What To Tip Your Wedding DJ in 2023
In the late 2000s, a certain prominent wedding website posted a blog about what to tip your wedding DJ. At the time, they suggested 10%-15%, or $100. Unfortunately, this particular article did the rounds and other websites copied it. Thanks to Google doing its thing, this idea of a flat $100 tip to the DJ is still often thought of as the common number. After all, weddings are often the first and only time people book a DJ for a private event and all the gratuity on your wedding day can be overwhelming. Back in the 2000s, you may have been booking a DJ that was $1,000, so 10% wasn’t bad.
$100 IS NOT THE RATE IN 2023 (or 2022 as I write this).
10%-20% of the total cost of the DJ package IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT.
In no other sector of the service industry is a flat rate tip standard, so you SHOULD NOT tip your DJ a flat rate. Of course there are some exceptions, but that flat rate is usually much higher than this percentage range.
You should tip your DJ how you would a server, bartender, or anyone else: 10% to 20% of the total cost. Say your total package is $2,500, then a tip of $250 - $500 would be correct!
Of course, tipping should be at your discretion. If the service was top notch, tip on the higher end. If the service was lackluster, the 10% range may be more appropriate. If something goes horribly wrong and it’s definitely the DJs fault… well, I’m sure there would be no surprises when there isn’t a tip. If the dance floor wasn’t packed, but the DJ did his job and played the music you requested, a tip is still expected. That is more of a reflection of the party goers than the DJ.
Corporate and Private events should also take note! These types of events often overlook tipping the DJ despite tipping the other service staff. It goes a long way to make the DJ feel appreciated.
I, the guy writing this, make my entire income from DJing. I also book weddings for GenNOW. Our pricing is already surprisingly trim. We pay our DJs FAR MORE than budget wedding DJ companies, because we value our talent as paramount to what we do. I always remind clients to tip the DJ, but nothing feels more like a punch to the gut than when a DJ I booked doesn’t get tipped and should have. Last Friday I worked at a wedding + ceremony as DJ and MC. Sure, the client only sees me “working” for the 8 hours of the event, but I clocked 17 hours out the door of my house and back day of plus several meetings with the clients, venue, and planner. Music prep alone can be several hours if your DJ is a true professional. You may not see it, but there is tons of work behind your big day. All the more to consider when tipping.
