How Much Do DJ's Typically Charge?

What is the current market rate for someone to play music for a few hours for a private party, not at a club?

/me bites his pinky
One Billion Lindens )

j/k.. I've heard 500-900/hr is an avg rate for kickass dj's, and you can find half decent ones willing to play for a few pennies less. But I'm not sure if they charge more for a private party, like most live performers do.

I'd be happy to talk to you about your event.. I Dj a few shows/week ranging from electronic music to jazz to rock and hiphop. anything but country..

A good dj does not have to charge and works on tips.
if you entertain well and have good hosts at venues the money comes rolling in.

A decent rate for a DJ is a minimum of 200L$ Per Hour for a club gig. Many DJs charge more for private parties as there may be additional setup and coordination time required where they would likely not have to do this at a club that is already set up.

There are many Djs that work for tips only, or dirt cheap, they in my opinion are not very good and often trade on image rather than actually having good music or any skills at all.

Like other have said, it depends and it varies from DJ to DJ. Since it is a private party, not a club, my guess would be they would want a set rate per hour. That set rate may range from 50 an hour to 2000 and hour. Or some combination of per hour plus tips.

If you are throwing a private party for 10 people, then it's unlikely a DJ would agree to only be paid tips. If the music you want played is very specific, hard to find, etc. or you have preset playlist you want played or want THEM to give you a playlist first for approval, that's more trouble and they probably would want more money.

If you are having a party and you expect 30 or more people and you just have a basic genre of music you want played, have them take some requests, they set their own playlist, etc..... pretty much like they were playing in a club... then they would probably charge somewhat closer to how they charge a club.

Cheapest is not always bad and most expensive is not always the best and "good" DJ is subjective as everyone has different ideas about what "good" is. If you've heard a DJ in a club you like, ask them. If they can't do it, maybe they will know of someone else.

When I DJd at Private Parties, the charge was $1000L an hour to come play a specific genre of music, take requests and make whatever announcements needed. Private parties are very different in that there are usually No Tips. It would be bad form to invite people to your private party, wedding, etc then ask them to pay for the entertainment in the way of tips. Also there is less talk from the DJ.. there is no need to prod people to enter the contest, tip the venue and staff, etc.

Private parties also require that the DJ have their own stream... many clubs still require this but many provide the stream. It always amazed me when I was asked to come DJ for tips only... no guaranteed crowd.. plus pay for my own stream. In the beginning I ended paying for the privilege to entertain your crowd because the income never covered the costs.



I disagree with this.. it's almost funny even. You can put the best DJ in a club and that doesn't mean the people will come... or that the people will start filling Tip jars.


My suggestion is to have the DJ audition for you. If they are good, then they should be worth more. I always offered auditions to prospective clients. I invited them to come to a show... or come to my home for a private audition. If they didn't think I was worth the Lindens.. then they were not obligated to hire me.