2026 Event Count Prediction. How many do you anticipate you will work in 2026?

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How many events do you believe you will work in 2026

  • RETIRED so ZERO!

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • ONE SINGLE EVENT will be booked and performed

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 2-5 events

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • 6-14 events

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • 15-20 events

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • 21-30

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • 31-40

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • 41-50

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • 51-65

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • OVER 65 EVENTS in 2026

    Votes: 2 15.4%
  • Total voters
    13
DJ Ricky B

DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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Just another one of my polls. I thought it would be fun for us to predict how many events we work in 2026 as an estimate, and On New Years Eve next year we can come back to this and see how accurate all of us were!

If you are now "Retired" from working as a DJ, please choose that one! Gives an idea how many of us are working vs retired who post on the forum. 1 EVENT = 1 GIG = 1 JOB PER DAY

ALSO, HAPPY NEW YEAR! :thumbsup::wav::dancecool:
 
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I picked 31-40 I don't plan on doing over that (not including the regular bar gig). That being said I have 3 in January which has never happened before. A couple of years ago I decided to slow down a bit
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Just another one of my polls. I thought it would be fun for us to predict how many events we work in 2026 as an estimate, and On New Years Eve next year we can come back to this and see how accurate all of us were!

If you are now "Retired" from working as a DJ, please choose that one! Gives an idea how many of us are working vs retired who post on the forum. 1 EVENT = 1 GIG = 1 JOB PER DAY

ALSO, HAPPY NEW YEAR! :thumbsup::wav::dancecool:
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My 2026 is pretty much filled and on pace w 2025. Have 60 events booked, aiming for 65 and expecting 2-3 more to book In the next week or so when things settle down. 50 is my break even, 60 is always my goal, and anything beyond that is bonus. 2025 I did 70 events. Have 12 contracted for 2027.
 
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djtaso said:
My 2026 is pretty much filled and on pace w 2025. Have 60 events booked, aiming for 65 and expecting 2-3 more to book In the next week or so when things settle down. 50 is my break even, 60 is always my goal, and anything beyond that is bonus. 2025 I did 70 events. Have 12 contracted for 2027.
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50is you break even? If you book 50 gigs you have zero profit for the year???
 
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tunes4046 said:
50is you break even? If you book 50 gigs you have zero profit for the year???
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Yeah I said that completely wrong. 50 as the break even for me means to live comfortably, pay all my bills and attain the minimum of my financial goals, investments, etc. The actual income amount 50 provides me is significant, but so is my lifestyle. My goal is 60 to give myself additional freedoms, higher investing amounts, and just spend more freely.
 
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I did 20 this year, and I'm hoping to stay in that 15-20 range next year.

I'm hoping to keep my focus on doing a smaller number of high quality events. Most I'm doing Ceremony, Cocktails, Reception, and Uplighting all together. I'm also trying to take the weddings with slightly larger guest counts that are more fun.

For simpler gigs I'm giving them away pretty quickly and trying to get other folks on them that would be a good fit.
 
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I am going to predict 21 events total for 2026 for me. We will see how it turns out. I am also comfortable with that number
 
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How many gigs I will work is very different than how many I will charge for. I will probably do a dozen or more gigs. It could go up if I really start to enjoy my new controller. Still customizing the case. That was the plan for the last 2 days but I'm recovering from NYE instead. Had over 30 people at the house with dancing and karaoke.
 
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Since this poll has been posted let me ask this. How do any of you generate bookings?
 
I did 35 events this year and hope to stay close to that, or slightly less for 2026. Only 9 of last year's gigs were weddings. I made a decision in 2024 to start letting weddings go and I stayed true to that choice. I'm getting out of the wedding game and focusing more on corporate events and really almost anything that isn't a wedding or a kids party.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Since this poll has been posted let me ask this. How do any of you generate bookings?
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90% of my gigs are subcontracted from other DJs.
 
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logisticalstyles said:
I did 35 events this year and hope to stay close to that, or slightly less for 2026. Only 9 of last year's gigs were weddings. I made a decision in 2024 to start letting weddings go and I stayed true to that choice. I'm getting out of the wedding game and focusing more on corporate events and really almost anything that isn't a wedding or a kids party.


90% of my gigs are subcontracted from other DJs.
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Do you just not enjoy them? I'm the complete inverse - I will avoid almost anything but a wedding.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Since this poll has been posted let me ask this. How do any of you generate bookings?
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I built a referral network after several years of doing WeddingWire, The Knot, Wedding Expos, Wedding networking events...

Now I'm on several venue preferred vendor lists, and a handful of wedding planners will recommend me to their clients.

I don't spend any money on marketing anymore except the occasional thank you gift for one of my partners.
 
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tunes4046 said:
Mix, did you answer the poll question what it your goal on paying gigs for the year
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nothing said paying gigs. The poll man didn't want to leave someone out of the ( Mix).

