Bar & Club Bar Comedy Show - What would you charge?

i did this a while ago i charged $400 i also provided lighting

It may also depend on the caliber of the comics and how much THEY are getting paid.
If you end up asking for more than the "talent" is getting....

Just saw Richard Lewis at a local comedy club that uses EV's flown high AND Bose sticks on both sides of the stage.

I can't say much for him though...most of his time was spent at the rear wall mumbling Jewish humor.

Depends on a lot of factors but the most important one being the date. If it's a Saturday, I would charge my full rate, even if they just wanted me to be there making announcements. It's a bar so no matter what you charge, it will most likely be too much anyways...

shanefrom302 said:

Someone wants a dj for a comedy show to supply the speakers/microphones and play music about an hour before the show and run sound while the comedy show is taking place. What would you charge? What would you charge if you only have to bring your laptop and turntables/cd players/controllers/etc without bringing any amps/speakers/mics?

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maestro said:

Depends on a lot of factors

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I'll second that.

Back to the original inquiry:
1) Are you legitimately capable of ALL the services the client seeks, including and most importantly board operations for a comedy show? (FYI, ownership of equipment does not make one capable)

2) If you are capable, what do you charge other clients for your similar service?

3) Do you have established rates for such contingencies?

4) Are there any direct costs/expenses associated with performing at this venue? (Parking, tolls, Union fees, etc.)

5) Are there any additional or special planning, programming or preparation costs/expenses associated with this event?

6) What is your adjusted rate if/when you are allowed to use the house's system at other venues?

7) What are the other professionals earning for similar service in your market?

etc. etc. etc...

Asking abuncha deeeejay what you should charge is a precarious exercise, at best. You will get opinion after opinion based on horrible to successful business practice and from every type of practitioner from posers to professionals and that is not a sample from which one should expect to draw useful advice on such a serious business matter as setting one's fees.

If you are a legit professional, your rates should be based on substantially more reliable and considered components.

The only and prudent advise I will off is that if ixmaysatremayachomay offers you pricing advice, ignoreay itay!

It Probably won’t be the same in your case but I was DJing at a college comedy show and I got roasted. They had fun with my age and that was before all the gray hair. I didn’t take anything personally and I think they could tell. Actually some of the stuff was pretty funny. It was like when we were working a Outdoor Movie event watching the movie “ Old School” and laughing our butts off. Then I realized we were 10 years older than the people they were making fun of. The look we gave each other was priceless. Then we got right back to laughing at the movie. Sometimes things are just funny.

100 bucks an hour of playing time and 50 for setup. That would be the rediculous high side,,,,
For no racks and stacks 50 an hour would be fair and worth your time.

This is the national average. Also what I use in my professional billing

• 2-hour prom/high school dance: $350
• 3-hour prom/high school dance: $450
• 4-hour prom/high school dance: $500
• 5- or 6-hour prom/high school dance: $600

DJs may charge an hourly rate that fluctuates depending on the type of event you are hosting. For example, a DJ may charge $75 per hour for corporate parties and $100 per hour for weddings.

DJ Keeln-

Those rates seem awfully low. When I started back in TX, I was charging those rates (15 years ago)

OP, IMO, you should have a minimum that you go out for. Sounds like you would be more of a sound guy who plays some background music at the beginning. I think 400-500 seems reasonable.

This thread got resurrected from 2013... wow.

DJKLEEN said:

This is the national average. Also what I use in my professional billing

• 2-hour prom/high school dance: $350
• 3-hour prom/high school dance: $450
• 4-hour prom/high school dance: $500
• 5- or 6-hour prom/high school dance: $600

DJs may charge an hourly rate that fluctuates depending on the type of event you are hosting. For example, a DJ may charge $75 per hour for corporate parties and $100 per hour for weddings.

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I'd encourage you to consider moving away from such a time based system. Your inventory is the date.. whether they want you for 3 or 5 hours is irrelevant if you can't do other work with the extra hour.

And also consider raising those rates by a lot, or understanding what you can do to raise them. I know my market isn't the same as everyones, but you should be able to get multiples of those numbers for a well produced high school event.

Albatross said:

And also consider raising those rates by a lot, or understanding what you can do to raise them. I know my market isn't the same as everyones, but you should be able to get multiples of those numbers for a well produced high school event.

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That depends on many factors. To me or you and others who strive for higher prices, and are comfortable in our service area we think others prices should be higher. DC and NOVA is a big difference than Baltimore metro, and areas north. It's even a much larger difference compared to most of the rest of the country.

Variables can include
How often does the DJ want to work?
Does the DJ have a full time job that enables them to charge whatever they want on the weekends and be able to work less events?
What audience does the DJ target to?
The local area/market the DJ services. ....Sorry, but many DJs who operate in the DC area, Upper state New Jersey Area, New York City, Boston, perhaps other high priced Urban markets have a skewed view of what DJs should be charging in other areas of the country.

If any of us were to move to Mississippi or Missouri or Idaho or West Virginia, or even North Carolina, and tried to book $1895 weddings, and $1,300 school dances, and were quoting $1,000 to DJ for an hour and supply sound for a comedy bar show, we would find ourselves wasting our time throwing quotes out and sitting at home every weekend because we are not being real with our prices in relation to the local market and competition out there.

What clientele in many of these areas EXPECT from their DJ Service is also considerably different from other areas of the country.


In the end, there is always the ability for improvement, and raising one's rates, but raising rates, and trying to command more money does not always translate to more income, and it's certainly going to be harder to stay as busy unless there was an exodus of DJs retiring and demand for DJs in the market increases. If someone wants to be working every weekend, and is not a expert at targeting the high end clientele, and finding work in those high end markets every weekend like Taso for example, then they have to work in a price range that is comfortable for them to operate in.

Albatross said:

I'd encourage you to consider moving away from such a time based system. Your inventory is the date.. whether they want you for 3 or 5 hours is irrelevant if you can't do other work with the extra hour.

And also consider raising those rates by a lot, or understanding what you can do to raise them. I know my market isn't the same as everyones, but you should be able to get multiples of those numbers for a well produced high school event.

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Yea bro,,,, that’s what I’m trying to do, but when I don’t get the job they just say,,,,,we decided to go,with a live band.

I’m alright'!!!!!! I! Ok. I just need to calm down

Im leaving this thread, and not coming back,,,,because this horse dies along time ago!

Like I said, "Asking abuncha deeeejay what you should charge is a precarious exercise, at best. You will get opinion after opinion based on horrible to successful business practice and from every type of practitioner from posers to professionals and that is not a sample from which one should expect to draw useful advice on such a serious business matter as setting one's fees."

DJKLEEN said:

Yea bro,,,, that’s what I’m trying to do, but when I don’t get the job they just say,,,,,we decided to go,with a live band.

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I didn't mean to sound flippant like it was a super easy thing to do. I know it isn't.

Albatross said:

I didn't mean to sound flippant like it was a super easy thing to do. I know it isn't.

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No,,, I didn’t take it as that. You have been pretty cool , And I always enjoy your post. You are one of the contributors that I believe gives good input.

Thanks , I appreciate the encouragement!

shanefrom302 said:

Someone wants a dj for a comedy show to supply the speakers/microphones and play music about an hour before the show and run sound while the comedy show is taking place. What would you charge? What would you charge if you only have to bring your laptop and turntables/cd players/controllers/etc without bringing any amps/speakers/mics?

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Well did you get this job? If so how much did you do it for

If you did not get the job,,,, please be honest and tell us how much did you quote her.