Of course, I'll have to start off here by stating the obvious, and letting you know right up front that being a professional Wedding DJ/MC, I may be a little biased here, but I can assure you, I will do my very best to be  objective. 

     Quite Honestly, there are both DJ's and Bands that have something unique to offer their clients. With that being said, regardless of which you choose, in most cases you'll have to weed through a lot of the bad in order find the right DJ/Band for you. By bad, I mean if after seeing them at your wedding, you feel you would have been better off had they not shown up, that's a pretty good indication that you may have made a poor choice!

Let's get started....

Why not start off with the question that you're all asking yourselves? How much is this going to cost me? 

     With either a Band or a DJ, there are going to be a wide range of talent, ability & skill levels, and experience available for you to choose from. Everything that I mentioned will also directly affect the overall cost to you as well.  In simple terms, one of the phrases that you'll hear time and time again throughout your lifetime will be "You Get What You Pay For". 

    As you begin your search,  you'll be able to find bands that will range anywhere from $500.00 to $5000.00 to have perform for your wedding or event. On that same token, you'll also be able to find DJ's that will range anywhere from as low as $500.00 up to $2500.00 and sometimes more, depending on what you are needing for the day. 

     Is the most expensive Band or DJ always going to be the best for you? Not at all! It's the same way when you're buying a house, a car, or anything for that matter. You will typically start looking for that perfect marriage of the overall cost, along with what you get for your money, right? While they may be great, the $5000.00 band may not be what you are looking for out of a band in terms of style, and overall energy, while the $2500.00 DJ may be the exact opposite of what you are looking for in a DJ, both in personality, style of entertainment, etc. However, a polished, experienced, and professional DJ will be able to adapt his style of entertainment to you and your guests. That type of flexibility is generally not something that you'll find with a band. 
     This is where doing your research beforehand comes into play. A word of advise: Ask for references!  In my opinion, some of the best places to get references on a service provider are going to come from other service providers. They will generally give you an honest opinion of what they have seen, and many of them will be involved in weddings or events every weekend. They have a lot of experience to draw from, and I would encourage you to use that to your advantage. 

The bottom line here in terms of cost comes down to this: In most cases, the DJ or Band is most likely going to factor their rate of services based on the amount of value that they deliver to you and your guests. There are many Bands or DJ's who will try to convince you that they charge abnormally low rates, simply because they love what they do so much that they would do it for free if they could. 

     Let's be honest though, no matter how much you love your job, are you going to go up to your boss tomorrow and tell him that you love working there so much that you are willing to work for half of the amount that they pay you?   

I didn't think so, and neither would I. 

    So much of this question comes down to YOUR personal preference. Which do you think fits your event better? Here are a few things to consider when making your selection:

Hosting/Master of Ceremonies: -  Typically a band is there to do one thing: Play music for your guests, right? While there are a TON of DJ's who are there to do just that (and only that), with a little research, you'll be able to find a select few that will sit down with you, help you map out your entire Wedding Celebration, and work closely with your other service providers in order to ensure that your celebration runs smoothly, and that everyone is working together behind the scenes. This is something that quite frankly, you will not get with a band.  
      If you've chosen a professional DJ, this is one area where there will be absolutely no comparison between the two. With that being said, if you've chosen an unqualified DJ, this is an area where you'll quickly begin to regret that decision! Advantage: DJ


Energy: - This is one area where if you've hired a great band, the level of energy that live music can bring to a room is nearly impossible for a DJ to match. If you've ever been to a concert, or even out to a local bar or club where a band is playing, it really changes the dynamic of the room over music that is played through a PA system. Advantage: Band

Fluidity - The Ability to Adapt to Change: - This is an area that most often times, a good DJ will be able to adjust his performance to the mood and feel of the room. Remember, he/she will most likely have just about any era/genre of music to choose from, and can literally have something there for everyone, and is not limited to just the type of music that he or she is able to sing! If you know you're going to have a wide range of ages and musical tastes at your event, I'd have to give the edge here to the DJ. Advantage: DJ

Consistency: - We all know that most if not all Bands (whether they are good or bad) are going to take breaks, after all, they are working hard up there and deserve them, right! The fact though, is how does the dynamic of the room change during that break time? Many will play music through an Ipod during those times, but it is during these times when your guests will generally start looking at their watches, and making the determination of whether or not it's a good time to slip out and head home for the evening. You'll know whether or not your guests agree with your choice of bands during that first break. If you see a max exodus of guests, there is your verdict! On the flip side of that, if you've chosen a bad (or unqualified) DJ, although there won't be any breaks, your guests won't care, they'll leave as soon as they realize what they are in for within the first hour. Advantage: DJ **

** - I give the edge here to the DJ (providing that you've chosen a professional).  Even if you've chosen a phenomenal band, they are going to take breaks. During those breaks, a lot of times, your guests will use that period to get a drink, strike up a conversation, visit the restroom, etc. Honestly, you may not lose many (if any) of your guests in this scenario. But in comparing a great DJ to a great Band, the DJ has the advantage in this category, hands down. 

     Overall, your choice in entertainment will play a major role in whether or not you are having a great time with your guests from the beginning of your event until the end. If you haven't chosen wisely, it could mean  ending your reception an hour or more early, while looking around saying: "Where did everybody go"?  Just like you do with any major decision that you make when you are purchasing something, spend as much time as needed to do your research in order to make the right decision.

     These are just a few things that I've listed here to help you make your decision. There are so many factors that will play into how to make the right decision for you. For more information on this, or any questions in general regarding your wedding entertainment, please feel free to visit my website.  You can also reach me by e-mail, or on Facebook or Twitter. 

Until next time!