Toast & Jam
Toast & Jam is a Chicago-based, woman-owned DJ and event entertainment company performing ~700 weddings and events per year with a team of 25, serving engaged couples, corporate clients, and private party hosts across the Chicago metro.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Toast & Jam does
Toast & Jam is a privately held, woman-owned professional DJ and event entertainment company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2005 by Mary Nisi with three additional founding DJs, the company has grown to a team of 25 and performs approximately 700 weddings and events annually, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area with travel available up to roughly 200 miles from its Logan Square office. Its core offering is the Signature DJ Service Package, which provides up to six hours of DJ performance with separate sound systems for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, underpinned by professional-grade mixers, speakers, and lighting hardware (including APE LABS wireless uplights and neons).
The company operates a modular product architecture in which the core DJ service can be bundled with photo booth (open-air ring light with a dedicated Photo Booth Jockey), lighting (uplit and Musik Mode beat-driven uplighting), live instrumental accompaniment (saxophone, drums, ensembles), karaoke upgrades, and CO2 cannon effects. GTM is sales-led and event-driven: clients engage via website inquiry, phone, or vendor marketplaces (The Knot, WeddingWire), proceed through a discovery and consultation process with their assigned DJ, and book with a 12-14 month lead time for weddings (peak season April-December) or 3-month lead time for corporate and private events.
Revenue is generated entirely through one-time, per-event fees. Wedding packages range from $2,275 (off-season Sundays, up to 6 hours) to $5,650+ for the most popular DJ + Photo Booth + Lighting bundle, with corporate event packages priced $1,795-$4,650 and photo booth standalone starting at $1,495. Pricing varies by season, day of week, and package composition; travel fees apply beyond 25 miles and hotel accommodations are required beyond 200 miles. No external funding, parent company, or subsidiary structure is disclosed.
Toast & Jam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Toast & Jam
- Legal name
- Toast & Jam
- Website
- https://toastandjamdjs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Toast & Jam is a Chicago-based, woman-owned DJ and event entertainment company performing ~700 weddings and events per year with a team of 25, serving engaged couples, corporate clients, and private party hosts across the Chicago metro.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Toast & Jam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wedding and Event DJ Services
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Party DJ, Music & Audio Services (HSACACAI)
Keywords
Where Toast & Jam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Toast & Jam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wedding DJ Services: Core revenue stream from DJ services for weddings. Pricing varies by season (peak vs off-season) and day of week (Friday/Saturday vs Sunday). Includes up to 6 hours of DJ performance with separate systems for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
- Corporate Event DJ Services: DJ services for corporate events, holiday parties, and non-wedding events. Rates from $1,795 to $4,650 depending on package and day. Includes up to 3 hours of DJ performance.
- Private Party DJ Services: DJ services for private parties ranging from intimate home gatherings to large events at venues like the Field Museum.
- Photo Booth Add-on: Photo booth services starting at $1,495 for standalone booth. Also available as add-on to DJ packages. Includes PBJ attendant, unlimited prints, digital gallery, and various customization options.
- Lighting Services: Professional uplighting and lighting packages using APE LABS equipment. Available as add-on to DJ services or standalone.
- Live Music Add-ons: Hybrid DJ sets with live instrumental accompaniment (saxophone, drums), solo/trio/quartet performances for ceremonies or receptions, starting at $750.
- Entertainment Add-ons: Karaoke upgrades ($695), CO2 cannon effects ($350), and other entertainment enhancements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Signature DJ Service - Off-season/Sunday |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Signature DJ Service - Peak Season |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | New DJ Discount |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DJ + Photo Booth Package |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DJ + Lighting Package |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DJ + Photo Booth + Lighting Package (Most Popular) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Photo Booth Standalone |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Corporate Event DJ Packages |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Add-on Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Toast & Jam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Toast & Jam is a Chicago-based professional disc jockey service that provides DJ entertainment primarily for weddings, with additional offerings for corporate events and private parties. The core Signature DJ Service includes up to 6 hours of DJ performance with separate sound systems for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Clients can bundle the DJ service with add-on modules including photo booths, event lighting (uplighting and Musik Mode), and live music accompaniment.