How many events do you believe you will work in 2026​

 
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Albatross said:
Do you just not enjoy them? I'm the complete inverse - I will avoid almost anything but a wedding.
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I really don't enjoy them any more. I could write an essay about everything I dislike about DJing weddings. All of the prep time gathering music, multiple sound systems, clueless wedding coordinators, excessive playlists from brides, "rustic" venues with crappy load ins, parents that don't control their kids, clients wanting every trend like photo booths, dancing on the clouds and cold sparks, etc. These are just some of the things that make me turn down wedding gigs now. I could probably get a handle on some of those irritants if I booked my own gigs instead of subcontracting for other DJs but I have no desire to do that. I already work a full time job and have a small IT consulting business that has taken up more and more of my time. These days I'll take a 4-5 hour event that just needs some simple lights, and a DJ with a good sound system.
 
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logisticalstyles said:
I really don't enjoy them any more. I could write an essay about everything I dislike about DJing weddings. All of the prep time gathering music, multiple sound systems, clueless wedding coordinators, excessive playlists from brides, "rustic" venues with crappy load ins, parents that don't control their kids, clients wanting every trend like photo booths, dancing on the clouds and cold sparks, etc. These are just some of the things that make me turn down wedding gigs now. I could probably get a handle on some of those irritants if I booked my own gigs instead of subcontracting for other DJs but I have no desire to do that. I already work a full time job and have a small IT consulting business that has taken up more and more of my time. These days I'll take a 4-5 hour event that just needs some simple lights, and a DJ with a good sound system.
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I understand why you don't enjoy them any more. I can totally see myself deciding to not do weddings any longer in my 50s. The Crappy load ins and load outs, and dealing with setting up and tearing down outdoor ceremonies that are a 200+ yard walk from where the reception site is. I gave up on finding reliable assistants a few years back, and don't plan to have one in the future so as I get older there will be venues I will eventually make the decision to turn down working at completely as a one man crew.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
I understand why you don't enjoy them any more. I can totally see myself deciding to not do weddings any longer in my 50s. The Crappy load ins and load outs, and dealing with setting up and tearing down outdoor ceremonies that are a 200+ yard walk from where the reception site is. I gave up on finding reliable assistants a few years back, and don't plan to have one in the future so as I get older there will be venues I will eventually make the decision to turn down working at completely as a one man crew.
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Not that I do this often, as I tend to attract couples of particular style venues… but if you don’t like the load in or anything else in particular, just don’t accept gigs there. Venues with stairs I’ve practically all but eliminated, same w venues that have small set up windows or have sound restrictions etc. It’s ok to say no.
 
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djtaso said:
Not that I do this often, as I tend to attract couples of particular style venues… but if you don’t like the load in or anything else in particular, just don’t accept gigs there. Venues with stairs I’ve practically all but eliminated, same w venues that have small set up windows or have sound restrictions etc. It’s ok to say no.
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I'm not quite there yet. There is ONE Venue in D.C. that if I get booked at I will only bring my 10" speakers with me and the venue does not allow SUBS. I have to walk up 3 flights of stairs with my equipment to the set up location, and MOST weddings they have the DJ set their table up at the top of the 3rd flight of stairs because the small ballroom is limited in size, and unless it is a wedding for under 80 guests, putting the DJ table in there is not feasible because of no dancing area. They have the dancing area out in the foyer between two ballrooms. With that said I have been showing a $150 charge for all D.C. locations in my pricing last 18 months, and I'm sticking to that. I have talked with other DJs who claim they charge an additional $400 to $500 for DC venues on top of their regular rate. Not sure if they are for real on that or just trying to make themselves look good, but as I age I realize the need for charging more for dealing with DC venues.

I got very tired of the real long drives in 2024 so I already basically limited myself a bit by not bothering with the real far away venues any more. Ever since I raised my travel costs, I haven't booked far out venues, and the one source that sub contracts me I told I am not interested in driving to zip codes over an 80 mile drive from my house so they have not contacted me for far out stuff any longer. That has stunted my overall event count with fewer of those deep into Virginia weddings that I used to do I think a bit in 2024 and 2025, but I am fine with that. As time marches on I will continue to focus on venues that are a closer drive.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
I'm not quite there yet. There is ONE Venue in D.C. that if I get booked at I will only bring my 10" speakers with me and the venue does not allow SUBS. I have to walk up 3 flights of stairs with my equipment to the set up location, and MOST weddings they have the DJ set their table up at the top of the 3rd flight of stairs because the small ballroom is limited in size, and unless it is a wedding for under 80 guests, putting the DJ table in there is not feasible because of no dancing area. They have the dancing area out in the foyer between two ballrooms. With that said I have been showing a $150 charge for all D.C. locations in my pricing last 18 months, and I'm sticking to that. I have talked with other DJs who claim they charge an additional $400 to $500 for DC venues on top of their regular rate. Not sure if they are for real on that or just trying to make themselves look good, but as I age I realize the need for charging more for dealing with DC venues.

I got very tired of the real long drives in 2024 so I already basically limited myself a bit by not bothering with the real far away venues any more. Ever since I raised my travel costs, I haven't booked far out venues, and the one source that sub contracts me I told I am not interested in driving to zip codes over an 80 mile drive from my house so they have not contacted me for far out stuff any longer. That has stunted my overall event count with fewer of those deep into Virginia weddings that I used to do I think a bit in 2024 and 2025, but I am fine with that. As time marches on I will continue to focus on venues that are a closer drive.
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Why do you have line item pricing instead of just quoting the gig?? This makes no sense to me
 
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