Entertainment pricing guide
A rough guide to what Kiwi DJs, bands and musicians typically charge. Final estimates depend on travel, hours, equipment, line-up size and experience. Bands cost more than DJs because every musician on stage needs to be paid for their time, rehearsal, travel and accommodation.
Typical NZD price ranges
DJ ranges below are based on an approximate 4-hour booking for roughly 120 people. Add roughly 15–20% per extra hour, or scale down for shorter sets.
Note: Pricing may vary based on the size of the event, number of people in attendance, and how much equipment may be needed.
| Event / line-up | Typical NZD range |
|---|---|
| Wedding | $900 – $2,000 |
| Corporate function | $700 – $1,600 |
| Birthday / private party | $500 – $1,100 |
| Club / bar set | $300 – $700 |
| School ball / formal | $800 – $1,500 |
Club / bar sets: Equipment is not included — these events typically use the venue's in-house PA.
| Event / line-up | Typical NZD range |
|---|---|
| Ceremony / cocktail hour (1–2 hr) | $400 – $900 |
| Wedding ceremony + reception roving | $900 – $1,800 |
| Restaurant / bar acoustic set | $300 – $700 |
| Corporate background music (2–3 hr) | $600 – $1,400 |
| Event / line-up | Typical NZD range |
|---|---|
| 3-piece function band - wedding (3–4 sets) | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| 4–5 piece function band - wedding / corporate | $2,500 – $5,500 |
| 6+ piece / showband - wedding / gala | $4,500 – $9,000+ |
| Original band - venue / festival | $600 – $3,500 per set |
| Corporate gala headliner | $5,000 – $15,000+ |
What changes the price
- Line-up size: every extra musician adds to fee, gear, travel and meals.
- Set length: DJ ranges above assume ~4 hours; longer sets scale up roughly 15–20% per extra hour.
- Equipment: in-house PA at the venue saves money; bringing a full rig, lighting and engineer costs more.
- Travel: outside the performer's home region, expect per-km charges and possibly accommodation.
- Day of week / season: Saturdays in summer and December are peak - book early, expect premium pricing.
- GST: performers turning over more than $60,000/year must add 15% GST.
Price vs value - how to choose well
The cheapest option rarely ends up being the best value, and the most expensive isn't automatically the safest pick. Use the questions below to make sure the act you book can actually deliver the night you have in mind.
Experience that matches your event
- How many weddings / corporate functions / school balls of this size have they done in the last 12 months?
- Can they share recent references from events similar to yours (venue type, guest count, music style)?
- Do they MC, run the run-sheet, and coordinate with your photographer, celebrant and venue manager?
- Are they comfortable reading the room and pivoting if the dance floor isn't responding to a planned set?
Equipment and technical fit
- Is the PA sized for the room and guest count? A 60-person lounge and a 200-person barn need very different rigs.
- Do they bring backup gear (spare laptop, second mixer, redundant cabling) in case something fails mid-event?
- For bands: is in-ear monitoring or stage foldback included, and who provides the front-of-house engineer?
- Lighting - dance-floor wash, uplighting, haze? Is it included, optional, or hired separately?
- Outdoor or marquee event? Confirm weather cover, power requirements and generator-safe equipment.
Skillset and repertoire
- Can they cover the genres your guests actually want - not just the ones the act prefers to play?
- For bands and soloists: how broad is the song list, and how many requests can they accommodate?
- For DJs: do they take requests on the night, and how do they handle "do not play" lists?
- Are they The Beat Exchange Aotearoa tier-verified? Verified tiers confirm identity, business, insurance and experience.
Red flags that explain a very low price
- No written agreement, no deposit policy, no cancellation terms.
- No backup plan or replacement DJ if the performer gets sick or has an emergency.
- Few or no recent reviews, or reviews only from non-public sources you can't verify.
- Pressure to book immediately without seeing a quote in writing.
- Discounts too quickly or lures you with "free extras" instead of transparent, consistent pricing.
What "good value" actually looks like
A fair quote bundles up performance time, setup and pack-down, travel, gear hire, insurance, admin and rehearsal. A DJ playing a 4-hour wedding set is usually on-site for 7–9 hours; a 5-piece band might rehearse for hours per set. Value isn't the lowest hourly rate - it's the act that can confidently deliver your run-sheet, fill your dance floor, and recover gracefully if something goes wrong.
Want a more detailed breakdown of the formula behind these numbers? See the performer resources page.