Palm Springs DJ Prices (2023)
Researching Palm Springs DJ prices? Here is everything you need to know! In a nutshell, the demand for DJing in Palm Springs is higher than the number of DJs in Palm Springs. This is due to the fact that so many destination weddings, conferences, music and film festivals, tennis and golf tournaments, and other events happen in Palm Springs. For example, I get an average of 4 leads per day from Bark.com—that is just one of a half dozen regular lead sources I have.
Additionally, the pool party market is so competitive here in Palm Springs that any decent resort or hotel pool is expected to have a live DJ on the weekends. Outside of Palm Springs, say in Santa Monica or Newport Beach, it would be rare to find a live DJ at a hotel pool. Add in the fact that there are over half a dozen casinos in this tiny area (another place keeping local DJs busy), and you can see why Palm Springs DJs are not offering discounts. During high season (October-May), DJs in Palm Springs have a seller’s market. Remember that Palm Springs really is a “small town” (the population is about 45,000 people), but it is hosting the same number of events as somewhere like San Diego or Orange County.
One final thing to take into account is that the local market is pretty upscale (I once DJed a VIP pool party with less than 10 guests…yawn, just another day). Palm Springs is full of well-off retirees who enjoy their second homes here. The average household income in Palm Springs is higher than the average Riverside county household. Twelve percent of Palm Springs households earn over $100,000/year. Because even “low-key” local events tend to be boujee, this effects how local DJs set our prices.
Source: Bark.com
These DJs, well, the good ones, are actually counting bars of music, analyzing music structure, commanding…technology, analyzing beats per minute and more to exceed listeners expectations and sometimes create spectacle, simultaneously. It is extremely challenging…Bring this all together, and it’s an intoxicating mix that is creating a dynamic impact on our culture…The DJ is not only driving a new level of experience…but, because of their tight-knit and extremely influential community, are definitely tastemakers at a level that can be deeply potent.”
-The New Consumer Gatekeepers: Inside the Hidden Power Of The DJ Industry 2.0 | Forbes
Palm Springs DJ Prices
Estimated Palm Springs DJ Costs
Based on research from multiple sources (see below), taking into account the elevated cost of living in Palm Springs (goods and services cost 13% more than the national average in Palm Springs, according to RentCafe.com), and looking at factors like the DJ’s experience level, here are the most accurate estimates for Palm Springs DJ prices:
AVERAGE PALM SPRINGS DJ HOURLY RATE
*Based on data from The Bash saying the average event DJ on their site charges $115/hour, adjusting for Palm Springs’ elevated cost of living (+$13%) according the Rent Cafe.
HIGH-END PALM SPRINGS DJ HOURLY RATE
*Based on Bark’s data that a highly-experienced DJ charges 50% more than a beginner and Wedding Wire’s data showing an upper-range DJ charges 33% more, I added 41.5% (the average of the two numbers) to the amount listed above.
AVERAGE PALM SPRINGS DJ TOTAL COST
*Based on The Bash’s data that the average non-wedding DJ party runs 4.5 hours. Accounting for the “behind-the-scenes” work mentioned by the ADJA, with a conservative estimate of 7 hours prep time (set-up, tear-down, travel, planning call or meeting, emails, preparing the contract, timeline, certificate of insurance, playlist, downloading and cuing up new songs) + the 4.5 hours of performance time, this figure is actually only $50/hour. You can also think of the cost per guest. For example, you might pay $40/guest for catering. If you have 100 guests, your total cost for entertainment, announcements, and basic dance floor lighting is $5.85/guest.
HIGH-END PALM SPRINGS DJ TOTAL COST
*Based on The Bash’s data that the average non-wedding DJ party runs 4.5 hours then adding 41.5% based off data from Wedding Wire & Bark. Accounting for the “behind-the-scenes” work mentioned by the ADJA, with a conservative estimate of 7 hours prep time (set-up, tear-down, travel, planning call or meeting, emails, preparing the contract, timeline, certificate of insurance, playlist, downloading and cuing up new songs) + the 4.5 hours of performance time, this figure is actually only $72/hour. You can also think of the cost per guest. For example, you might pay $40/guest for catering. If you have 100 guests, your total cost for entertainment, announcements, and basic dance floor lighting is $8.30/guest.
AVERAGE PALM SPRINGS WEDDING DJ COST
*Based on data from AverageCostOfWedding.com. Accounting for the “behind-the-scenes” work mentioned by the ADJA, with a conservative estimate of 15 hours prep time (set-up, tear-down, travel, planning call or meeting, emails, preparing the contract, timeline, certificate of insurance, playlist, downloading and cuing up new songs) + the 5 hours of performance time, this figure is actually only $100/hour. You can also think of the cost per guest. For example, you might pay $50/guest for catering. If you have 100 guests, your total cost for entertainment, announcements, and basic dance floor lighting is $20/guest.