Product overview
Toast & Jam is a Chicago-based DJ company offering wedding and event entertainment services. The core offering is the Signature DJ Service Package, which provides professional DJs for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions with planning support. The company operates a modular product architecture where customers can purchase the core DJ service alone or bundle it with add-on modules including Photo Booth Services (open-air ring light booth with printing and social sharing), Lighting Services (uplighting, neon tubes, and Musik Mode beat-driven lighting), and Live Music (saxophone, drums, or ensemble accompaniment). Additional premium add-ons include DJ Hybrid Sets, Karaoke, and CO2 Cannon effects. The company also offers dedicated Corporate Event and Private Party services. Pricing is tiered by season (peak vs. off-season) and day of week, with bundled packages offering cost savings over individual add-ons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Signature DJ Service Package Core DJ entertainment service for weddings and events, including up to 6 hours of DJ performance, separate sound systems for ceremony and cocktail hour, MC services, and access to a client planning portal. Priced starting at $2,275 off-season/Sunday or $2,850 peak season Friday/Saturday.
- Photo Booth Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 80% of couples report they wish they had made entertainment a top priority, and guests consistently cite entertainment as the most memorable part of weddings
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Toast & Jam
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Toast & Jam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Toast & Jam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Toast & Jam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Generation Events: Wedding and event DJ/entertainment company with bundled service packages (DJ + photo booth + lighting). Comparable offering, comparable mid-market premium positioning.
- Scratch Weddings: NYC-based premium wedding DJ company with a similar dedicated-DJ model and bundling of photo/lighting/music services. Directly comparable boutique-market positioning and price points to Toast & Jam, serving as a peer for any geographic expansion thesis.
- 74 Events: New York wedding entertainment firm offering DJs, photo booths, lighting, and live music as bundled packages — essentially the same product mix as Toast & Jam in a different metro. Closest direct competitor profile.
- 212 DJs: NYC wedding and event DJ service with custom lighting and add-on packages. Comparable service menu (DJ + uplighting + photo booth) and similar mid-to-premium price tier to Toast & Jam.
- BKS Entertainment: Multi-service wedding entertainment company (DJ, photo booth, lighting, MC) operating in the Midwest and beyond with comparable package structure to Toast & Jam's Lights, Camera, Action bundle.
Others
- The Knot Worldwide (XO Group): Wedding planning marketplace and vendor directory where Toast & Jam lists. Functions as a channel partner and competitive aggregator, shaping discovery economics for all regional wedding DJ companies.
- WeddingWire: Major wedding vendor marketplace listing Toast & Jam. Competes for couples' attention and review-share against The Knot, influencing how DJ companies acquire customers at the top of funnel.
Broad incumbents
- TAG (The Affluent Group): Larger event entertainment production company offering DJs, bands, photo booths, and lighting across multiple markets. A broader incumbent operating at higher price points and corporate-scale events than Toast & Jam's wedding core.
- Elan Artists: National talent agency for DJs, MCs, and musicians for weddings, corporate, and private events. Operates as a broader incumbent competing for the same premium entertainment spend with a wider roster and geographic footprint.
Regional players
- EVntLive / Evantine Design: Philadelphia-based wedding and event production company offering DJs, lighting, photo booths, and décor. Comparable integrated entertainment offering in a different Northeast metro, useful for benchmarking multi-service package economics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Toast & Jam social profiles
Digital presenceToast & Jam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Toast & Jam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Toast & Jam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Toast & Jam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Toast & Jam
What does Toast & Jam do?
Toast & Jam is a Chicago-based professional disc jockey service that provides DJ entertainment primarily for weddings, with additional offerings for corporate events and private parties. The core Signature DJ Service includes up to 6 hours of DJ performance with separate sound systems for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Clients can bundle the DJ service with add-on modules including photo booths, event lighting (uplighting and Musik Mode), and live music accompaniment.
Is Toast & Jam a public or private company?
Toast & Jam is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Toast & Jam founded?
Toast & Jam was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Toast & Jam based?
Toast & Jam is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Toast & Jam make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Wedding DJ Services are the primary driver. The others are corporate Event DJ Services, private Party DJ Services, photo Booth Add-on, lighting Services, live Music Add-ons and entertainment Add-ons.
Who are Toast & Jam's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Generation Events, Scratch Weddings, 74 Events, 212 DJs and BKS Entertainment. Others are The Knot Worldwide (XO Group) and WeddingWire. Broad incumbents are TAG (The Affluent Group) and Elan Artists. EVntLive / Evantine Design is listed as a regional player.
Does Toast & Jam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Toast & Jam.
What industry is Toast & Jam in?
Toast & Jam's product category is Wedding and Event DJ Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACACAI, Party DJ, Music & Audio Services. Its NAICS code is 711130 and its SIC code is 7900.