I completely understand the DIY mentality, and in some cases, you can have an amazing wedding by doing all of the hard work yourself. But... the opertive words here are "Hard work"... and don't forget to "do your homework".
Here's a statement by a long time trusted and respected national disc jockey, Randy Bartlett:
"$500 DJs have always existed and always will. There are $50 magicians and $500 magicians and $25,000 magicians. That will never change. Anything that people 'love to do' and think is fun will always have a low end. The goal was never to do away with low end DJs, but simply to raise awareness among them that the value of what they do is probably higher than what they thought".
After reading that statement, I had to follow with some of my own comments. The bridal wedding forums are filled with the DIY mentality... which in and by itself, isn't a bad thing. It keeps us (professional vendors) all on our toes, and cognizant of trends. One of the current trends is to have a low cost "iPod" wedding where the background music originates from an iPod device. While I don't want to debate the merits or lack thereof, I need to address the "professional" side of the debate.
That word, "professional" has everyone buzzing, especially other DJs. What I mean by the word professional, is a person who looks at their "field" or "profession" as one that will earn a living... paying the bills and continue an existence. A $500 DJ might very well be a professional in his/her own eyes, if the above conditions are met ( A DJ with no children, pets, small apartment, and very little expense).
Let's look at this scenario: Here we have a "20 something" individual, who just moved out from living with mom and dad, and is looking for something to do with their life... maybe a lucrative career. They've been to their college buddy's wedding and watched the DJ, and said to themselves "hey, I could do that, it looks like a lot of fun, and everyone loved it". Now, the question that pops into his/her head is... "what do I have to do, to start this career"?
The very next move, is the critical move... what direction is this person going to go with this mental decision? What follows, determines if this person is going to be a "professional" or a "low ball hack" wanting to make an easy buck (NOTE: The term "Hack" is subjective, and I think most know what I was trying to say [for lack of a better word]. It's like a "dirty joke"... you can't really define it, but you know it when you hear one). What makes the difference, is what he/she conveys to the customer at this moment... "the bride and groom" who are looking to hire a DJ for their wedding (this also applies to each wedding vendor occupation, by the way).
Here's what the "hack" does: He/she buys the cheapest gear they can find, steals some music from the Internet, buys a few business cards, and puts an ad in craigslist for $400 wedding entertainment. Then, sits back and waits for the phone to ring. When it does (and it will), this person quotes the $400 price, and claims to be the "Best DJ money can buy". They have maybe invested a few hundred dollars in this endeavor. They get hired, and ruin the wedding. They don't take any of the funds to upgrade their skills or equipment. The customer walks away from the experience, disappointed, pissed off, and tells their friends about the "cheesy DJ" who ruined their wedding. The "occupation" as a whole, takes a black eye, since we all got lumped into one painful group.
Here's what the "professional" does: He/she starts doing some research on "How - What - Why - Where - When". He/she sits down and studies... joins an Internet networking site with other DJs, and asks a lot of questions... and reads everything everyone has to say about the profession. Then, and only then, does he/she go out and purchase some equipment, and learns how to properly use it. He/she, accompanies a professional to a wedding(s), and watches, and take notes (all this for free, BTW).
He/she purchases an Internet site, and has it properly put together, so customers can find them (at considerable expense). He/she purchases insurance, and joins an association with National backing, networking and skills. He/she attends some training seminars, to learn the craft, and hone their skills. They find out what the current trends are and incorporates their way of thinking into those trends. They practice with their equipment prior to putting it to practical use with a customer... called "rehearsing". Then, they practice some more. They put in 8 to 10 hours a day, studying, and learning.
The next step is to hire an attorney to draft a contract. They purchase a legal music library (which can amount to thousands of dollars). NOTE here: You may not care if your DJ has legal music, but if he/she stole it, then you're stealing it too. Do you want a "thief" working for you? They purchase On-line "planning" and "timeline" programs for their customers (several hundred dollars). They may donate a show or two, to a friend or community event, so they can practice and polish their skills. They make sure their gear is top of the line, and carry "backup" gear in case of a failure. They purchase professional business cards/fliers/handouts/ newspaper ads/phone listings/wedding site ads... and on and on at several more thousands of dollars.
The next step is to write up a "plan" for their business... goals, and wishes. There is a strategy to becoming a professional DJ, that is often overlooked by the "hack". The professional learns how to treat a customer, and puts them ahead of their own wishes. The "plan" is to make the customer so happy, that they will recommend the DJ to their friends, who will then hire them. They continue to give 100%, and understand what hard work is. They actually charge a fee that represents all of the above, and they don't apologise for charging more than the "hack". They have probably taken out a sizable loan to get this off the ground (unless mom & dad are helping).
I have a saying that I really believe: "The fee a professional charges, is a testament as to their real feeling of what they are worth". If they are a true professional, they get what they're worth... or they go out of business. A professional understands that this is a once in a lifetime "fairytale" for most brides... "let's do it right the first time".
Here's another saying that I think puts it all in proper perspective: "The bitterness of poor quality, remains long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten". More couples should be aware of this... but unfortunately, are not.
