DJ Marcel_1
Here's something to think on.
Last night I did a Video Dance for a new Corporate Client; I charged him 1000.00 I also changed my video display (will post pics soon)
I gave out 3 cards, including the Manager of the hall because "He had never seen anything like that before"
No matter.
I've done 2 of these so far this season, and have one more left (Dec 20) next week is standard DJ services.
Here's my point.
I got a call from a Manager that after leaving the Strip Club I used to work at he opened a pub/lounge. It's in a prime location beside the hockey area (I'm Canadian and the local team is a NHL team so it's a very good location) He called me up to do a one-off night for a concert after party. "and bring your video box" He offered only $150.00 for me to come down hook my mixer and video cable into his existing system and play some videos.
Normally I'd say this is not a serious offer and would tell him to hit the bricks. But this is a "Gravy Gig" one I didn't have to work for and just fell my way. Besides I got him up to 300.00 after some beer and haggling :P
Last night I did a Video Dance for a new Corporate Client; I charged him 1000.00 I also changed my video display (will post pics soon)
I gave out 3 cards, including the Manager of the hall because "He had never seen anything like that before"
No matter.
I've done 2 of these so far this season, and have one more left (Dec 20) next week is standard DJ services.
Here's my point.
I got a call from a Manager that after leaving the Strip Club I used to work at he opened a pub/lounge. It's in a prime location beside the hockey area (I'm Canadian and the local team is a NHL team so it's a very good location) He called me up to do a one-off night for a concert after party. "and bring your video box" He offered only $150.00 for me to come down hook my mixer and video cable into his existing system and play some videos.
Normally I'd say this is not a serious offer and would tell him to hit the bricks. But this is a "Gravy Gig" one I didn't have to work for and just fell my way. Besides I got him up to 300.00 after some beer and haggling :P
Posté Sun 07 Dec 08 @ 12:30 pm
DJ EL
Point taken. Thanks.
Posté Thu 18 Dec 08 @ 11:20 pm
sorry you didn't get it .... interestingly i was gonna suggest $500 which turns out to be about right apparently .....I'm a hair north in south jersey in scenic pennsauken ......
yeah there are wannabe's with a laptop or itunes and cheese wiz equipment stealing our gigs .....
if you ask about prices it's best to ask guys in your market that you can trust .... otherwise you will get people bragging about hard to
believe numbers , many times .....
call around and get quotes ......
you should be able to get good prices from schools and corporate gigs and normally no problems getting paid .... i even have school pta's paying me cash and no discount for the cash ......
schools and gigs for kids are great .....kids are easy to deal with cuz they act there age .......
i know guys who specialize and only do schools ......school gigs end at 9 pm too so you can still go to Fred's bar 'n grill and do your gig there
next school gig network a lot , meet those kids and parents and the mayor and the school staff and give 'em all cards .......word of mouth works and costs zero ......
i don't do karaoke anymore ....stopped 4 years ago .... i got cheesed off too many times with bar owners over it
yeah there are wannabe's with a laptop or itunes and cheese wiz equipment stealing our gigs .....
if you ask about prices it's best to ask guys in your market that you can trust .... otherwise you will get people bragging about hard to
believe numbers , many times .....
call around and get quotes ......
you should be able to get good prices from schools and corporate gigs and normally no problems getting paid .... i even have school pta's paying me cash and no discount for the cash ......
schools and gigs for kids are great .....kids are easy to deal with cuz they act there age .......
i know guys who specialize and only do schools ......school gigs end at 9 pm too so you can still go to Fred's bar 'n grill and do your gig there
next school gig network a lot , meet those kids and parents and the mayor and the school staff and give 'em all cards .......word of mouth works and costs zero ......
i don't do karaoke anymore ....stopped 4 years ago .... i got cheesed off too many times with bar owners over it
Posté Fri 19 Dec 08 @ 11:42 am
mindtwister3d
n01mower wrote :
I think there are many opinions when it comes to price.
what would it cost your client to do the following:
pick up the gear
rent speakers
rent a microphone
rent a mixer
rent lights
have a laptop set up ready to go/ or cd player with enough cd's
obtain the correct/right amount of music for the evening.
set up the gear
host the evening
tear down the gear
return the gear back to the rental place. how many hours did all of this take the client.