HIGH-END PALM SPRINGS WEDDING DJ COST
*Based on data from AverageCostOfWedding.com then adding 41.5% based off data from Wedding Wire & Bark. Accounting for the “behind-the-scenes” work mentioned by the ADJA, with a conservative estimate of 15 hours prep time (set-up, tear-down, travel, planning call or meeting, emails, preparing the contract, timeline, certificate of insurance, playlist, downloading and cuing up new songs) + the 5 hours of performance time, this figure is actually only $140/hour. You can also think of the cost per guest. For example, you might pay $50/guest for catering. If you have 100 guests, your total cost for entertainment, announcements, and basic dance floor lighting is $28/guest.
Source: Thumbtack
Palm Springs DJ Prices
AVERAGE PALM SPRINGS EVENT DJ COST
According to the DJ listing site CueUp.io, “The average price for a DJ in Palm Springs, CA is around $100 per hour.” There is no information on where this figure comes from, no source cited, no research presented. In my experience, I can say that this figure is really low, even for a club or bar where the DJ does not have to bring their own equipment (DJs charge less when we don’t need to bring our own speakers, cables, controller, sound mixer, lights, table, etc).
According to Thumbtack, a site that allows shoppers to get custom proposals from service providers, the average DJ cost (no event type specified) is $300-$1,200 in Palm Springs and $300-$800 in Palm Desert. These figures combine average wedding DJ with non-wedding DJ prices…this makes a private party look more price-y and a wedding look cheaper than it actually is. For that reason, I’m not going to use these numbers. Let’s compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
Bark.com, a listing/bidding site similar to The Bash and Thumbtack, reported in 2021 that their average corporate event DJ price was $300, birthday party was $265, and wedding was $400+. The very first wedding I ever DJed 15 years ago had a price tag bigger than $400…so I’m not sure where this number comes from, but it is not even close to accurate.
DJ listing site The Bash (owned by Wedding Wire/The Knot) reports that, for DJs booked on their site, the national average is $115/hour. The average DJ gig booked via The Bash is 4.5 hours. This means the “average” DJ price is $520 per event across the US. These figures seem most accurate to me, so these are the ones I will use.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER
Source: Bark.com
The American DJ Association explains, “A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event, but it may appear that you are only paying for ‘4 hours.’ Consultations, music purchasing/editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education, and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.”
Bark.com brings up some important data not really addressed by the other statistics: the DJ’s experience level. According to a survey of their users, Bark reports that:
Source: Thumbtack
What can you expect from an average DJ vs. a higher-end DJ in Palm Springs? An “average DJ” is probably performing in casual clothes, using a folding table to put their gear on, and using a small DJ controller in a black “flight case” box with a few visible cords. They have snapshots instead of professional photos. According to data from Thumbtack (above), average DJs only respond to 10% of their lead inquiries.
Average DJ set-up/presentation
A high-end DJ in Palm Springs is going to be performing in professional clothes (or dressed for the event theme), using something nicer than a folding table to put their gear on (such as a facade or pedestal-style booth), and you won’t see any sort of black box or dangling cables. High-end DJs tend to play on larger controllers, CDJs, or turntables. They have professional photos instead of snapshots. According to data from Thumbtack, top pro DJs respond to 100% of their leads (and respond faster).
Examples of high-end DJ’s set-up/presentation
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS CORPORATE EVENT DJ COST
The price for an average corporate event DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $730 (office party, grand opening event, class reunion). For a top-knotch Palm Springs corporate DJ like myself, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $1,030. Large corporate events like conferences and trade shows or high-profile events like festival VIP parties or movie premieres will be more expensive. I do offer multiple packages though to accommodate various budget levels.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: CORPORATE EVENTS
*According to The Bash, the average corporate event DJ (3.75 hours) costs $645 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $730 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $1,030.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS PRIVATE PARTY DJ COST
The price for an average private party DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $412. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $585 for a private party.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: PRIVATE PARTY
*According to The Bash, the average private party DJ (3.5 hours) costs $365 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $412 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $585.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS QUINCEAÑERA DJ COST
The price for an average quinceañera DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $565. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $800 for a quinceañera. Because quinceañeras can be as much work as a wedding (numerous formalities, strict playlist with “must-plays” and “do not plays,” announcements often made in two languages, very specific timing with no room for error), it is not uncommon to pay wedding DJ prices for a high-end quinceañera.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: QUINCEAÑERA
*According to The Bash, the average quinceañera DJ (5 hours) costs $500 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $565 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $800.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS ADULT BIRTHDAY DJ COST
The price for an average adult birthday party DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $470. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $665 for an adult birthday.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: ADULT BIRTHDAY PARTY
*According to The Bash, the average adult birthday DJ (4 hours) costs $415 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $470 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $665.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS KID'S BIRTHDAY DJ COST
The price for an average child’s birthday party DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $565. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $400 for a kid’s birthday.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
*According to The Bash, the average child’s birthday DJ (3 hours) costs $250 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $285 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $400. Very few upscale DJs will perform at kids’ birthday parties though.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS SWEET 16 DJ COST
The price for an average sweet 16 DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $450. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $640 for a Sweet 16.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: SWEET 16
*According to The Bash, the average Sweet 16 DJ (no hours specified) costs $400 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $450 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $640. If this event is a late quinceañera disguised as a Sweet 16, don’t expect to pay this price.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS ANNIVERSARY PARTY DJ COST
The price for an average anniversary party DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $395. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $560 for an anniversary party.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: ANNIVERSARY PARTY
*According to The Bash, the average anniversary party DJ (3.75 hours) costs $350 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $395 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $560.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS MITZVAH DJ COST
The price for an average bar/bat mitzvah DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $475. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $670 for a mitzvah.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: MITZVAH
*According to The Bash, the average anniversary party DJ (no hours specified) costs $420 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $475 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $670.
