How to know when you’re done

tunes4046 said:

I have Two wedding on the books for the rest of the year and maybe three other private gigs,
I find myself turning down most inquires as they are either too involved logistically or too far away.
Obviously, I don’t need the income, I used to DJ because I loved the adrenaline of the crowd, but the last few years I have found clientele has become in general more difficult to work with, many have unrealistic expectations based on the budgets they are working with.
I used to have no problem booking $2500 plus weddings but have started to run into more and more $2500 brides with $5000 expectations.

More than likely it’s just me, I’d rather do other things with my free time and have started several business that generate far more income based on time invested, leaving me more free time to enjoy life

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What are their $5000 expectations?

Call it quits if you don't need the money. End it at the end of the year. Then, After that, just do the once in a blue moon non wedding job that comes your way just to go and play music and DJ once in a while. Or end it all together.

My older brother is in his last few years. He tells me he has MAYBE 3 years left and he is done. He tells me if he does anything after that it will be the rare local easy event that comes his way.

An older DJ at a open house a few months back after I told him my older bro only has a few years left and he plans to hang it up, he said these words "WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR DONE, YOU KNOW"

tunes4046 said:

More than I can provide specialty lighting and effects that don’t pay for me to own, super long events, wedding at 2 pm dinner reception, 2-4 hour after party that 12-14 hour not including set up and strike. Could I do it of course, is it worth the time and effort , no I could make more income with that time than I can doing this

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Seems like if they’re looking into premium priced entertainers they’re likely throwing a premium level wedding, which nowadays does involve more lighting, but also bc they’re seeking to invest strongly in their entertainment they’re more likely to extend their partying time with an after party. These are common things around here. 4-5hr reception (usually equates to 2.5hrs of dancing there) plus a 2hr after party, often in a different part of the facility requiring a separate sound system to be set up in advance.

The thing with charging $2500 is you’re not gonna get basic only couples. They’re gonna want the $2500 DJ plus plus plus. I’m noticing for 2026 in particular I’m pushing out more larger productions, including multiple weddings with 6 moving heads plus pixel tubes. Thank you Tik tok lol

For me I feel I will be done when I no longer enjoy it. Most times I enjoy DJing.

I already have a plan in my head. As long as I am working full time I'm sticking to the plan. Book as many events as I can at my current price through 2027 under the condition that I don't book more than 4 weekends in a row, and nothing under 3 weeks out. 2028 I start slowing it down. I will stop winter events all together in 2028. 2029 and beyond the plan is to limit my events at a max of 14 per year with 12 being the target. Potential last year being 2035. That plan could be thrown out the window at any time depending on various conditions though.

tunes4046 said:

I don’t have enough opportunities for the investment in gear to payoff, and the nearest rental house that carry this type of gear is a 3-4 one way drive for me, the $$ earned vs time invested doesn’t math out

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it makes sense to not invest something you don't think you're gonna benefit from... it's just that price point tends to attract that type of client. Like I can't think of a single client that literally wanted nothing from me except 1 in the last 5 years. I have events running 4 systems at once, multiple layers of lighting, etc. Despite all that I am capable of doing, I'm ironically at a threshold that I attract couples that now are starting to want more than I too can do (video walls, live musicians, expansive lighting/trussing. So it kinda just comes with the territory I think.

djtaso said:

it makes sense to not invest something you don't think you're gonna benefit from... it's just that price point tends to attract that type of client. Like I can't think of a single client that literally wanted nothing from me except 1 in the last 5 years. I have events running 4 systems at once, multiple layers of lighting, etc. Despite all that I am capable of doing, I'm ironically at a threshold that I attract couples that now are starting to want more than I too can do (video walls, live musicians, expansive lighting/trussing. So it kinda just comes with the territory I think.

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At that point it wound not be fun or worth while to me any more. I would have a set limit of what I can handle/facilitate for their event. Perhaps find and establish a relationship with a larger event decor company I could refer those couples to bring in the things that you can't handle. I didn't even want to dive into photo booths when they became a thing lol. My thesh hold for what I'm willing to deal with is fairly low on the services/equipment side.

