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3. What It Costs
Reception music fees are dictated by the city, number of performers, day of the week, and time of day. A DJ generally costs less than a band. On average (for a four- or five-hour reception), you'll pay $1,300 to $10,000 for a band, while a DJ range would be more like $350 to $3,500. The more pieces in your band, the higher the cost.
4. Act Now
Top talent -- be it the kickin-est DJ in town or the local pub's liveliest Irish trio -- can be booked up to a year in advance. The sooner you make arrangements, the better your chances of landing exactly the act you want.
5. Time It Right
Bands and DJs are typically contracted for four or five hours, but if you think your reception might last longer, consider booking them for more time up front. If you spontaneously decide to have them stay longer, you could incur steep overtime fees. You may be able to hire for the event, rather than for contracted hours, in which case you could avoid overtime charges that way too.