Reception/Event Rates
My Reception/Event Rates are straightforward and the information below will allow you to easily estimate your total investment for my services without having to call, e-mail, or fill-out a form. I'm happy to provide an exact total price quote once I have complete information on your event and we can determine the specific services you require.
I've always found the vast majority of receptions/events range in the 3 to 4 hour time-frame, so I price accordingly. For receptions/events exceeding 4 hours, I have a flat per-hour rate for additional time (which can be broken into half-hour increments).
| Date | 3 Hours | 4 Hours | Add'l Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midweek/Off-Season | $750.00 | $900.00 | $180.00/hr |
| Standard Saturday/Holiday | $850.00 | $1,000.00 | $200.00/hr |
| "Prime" Saturday/Holiday | $935.00 | $1,100.00 | $220.00/hr |
Rates are current as of January 1, 2024 and are subject to change without notice. Page updated April 14, 2024.
Midweek/Off-Season Rates: Apply Mondays-through-Fridays AND Sundays year-round, PLUS SATURDAYS & HOLIDAYS January 1st through March 31st.
Standard Saturday/Holidays Rates: Apply to Saturdays in April, July, August, & November plus Major Holiday Weekend Fridays & Sundays (Memorial Day & Labor Day).
"Prime" Saturday/Holidays Rates: Apply to Saturdays in May, June, September, October, & December as well as to July 4th, and December 31st.
Reception/Event Rates begin at the time guests are scheduled to arrive at the reception venue -- or, for weddings where the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, immediately after the ceremony when guests transition to the cocktail/reception area -- and continue through the remainder of the event.
Charges end when I shut-down the music at the conclusion of the event. I don't voluntarily take "breaks" (bands take breaks, DJ's don't… at least they shouldn't!). I'm happy to break from playing music during an event if requested (for example, when I play for the ceremony and an instrumentalist plays afterwards during the cocktail period) but please expect to pay me for that time, as I'm usually coordinating other activities behind the scenes to keep the event well-organized and proceeding on-schedule. Bottom line... once I'm "on-the-clock", I'm on-the-clock.
Reception/Event Rates above include one setup and tear-down of my primary sound system… you do NOT pay extra for my setup/tear-down time... EXCEPT in instances of locations/venues with "difficult" logistics. What constitutes "difficult"?... carrying equipment up and down steps, in and out of barn lofts, across considerable distances of neatly manicured grass without easy vehicle access, unreasonable limits on set-up/tear-down time, and the like. Don't get me wrong... I'm in pretty-good shape for 60+ and CAN do it, but if I'm compelled to hand-carry audio equipment up-n'-down flights of stairs, in-n'-out of barn lofts, etc., you're going to pay me HANDSOMELY for the privilege LOL! So please inform me up-front if your venue/location has any logistic "difficulties". Note: I love beautiful barn weddings, but -- with few exceptions -- will respectfully decline to set-up my equipment in a loft! As your Master of Ceremonies, I need to be located immediately adjacent to the dance floor in close proximity to my couple, guests, and fellow vendors... and that's rarely possible when I'm stuck-away up in a loft 🙁
Wedding Ceremony Fees
| Ceremony in same room/event space as reception (primary sound system is used for both) |
Reception/Event Rates begin at start of ceremony + $75.00 Ceremony Fee |
| Ceremony at same venue as reception but in a different room or location on the premises |
$200.00 Ceremony Fee |
| Ceremony at a different venue than the reception (requires travel between the two sites) |
$200.00 Ceremony Fee + travel charge on a per quote basis |
When my services are required for both the ceremony and reception, and both are held in the same room and can be accommodated using ONE sound system, regular Reception/Event Rates start at the beginning of the ceremony and continue through cocktails, dinner, and dancing. An additional $75.00 Ceremony Fee is incurred in this instance for additional preludial music (beginning 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start) and secondary microphone equipment.
A $200.00 Ceremony Fee is incurred if your needs require more than one setup and tear-down, or setup/tear-down of my secondary sound system (this most often occurs when I play for both the ceremony and reception, and the ceremony is in a different room or separate location from the reception).
The $200.00 Ceremony Fee includes setup/tear-down of my secondary sound system, high quality wireless "headset" or "lavalier" microphone for your officiant (officiant, bride, and groom are heard off this mic), additional wireless mic on-stand for any readers and/or singers, and couple's extended vows (also serves as backup for the officiant mic), 15 minutes of preludial music, processional music, any music required during the ceremony itself, recessional music, and closing announcement to dismiss guests to reception area (if requested). As detailed above, my regular Reception/Event Rates kick-in immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony.
Please note that I allow 30 minutes for the actual ceremony (processional to recessional), but most last anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes. As a pricing example for a ceremony starting at 3:00pm requiring my secondary sound system -- $200.00 Ceremony Fee would cover the 2:45pm to 3:30pm time-frame (15 minutes of preludial music from 2:45pm to 3:00pm with actual ceremony 3:00pm to 3:30pm) with my regular Reception/Event Rates beginning at 3:30pm and continuing through the remainder of the event.
My attendance at any rehearsal prior to the event day is NOT included in the ceremony charge. If you'd like me to attend your rehearsal, I'm happy to do so assuming I have no schedule conflicts. Please expect to pay me for that time though. (I determine that amount on an individual basis. Let me know your requirements and we'll go from there.)
Uplighting
My eight (8) Chauvet EZpar 64 RGBA Uplights are available for your event at a cost of $160.00 ($20.00 per light). The eight uplights are sufficient to cover a small room or a specific area in a larger venue.
These battery-powered lights can be placed just about anywhere and the 180 LEDs in each light produce stunning colors to accent your event.
