Client budget below your typical minimum on an open date you want to book. What do you likely do?
- Thread starter DJ Ricky B
- Start date
It surpassed all the other DJ forums that I know of by a long shot. It has survived this long, so unless fees to keep it running spike up, I feel like it will keep on ticking. With that said, we are the same group of 20-25 or so DJs posting actively on here since probably 2017 or so. There are a few who are gone either by passing away or leaving on their own accord. I am sure Steve would still be very active if he were still here! Outside of that, we get a few random newbies that make a post or two, or hang out for a month or two, then they diss appear. I feel I will be around until the end of this forum shutting down maybe not as active as I am today, but if it outlasts my entire DJ career I will truly be impressed with ODJT's survival skills all this time!
I don't participate in FACEBOOK DJ Groups outside of a very occasional posting on "bad dj set ups" when an amusing picture of a set up gets posted, so I don't know how active FB DJ Groups even are any more or how they compare to the activity here on ODJT in 2024.
Part time DJs tend to book less than 30 events, working only twice a month at best even if their really into it. This only adds to their unrealistic pay expectations because the less they work the more they lack in experience and expertise. The result is DJs that require and extensive amount of hand-holding.
Ultimately, if I sub a DJ I care more about their people skills and desire to serve the customer than I do their mixing and music. If they're listening and responding to my client then everything else will fall into place.
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I wasn't really commenting from the perspective you described/focused on. I agree, as a multi op, your dj's need to have really good people skills. I meant more from the perspective of someone trying to do this to replace their day job and earn that median salary that you mentioned of $72k I believe.
It will be much later as long as it's in my hands
I'm under contract on a new construction home right now. With mortgage rates where they are, I'm not winding down anytime super soon
I've got no issue with you speaking your truth, and never have. I just think you often look at this as a glass-half-empty sort of situation.
If the industry has a shrinking number of participants, and demand remains fairly stable (if not higher for competent services), then the demand for everyone that keeps doing this actually increases.
That increased demand can raise prices, which then attracts more people to the market to try it, and the cycle continues.
Maybe AI puts us all out of business one day. I can't predict all of the ways the industry will evolve. But I think the same way people thought an iPod would ruin DJs hasn't been true, and I'm not sure this next wave is what does it either.
All great points. As I also stated, there will always be a demand for great DJs & Party Motivators. We are here to stay!
You will be a part of our Big History. I've checked out many FB groups and as fast as I joined, was as fast as I left. This forum is still the best!
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This really is non-sense, though you're not alone in this mindset. Truth is, you're simply playing psychologist and assuming customers are unwittingly conspiring to lower your income.
Taso stated the business proposition correctly. If weddings are your highest and best product - then weekends by definition have a higher value and scarcity so, you hold out for your best customer who can pay the best price. If that's not the case and you do the kind of gigs that happen all week then maybe holding out for a higher price on Saturday is unnecessary.
Personally, I get more money on Monday thru Thursday gigs now - so, I pick weekend gigs based on factors other than price. Part timers usually can't do that - they have ONLY the weekend available to do this kind of work.
One of the first things are you in high demand? Meaning that plenty of people know who you are and more than likely they know what you can provide for an event.
Those who are full time DJs need to command a certain amount of money so they can maintain the way they live.
Full time meaning they don't have another job besides DJing and don't have another source of income coming in.
This argument will last for ever. What one DJ would do an event for another DJ wouldn't. They wouldn't even consider doing the event because it's beneath their starting price. In some cases there are those who might negotiate with a potential client about the price. If the difference between the 2 is not that big a deal the DJ might consider doing it for the price the client wants to pay.
It's really about what each individual DJ will do and how they are running their business. What one DJ charges another DJ may not be able to. It doesn't matter if a DJs price is higher or lower than another DJ. There are those out there that their price is well above 1k and mean it.
A DJ like that who can consistently get paid that kind of money people see is well worth that price. What it comes down to is what can you consistently get paid. You can quote any price you want. That's not the issue. The question is will the potential client agree to pay that price or keep looking.
Another important factor is how good are you at selling yourself? Also some of it depends on what you have to offer a potential client. Some have a lot more to offer than another DJ. Depending on what a client needs for their event the price might be too high for the client to pay.
Everyone has a price they will not go beyond. Let me give a quick example. There are TVs cost 2k or more. There are those like myself who don't see any TV worth paying that much. Then there are those who can easily see themselves buying a TV costing that much and the reason is simple. They feel it worth that price. Myself I can't afford a TV costing that much. Besides I get to see the same picture they do with the TV I have. It's just that it's not a 4k definition TV and nor do I care.
Those who are full time DJs need to command a certain amount of money so they can maintain the way they live.
Full time meaning they don't have another job besides DJing and don't have another source of income coming in.
This argument will last for ever. What one DJ would do an event for another DJ wouldn't. They wouldn't even consider doing the event because it's beneath their starting price. In some cases there are those who might negotiate with a potential client about the price. If the difference between the 2 is not that big a deal the DJ might consider doing it for the price the client wants to pay.
It's really about what each individual DJ will do and how they are running their business. What one DJ charges another DJ may not be able to. It doesn't matter if a DJs price is higher or lower than another DJ. There are those out there that their price is well above 1k and mean it.
A DJ like that who can consistently get paid that kind of money people see is well worth that price. What it comes down to is what can you consistently get paid. You can quote any price you want. That's not the issue. The question is will the potential client agree to pay that price or keep looking.
Another important factor is how good are you at selling yourself? Also some of it depends on what you have to offer a potential client. Some have a lot more to offer than another DJ. Depending on what a client needs for their event the price might be too high for the client to pay.
Everyone has a price they will not go beyond. Let me give a quick example. There are TVs cost 2k or more. There are those like myself who don't see any TV worth paying that much. Then there are those who can easily see themselves buying a TV costing that much and the reason is simple. They feel it worth that price. Myself I can't afford a TV costing that much. Besides I get to see the same picture they do with the TV I have. It's just that it's not a 4k definition TV and nor do I care.
Please note this line in my post
"What I'm saying is, some DJs won't reduce their price, because"
SOME
Personally, I have always said,
There is a budget to fit every DJ...and a DJ to fit every budget
Makes no difference - if we make any kind of space for this argument we are simply a party to the same 'stinkin' thinkin.'
If it's not real, or doesn't impact you why even bring it up?
Because this is a forum. We discuss stuff. It's NOT an argument, but it IS a topic that others have brought up here. You have an opposing viewpoint and you stated it. If it doesn't affect YOU, then don't join the discussion. But don't stifle free thoughts.
I'm not stifling your free thoughts - your free to defend, promote, and discuss them. I am free to reject and dismiss them as non-sense. That's called discussion. What you're looking for is called: "agreement."
Let's keep it simple. There are DJs who will say another DJ isn't charging enough to do events and a lot of times they don't know the DJ. All they know is that DJ isn't anywhere what I charge to an event. That will never change. The focus needs to be on what you charge to do an event. If it's working for you then it shouldn't matter what someone else thinks. If you're not happy with where you're at, then you need to make the changes you feel you need to make to get you where you want to be. The end.