DJ Ricky B said:

At that point it wound not be fun or worth while to me any more. I would have a set limit of what I can handle/facilitate for their event. Perhaps find and establish a relationship with a larger event decor company I could refer those couples to bring in the things that you can't handle. I didn't even want to dive into photo booths when they became a thing lol. My thesh hold for what I'm willing to deal with is fairly low on the services/equipment side.

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I love the larger productions, but I prefer the productions where I still control every aspect. I don't like to manage other talent. When I worked for a larger company who did a lot of sub contracting, I've found that subcontracted talent was never as communicative as my clients would like and when I went on my own I knew I didn't want that to be a reflection on the services I provide. Not worth the few extra hundred dollars.

With that said, for all that I do, it's actually very manageable and easy to setup/breakdown. 80% of our packages can be broken down and on the road in less than an hour with just me and one other person.

Ultimately though, the reason I find it worth while is the money. If you're priced appropriately to attract couples that are seeking more than basic dj services, the opportunity is there to make a lot more, without increasing much on your overhead. On avg my weddings add over $1000 in add-ons lately, but the expenses associated with that $1000 is likely under $100 on average. Tunes is right there at that sweet spot for those clients... he just doesn't want em lol.

Outside of areas where the cost of living is noticeably higher (meaning everything costs more) people are wising up to the notion of DJs costing thousands of dollars to deliver what is essentially novelties. The sun is largely setting on that era. Wealthier clients have also moved on to a higher level of design. Repeats are something to be avoided and a lot goes into creating something completely new.

The wedding market in general evolves. There's a lot of DJs still out there on the far end of the curve - doing what was popular 20 years ago.

If we set aside the fact that for this OP DJing is a sideline or amusement (not income driven), then the original post would sound a lot like the growing prevalence of people who simply don't want to work (no matter what the field.) This sense of being an "influencer" and getting paid for how something "looks" seems to be eroding the obvious link between "hours" put in and the actual remuneration.

I worked 18 hours yesterday and didn't use a single light. At yesterday's gig I captured 3 more dates, ran into and reaffirmed 3 other long standing contacts/sources, and made 2 new connections. The best way to get more good work is to BE SEEN doing good work. (For the month, 23 events in June alone. Work is actually the thing that gets me more work. The internet - you won't find me there anymore. Advertising? - nothing I actually pay for.

DJ Ricky B said:

My sic: [threshold] for what I'm willing to deal with is fairly low on the services/equipment side.

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At least you're taking personal ownership.

Customers are very aware of this today. It is not a secret to anyone. When you say "quick & easy" I think you are describing a mindset that savvy customers already fully understand and are trying to avoid.

Taso's 6 movers and multiple tubes is not a difficult setup, and it's so easily repeatable. But it is physical - and requires a willingness to do the work or hire the help of moving these pieces in and out of place. That's especially true in high traffic locations and venues with difficult or limited access.

I not sure the customers or industry is to blame for a change in work ethic, which is what seems to be the norm today.

Proformance said:

Taso's 6 movers and multiple tubes is not a difficult setup, and it's so easily repeatable. But it is physical - and requires a willingness to do the work or hire the help of moving these pieces in and out of place. That's especially true in high traffic locations and venues with difficult or limited access.

I not sure the customers or industry is to blame for a change in work ethic, which is what seems to be the norm today.

