$350 dj

Mr. K, see what you started. I'm having flashbacks about one of Cesar's most controversial threads back at Sid's place.

Thunder said:

This past Saturday I had 4 gigs booked.

Regular KJ show $250 my take after paying the Host $125 total expenses for show $7.50, total time expenditure on my part 0.

Private party 13th birthday KJ/DJ $350 after expenses of $100 for Host/DJ $3.28 for fuel vehicle useage etc. and total time involvement on my part less than 1 hour $246.72.

Private party event DJ only $350 after expenses $150 for DJ $9.00 for fuel and vehicle useage, total time involvement 10 minutes in contract work.

Private engagement party DJ only small setup, $650, travel time 2 hours setup breakdown time 20 minutes, contract time 10 minutes, play time 4 hours, total expenses $21.00

So from a take for the day of $1600 and a payout $403.78 with a total time expenditure of just under 8 hours I have a return of $1196.22!

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Thunder said:

I have watched the worthers try to make 2+2=11 for so many years it just gets to the point where you have to just say it the way it was meant to be said.

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Of course 2 + 2 doesn't equal 11. But the expenses bolded in the post above, don't add up to the total you indicated either.

1cdj said:

If you're running a multi op, a business with employees why on earth would they pick their gigs or their schedules much less see how much money you have in any given job. what kind of hypothetical organization would you be running

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Good question.

I could make arguments about the other points but I won't bother. Suffice to say, we see things very differently when we determine our profit rates.

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As far as I can tell one of you gets it with occasional work, and the other gets it with consistent work.

The deal breaker is that if I'm looking for an experienced DJ - the guy with consistent work has more references, more demonstrable proof of his competency, and is more likley to have worked for someone I know.

So I do about half as many events as I used to.
But I charge well more than triple what I used to.
It's not ego. It's simple math.

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The math really isn't that simple.
You're doing half as many shows for triple the price - but for how long?

You've positioned yourself in a higher but smaller tier of your market.
You generate fewer referrals, and some of those will not be in your tier.
You're experience in contrast to other DJs is diminishing - you could be losing the very edge that allowed you to hike your price in the first place.


Perhaps you've got a great network of agents, planners, venues, and vendors who prefer and refer you - if not, you're soon going to need some serious advertising (like bridal shows, magazines, etc.) to find prospects who will respond to an exceptional price. It will also cost you more in the sales process to convince them you're worth it.

I'm not saying this doesn't work. But, in the end Hank is correct - you're not likley to be any further ahead than Steve, and you're position will be all the more sensitive too.

Resources are more important than price. A large mulit-op or broad entertainment agency has a far better chance of doing well with very high prices than a single-op DJ with limited capabilities.

DJ Teddy Bear said:

Of course 2 + 2 doesn't equal 11. But the expenses bolded in the post above, don't add up to the total you indicated either.


Good question.

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Perhaps I should have purchased a $300 calculator! I may have miss printed the numbers but they were there for you to add up.

Yes that's why I didn't post their name Kyle - they are too busy for all this worth $hite from day job, one time wonders who have got heads and brains the size of peas. Maybe not heads and beards

Nothing against part timers at all - except the mouthy wankers that are worth all that money and still do a day job

They couldn't run a piss up in a brewery let alone a multi

Respect to the majority of pt jocks that don't harp on about worth - bollocks to you worth wallies

Yes I agree bullocks to your worth wallies or whatever that means

Proformance -

While I stand by everything I have said so far in this thread, you make some interesting points that merit consideration.

Thanks

Oh...I'm sorry...I thought this was Our DJ Talk...I must be mistaken...please pardon the interruption...

Booch

Mr. K said:

Awww...guys...I feel so BAD...I just had a meeting with my client and my light technician.

This IS a FUNDRAISER!

That said, she IS paying others for their services. AND, if she has to downsize, she might move this event to a smaller venue, which may or may not insist on using their "in-house" DJ. And she's okay with that (I guess that I am, too--as if I have a choice).

So, I'm still sticking to my $350.

But I still feel kinda bad...but just kinda.

//

Edit: oh, I just remembered something else!

This "other" venue is the restaurant from which I got banned last year (some of you might remember my exploits as a would-be stalker). I told my client the story. She asked me if it had happened within the first two months of that restaurant's opening. I answered in an affirmative manner. She then proceeded to explain to me about the fact that they had "management problems" at the time. I'll say.