Palm Springs DJ Prices
PALM SPRINGS PROM DJ COST
The price for an average prom DJ in Palm Springs, California is about $475. For a top-knotch professional, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, California, is about $670 for a school dance like prom or homecoming. Like quinceañeras, proms share a lot in common with weddings—big, once-in-a-lifetime, high-profile, formal events expecting excellence from the DJ.
Most schools shop for the lowest priced prom DJ who will do a decent job. A new trend in prom production started a few years ago though. Companies like My Boom Tour and Kings of Prom bring in national DJs who spin in night clubs and on the radio, rock concert level lighting, a hype person, foam glow sticks, a CO2 gun, confetti blasters, etc and turn prom into a festival rager. More students will buy tickets to prom the festival than prom the school dance…and they will pay upwards of $100 per ticket. This means kids get better prom memories, and the school makes more money from ticket sales.
EXPERT PALM SPRINGS DJ COST: MITZVAH
*According to The Bash, the average prom DJ (no hours specified) costs $400 nation-wide. Adjusted for Palm Springs prices (+13%), that figure would be $450 for a typical weekend hobbyist DJ with a few years of experience. For a full-time professional DJ with over 10 years of experience in Palm Springs, that adjusted number is $640.
Source: Wedding Planner’s Institute of Canada
Palm Springs DJ Prices
Average Palm Springs Wedding DJ Cost
National average wedding DJ price. Source: Wedding Wire
Inland Empire average wedding DJ price. Source: Wedding Wire
Orange County average wedding DJ price. Source: Wedding Wire
Every year, The Knot and Wedding Wire survey thousands of newlyweds and ask them how much money they spent on various aspects of their weddings. The latest data from Wedding Wire shows that the national average wedding DJ price is $780-$1,495. In the area surrounding Palm Springs (the lower income Riverside and San Bernardino counties), the average was $800-$1,350. In Orange County, which is more comparable to Palm Springs, the average was $900-$1,675.
In February 2023, The Knot, which draws a higher budget couple than Wedding Wire year after year, reported, “While the average wedding DJ cost does vary, the average amount couples spent in this category last year was $1,500.”
A website called AverageCostOfWedding.com reports that the average Palm Springs DJ price (with lighting) is $1,793-$2,191. Considering that this site compiles data from a variety of sources (unlike The Knot surveying only The Knot users and Thumbtack surveying only Thumbtack users), it appears to be the most accurate. Based on my experience in this market, I agree that this price range is the most realistic.
Source: AverageCostOfWedding.com
Palm Springs DJ Prices
FAQ
The standard process for booking a DJ in Palm Springs is to sign a contract outlining the DJ’s start and end times, the price, what is included for the price, payment terms, and so on. For larger events in which the production company has the DJ sign their contract, the DJ may include a rider. A rider is an addendum to the contract in which the DJ specifies what they need equipment-wise (for example, a DJ sponsored by Pioneer will need the production company to arrange for them to perform on gear made by Pioneer) and to be comfortable (in my case, only vegetarian food).
It is also standard for the DJ to charge a deposit, which may or may not be refundable. The deposit may be up to 50% of the total fee amount. Do not expect to roll out a company check to the DJ a month after their performance. A DJ expects to be paid the final balance at or before your gig.
DJ insurance only comes into play if your event venue requires that the DJ provide what is called a “certificate of insurance” (COI). Fancier venues often require this to help limit their own liability. Unlike driving a car, client’s won’t ask for a DJ to show “proof of insurance.” What you will ask for is that the DJ create a COI to the venue’s specifications and then pass it along to the venue. DJ insurance is set up so we can log into our insurer’s websites, fill in the venue and event data, and automatically generate a COI. By law, your DJ does not need to be insured—it is just something required at certain venues.
