I am a DJ with over ** year's experience. I have worked the pubs and clubs, but nowadays only focus on private parties. I have done the New Year party at the same venue for many years – this is about the only pub type function. However, even this is an upmarket event, with entrance only for a limited number of people who have purchased tickets. This is at The Armoury in Shrewsbury. My main clientele are people having weddings and large parties. I have done Hunt Balls for several of the Shropshire Hunt Balls on many occasions. I have also done centenary celebrations for a cricket club.

I have enough equipment to entertain parties of as few as ** or as many as ****. The last hunt ball I did had *** guests in February ****.

The equipment includes:
Numark CD players
Sinclair mixers
Wireless microphone for speeches
Lead microphone
Laney amplification - total amplification *Kw
* Peevey speakers of Hx*
* Peevey Black Widow bass speakers **"
Computerised lighting (all ** volts, if all in use **** watts)
Laser lighting
UV lighting
Mist machines

Russell Sanders Royle

The most common question is:

"That price is a bit steep for playing records"
This is often the first reply when I quote. Well, I don't just turn up and play music. For example, if an evening event is due to start at *:**pm, this is the basic agenda:

*:**pm Check all equipment is working
*:**pm Load equipment into vehicle
*:**pm Shower and change
*:**pm Set-off to event
*:**pm Unload equipment
*:**pm Start setting up
*:**pm Sound and lights check
*:**pm Equalise the room
*:**pm Chat to organiser and venue management to confirm evening timetable.
*:**pm Event start.
**:**pm Event finish – or the time arranged with the client
**:**pm Take down equipment
**:**am Start loading vehicles
**:**am Say farewell to venue management and leave.
*:**am Arrive home put the kettle on!
*:**am Start unloading vehicles - quietly.
*:**am Lock up
*:**am Get to bed.

The client doesn't see, and sometimes fails to appreciate all the time involved. These twelve hours don't include the hours spent preparing for the night - drawing up a set-list, sourcing music, communicating with venue management and event organisers, organising transport, spare equipment and clothing. On top of all this are expenses such as petrol, wear and tear, CD's, equipment costs - a combined cost of about £**,***.
Good insurance is a must and that doesn't come cheap either.
When you consider all this - you realise that we DJ for the love of it and definitely not for the money.

The next most common question is:
"Why are you more expensive at Christmas, New Year and weddings?"
There are different reasons for these examples. Christmas and New Year fall into the supply and demand category - everyone wants a disco for their festive parties but there are not enough good DJ's. The result is basically an auction with the highest bidder winning - Christmas and New Year is the only time the DJ comes out on top financially.

Are we taking advantage? Of course! But remember, we are giving up our holiday and time with our families as well. Would you want to work in the night & at weekends?

Weddings are a completely different matter. The preparation for a wedding is intense - telephone calls to venue, bride, bridegroom, parents of the happy couple, etc. I will spend more time at the venue to ensure everything goes like clockwork on the day and liaising with best man.