Pro vs Amateur DJs: What’s the difference between pro vs amateur DJs? Many people mistakenly think all DJs are the same. We’re here to tell you that all DJs certainly are not the same! Not even close.

We created this handy infographic to quickly tell you a few of the major differences between the professional vs the amateur, or hobbyist DJs. If you like it, feel free to share the love and share it with anyone who may need this information. We’d really appreciate it! 🙂 So let’s break down the major differences.

Pro vs Amateur DJs

1. DJ Equipment

   • Not all DJ equipment is the same. We get it, it looks the same, especially on various DJ websites. You’ve got your speakers, lights, and the DJ, of course. (Usually, the DJ is doing some weird pose, we’re not sure why). 🙂 Let’s be clear, though. A professional sound and lighting system costs several thousand dollars.

   • It may look similar, but you’ll definitely be able to tell the difference in sound quality, quite easily. We only use the premium brands for our events, because how we look and sound is part of our brand and our clients’ experience. We want it to look and sound amazing, and it does! Say no to 70’s disco club lighting and distorted sound!

2. Professional MC

   • When it comes to pro vs amateur DJs, this is one of the biggest differences. A great DJ has to be able to play a variety of music, and more importantly, he/she has to be comfortable on the microphone. Your DJ is literally the guide for your wedding or event. The DJ will tell everyone what’s happening, give directions, tell what’s next, make introductions, etc.

   • The DJ/MC is key to making sure your event goes smoothly. Professional DJs have a lot of experience acting as the host/MC and they will be comfortable in front of 10 or 10,000 people. Amateur DJs will often be shy on the mic, or worse, talk too much on the microphone! Having great public speaking skills is very important for our team and we train each and every one of our DJs to handle the MC duties with ease and finesse!

3. Mixing a Variety of Music

   •  Have you ever been to a wedding where the DJ played inappropriate songs, dirty songs, or even just whole songs, back-to-back, like he/she just literally pressed “play” on a Spotify list? We’ve seen and heard this and we can tell you, it’s definitely not a sign of a professional DJ. Sometimes, a bride/groom, or client will hand us a playlist full of their favorite songs that they want to be played at their event. It may be a lot of great songs, but not songs that will get people dancing.

   • We will always carry out our client’s vision, but we will usually respectfully ask about adding other music, just in case no one is dancing. We know the hits that get people dancing. Some couples want only their music played, but when no one is dancing, they will tell us “forget the playlist, just get them dancing!” A professional DJ can easily do this. Amateur DJs will freeze up and maybe play line dances. Anyone can play a line dance or two, but what other 50 songs will they play to keep people dancing? Professionals will know.

4. The DJ Cares About Your Experience

   • This should be a no-brainer. This is also one of the most important differences between pro vs amateur DJs! Your DJ who you hire should truly care about your experience and fulfilling your wedding day vision. If your DJ simply shows up and plays your playlist and does not care if your guests are dancing, then he/she isn’t quite as professional as he/she should be. Many DJs will show up and play what they like to hear.

   • It’s not about what the DJ likes, ever. It’s about what our clients like, period. If you want us to play all 80s, all night, we’ll happily play the best 80s and keep your dancefloor packed! We know great music because we take the time to curate the perfect playlist for every event!

5. DJ Cost

   •  Price is certainly a very important factor for any wedding/event. However, we believe that professionalism and quality should be equally important. If you were sick and needed a surgeon, would you go online looking for the lowest price doctors/surgeons?

   • Would you ask if the surgeon can price match or offer you a discount? Likely not, because you want the best possible care, regardless of the cost. To us, your wedding day is exactly the same. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. Why would you chance it and hire the cheapest DJ possible?

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We search for the best but tend to bargain as well
As a human, we all tend to look for the best thing available but also get it at an affordable price. You will search for the best product, and when you finally find that product, you will bargain. Same is the case with wedding DJs. Many couples want a quality wedding DJ but at an affordable price. Many articles on the Internet claim to offer services at an affordable price. There is nothing wrong in getting service at a low price but the result is often disappointing. The couple usually spends their big day in stress rather than enjoying. The poor performance of a Wedding DJ ruins their day. So it is better to pay some extra bucks and get professional services.

It is your big day. You have to make it the best day of your life. It will be wise to pick someone that is a professional and knows how to handle an event smoothly. Professionals train for years to build their skills. So the result is, go after quality, not quantity.

How many Hours will DJ perform?
Many people are confused with the hour concept. When a wedding DJ has hours mentioned, people assume he will only work in that specific time. In reality, they work longer than that. It does not mean they will offer extra hours on the big day. It merely says the Wedding DJ spends a considerable amount of time in planning. Meetings, emails, gathering music based on your tastes, load in/ out, and travel. Instead of the few hours mentioned, a quality wedding DJ will be spending more time — around 25 hours in total. So, you can rest assure all your doubts and hire a professional wedding DJ. He will spend more time than mentioned in the contract.

Equipment used by the DJ
Getting to know about the equipment does not look like your concern. But the truth is, you need to know about it. The amount of money they spend on their equipment affects their performance. A Wedding DJ needs to purchase professional equipment, playback, music acquisition, lighting, and redundancy. If you research their price, it costs thousands of dollars. The price affects their services and overall wedding DJ prices.
Here is a comparison of investment done by a cheap DJ and an experienced one.

• The “Cheap DJ” Setup

• $750

• Inexpensive Laptop: $250

• Inexpensive Speakers: $300

• DJ Controller: $150

• Corded Microphone: $50

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• The Professional Investment

• $23,400

• Two Top End Laptops: $5000

• Quality Speakers: $6900

• Controller & Backup: $2000

• Wireless Mics and Transmitters: $6000

• Digital Mixers: $1500

• Cases, Cables, Etc. $2000

A newbie or occasional DJ does not focus on quality. He will provide pirated music and other services at a low price. He will have the necessary equipment to get through the day. Whereas, a professional DJ will put in the effort and money to provide high-quality services. He will make sure no issue occurs on your wedding day. The above table is general information. Some experienced DJs will bring additional equipment like expensive up lighting, rigging, and monitors. This is the difference between a professional and inexperienced wedding DJ.

Reliability issues
Reliability issues are one of the most significant problems while searching for your wedding DJ. Inexpensive DJs usually do this part-time which means the need to supplement their income with a fulltime job. Their real-life priorities fall under their day job which could affect your wedding if they are required to work the full-time job on your wedding day.

Focus on Value over anything else
Value is the most important factor while choosing a Wedding DJ. A DJ will not just play music; he will be responsible for the proper flow of your wedding and keep everything running smoothly. Able to read the crowd and play the right songs at the right time. You will have a meeting with the DJ before your wedding. You will need to give him all the details at that time. The DJ needs to know the guest’s name and also have a friendly relationship with the vendors and other workers. If something goes wrong, your DJ needs to come up with a plan B or C. In short; he needs to make your wedding day the best day of your life. This is the kind of value a professional DJ will bring into your wedding. Value is more important than anything else.

Conclusion
It all goes down to how much you are willing to spend on your wedding. Set up your budget and then research for the wedding DJ. A quality wedding DJ prices vary from $800 to $2000. If a wedding DJ is offering less than that it means he lacks a thing or two. Check the services of the Wedding DJ in detail. Make sure his personality syncs with yours. It will be best to book your wedding DJ for at least six months or more in advance.
Having a wedding DJ can make or break your wedding. He is in charge of the flow and making sure everyone has a great time. Your wedding day is the single most important day in your entire life, and you only get one chance to do it right. So choose wisely!