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You're definitely right... it's really not hard at all. Perhpas the hardest part is finding 3 circuits when getting to the 6 moving head level or more if sparks are involved. Around here, since setup time is 2-3hrs and breakdown is 1hr in most places, many are afraid of a package of this size or don't have staff to handle it, which is why this scale is not so common amongst wedding dj's (I'd probably put only 5-10% of jersey dj's offering lighting packages of this size). However, in a practical sense it is easy and it is repeatable (likely why my team and I are so efficient with it).

tunes4046 said:

I think that’s my plan, I don’t enjoy most of the new music, the TikTok attention span that people seem to have nowadays, while I certainly can do it very well I don’t enjoy the fast mixing the higher end events seem to want, it becomes mentally exhausting, the dance portion of receptions in my area is still typically 4 hours that a long time frame for fast mixing

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I don't put a lot of stock into "fast mixing" and I don't think that is what is really happening if we are truly paying attention. Fast mixing has always been part of DJing. In the 1980's we used it to condense Motown or 60's rock sets into good dance sets, especially with respect to artists like the Beatles or Jackson 5 for example, where we can substitute a medley of their hot hits in lieu of picking just one. Fast forward to today's music where only the hook is attractive; the rest being filler or self-diatribes and there's good reason to start condensing sets into a more energetic presentation.

Some DJs do this brilliantly, and others imitate quite poorly. It's the difference between fine cut sushi and a chain saw.

djtaso said:

You're definitely right... it's really not hard at all. Perhpas the hardest part is finding 3 circuits when getting to the 6 moving head level or more if sparks are involved. Around here, since setup time is 2-3hrs and breakdown is 1hr in most places, many are afraid of a package of this size or don't have staff to handle it, which is why this scale is not so common amongst wedding dj's (I'd probably put only 5-10% of jersey dj's offering lighting packages of this size). However, in a practical sense it is easy and it is repeatable (likely why my team and I are so efficient with it).

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I have never found reliable long standing help in my area. Offered plenty of money, and even transportation with me to and from the events. I decided a couple years back I was giving up on finding a reliable assistant/roadie. Also, I am packed now with my Traverse with what I currently provide. 3 Sound system set ups and Full room up lights completely pack me in, and that is by myself. I have no room for Truss and other equipment, or photo booths etc. Haven't been willing to invest in a van. I'm a 1 man show, and will remain that way. Perhaps my son decides he wants to get into deejaying, and be my assistant and learn at some point, but he has not displayed a level of enthusiasm towards wanting to do that yet. He is 16, so that could change, but who knows. My wife has a negative attitude towards me deejaying a lot, and she looks at it as should strictly be a side business income and I think he has picked up on that a lot in recent years. The Family DJ business might be ending with me in the future. My sister and brother's kids don't want anything to do with DJ work either as they became adults.

Anyway, at many of my events especially the DC area venues, I feel quite rushed to set everything up, and I am very focused and fast in what I do. I'm pushing it when I am setting up 20+ up lights on top of 3 system set ups and my light effect show. I simply don't have the set up time or ability to also set up Truss systems. I never wanted to deal with photo booths or any of the other add on "Novelty" items as Pro calls them.

Proformance said:

I don't put a lot of stock into "fast mixing" and I don't think that is what is really happening if we are truly paying attention. Fast mixing has always been part of DJing. In the 1980's we used it to condense Motown or 60's rock sets into good dance sets, especially with respect to artists like the Beatles of Jackson 5 where we can substitute a medley of their hot hits in lieu of picking just one. Fast forward to today's music where only the hook is really attractive, and the rest is filler or self-diatribes - and there's good reason to start condensing sets into a more energetic presentation.

Some DJs do this brilliantly, and others imitate quite poorly. It's the difference between fine cut sushi and a chain saw.

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If you go on Tik tok you’ll see countless brides complaining about DJs that play songs out. It’s a different generation for weddings. We are paying attention which is why we know the higher paying brides are paying for a DJ that is mastering the quick mixing. That does mean knowing proper mixing skills to do it right where songs seamlessly flow from one verse or buildup into the next… otherwise it sounds choppy or it becomes noticeable the DJ is messing with the song. This is perhaps my number one most common trait that brides are specifically mentioning, aside from no line dances. Again, this is specifically for weddings. Keep in mind no one even knows the 2nd or 3rd verses of most songs out today, at least not the 25-35 yr olds unless it’s an anthem