Generator/Remote Power
For venues and temporary event locations lacking suitable electric service, I can power both my larger primary and smaller secondary sound systems using my quiet Honda EU2000 Gas Generator and/or solar-powered EcoFlow Battery Generator. This is often the case for outdoor tent events without power or where long extension-cord runs are impractical/unsuitable. The cost for this service is $75.00.
Travel Charges
Reception rates include travel to/from events in my "local" area, defined as Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia. Nominal charges to cover vehicle expenses and on-the-road travel time are incurred for round-trip travel to/from the following areas:
| Hagerstown, MD | $50.00 |
| Winchester/Berryville, VA | $60.00 |
| Berkeley Springs, WV / Hancock, MD | $70.00 |
| Leesburg, VA | $80.00 |
| Southern Morgan Co., WV (includes Cacapon State Park) | $90.00 |
| Frederick, MD | $90.00 |
| Front Royal, VA | $100.00 |
| Cumberland, MD | $160.00 |
| Morgantown, WV | $300.00 |
| Washington, DC / Baltimore Region & Other Locations | Per Quote Basis |
Travel from/to Martinsburg, WV is based on approximately $0.60/mile for vehicle expenses and $24.00/hour for on-the-road time.
Hotel accommodations must be provided for events beyond a 60 mile drive (one way) of Martinsburg, WV that end at 10:00pm or later. Lodging should be on-site at the venue (if available) or as close to the event location as possible.
Other Rate Info
-- Although not directly related to rates, I ask that you include me (and my wife Stacie if she's assisting) in the meal count for your event. Stacie thinks it's "tacky" of me to make that request -- and it probably is -- but hey, I'm a guy, so I'm ruled by my stomach 🙂
-- All rates include applicable taxes.
Booking/Reserving Your Date
The first step in securing my services for your event is ALWAYS to determine my availability! If I'm booked or otherwise unavailable, everything else -- including price -- is a moot point! So please check my Events Calendar to determine my tentative availability. If your date appears available, please contact me via e-mail at rick@rickrohn.com or by phone at (304)579-8745 to confirm availability and provide your basic event details (date, location, tentative start/end times, approximate number of guests, etc.).
We'll definitely need to talk -- either by voice call, video chat, or even in-person -- to start the process. I stress to prospective couples... NEVER book a DJ/Master of Ceremonies without first talking with that person (me or anyone else!). Voice, personality, enthusiasm, and sense of planning/organization are all critical to the success of any wedding DJ/MC, and way too important to be left to chance on your Big Day!
Once we confirm that I'm available for your date and time, discuss details, and determine we're a mutual "fit", we proceed on to the Proposal, Contract, & Retainer Fee step…
Proposal, Contract, & Retainer Fee
A seven (7) day courtesy “hold” will be placed on your event date as we proceed to the Proposal, Contract, & Retainer Fee step. At that time, you will be presented via email with a complete Proposal outlining the services to be provided, itemized cost for each, and Total Contract Price. Included with the Proposal will be a detailed Contract containing my policies on payment/retainer fee/cancellation, music, set-up/tear-down, and other responsibilities of both the Client and Rick Rohn Disc Jockey Productions.
A $250.00 non-refundable Retainer Fee (applied as part of the Total Contract Price) MUST be received and the Contract signed electronically by the responsible party(ies) -- be that the couple or other Contract Holder -- WITHIN SEVEN (7) CALENDAR DAYS of Proposal/Contract presentation to confirm the booking. After the seven (7) day Proposal presentation period, any tentatively-held date not secured by a fully-paid $250.00 Retainer Fee will be released and any non-signed Contract will be considered void. Payment of the non-refundable $250.00 Retainer Fee may be made by check through the US Mail or via your online portal by major credit card. Once booked, you have private access to your online portal through my (new for 2024!) Honeybook CRM (Customer Relations Management) website to make payments, view balances and documents, etc.
Payment & Cancellation
Final payment of the Remaining Balance (Total Contract Price less the $250.00 Retainer Fee) is to be made the day of the event, or prior, by personal or certified check (preferred), cash, or major credit card. Any additions to the Total Contract Price (outside of the original Contract) and/or time/services added during the event will be payable as part of the Remaining Balance. NO provisions will be provided for payment after the event date.
Cancellation by clients – especially those made inside 90 days of the event date – can be devastating for everyone including vendors like myself faced with a significant loss-of-income and the increasing inability to re-book the closer the cancellation occurs to the event date. Therefore, my Contract requires payment of 50% of the Total Contract Price if cancellation/postponement is received between 90 and 61 days prior to the event, 75% of the Total Contract Price if cancellation/ postponement is received between 60 and 31 days prior to the event, and 100% of the Total Contract Price if cancellation/postponement is received 30 days or less prior to the event.
Planning
Once we're through the initial paperwork and confirmation stage, it's time to move to the fun stuff... the planning! New for 2024, I've ditched the antiquated Microsoft Word Questionnaire my couples have filled-out for years and am now on the Vibo 2.0 Planning App! With Vibo 2.0 you have the "anywhere, anytime" convenience of planning from your mobile device, desktop, or laptop. Organize your details, develop your timeline, select music, import playlists, and do more in ways never before possible. Vibo 2.0 is available on both IOS and Android.
A Final Word About Price...
If you compare my rates vs. those of many other DJ/MC's found online or on social media, you'll often find my prices higher. And that's OK 🙂 It's an old cliché, but remember... you get what you pay for.
Studies in the wedding/event industry consistently show that long after the event is over, your guests remember two things -- the entertainment and the food. Don't skimp or cut-corners on either.
Lastly, keep in-mind this very important point... A "cheap" DJ/MC is a lousy investment at ANY price, especially if he/she/they cause your event to be "memorable" for all the wrong reasons!
