Complete Mobile DJ setup for under $1500

Offering your services as a Mobile DJ is the perfect business idea. Whether you’re looking to use your love of music to make a little extra money on the side. Or, you’re trying to grow your skills as a DJ to transition into making a living doing what you love! But to get your business off the ground and start taking bookings, you’re going to need some gear!

When it comes to Mobile DJ Setups, your shopping list of gear could go on forever if you let it. In this article, we look at all the essentials for a Mobile DJ Setup that you can buy for under $1500!.

Assuming you already have a laptop, the real necessities are going to be a DJ Controller, PA Speakers, Headphones, and some lighting. But we’ll mention all the extras you might want to have in your arsenal to take your setup to the next level.

Our $1500 Mobile DJ Setup

• DJ Controller – Pioneer DDJ-SB3 – $449
• PA Speakers – AVE Revo 12″ with Stands – $739
• Headphones – Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 – $109
• Lighting – MAX PartyBar – $199

TOTAL COSTS: $1496

DJ Controller

At the heart of your Mobile DJ Setup lies your DJ Controller. For the purposes of keeping our setup under $1500, we’re going to assume you have a laptop you can use to connect to your controller for managing your songs and effects. For even more control, and an extra chunk out of your wallet, a standalone DJ Controller is going to give you even more control over your mixes. While removing the need for a laptop altogether.

When choosing your controller, you’ll have to keep in mind if you have a preference for which software you use. Each controller is different so you’ll find some are primed to work with Serato, Rekordbox, Traktor, or something different.

For our budget Mobile DJ Setup, we’ve gone with either the Pioneer DDJ-SB3, or the Pioneer DDJ-400. These are both two-channel controllers, the main difference being that the SB3 is primed for use with Serato. While the DDJ-400 is designed to work with Rekordbox. At around the $450 mark, you can’t go wrong with either of these controllers.

If you were wanting to spend a little more and go the standalone route. Something such as the Pioneer XDJ-RX2, or the Denon Prime 2/Prime 4 are great options.

PA Speakers

Next up, you’re going to need some PA Speakers. You want to choose a set of powered speakers that are going to offer some punch for your party or event. So I’d recommend avoiding anything smaller than 10″ Speakers, to ensure your speakers will be loud enough for most venues you’ll be playing at.

Keeping your setup under $1500, we’ve gone for a pair of AVE REVO 12″ Powered Speakers. Available in a bundle along with speaker stands for just $739. For such an affordable price, these speakers pack serious punch. So if you’re looking for good sound on a budget, you can’t go past these!

Alternatively, if you’re looking to spend a little bit more, the LD Systems ICOA series is a great choice. You’ll pretty quickly go over your $1500 budget, but they offer amazing sound and even a Bluetooth option.

Headphones

We’ve covered the speakers to ensure you’re pumping great sound at your party. But what about the DJ Headphones you need for cueing up your next track perfectly? Fitting right into our $1500 Mobile DJ Setup budget, the brand new Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 headphones offer serious bang for their buck. At only $109, the HDJ-CUE1 headphones are seriously affordable. But they certainly don’t fall short when it comes to sound quality. Boasting dynamic drivers, you’ll feel the bass in your tracks while hearing the mids and highs with crystal clear clarity. So you’ll have no trouble mixing with pin-point precision.

Another great feature of the HDJ-CUE1 headphones is the ability to customize your cable and earpads. Sold separately, these colourful combos allow you to add some personality to your headphones or even match them with your business branding!

At such a good price-point, you really can’t go wrong with these DJ Headphones. But if you’re looking to spend a little bit more for that extra durability and sound, the popular Sennheiser HD25‘s are the go-to for so many DJ’s worldwide.

Lighting

Finally, you need some lighting. Depending on the type of event or venue, you might already have access to some type of lighting at your gig. But 9 times out of 10, you’ll want to have at least some form of party lighting at your disposal.

Our range of party lighting at DJ City is endless, and you can always find something to add to your arsenal. Presuming you’re just getting your mobile DJ business going, you might not know exactly what your needs are. So opting for an all-in-one lighting system is a great place to start. If you’re on a budget, our range of MAX PartyBar’s offer a great choice of all-in-one lighting solutions for your gigs.

At around the $200 dollar mark and fitting into our budget of $1500, these complete lighting kits offer some spectacular effects. For instance, the PartyBar10 as seen below includes 2 x PAR Can with 3 x 3W 4-in-1 LEDs; as well as 2 x Jelly Moon with 4 x 3W 4-in-1 LEDs; and 1 x UV/Strobe with 6 x 2W UV LEDs.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a bit more high end, the Chauvet DJ GigBar 2 is an industry favourite!

What else do you need in your Mobile DJ Setup?

That wraps up our Mobile DJ Setup coming in just under $1500! But what else do you need if you’re a Mobile DJ?

Well, we’ve covered the necessities but there are certainly a few nice to haves that will take your Mobile DJ Setup to the next level. A foldable DJ Facade to put in front of your equipment adds a professional touch to your setup. While hiding and protecting messy cables and your equipment from partygoers. It can also offer some nice effects in combination with your DJ lighting. Then you’ve got microphones. It’s handy to have at least one dynamic microphone in your kit, especially if you need to make any announcements or if you’re going to be facilitating speeches.

On top of that, you can go wild with extra lighting as well as lasers and atmospheric effects such as smoke machines.

Now you’ve got all your equipment, how do you go about pricing your services?

How to price your mobile DJ services