Thankfully I haven't has an issue with equipment in a good while. Everything is working great. You're right because It cost me $400.00 for 2 sets of tires recently.
How would you have handled this situation?
- Thread starter MIXMASTERMACHOM
- Start date
Subscriptions to a music service and insurance alone will be $20-$40 per event based on the amount you do. I assume you have both.
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Since it is worded that way it gives an easy response to that statement. They can view it however they like, then when they ask the question i respond and let them know the price is " Anything up to 5 hours, and let them know that means anything 5 hours or less " I've actually done that once or twice , never had any issues.
Reminds me of something I once did...
It was late 90's, and I needed money to buy food and help pay the rent in FL. So I took a gig laying crab traps in the gulf. The traps are about 50 pounds each, and we had a few thousand to bait and drop at 15 seconds each.
Whoever got out there first, got the best lines. Then TS Josephine pops in -- seas 10-15 foot -- everybody was puking (there was only 3 of us, since the crack smoking dude from Sweden was passed out).
Somewhere around 65-70 hours without sleep, and maggots and roaches crawling all over us.
Net pay was close to $200. Please don't complain -- you won't get any sympathy from me.
It was late 90's, and I needed money to buy food and help pay the rent in FL. So I took a gig laying crab traps in the gulf. The traps are about 50 pounds each, and we had a few thousand to bait and drop at 15 seconds each.
Whoever got out there first, got the best lines. Then TS Josephine pops in -- seas 10-15 foot -- everybody was puking (there was only 3 of us, since the crack smoking dude from Sweden was passed out).
Somewhere around 65-70 hours without sleep, and maggots and roaches crawling all over us.
Net pay was close to $200. Please don't complain -- you won't get any sympathy from me.
I think I have -- 24,000+ posts on this board alone. Perhaps somebody will figure it all out some day...
I'm still trying to figure out whether it's 8:15 am or pm...
I mean something where that you can sell and make some coin!
Question of the day...who would play Rick in the movie about his life?
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
Al Pacino or Kurt Russell -- I know that sounds weird, but they both have the same sort of sense of humor and adventure that I have.
All I can say Tunes is great advice. This one just caught me off guard since this is the first time something like this has happened to me.
Balogny, DJ service is easily rendered without incurring much if any of the expenses you cite. Your model is very much out of date. This little corner of the world doesn't work that way anymore. Very few DJs need to operate according to your expensive business model - and the customers are very much aware of that fact!
Music - I spend more on shipping fees.
Equipment - Cheap and easily manageable, assignable, or outsourced.
Insurance - Less than an internet connection for general liability covering a Disc Jockey
Vehicle - I would still own a vehicle and with the added tax deductions it's not a big additional expense.
Phone/internet - You'd still have both even if you weren't a DJ - now you get a tax break.
Office - Home office saves - with deductions and depreciation. U.S. Treasury effectively picks up 7% of my cost, plus a deduction for depreciation.
Advertising - matter of ability & resources, can do a lot of effective outreach with little or no money.
Stop operating like a museum or showcase. You are not a collector - you're a DJ. There is always a high cost associated with buying, storing, and moving things around. If your model is a gear & music collector - someone (consuming) managing and moving inventory rather than selling a unique independent skill/labor then you are wasting money and time on non-unique inventory. (There are more than enough LED lights and speakers to go around.) If you have a core resource that is your knowledge and indispensable skills then much of the expense you cite is unnecessary.
The majority of DJs are part-time players, not business entities. That is not a fault or problem - it is a reality of the endeavor that it is economically best served from a very small plate.
The problem occurs where people take on DJ or other responsibilities when they already lack the resources to do so. If a person has to spend $400 on new tires - that is not a DJ expense. It is a living expense and the fact that they got a flat while at a gig doesn't alter that reality. It also makes no sense to solicit occasional baking jobs if the first one you book requires you to buy an oven. Work with what you already have. Rent/Lease when the demands depart from that list - and buy only when confirmed work will pay in full for the purchases. Do not buy things on the "hope" or expectation that future (non-existent) jobs will pay for something.
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When someone is netting $200 on average from a gig, the "minimum" expenses you cite take on a more significant role. For Mix, it may not be as much of a burden, as from comments it does not appear he outlays for music or insurance, so maybe the true cost is just gas money.
For four years I was resident DJ at a Resort and if I really want to be candid I could say my expenses were zero. All the equipment there belonged to the Resort including a Music Library that was fed from Monthly Subscriptions from Promo Only. There was a Trip charge and free accommodation for the weekend. As for every rule there will be exceptions.
Not if you are booking the RIGHT gigs to match your profile and resources.
As Canute points out - you can be employed as a DJ with ZERO expenses. I've done it myself having been a club DJ for 5 years prior to doing my own thing. I still do it at least 50% of the time today as a freelancer - selling ME not the inventory.
You mentioned Pro about equipment being cheap I think. Either that or a DJ using cheap equipment. I don't what you use but to me what I use isn't cheap. Those 2 Yamaha powered subs and tops I bought cost me 3k. That's just for those alone. Never mind any other equipment and what it cost. To you that may not be a lot but to me that was a lot. Yet I felt that is what I needed so it would really sound good. Of course there is cheaper but I didn't want that. I wanted something that I knew I going to be proud to own and wanted to keep.