A $1500 DJ -- Are You Kidding??
There is no shortage of self-professed "high end" DJs who want to sell you a full package of $1500-$2000 worth of upgrades. Without question, some of them are just as good as we are. And if you're inviting more than 500 guests to your party, and you need a full stadium sound system, they're worth the extra expense. Otherwise, consider whether you really need all those add-ons. Here's the truth:
There’s No Such Thing as a $1500 DJ. There is only a $750 DJ with great big speakers, “intelligent lighting,” and gimmicks you don’t necessarily need.
Quality Doesn’t Increase with Volume. DJ companies love to boost their profits by selling expensive extras. And one of the most high-profit items is those 2000 or 3000-watt sub-woofer speakers.
The Pitch: “You and your guests can really feel the music with lots of pulse-pounding bass.”
The Truth: As DJ professionals who have worked in banquet halls with those big speakers in the next room, we can tell you that an awful lot of DJs simply can't resist the temptation to run them at top volume. Those big speakers will be the only thing in the building that anyone can hear.
The number-one complaint people make about a DJ is that his music was too loud. Your guests will want to talk to one another. But those giant thump-thumping speakers will make conversation impossible. Also, you can bet that your banquet facility will order the DJ to turn down the volume when the people in the next room complain; and all that money you spend on great big speakers will be wasted.
We speak from experience. When Fourth Estate Audio started entertaining at parties in 1965, we invested in those same big speakers. But we learned quickly that a monster sound system isn’t right for most parties. More than 98 percent of all parties with a DJ have between 50 and 500 guests. We made the decision to serve only that 98 percent. The $1500 DJ companies spend a fortune on speakers the size of Volkswagens, to try to compete for that other 2 percent. And why shouldn't they? A $2000-$3000 fee can be very seductive. But they pass along the expense of that high-end equipment to all of their clients, including you -- even if it isn't specifically outlined on their price lists.
”Intelligent Lighting” Isn’t an Intelligent Purchase. High-end DJ companies sell “intelligent lighting” as an expensive upgrade.
The Pitch: “The light show beats with the music, and enhances your music experience.”
The Truth: Most “intelligent light” shows look like cheesy slide shows, pointed at the dance floor. Here’s a case where old-fashioned DJ lighting fixtures do a much better job of flooding the room with moving light than any expensive “intelligent lighting” could ever hope to do.
Another dirty little secret: "intelligent lighting" and laser effects work best with fog. But fog machines can have a tendency to set off a room's fire alarm -- or worse, its sprinkler system; and that can darken the mood of your party in a real hurry.
Again, we have the benefit of more than four decades of experience. Fourth Estate Audio bought into the intelligent lighting myth when it first hit the market. But we learned quickly that party guests responded much better to old-school lighting effects like Vertigos, Aggressors, Maces and disco balls. So we stick with the classics.
Props and Gimmicks. Some DJ companies offer to bring optional costumes for songs like “YMCA.” Or they offer to dress up like Elvis, or the Blues Brothers, or any number of other characters.
The Pitch: “It really spices up the party.”
The Truth: It’s cheesy, and it makes your DJ the center of attention all night. Great for children's parties, but if you’re hosting a wedding reception, or a birthday party, or an anniversary party, the bride and groom or the guests of honor should be the most important people in the room. Your guests are coming to your party to see you, not your DJ. And a DJ who demands all of their attention, all night long, does so at your expense.
Our clients have told us that some DJ companies even offer to be your “slave” during cocktails, by giving you a personal beeper that lets you summon your DJ to bail you out of unwanted conversations. And of course, you pay extra for that beeper. But the reality is, the easiest way to end a conversation with someone who is monopolizing your time, is to simply tell them you have to meet the rest of your guests. And that doesn’t cost you a dime.
Two DJs: Twice the Expense, and Not Much Else. Some DJ companies send two DJs to the party instead of one.
The Pitch: “One DJ spins the music while the other engages the guests, teaches them the dances, and takes requests.”
The Truth: One DJ does all the work, while the other one focuses on being the center of attention all night. We told you about that earlier.
We send a single DJ to each party. We like to mingle quietly during the cocktails and dinner to gather requests from your guests. And we make a brief announcement at the start of dancing, encouraging the guests to bring up additional requests. And we do it without being loud, or drawing attention to ourselves. The truth is, if your DJ does a great job, your guests won’t remember him. All they’ll remember was that they had a great time. If your DJ does a bad job, and tries to hog the spotlight all night, he’ll be the only thing your guests remember. And it won’t be a happy memory, for them or for you.
We Know What Works. We have more than four decades of experience in keeping dance floors filled with happy dancers, whether they’re senior citizens or college students. That’s what you really want, isn’t it? Not a DJ with ear-splitting music and cheesy props. We know what music is popular right now. And your DJ from Fourth Estate Audio will play the music that best fits your party, not his own personal favorites. It’s your party, not his.
Want proof? Just call some of our recent clients. Their names and phone numbers are posted right on our web site. Just click the "Why Choose Us" tab above, then "Our References." Or click "Our Reviews" at the top of the page, to see what clients say about us on sites like WeddingWire and Yelp.
We won't insult your intelligence by posting our own “testimonials” from people who may or may not exist. We are confident and proud to have our clients share their experiences with our prospective clients. It’s the only true way to get an honest assessment of our work.
Plus, we're one of only a handful of Chicago DJ companies to earn the Better Business Bureau's perfect A+ customer satisfaction rating. No client has ever complained to the BBB about our performance in the entire history of Fourth Estate Audio. We’re very proud of that.