Events on Saturday evenings in high season (October-April) cost the most—this is DJ prime time. You need to understand how “opportunity cost” works to understand Palm Springs DJ prices. This economical principle states that if the opportunity to be working somewhere else at the same time is high (i.e. Saturday night), then the DJ is going to charge a premium. During the morning, on a weekday, or in the oppressive heat of August, you can expect to pay less for a DJ because there is very little demand for live music at those times.
To get an affordable Palm Springs DJ, forget about haggling (unless you want to be ghosted). Instead plan your pool party for a Friday night instead of a Saturday night. Host your fundraiser during Sunday brunch instead of Saturday dinner. Plan your school dance for a Thursday. If you are planning to be in Palm Springs for a week for your destination wedding, and everyone in your crew will be off work with you for the week, get married on the Wednesday of that week. What you save could help you add a photo booth to the budget.
Sometimes people in the early planning stages of booking a DJ get frustrated that Palm Springs DJs can’t just tell them how much it’ll cost. I know for me personally, in order to quote an accurate price, I need to know:
- the start time and end time for my performance
- the number of guests (I need to know how many speakers are needed and the over-all scale of the event)
- will I be making announcements (If I’m expected to announce 20 different award winners while playing their walk-up music cued to the chorus of each song, that’s a lot more work than if all I need to do is thank a single sponsor at the end of my set)
- will you need a wireless mic (Fifteen years ago, running a cordless mic was easy, but, unfortunately, today cell phones use up all the clear UHF frequencies and mic interference is practically unavoidable. Having a room full of people glare at you when a mic hiccups—something DJs have no control over—is not why I got into this profession. More stress, more pay.)
- will you need lighting (Most DJs include basic dance floor lighting for free, but uplights, moving heads, spotlights, and so on will increase the cost.)
- what kind of music (If you need specialized music, my time investment increases dramatically. For example, when I DJed at the Lamborghini west coast launch of their first ever SUV, they wanted house remixes of rat pack standards. Well, I can’t get those from a DJ record pool..I had to track each song down one by one from Amazon or YouTube. Then, because these tracks are not DJ edits, I had to make my own re-drums of a lot of them. This adds DAYS of work for just a few hours of music. I also ask about the music because I don’t want to be at an all trap music party, and I don’t know R&B music, for example, well enough to DJ hours of it.)
- the nature of the event (A corporate retreat for managers at Coca Cola is going to cost more than a holiday party for my local dentist’s office).
Vet the DJ thoroughly. Read reviews. Trustworthy DJs will have profiles on DJ booking sites like Wedding Wire and The Bash, they will have professional-grade websites, and they will have social media accounts for their business. Ask if the DJ has won any awards like “The Knot Best of Weddings” or voted “Best DJ” by the local newspaper. DJs who have mixes posted on Mixcloud or Soundcloud inspire more confidence. DJs with videos of them performing live inspire more confidence. DJs with a lot of high-quality photos from past events over DJs with a few snapshots of driveway parties.
Forget about printing out that list of Brides.com questions for your DJ right before the Zoom call. These questions are generally written by bloggers with little to no expertise in the field of DJing. You’ll want to ask your DJ:
- what kind of music do you know well? (It doesn’t really matter what music I like or have…what music I know is more important.)
- how long have you been DJing events professionally?
- where do you get your music from? (The only acceptable answer for a professional-grade DJ is “From record pools like DMS, BPM Supreme, or Beat Source.” If they mention iTunes, run!)
- what is the process if I request a song you don’t have during my event? (Quality DJs will bring their own wifi hotspots and download requests on the spot.)
- what is your pre-event planning process? (Avoid wedding DJs that leave planning until 2 weeks before the big day or say things like “Just send me a playlist.”)
- what is your mixing style? (Will they incorporate fun wordplay transitions or other creative twists…or is it going to be the same gentle fade between song A and song B all night?)
- what is your MCing style? (If you want a DJ hyping the dance floor all night, their answer should be “High energy.” If you want a DJ who only turns the mic on if the building catches on fire, their answer should be, “I let the music speak for itself.”)
Palm Springs DJ Prices
IN SUMMARY
For a careful researcher like yourself, the average DJ price in Palm Springs, CA, is $185/hour for a straight-forward event (like dinner and dancing with a few light housekeeping announcements, 100ish guests, and basic lighting). If you are looking for a Palm Springs corporate DJ or a Palm Springs female DJ, feel free to check my availability instantly. I hope all this pricing research is helpful for you! Ask any questions you may have in the comment section below—don’t be shy.
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