You do not have to create a Club. All you have to do is rent the Venue, Create Paper Flyers, Posters, Online Free Ads, Facebook and Tweeter notifications etc and you are ready to go.
I used to think this was ok but i've had a big change of heart.
- Thread starter MIXMASTERMACHOM
- Start date
I think the issue is the overall liability is yours .. for things that the DJ insurance probably doesn't cover.
But with the byob I would not be able to control overconsumption, not that you can really control it any way. But if someone got out of hand and the venue was damaged I would be liable...Or at least my insurance would be. Just too many variables I don't want to deal with right now. It may be something that I will look into after the multi op takes off and I get all those details and head aches worked out. It's always been my experience that nothing new is easy. It always takes a while to work the kinks out, just the nature of things.
Well back in the day when I used to do them, we had guys as security/bouncers. if some chit started, we shut down the party, plain and simple.
Finding guys that can keep a cool head as a bouncer around here is a good luck proposition. Been there done that....I used to bounce for a few friends here and there over the years. Biggest problem I ever had were other bouncers stroking their own ego and running their mouth instead of just getting the job done quickly and simply. Calm the situation and get them moved out. No matter what happens keep them moving toward the door. They get violent....make them not want to be violent anymore.....while still moving toward the door....
Just a lot of headaches I really don't want to deal with right now.
Just a lot of headaches I really don't want to deal with right now.
One thing that hasn't been talked about when doing such parties. People must know who you are. If you're not a household name that people know then the chances of people showing up to such a party would be a hit or miss. Foe those who decide to do such parties start off small and work your way up.
Find a small venue to start with. One that holds less then 100 people. That way if the turn out isn't that great and say 30-40 people show up at the most, it won't look like the party was a disaster. What you want to do to start is break even. Don't worry about making money in the beginning. Just concentrate on promoting the party. If people like the party enough they will pass the word on.
In other words don't bite off more then you can chew.
Find a small venue to start with. One that holds less then 100 people. That way if the turn out isn't that great and say 30-40 people show up at the most, it won't look like the party was a disaster. What you want to do to start is break even. Don't worry about making money in the beginning. Just concentrate on promoting the party. If people like the party enough they will pass the word on.
In other words don't bite off more then you can chew.
I don't carry "DJ" insurance. I carry a $1 mil general liability. Covers me if I am driving, working, etc..etc..etc..etc.. pretty much any kind of trouble I can get into, unless a I use a firearm... Different policy for that...
DJ PAUL
Director of Entertainment Fulfillment
MIXMASTERMACHOM, How did you come to the $200 dollar figure you used to charge? And how do you come to the $1,000 figure you want to charge?
Paul
Paul
I remember I found out at a cookout that my best friends wife had a cousin looking for a DJ to come do her husbands 40th birthday party. It was to be from 7:30pm-1am. So I gave her price of $400.00 figuring she would jump at that price.
I had to find out after she left that she didn't have that much to spend. I didn't do what I normally would do. Call them up and do it for a cheaper price.
I found out she got somebody to do it for either $200.00 or $250.00 and he did a little karaoke too. I heard from my friends wife he was good. That's sad! That's what this business has come to. I don't trust when she says a DJ was good because she said one DJ was good at a party we went to. He sucked. If I knew he was going to be the DJ I would have saved my $20.00 and went home. He can't play dead at his own funeral! Lol.
I had to find out after she left that she didn't have that much to spend. I didn't do what I normally would do. Call them up and do it for a cheaper price.
I found out she got somebody to do it for either $200.00 or $250.00 and he did a little karaoke too. I heard from my friends wife he was good. That's sad! That's what this business has come to. I don't trust when she says a DJ was good because she said one DJ was good at a party we went to. He sucked. If I knew he was going to be the DJ I would have saved my $20.00 and went home. He can't play dead at his own funeral! Lol.
DJ PAUL
Director of Entertainment Fulfillment
Always, ALWAYS give your best and final number up front. What does it say about your company if you knock money off your first price? I would highly suggest you find out exactly what you need to be making per event and go with it otherwise you are just spinning your wheels.
Paul
Got a problem with this statement. Wouldn't it better to know what you need to make during a month to cover expenses thus allowing you to do more different types of events? I mean how do you charge the same for a 1 hour lunch DJ session and a 4 hour Wedding Reception?
DJ PAUL
Director of Entertainment Fulfillment
I guess if thats how you want to do it it's entirely up to you as the business owner.
I prefer, "per event" as I know my exact costs going in not matter what type of event.
Paul
DJ PAUL
Director of Entertainment Fulfillment
I guess if thats how you want to do it it's entirely up to you as the business owner.
I prefer, "per event" as I know my exact costs going in not matter what type of event.
Paul
I never understood DJs when they said that when there are so many ways for a DJ to make different types of income
Club and Bar Gigs
Lunch time school sessions
Regular school dances Middle Schools
High School Dances and Winter Formals and Proms
Birthday parties
Wedding Receptions
Class Reunions
Bat/ Barmitzvah
Each would have a different price quote to keep you in competition.
Club and Bar Gigs
Lunch time school sessions
Regular school dances Middle Schools
High School Dances and Winter Formals and Proms
Birthday parties
Wedding Receptions
Class Reunions
Bat/ Barmitzvah
Each would have a different price quote to keep you in competition.
I would just be happy to get what I could get and show off. I never considered a business plan and what the cost of doing business and making a profit from the gig. The truth be told I lost the business due to a drug addictionand I was just happy to be clean and doing what I love to do. I've had a change of heart and the excitement of being back has wore off. I'm looking at ways for the business to make a profit and not staying in the red.
Thanks and if God bless me to see it on April 12th that will make 15 years being clean.
Just take a lesson from me to make sure you start out with a business plan. Make sure you have a plan on what direction you want your business to go. Things can and will change but learn from the mistakes you make and try not to make the same mistakes.
In addition to that, try and learn from others too. Sometimes they have been down that road (or a similar one) and can tell you what to avoid. IMO, that's a powerful tool from networking.
You aren't hurting anyone except maybe yourself by doing $200 gigs. If they are worried about a cheap DJ then they aren't on very stable ground. Bobby is right, slow and steady is the way to increase but the thing is by pricing yourself out of your current situation may have a downside. There are some, alot, of your current clients you have to leave behind if you choose this route.
Steve is a member here and I have alot of respect for the business he has built but here's the thing you are taking advice about raising your prices from someone who just cut his 25%. Steve has also been in the business many years more than you have and offers a lot more. Steve would be a great guy to learn from but if you plan on comparing apples to apples you might want to look around some more.
Before you jump in to the got to raise my price club you might want to have a solid business and marketing plan in place
Along with Jeff I would like to point out another factor that most DJs don't pay attention to when getting advice on pricing from a DJ operating out of their area. Obviously a DJ operating in a area with a median income for 100,000 per household will have a easier time booking events at the $1,000 barrier compared to a DJ operating in a Median income area of $50,000.