Why not give us a try? You’ll be glad you did. And you’ll have hundreds of dollars left over, to spend on yourself.
And, in fairness to our more expensive colleagues, if you absolutely insist upon spending at least $1500 on your DJ, we would begrudgingly agree to accept the higher fee. ;-)
Quality Doesn’t Increase with Volume. DJ companies love to boost their profits by selling expensive extras. And one of the most high-profit items is those 2000 or 3000-watt sub-woofer speakers.
The Pitch: “You and your guests can really feel the music with lots of pulse-pounding bass.”
The Truth: As DJ professionals who have worked in banquet halls with those big speakers in the next room, we can tell you that an awful lot of DJs simply can't resist the temptation to run them at top volume. Those big speakers will be the only thing in the building that anyone can hear.
The number-one complaint people make about a DJ is that his music was too loud. Your guests will want to talk to one another. But those giant thump-thumping speakers will make conversation impossible. Also, you can bet that your banquet facility will order the DJ to turn down the volume when the people in the next room complain; and all that money you spend on great big speakers will be wasted.
We speak from experience. When Fourth Estate Audio started entertaining at parties in 1965, we invested in those same big speakers. But we learned quickly that a monster sound system isn’t right for most parties. More than 98 percent of all parties with a DJ have between 50 and 500 guests. We made the decision to serve only that 98 percent. The $1500 DJ companies spend a fortune on speakers the size of Volkswagens, to try to compete for that other 2 percent. And why shouldn't they? A $2000-$3000 fee can be very seductive. But they pass along the expense of that high-end equipment to all of their clients, including you -- even if it isn't specifically outlined on their price lists.
”Intelligent Lighting” Isn’t an Intelligent Purchase. High-end DJ companies sell “intelligent lighting” as an expensive upgrade.
The Pitch: “The light show beats with the music, and enhances your music experience.”
The Truth: Most “intelligent light” shows look like cheesy slide shows, pointed at the dance floor. Here’s a case where old-fashioned DJ lighting fixtures do a much better job of flooding the room with moving light than any expensive “intelligent lighting” could ever hope to do.
Another dirty little secret: "intelligent lighting" and laser effects work best with fog. But fog machines can have a tendency to set off a room's fire alarm -- or worse, its sprinkler system; and that can darken the mood of your party in a real hurry.
Again, we have the benefit of more than four decades of experience. Fourth Estate Audio bought into the intelligent lighting myth when it first hit the market. But we learned quickly that party guests responded much better to old-school lighting effects like Vertigos, Aggressors, Maces and disco balls. So we stick with the classics.
Props and Gimmicks. Some DJ companies offer to bring optional costumes for songs like “YMCA.” Or they offer to dress up like Elvis, or the Blues Brothers, or any number of other characters.
The Pitch: “It really spices up the party.”
The Truth: It’s cheesy, and it makes your DJ the center of attention all night. Great for children's parties, but if you’re hosting a wedding reception, or a birthday party, or an anniversary party, the bride and groom or the guests of honor should be the most important people in the room. Your guests are coming to your party to see you, not your DJ. And a DJ who demands all of their attention, all night long, does so at your expense.
Our clients have told us that some DJ companies even offer to be your “slave” during cocktails, by giving you a personal beeper that lets you summon your DJ to bail you out of unwanted conversations. And of course, you pay extra for that beeper. But the reality is, the easiest way to end a conversation with someone who is monopolizing your time, is to simply tell them you have to meet the rest of your guests. And that doesn’t cost you a dime.
Two DJs: Twice the Expense, and Not Much Else. Some DJ companies send two DJs to the party instead of one.
The Pitch: “One DJ spins the music while the other engages the guests, teaches them the dances, and takes requests.”
The Truth: One DJ does all the work, while the other one focuses on being the center of attention all night. We told you about that earlier.
We send a single DJ to each party. We like to mingle quietly during the cocktails and dinner to gather requests from your guests. And we make a brief announcement at the start of dancing, encouraging the guests to bring up additional requests. And we do it without being loud, or drawing attention to ourselves. The truth is, if your DJ does a great job, your guests won’t remember him. All they’ll remember was that they had a great time. If your DJ does a bad job, and tries to hog the spotlight all night, he’ll be the only thing your guests remember. And it won’t be a happy memory, for them or for you.
We Know What Works. We have more than four decades of experience in keeping dance floors filled with happy dancers, whether they’re senior citizens or college students. That’s what you really want, isn’t it? Not a DJ with ear-splitting music and cheesy props. We know what music is popular right now. And your DJ from Fourth Estate Audio will play the music that best fits your party, not his own personal favorites. It’s your party, not his.
Want proof? Just call some of our recent clients. Their names and phone numbers are posted right on our web site. Just click the "Why Choose Us" tab above, then "Our References." Or click "Our Reviews" at the top of the page, to see what clients say about us on sites like WeddingWire and Yelp.
We won't insult your intelligence by posting our own “testimonials” from people who may or may not exist. We are confident and proud to have our clients share their experiences with our prospective clients. It’s the only true way to get an honest assessment of our work.
Plus, we're one of only a handful of Chicago DJ companies to earn the Better Business Bureau's perfect A+ customer satisfaction rating. No client has ever complained to the BBB about our performance in the entire history of Fourth Estate Audio. We’re very proud of that.
Why not give us a try? You’ll be glad you did. And you’ll have hundreds of dollars left over, to spend on yourself.
And, in fairness to our more expensive colleagues, if you absolutely insist upon spending at least $1500 on your DJ, we would begrudgingly agree to accept the higher fee. ;-)
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