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ARTICLE
For many of us, professional DJs who’ve built careers on packed calendars and glowing reputations, 2025 has delivered a stark, unwelcome surprise: wide-open availability. It’s not just a stray Friday here or there; we’re talking about vast, gaping holes in schedules that should be bursting at the seams. Twenty spare Fridays and Saturdays? Unthinkable, yet a reality for many.
Conversations across DJ networks, those digital town squares where we share our triumphs and tribulations, paint a consistent, worrying picture: bookings are down, in some cases by a staggering 60-80%. Even those of us who braced for a dip, anticipating the impact of rising prices and changing economic tides, are reeling from the sheer scale of the drop-off.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: the lower-cost DJs, the ones who seem to be weathering the storm, claiming they’re ‘fully booked’. But is this a true reflection of market dynamics, or a desperate race to the bottom? Are they genuinely thriving, building sustainable businesses, or merely scraping by, clinging to survival at rates that undermine the value of our craft?
The truth, as I see it, is that we’re caught in a perfect storm, a convergence of forces that have fundamentally altered the landscape. The cost-of-living crisis has forced couples to scale back their wedding dreams. Lavish affairs have given way to more modest celebrations, trimming guest lists and simplifying venues.
The post-Covid boom, that frenzied period of catch-up celebrations, has inevitably subsided. Consumer behaviours have shifted, with couples increasingly exploring alternative entertainment options. Live music, with bands offering bundled ‘DJ services’ (often just playlists), is proving alluring. DIY options, curated Spotify playlists, and multi-skilled performers who offer an ‘all-in-one’ solution are gaining traction. And, of course, there’s price sensitivity. Couples, more than ever, are scrutinizing every line item, demanding value for their hard-earned money.
But is this a temporary blip? Or is it a seismic shift, a wake-up call signalling a fundamental transformation of our industry? Are we witnessing a market correction, where the inflated demand of the post-lockdown era is simply levelling out? Or is it something more profound, a sign that premium services, once a staple of wedding celebrations, are becoming a luxury that fewer couples can justify?
These are the questions that keep me up at night. These are the questions that demand answers, not just for our own survival, but for the very future of our industry.
The Great Divide: My view from the trenches
My personal observations, gleaned from countless conversations and a deep dive into the online discourse, paint a stark picture. The ‘middle’ of the market, that once-reliable segment where couples sought quality at a fair price, has all but...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
Conversations across DJ networks, those digital town squares where we share our triumphs and tribulations, paint a consistent, worrying picture: bookings are down, in some cases by a staggering 60-80%. Even those of us who braced for a dip, anticipating the impact of rising prices and changing economic tides, are reeling from the sheer scale of the drop-off.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: the lower-cost DJs, the ones who seem to be weathering the storm, claiming they’re ‘fully booked’. But is this a true reflection of market dynamics, or a desperate race to the bottom? Are they genuinely thriving, building sustainable businesses, or merely scraping by, clinging to survival at rates that undermine the value of our craft?
The truth, as I see it, is that we’re caught in a perfect storm, a convergence of forces that have fundamentally altered the landscape. The cost-of-living crisis has forced couples to scale back their wedding dreams. Lavish affairs have given way to more modest celebrations, trimming guest lists and simplifying venues.
The post-Covid boom, that frenzied period of catch-up celebrations, has inevitably subsided. Consumer behaviours have shifted, with couples increasingly exploring alternative entertainment options. Live music, with bands offering bundled ‘DJ services’ (often just playlists), is proving alluring. DIY options, curated Spotify playlists, and multi-skilled performers who offer an ‘all-in-one’ solution are gaining traction. And, of course, there’s price sensitivity. Couples, more than ever, are scrutinizing every line item, demanding value for their hard-earned money.
But is this a temporary blip? Or is it a seismic shift, a wake-up call signalling a fundamental transformation of our industry? Are we witnessing a market correction, where the inflated demand of the post-lockdown era is simply levelling out? Or is it something more profound, a sign that premium services, once a staple of wedding celebrations, are becoming a luxury that fewer couples can justify?
These are the questions that keep me up at night. These are the questions that demand answers, not just for our own survival, but for the very future of our industry.
The Great Divide: My view from the trenches
My personal observations, gleaned from countless conversations and a deep dive into the online discourse, paint a stark picture. The ‘middle’ of the market, that once-reliable segment where couples sought quality at a fair price, has all but...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 131, Pages 30-32.
