$100 for a 1.5 hour karaoke gig for a Church Group on a Tuesday night?

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
DJ Ricky B

DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
8,257
6,905
43
Hey all,

Would you be interested in this one, if it was you? I received a call from a preacher who has put together a Church group who helps the community out. He told me they are looking to do a 70s, 80s, and 90s karaoke theme night. All the attendees would be younger families (parents in their mid 20s to early 40s, and their kids may or may not be present), and basically people who don't want to be involved with the bar crowd. These are church going people who actively give, and help out the community doing various things through out the year, and want to do a once a month night out on a Tuesday night where they can have some fun.

He is looking for a Karaoke DJ that would like to help them out, and help provide a great time for their group. He is offering $100 cash. It's 1.5 hours, and about 30 - 50 people will be in attendance. 8 pm - 9:30 pm on a Tuesday night.

The gig is not a far drive either. About 15 minutes away. Also parking is free, but is limited as it is mostly street parking. I am typically free on Tuesday nights. I haven't EVER gone out to do a gig for $100. However, it is a Tuesday night, and only 1.5 hours of karaoke, AND it's all 70s, 80, and 90s music that he wants the group to focus on...(I wouldn't have to buy any new karaoke music to do this).
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Ronster
If I had the setup for Karaoke, I'd do it. I like doing church gigs, but they never pay very well. On the other hand, the people are usually SO nice![emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Tues, I'd do it if I was available. Compact, computer, 2 mics. Non profit organization.
I'd do a $100 cash and a $250 donation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard
This gig would be a minimum of 3 or 4 hours of labor regardless, so I am not inclined to accept it on those terms. This sounds more like an ideal rental customer.

I would rent him a karaoke system and let them run it themselves. My Rentals are typically $229 + $109 for delivery. I just did one hour of karaoke (as KJ) on Saturday for $500. I always charge more to be present as the KJ. With a rental people can have as much time as they want for the party without increasing their cost.

While they are claiming it will be a recurring gig - that point is untested and unproven with only 30 or 40 interested participants over the long term. I would suggest they pickup the system at the regular rental of $229, and for each subsequent week they rent I'll reduce the price by 10% until it reaches a bottom price of $125 in the 6th week. They can continue at that rate for as long as the event continues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: IceBurghDJ
Scott Hanna said:
Tues, I'd do it if I was available. Compact, computer, 2 mics. Non profit organization.
I'd do a $100 cash and a $250 donation.
Click to expand...

Do you actually get these letters of donation? I can get them from specific fundraising clients, but this one is a little different.
Since you cannot deduct your time and labor - does the $250 actually survive an IRS audit? I think it would for a rental but, not for a KJ. Wouldn't you have to bill them for $350 - get paid, and then write them a check for $250 to create a proper audit trail? If your invoice shows a donation - I think that in an audit it would be deemed a donation of time/labor. Is the letter alone enough - and is the church willing to participate in the lie that it was cash and not personal services?
 
Last edited:
Decisions...The pastor sent me a email last night asking me to confirm today as he has to leave on a trip tomorrow. He mentioned he does have others willing to do the event, but would prefer me. (Maybe something about the other guys willing to do it throws him off a bit)

I'm debating if I should bother with a counter offer, and ask him to pay a bit more, at least for the first time around. At the same time...I ain't doing nothing on Tuesday night. I could make $100 for about 4 hours of my time (Bob is correct...it will take time to load vehicle, and then unload back into storage unit). I also don't have a small screen for karaoke any more as I got rid of it a while ago since I hadn't booked any karaoke in a long time. I would have to either take my heavy 20" tube screen out of the basement that works perfectly, but weighs like 45 - 50 lbs. Or I would have to go and spend $99+ tax on a 19 inch flat screen at Wal Mart. So the first gig would be no money on my end any way. Or I could take my 32 inch out of the living room, but my family would be pretty mad that I did that...especially on Tuesday night when their favorite show NCIS is on...LOL

You are correct, there is no guarantee this will be a monthly gig. Also, he told me he had 27 people rsvpd so far, but expect 30 - 50 to show, however he also said "you know how people are, and life happens, some might not be able to make it out so I really don't know how the turn out will be".
 
DJ Ricky B said:
Decisions...The pastor sent me a email last night asking me to confirm today as he has to leave on a trip tomorrow. He mentioned he does have others willing to do the event, but would prefer me. (Maybe something about the other guys willing to do it throws him off a bit)
Click to expand...

Here's the way I'd weigh it out. It's a Tuesday, and if I'm hungry, $100 is $100. That said, a $100 gig is never, ever going to get you anything besides other people asking you to work for $100. Second, I LOATHE karaoke and it doesn't matter if it's drunk bar people or sober church people. In fact, it's quite likely the church people are going to want to sing Christian material and if you don't have it, they're likely going to ridicule you for it. Third, that "I have other people who will do it" would be enough, all by itself, for me to tell him to go pound sand. He's just shown you his attitude. If you're dumb enough to cave then don't come back griping about how poorly he treated you.

Clearly, I'd pass on this one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm and DJ Ricky B
Is this weekly or monthly?

If I did Karaoke I would do it simply for the reason I base my business plan on Friday and Saturdays anything outside of that is gravy and I could take it or leave it. You would be helping out a church group and making $25 an hour for doing so. If it's weekly maybe you could leave the gear there on some weeks where you don't have a gig in between make it even easier on yourself
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bobcat
rickryan.com said:
Here's the way I'd weigh it out. It's a Tuesday, and if I'm hungry, $100 is $100. That said, a $100 gig is never, ever going to get you anything besides other people asking you to work for $100. Second, I LOATHE karaoke and it doesn't matter if it's drunk bar people or sober church people. In fact, it's quite likely the church people are going to want to sing Christian material and if you don't have it, they're likely going to ridicule you for it. Third, that "I have other people who will do it" would be enough, all by itself, for me to tell him to go pound sand. He's just shown you his attitude. If you're dumb enough to cave then don't come back griping about how poorly he treated you.
Click to expand...

