar to get drunk and spending money ?  If a worker is doing something that brings them relaxation, and gives them a purpose I won't rain on anyones parade judging their "income" as being absurd assuming money isn't the issue. Some of us just need to work, and are happy to have something to do at certain times... I've been their too....YOu do what you need to do for you....Doesn't matter if it's for money, assuming it's a purpose that you need. and not the money...   We don't all need hobbies and interests to live off've.. I've played quite a few gig's for free too.... JUst because I felt honored to be sitting in playing bass with Teddy Wilson around 1984.... (Benny Goodman/Glen Millers pianist).. Sometimes you do what  you need to do for you, (or want to do)...and noone else needs to know what you do earn, or do not earn doing it...

JMO

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Why do so many bride to be's think they can spend $200 on a DJ?

They will spend $2000 on a dress, $1500 or more on a cake but $800 is too much for a good DJ. You get what you pay for a professional wedding DJ will be remembered and talked about more than any other aspect of your wedding.

My average Wedding Price is $849

That is about the middle of the road for wedding DJ in my area.

Why do I charge $849, that is what I am worth. I provide a quality service at a reasonable price.

My equipment is more expensive than the club KJ. On averge I carry $20,000 in equipment to a wedding not including music. This equipment is repaced every 2 to 4 years.

Included in my wedding package is My premium sound package, a basic dance lighting package, online event planning, a personal consultaion up to 30 additional songs for the persons event.

The average 6 hour wedding will have 3 hours of setup and tear down 1 to 2 hours travel, 2 hours office work, 1 to 3 hours for a personal consultation, 2 hours music planning. 15 hours is very minimal the average would be 20 hours per wedding.

Including reinvestment to the business of 10%, then paying my taxes, and overhead My actual take home is less than $450 on a $849 wedding.

See,  and before I discovered this room, I'd have ONLY hired a DJ,  because I didn't know what a "KJ" was... DJ is a more widely understood term dating back to the 1950's. A decent Disc Jockey who's endured the competition, and is still around is also someone who has stage presence, provides appropriate set's of music, and is interacting on stage with the audience ALONE.... In some ways,  Karaoke is easier... Less formal...A good Disc Jockey is needless to say, ALSO a professional with stage presence, an entertainer, and as Lonman said,  can read the crowd, and has to provide a more formal straight set list of music, seque song to song, and as Eben mentioned ambience, such as lighting, which might be strobes,  more garish lighting fixtures often, Pin spots, maybe a mirror ball...hehe.. and equally as balanced sound.. He needs to set the room not just for audio, but for lighting, because dance is an integral part if a DJ's show... and he must be organized too.... He has to pick out his set list for YOUR event.... He won't be playing certain songs he'd likely play for the John Valby loving crowd.. It's work.... Never easy to do a job well...

Personally,  at a wedding, I'd want a DJ.  To me,  it provides better dancing. and a more formal ambience... Seems more organized and in general it should be a very predictable show.... God only knows, what if you have a KJ at your wedding, and your drunken nephew Gomer decides he needs to sing every other song really loud, and it must be KORN, or LIMP BISKIT, and it's WAY out've tune (if you can sing out've key to that stuff).... and then the kid's all run up to the microphone screaming along with everyone grabbing the microphone away from other's because they want to sing the theme from Barney again.... NOPE..... How about if most of the adults DON'T like or want to sing, nor do they want to hear the younger generations shouting rock into the microphone... As was mentioned a pro DJ,  takes into consideration ALL ages present, and will play something to include everyone,  and blend things together so those at the reception can mingle among themselves...without having to compromise and tolerate too much, and listen to what they consider "screaming and shouting" by two generations  that don't consider "Oh my Papa" and "Sunrise Sunset" to be modern "pop".

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Well said Steve.

I explained the time and cost factors of why prices are the way they are but you really went further into justification.

As a Wedding DJ You must be able to achive optimum sound in any venue you are dealt. A wedding DJ must be able to adapt to constant change. A Wedding DJ must be an Event Planner, no one else at the event wil cordinate what time specific Events will take place, 90% of the time I tell the caterer when it's time to cut the cake.

A wedding DJ must Know all types of music from 30's Jazz to today's top 40, not just read a set of numbers of a slip and press play. It also important to musical program, certain songs go better together than others, at weddings it is important to build energy matching BPM's is a must in my wedding musical program.

Weddings are a completly differnt animal, as a DJ myself it would be very hard for me to hire a DJ for my wedding.

Thanks for all the information here.  I have done a lot of research since this was posted.  I still think the prices are a bit high but I now realize that the DJ really sets the tone and makes the reception flow...  We will be interviewing DJ's very soon.

_________________
Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

Boo Hoo

It's to bad you can't find someone that does both for a good price.

I'm a Karaoke pusher.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I would think there're people out there that do both.  DJ's set up to do a Karaoke set, or KJ's that can DJ.  Probably going to be important soon in venues assuming interest in Karaoke declines.  As I've stated before, It might very well be a fad that passes in time. Maybe not completely, but clubs might no longer want a full evening of it.

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Perception.
A Lot of people think anyone can do karaoke because all you do is put the slips in order, put in the requested song, annonce the person, and wait for the next request, and sing once in a while, right?

Most wedding DJ's charge more, because they can.  A once in a lifetime event takes FAR more planning and skill than doing a karaoke night.  Karaoke often carries an informal feel of having a good time while doing a wedding has a unique mix of formal (the annoucement of the bride/groom/wedding party), informal (the 'cheese' - garter toss, bouquet toss, etc), and 'fun' (open dancing).  With karaoke I can walk into almost any venue and feel comfortable doing a show because if I screw up I can always restart the song or hey, there's always next week.  Don't get me wrong, I WORK MY (@$%&#!) OFF when I do a karaoke show!  But I get really nervous before I do a wedding because I only get one shot at making or breaking someone's special day.

On a side note, if you're planning on having karaoke at your wedding (some DJ's offer it) I generally recommend that you DON'T have karaoke!  Why?  Because karaoke is about everyone having their own 3-5 minutes of fame and a wedding reception is about the bride (and the groom, but especially the bride).  Karaoke is fine if you have a song or two to be performed for some reason but open karaoke at a wedding isn't normally a good idea generally.  There are rare instances where families are ALL into karaoke but as a general rule it takes away from the attention that should be on the bride.

Hope that helps... and if you want some good questions to ask the DJ as you start to talk with them let me know.  I can either send or point you to a resource or two on the web.

WHOLEHEARTIDLY agree!

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!