Should DJs be Tipped?

Many DJs will tell you that they deserve a tip because they put in long hours, have to deal with drunk guests, and give 100% to ensure your big day is perfect.

Seriously!? That’s what you pay us quite a bit of money to do – that’s our job description and that’s the service you expect when you hire us. Doing our job does not mean you should automatically tip us. I’m a little bit old school – I think tips need to be earned by going above and beyond what is expected.

I look at it this way; if your DJ does exactly what you expected him or her to do, don’t tip. You got exactly what you paid for. If your DJ failed to meet the promises made to you or failed to meet your expectations, you certainly shouldn’t tip.

If your DJ kept the dance floor full all night, acted with nothing but impeccable professionalism, put the two of you at ease, ensured your big day flowed perfectly, and handled every little glitch without so much as batting an eye, that is something worth tipping.

Wait staff and delivery drivers depend on tips as part of their income. DJs do not. In fact, the tips I earn are used to take my family out for an entire family date night, whether that’s a nice restaurant or fun activity. You’ve chosen to reward me for my awesome performance and for going above and beyond the call of duty, so I choose to give my family a cool experience above and beyond what we normally do that is paid for with your tip.

There is also something you can do to show your appreciation that costs absolutely nothing; post a review on The Knot, Wedding Wire, Yelp, Google, or anywhere else your DJ is listed. It’s five star ratings that drive new business to us. Three minutes of your time could get us a dozen more clients down the road. Future clients want to know what past clients thought and a five star review shows them that we’re definitely worth our fee.