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That sucks...are the other events still a go?

Steve Cie said:

I am definitely missing something with this thread.

Are you guys NUTS?????

I was charging $550 twenty five years ago! I am sad to say that today I only get $1100 to $1500 per event, but that's simply because there are so many guys working for slave wages out there.

One poster said "where else can you make $350 for a day's work. First of all, you are not making $350 for the day. You still have to pay for transportation, insurance, equipment, music, clothing, advertising, phone - electric-internet connectivity fees, etc. The average wage today is between $50,000 and $125,000 a year. Break it down--250 work days in a year---at the bottom of the scale $200 a day -- at the top-- $ 500 a day.

It takes me at least 4 days of hard work to put a show together--including client meetings, music compilation and acquisition, travel and set-up time for the event etc. If I did that for $350, my gross before all of my many expenses would be $87.50 a day, and I haven't purchased any gear or gas yet!!
I do an average of 125 shows a year. And let me tell you, I earn every penny of my money! And i am by no means at the top of the income bracket at my rates.

C'mon guys, start thinking like businessmen.
Otherwise, you simply hobbyists!

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Steve:
I would just like to point out the fact that your average salary numbers don't tell the whole truth. In the middle and working classes (which make up the vast majority of this country) some people have to work 60 hours a week to get $50K a year. In other families, both parents working will only reach $75K a year. When you take into account reality, the average person/family will see $200 a day with overtime, if they're lucky.

DJ J Mac said:

Steve:
I would just like to point out the fact that your average salary numbers don't tell the whole truth. In the middle and working classes (which make up the vast majority of this country) some people have to work 60 hours a week to get $50K a year. In other families, both parents working will only reach $75K a year. When you take into account reality, the average person/family will see $200 a day with overtime, if they're lucky.

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And people who are fresh out of college or just a few years out might start out getting less, yet we will get stuck footing all or part of the bill for a wedding. And let's not forget that the quoted salaries are gross earnings and not what is actually netted after taxes and deductions.

Mr. K said:

You make it sound like a bad thing.

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It is...haven't you heard? Some of us are rotten, part-time, low-balling hobbyists who should become better businessmen and raise our rates, because we are a drag on the "DJ industry," especially since we call ourselves "mobile DJs" rather than "Wedding Entertainment Directors." :sqembarrassed:

This may apply only to single ops as multi ops are a totally different animal but what do I know.

Bear with me...

5 Guys a round a cooler, 1 Accountant, 2 Clerks, 2 Managers
Talking about their salaries
Clerk 1 - I make $11 an hour
Clerk 2 - I make $9 an hpur
Mgr1- I make $60000 a year
Mgr2- I make $45000 a year
Accountant- Well, after factoring in the 4 years of Business School which was technically the Prep Time I needed to do my Accounting Job, And the Ludicrous amounts of Coffee needed to pass the Board, and all the travel expenses needed to go the review classes, and the daily cost of gas so I can make it to work, My salary is Really $7.9675833355545 per hour.

OR-
Accountant Looking for Job-
Hey mr Hiring Guy Sir, On Top of my Salary, you also need to pay for my gas to get to work and get home
Mr Hiring Guy- That Sonny Boy Is your Damn Problem
Accountant - But Sir, Mr Hiring Guy, I have the Latest Calculator Express 5 Million Omega

Also- Why do we always say on ouir website or to our Prospect, WE GIVE FREE CONSULTATION, but when discussion like these come up, WELL YOU DONT REALLY MAKE 350 AFTER THE THE GAS SPENT ON CONSULTATIONS AND PAYING MY CABLE BILL WHICH THE WIRTH GUYS SAID WE SHOULD CONSIDER AN EXPENSE AND THE PREP TIME

Do you see the Accountant saying to Mr Hiring Guy - PAY OFF MY SCHOOL LOAN, THAT WAS PREP TIME TO BE A ACCOUNTANT!
If this was how he looked a t how he was to be paid, 4 years of school + dorms + books+ lodging = $ 180000, Do we REALLY tell a prospective employer that you are basing your salary requirements based on tghis figure that you spent as YOUR PREP TIME TO BECOME AN ACCOUNTANT? No , the job is $60000 per year. However you look at it, that is the pay

Dont know if this made any sense but just rambling I guess.