DJEP’s been around since 2000 — how does it hold up?
A genuinely old-school DJ CRM, still going. Here’s where it actually differs from Encore.
DJEP (djeventplanner.com) has been around since 2000, which in SaaS years is basically a fossil, and not as an insult. It’s a genuinely complete CRM — booking calendar, client and venue database, contracts, a payment gateway, guest song requests, and a client portal you can restyle with your own CSS if you’re into that.
The differences that actually matter aren’t in the admin backend, where both platforms cover similar ground. They’re in how the client and guest experience gets delivered, and what happens on the day itself — that’s where this comparison focuses.
| Feature | Encore | DJ Event Planner (DJEP) |
|---|---|---|
| Client/lead/venue database, contracts, payment gateway | ||
| Guest song requests | QR code, no login for guests | Built-in request system on your website |
| Custom-brandable client portal | Logo, colors, and verified sending domain — no CSS editing required | Fully custom via your own CSS files |
| Host-DJ chat thread | Client logon portal for forms/status, not a chat thread | |
| Live, auto-launching event-day dashboard | Live Mode, full-screen with real-time request badge | Not advertised as a feature |
| Live digital guestbook | Not advertised as a feature | |
| Photo booth gallery delivery | Included on every plan | Not advertised as a feature |
| Employee/DJ seat limits | Starter: 1 DJ · Pro: unlimited | StandAlone: 10 · Premium: 20 · Premium Plus: 500 |
| Pricing structure | Starter: 59$ and Pro: 79$ | 1 Month Free if Paid Annually | $20 / $35 / $50 per month across 3 tiers |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days, no credit card |
So, worth switching?
CSS-level control over your portal and two decades of staying in business are real points in DJEP’s favor, if you don’t mind touching stylesheets to get the look right. Check their per-plan staff limits against your actual team size too — 10, 20, or 500 employees scales very differently than a DJ-seat model.
If you want branding that’s done in a few clicks instead of a CSS file, plus a live event-day screen and guest extras like a guestbook and photo gallery without building it yourself, that’s where Encore goes further.
Questions people ask
Is DJ Event Planner still actively maintained?
Seems like it — running continuously since 2000 with pricing pages that look current. Worth checking djeventplanner.com directly before you decide anything.
Does DJEP require technical skill to customize the client portal?
The branding is CSS-based, so yes, a bit more than point-and-click if design work isn’t your thing.
How do DJEP’s pricing tiers compare to Encore’s?
DJEP prices by staff count — $20/mo for 10, $35 for 20, $50 for 500. Encore’s Starter and Pro are built around one DJ versus unlimited. Compare against your actual headcount.
Try it before you commit to anything
14 days free, no call, no commitment beyond showing up.
DJEP facts sourced from djeventplanner.com/pricing.php and related feature pages (current as of this writing). Verify against their live site before publishing.