Am I getting fleeced?

Lizzy246

For speakers (for dancing etc,) podium and some extra lighting and lanterns(which we're now thinking of cutting) we're being quoted $2100!!! We HAVE to take AV from this company (they have exclusive rights to our venue), but...that is way more than we expected.

How much do people normally budget for AV?

What do you think, fleeced or not fleeced?

Littlin

I've never heard the term "fleeced" - I'm guessing it means you think they are overquoting you?  I didn't have AV at my wedding except for a mic provided by the venue.  That seems like a lot, considering your DJ/band will probably bring their own AV equipment.

Littlin

Oh I googled it: "Obtain a great deal of money from (someone), typically by overcharging or swindling them"

specialk30309

where is your hall?  that sounds like alot.  most of the DJ's that I've seen online etc and the one I booked was in the $800 range and that includes speakers and some lighting.  is there any way around it? 

ring_pop

We had the same situation. Our hall had an exclusive AV provider that we had to use, and their price was outrageous. Originally, we wanted to just rent the equipment and do the iPod thing.

Our venue coordinator told us that if we hired a DJ who brought along his own speakers, lights etc... then we wouldn't have to use the AV provider! Most DJs will have speakers and lights.

See if you can get away with that. In the end, it turned out to be way cheaper to have a DJ than not!

CaylaSummer

my hall has their own entertatinment company so we are paying aroun 1500 for DJ and extra lights for the dancing part. The hall has a surround system speaker built and I believe they have a mic there too. i personally think mine is expensive but it would be cheaper for us to hire them since they charge you if you dont use their inhouse entertainment company

StephieBow

We're paying a lot less than that for everything ...DJ and equipment.... I feel like you should negotiate with them

miellen

That does sound expensive. We had 2 extra speakers from our DJ for $150!!

Car&Ry

I hope you are able to work around that. I don't know how you girls book everything seperately -wow!  We went with a venue that includes DJ, cake, centerpieces, food... the whole shebang. The only added cost was to have our ceremony there. See if you can book a DJ instead of the AV company.