Reception/Event Rates
You’ll find my Reception/Event Rates straightforward. With the information below, you can accurately estimate your total investment for my services without having to call, e-mail, or jump through hoops! I’m happy to provide an exact total price quote once I have complete information on your event and confirm the specific services you require.
I price based on 1) time of year (from “Peak” season through “Discount/Off-Season”), 2) day of the week (Saturdays are most popular, followed by Fridays/Sundays, and then weekdays), and lastly, 3) length of the event (most run 3-4 hours with flexible options for extending the celebration!).
PEAK
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Saturdays in May, June, September, October & December
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Also applies...
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July 4th & December 31st 2026 & 2027
PRIME
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Saturdays in April, July, August & November
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Fridays & Sundays in
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May, June, July*, September, October & December
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* applies only to July 3 & 5, 2026 and July 2, 2027
STANDARD
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Saturdays in January, February & March
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Fridays & Saturdays in April, July*, August & September
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Holiday Mondays thru Thursdays - Year Round
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*except July 3 & 5, 2026 and July 2, 2027
DISCOUNT
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Fridays & Saturdays in January, February & March
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Mondays thru Thursdays, year round (excluding holidays)
Midweek/Off-Season Rates: Apply Mondays-through-Fridays AND Sundays year-round (except Holidays). From January 1st through March 31st, these rates INCLUDE SATURDAYS & HOLIDAYS.
Standard Saturday/Holiday Rates: Apply to Saturdays in April, July, August, & November plus Major Holiday Weekend Fridays & Sundays (Memorial Day & Labor Day).
“Prime” Saturday/Holiday Rates: Apply to Saturdays in May, June, September, October, & December as well as to July 4th, and December 31st.
Rates are current as of March 8, 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Page updated March 7, 2026.
Charges begin at the time guests are scheduled to arrive at the reception/event venue and continue through the remainder of the event. For weddings where the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, these charges begin immediately following the ceremony when guests transition to the cocktail/reception area.
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 provide the music and/or mics for the ceremony and an instrumentalist performs exclusively for cocktails afterwards), but please expect to pay me for that time, as I’m typically still coordinating other activities behind the scenes to keep the event running smoothly and 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 (or hills), in and out of barn lofts, across considerable distances 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., I’m going to be paid 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 + $100.00 Ceremony Fee |
| Ceremony at same venue as reception but in a different room or location on the premises | $250.00 Ceremony Fee |
| Ceremony at a different venue than the reception (requires travel between the two sites) | $250.00 Ceremony Fee + travel charge on a per quote basis |
When I provide services 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 $100.00 Ceremony Fee is incurred in this instance for additional preludial music (beginning 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start) and secondary microphone equipment.
A $250.00 Ceremony Fee is incurred when use of only my primary sound system is insufficient, requiring setup/tear-down of my secondary sound system (this most often occurs when I provide services for both the ceremony and reception, with the ceremony in a different room or separate on-site location from the reception).
The $250.00 Ceremony Fee includes setup/tear-down of my secondary sound system, a high quality wireless “headset” or “lavalier” microphone for your officiant (the officiant AND couple are heard from this mic), 15 minutes of preludial music, all processional music, any music required during the ceremony itself, recessional music, and closing announcement to dismiss guests to reception area (if requested). My ceremony package also includes an additional on-stand wireless mic for any readers/singers, couple’s “extended vows” (anything beyond simple repeats with the officiant), and to back-up the officiant mic if needed. 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 — $250.00 Ceremony Fee would cover the 2:45pm to 3:30pm time-frame (15 minutes of preludial music from 2:45pm to 3:00pm, 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, and — in most instances — is not necessary for a successful outcome. 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 small package of Chauvet EZpar 64 RGBA Uplights is available for your event at a cost of $20.00 per light (package maximum of $160.00). The uplights provide ambiance to any event and 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 accent colors.
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 Power Stations. 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/Event 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 | $170.00 |
| 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@staging.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 — preferably in-person, or at least by video chat or voice call — 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 agree that we’re a mutual “fit”, we then 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 (preferred), cash, Venmo, Zelle, or via your online portal by major credit card. Once booked, you have private access to your online portal through my 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, Venmo, Zelle, 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 90 to 61 days prior to the event, 75% of the Total Contract Price if cancellation/ postponement is received 60 to 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 have taken care of the Contract & Retainer Fee, it’s time to move-on to the fun stuff… planning with the Vibo 2.0 Music & Timeline 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 to be 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 truth… 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!