Karaoke Forums

We were asked to DJ for a graduation party. 4 hours, perhaps 5. All genre of music, all decades. Potential for some added karaoke (extra charge for sure).
I am curious what some of you would charge for this service. We typically are at $250.00 for the 4 hours of DJ service for a party of this nature. Are we too cheap, too expensive?

Each additional Hour of service is billed at $50.00/hr

Also, for the added Karaoke we have a standard $100.00 up charge when ala-cart to DJ. Where do we stack with price on this also with the rest of you?

Thanking you in advance for your input!

You're not too expensive, that's for sure......where are you at in Indiana?

we are located in the LaPorte area

Make what you're worth. You still have to pay taxes. Make sure their insurance covers you and your equipment, or get your own GL policy if you don't already have one.

Kids can and will get outta hand and can cause damge! Good Luck.

$125 / hour, four hour min for the smallest house party. A larger venue party climbs accordingly.

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

At least!
Private parties typically can command 3-5x a regular bar rate.

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

I'm not much higher unless it's a wedding. $300 4 hours DJ, $350 karaoke. $50 OT per half hour if notified before hand. If request OT during the show, $75 per half hour. I'd rather do private parties over bar gigs any day so I don't see the big need for price difference. If you can get it, of course but $350 for 4 hours works for me. After 4 hours I can get expensive and have once the party was nearly over and the drinkers weren't ready to quit.

_________________
KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

What he said......

I don't charge any extra for karaoke, it's not anymore work for me. I use the same equipment.

People are hard pressed to spend much cash around here for parties. I can easily get $200+ an hour for weddings but parties can be hard to get $100 an hour. I'm generally at $300 for 4 hours, That's no lights and not on a Saturday.

My rate is $400 for first 3 hours, ot @ $100 per hour.
I don't up charge for Karaoke, only requires setting up a TV and couple mics.

I am a bit expensive in my area, but charging that much gives me some room to give a "discount" to make it seem better to prospective clients. I usually knock off $50 to $100 for the first 3 hours if the client seems not to wanting to commit. It works.

I usually end up averaging $90/hour with setup/tear down time included.

And with gas prices through the roof, anything over 50 miles away gets a trip charge of $20 for ever 50 miles extra. (100 miles = $40, 150 miles = $60.....)

Thank you everyone for your reply's. It seems as though on average, $125/hr is the going rate. With no up charge for karaoke (if its a DJ hosted gig). Definitely helps with our pricing here and if nothing else a place to start.

Interesting... I've always thought of it as "no upcharge for disc jockey" since the karaoke music, equipment and just about everything else costs more than a regular DJ.

staeley, I was referring to when we are hired specifically to do DJ. Occasionally we are asked if they can also Karaoke. When this happens I do charge extra.
On the flip side, when our venue is Karaoke, I do not charge extra for the music only portion. I have found that part is usually only a few dance songs requested then back to karaoke. We do use computer and it is very easy to just que up some songs

I am more like $90/hr most nights for private parties and a little more for weddings. That price actually goes much higher starting in May. There are a lot of people who wait until the last minute to hire a DJ and then they find out that most DJs are already booked. I can get $200/hour for last minute calls. I literally have gotten calls on Thursday for a Saturday wedding.

_________________
I'm not a cheerleader, but I paid for my pom poms with my own money!

Very rare in my area can someone get more than $250 to $350 for a party. The most I've ever gotten is $420 (charged $20 for gas as it was an hour drive one way) at a nudist camp. I am going back there twice this year and I upped the price to $470.

Last night I did a last minute gig. A friend of mine who has a partner had 2 gigs and his partner bailed. I have a small network here of 3 DJs who cover each other's back. I did this 4 hour DJ only party for $250 as that is what my friend had booked it for. It was outdoors for a small graduation party, DJ is so much easier to set up for me. No lyrics monitors, no batteries for my wireless mics, no stage monitor, less cables to mess with. Of course I charge more for karaoke! It's more work.

So, I guess it depends on the area you are from. Private parties are the bulk of my business now, my prices are competive in this market and I let my performance win customers by word of mouth.

P.S. I make $150 to $200 for karaoke at the bars I do, if I told someone I wanted $1000 for a private party, I'm pretty sure I could kiss that gig away!

_________________
KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Ah!! My Namesake...

Standard party rate was $450/4 hours, with $75/hr OT; no up charge for Karaoke. Wedding rate was $750/5 hours, with $125/hr OT. Usually no karaoke wanted there, but if so $125.

However, those rates don't seem to fly anymore. I've cut weddings down to party rates, and party rates by $100 -$150, but still people decline.

_________________
EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

I never charge an "overtime rate" on a wedding. I have a higher starting price, but there is no cutoff.

I do this because 99.9% of the weddings in this area are 6 hrs. And simply by telling my prospective clients that they don't have an overtime rate to pay has sealed many deals... Everyone is happy: they don't pay for 2 hours of "overtime." and I get a higher rate anyway.

I understand, It's all a matter of perception on the client's part anyway. If they think they're geting a god deal, it's mutally advantgeous.

_________________
EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