A $1500 DJ: Are You Kidding??
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 need. Here’s the truth:
Quality Doesn’t Increase with Volume. DJ companies love to sell you needless “upgrades” for hundreds of extra dollars. And the biggest waste of money is those 2000 or 3000-watt sub-woofer speakers.
The Lie: “You and your guests can really feel the music with lots of pulse-pounding bass.”
The Truth: Those big speakers will be the only thing in the building that anyone can hear. The number-one complaint people make about a bad DJ is that his music was too loud. Your guests will want to talk to one another. But those giant ear-splitting 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 full stadium 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. But they pass along the expense to all of their clients, including you.
”Intelligent Lighting” Isn’t an Intelligent Purchase. High-end DJ companies sell “intelligent lighting” as an expensive upgrade.
The Lie: “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.
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 Lie: “It really spices up the party.”
The Truth: It’s cheesy, and it makes your DJ the center of attention all night. 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.
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 Lie: “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. Plus, if you’re providing your DJ with a dinner, you have to buy two dinners instead of one.
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 here. We won’t insult your intelligence by posting “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 have earned the Better Business Bureau's prestigious A+ customer satisfaction rating (see here). 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. Sound good? Then just follow the link below to your DJ. We’re here to help you. Thank you.