I didn't see where Ricky said he told him he had others that were willing. That's pretty car salesman stuff I would reconsider on that point also
 
rickryan.com said:
Here's the way I'd weigh it out. It's a Tuesday, and if I'm hungry, $100 is $100. That said, a $100 gig is never, ever going to get you anything besides other people asking you to work for $100. Second, I LOATHE karaoke and it doesn't matter if it's drunk bar people or sober church people. In fact, it's quite likely the church people are going to want to sing Christian material and if you don't have it, they're likely going to ridicule you for it. Third, that "I have other people who will do it" would be enough, all by itself, for me to tell him to go pound sand. He's just shown you his attitude. If you're dumb enough to cave then don't come back griping about how poorly he treated you.

Clearly, I'd pass on this one.
Click to expand...

To clarify...I don't think he is giving me any attitude. Essentially, I told him my brother is a Minister, and he lit up. He would love to have my brother do it for them, and my brother is very interested in doing it because he has been talking about putting something together JUST LIKE THIS.

Here is his email:

"Hello DJ Ricky!

Any word from your brother. I have had a few others respond to me, but I would rather give the business to your brother."

However, Terry is not available on Tuesday night. He is scheduled to work, and can't get out of it. However, he can make himself available in coming months. So essentially, I would need to do this first night, so that Terry can do the future nights. And any night that Terry can't do, I would be the back up DJ. So really, it's not advantageous to me as an ongoing gig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rickryan.com
Jeff Romard said:
Is this weekly or monthly?

If I did Karaoke I would do it simply for the reason I base my business plan on Friday and Saturdays anything outside of that is gravy and I could take it or leave it. You would be helping out a church group and making $25 an hour for doing so. If it's weekly maybe you could leave the gear there on some weeks where you don't have a gig in between make it even easier on yourself
Click to expand...

It would be a monthly gig. The last Tuesday of every month. Basically a "let loose, and going out" night for their group. The Pastor managed to get a room in a restaurant for free. It's not taking place in a church. Of course it wouldn't be a monthly gig for me. I would do the first night, then my brother would do every night there after, unless for some reason he can't make it then I would be replacement. My bro really wants to do it.
 
Nope. Not me. Once or twice maybe..but to commit to it every tuesday and spend what, 4 hours all told for $100?
If you're in need of cash, experience or it has any marketing value then perhaps it's worth considering.

And I work cheap. But not that cheap!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm
IceBurghDJ said:
Nope. Not me. Once or twice maybe..but to commit to it every tuesday and spend what, 4 hours all told for $100?
If you're in need of cash, experience or it has any marketing value then perhaps it's worth considering.

And I work cheap. But not that cheap!
Click to expand...


It would be once a month. 4th Tuesday of every month.

...My brother wants to do it because he is a minister and it's a good cause, and he can network with other pastors in the area, and meet other church going people. He is also helping grow a religious community night out so to speak I guess. My brother has also been contemplating this very idea to do himself for months now, and he just hasn't started it yet.

For myself...The only reason I am doing it at this point is to help Terry out by filling in for the first one. After that It's all him.

Under normal circumstances, $100 isn't enough to get me to leave my driveway on any night of the week, but since he is so passionate about this and wants to do it I guess I'll do the first night.

I am only going to bring one speaker with me. What will suck is hauling my 20 inch tube screen on this gig to do it. I don't have a small enough flat screen at the moment to take, and I'm not spending any money on anything to do this gig other than a few dollars on gas
 
DJ Ricky B said:
It would be once a month. 4th Tuesday of every month.

...My brother wants to do it because he is a minister and it's a good cause, and he can network with other pastors in the area, and meet other church going people. He is also helping grow a religious community night out so to speak I guess. My brother has also been contemplating this very idea to do himself for months now, and he just hasn't started it yet.

For myself...The only reason I am doing it at this point is to help Terry out by filling in for the first one. After that It's all him.

Under normal circumstances, $100 isn't enough to get me to leave my driveway on any night of the week, but since he is so passionate about this and wants to do it I guess I'll do the first night.

I am only going to bring one speaker with me. What will suck is hauling my 20 inch tube screen on this gig to do it. I don't have a small enough flat screen at the moment to take, and I'm not spending any money on anything to do this gig other than a few dollars on gas
Click to expand...
you must have a old flat screen computer monitor around, that would be much better than a tube tv, and look a little more professional too
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bobcat
tunes4046 said:
you must have a old flat screen computer monitor around, that would be much better than a tube tv, and look a little more professional too
Click to expand...


Nope. However, I could ask my Mother in Law if I could borrow her 20" computer monitor. I doubt she needs to use her computer on Tuesday night. She only goes on it once a day, during the day for a bit because she uses her Kindle most the time. That is an idea.
 
Oh...Good news. Just received an email from the Pastor. He said the restaurant has flat screen TVs, and the manager there said I can connect to one of their TVs. Also, they have a sound system, and I can either use their sound system, or use my own.
 
DJ Ricky B said:
It would be once a month. 4th Tuesday of every month.

...My brother wants to do it because he is a minister and it's a good cause, and he can network with other pastors in the area, and meet other church going people.
Click to expand...

I'm quite curious. Does your brother catch crap from other ministers/Christians over DJing at alcoholic events? I'm thinking he might be able to get away with it in your area but here in the Bible belt, there'd be lots of better-than-thous howling to no end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back