I think the DJ makes or breaks the party. Sure the food can be good. the cake is normally pretty tasty but in the end if you do a good job as a DJ then people will stay. the party will be a success. I often ask my clients how much is piece of mind worth? This is what I love to do. I don't do this cause I have to, I do this cause I want to.
For christmas parties I normally charge 1000 for 4 hours it includes karaoke and then 100 per hour for overtime. I am a single owner, I generally have between 3 and 5 holiday parties during the month of December.
I can remember the days of doing events for 350 and I would have to do three times as many events.
I raised my price, I use really nice gear, I make sure that I arrive two hours early for setup, and I have spare of all the equipment.
Finally I have a lot of fun, this is just my opinion. hope it helps.
I hope that someday when i have more live experience, i can not only charge, but have a backup setup and everything like you posted. It sounds like you are organized because you love what you do. Same applies here from a newbie point of view.
Cheers,
Mindtwister3d
what would it cost your client to do the following:
pick up the gear
rent speakers
rent a microphone
rent a mixer
rent lights
have a laptop set up ready to go/ or cd player with enough cd's
obtain the correct/right amount of music for the evening.
set up the gear
host the evening
tear down the gear
return the gear back to the rental place. how many hours did all of this take the client.
I think the DJ makes or breaks the party. Sure the food can be good. the cake is normally pretty tasty but in the end if you do a good job as a DJ then people will stay. the party will be a success. I often ask my clients how much is piece of mind worth? This is what I love to do. I don't do this cause I have to, I do this cause I want to.
For christmas parties I normally charge 1000 for 4 hours it includes karaoke and then 100 per hour for overtime. I am a single owner, I generally have between 3 and 5 holiday parties during the month of December.
I can remember the days of doing events for 350 and I would have to do three times as many events.
I raised my price, I use really nice gear, I make sure that I arrive two hours early for setup, and I have spare of all the equipment.
Finally I have a lot of fun, this is just my opinion. hope it helps.
I hope that someday when i have more live experience, i can not only charge, but have a backup setup and everything like you posted. It sounds like you are organized because you love what you do. Same applies here from a newbie point of view.
Cheers,
Mindtwister3d
Posté Fri 19 Dec 08 @ 2:30 pm
adamjmeek
dude--you have to think of who your client is.
if youre doing a party for a union and youre part of the union--give them the hook up. i would have said 400. times are tough right now and people/employers are trying to motivate employees with less funds due to economic conditions.
if youre doing a party for a union and youre part of the union--and you have only done a few shows--you need to lowball just to get your face and name out there--free advertising.
once you get experienced you can charge more (700-900+) for random weddings.
think of it as the union protects you and essentially ensures your wage. what better way to repay that than to give the hookup for the holiday party?
if youre doing a party for a union and youre part of the union--give them the hook up. i would have said 400. times are tough right now and people/employers are trying to motivate employees with less funds due to economic conditions.
if youre doing a party for a union and youre part of the union--and you have only done a few shows--you need to lowball just to get your face and name out there--free advertising.
once you get experienced you can charge more (700-900+) for random weddings.
think of it as the union protects you and essentially ensures your wage. what better way to repay that than to give the hookup for the holiday party?
Posté Fri 19 Dec 08 @ 3:32 pm
n01mower
I really like this topic, I think that people think along the lines of there own income and that can be good and bad.
If I only made 40 thousand a year I might think 1000 dollars was a lot. If I made 100,000 a year I probably would not think 1000 was a lot.
Questions: What makes a DJ worth 1000 dollars or more a night?
If I only made 40 thousand a year I might think 1000 dollars was a lot. If I made 100,000 a year I probably would not think 1000 was a lot.
Questions: What makes a DJ worth 1000 dollars or more a night?
Posté Fri 19 Dec 08 @ 5:11 pm