Loaning out equipment

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logisticalstyles

DJ Extraordinaire
Nov 7, 2018
202
735
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How do you feel about loaning out equipment to other DJs? Do you have a limit as to what you will loan out or how many times you loan the same piece of equipment out to someone before you make them pay a rental fee? I occasionally rent out gear when I'm not using it but I've began to notice that a certain DJ is just using me and our friendship to avoid having to purchase their own gear. I'm of the mindset that if you have been DJing over 30 years at this point you should have your own dependable sound system. I understand things happen and we all need a helping hand from time to time but I feel like this particular DJ is just using me. I'm at the point where I don't even want to rent out gear anymore. It may sound selfish but when I buy gear I buy it for my needs and when I let others use it for free I am just cheating myself and loosing in the long run. I just want to get other DJs opinions on this topic.
 
How do you feel about loaning out equipment to other DJs? Do you have a limit as to what you will loan out or how many times you loan the same piece of equipment out to someone before you make them pay a rental fee? I occasionally rent out gear when I'm not using it but I've began to notice that a certain DJ is just using me and our friendship to avoid having to purchase their own gear. I'm of the mindset that if you have been DJing over 30 years at this point you should have your own dependable sound system. I understand things happen and we all need a helping hand from time to time but I feel like this particular DJ is just using me. I'm at the point where I don't even want to rent out gear anymore. It may sound selfish but when I buy gear I buy it for my needs and when I let others use it for free I am just cheating myself and loosing in the long run. I just want to get other DJs opinions on this topic.
If you get a van and some gear you can get a partner like mix’s. Who owns nothing but uses the gear for free
 
I network with a number of other DJ's in the area. I love helping out when I can.

I will loan equipment with the following criteria:
1)I need to believe this person has the ability and character to replace equipment if gets destroyed.
2)This person must demonstrate that he treats his equipment in great condition
3)There must be a compelling reason why this person doesn't buy his own equipment.
-unique situations
- trying it
4)This person must have equipment that I could possibly borrow.

If all of these things aren't met, it's a rental for me. Rental still need 1 and 2
 
Loaned my pair of Alto TS110A speakers to my sister last November to do 1 gig. I just got them back last Saturday!

She had been using them for her events instead of her passive sound system. I have been recommending sales to her for a long time when they arise, and she never bothers to buy new speakers.

To be fair, I borrowed her Mirror Ball and stand to do a 70s party in April. I could not meet up with her until this past Saturday to drop it back off to her. She was already out the door for her wedding when I arrived, so she left my speakers there for me to pick up and I dropped off her equipment back to her.

My brother, I am buying a table top facade for his birthday. He has been talking about getting a table top facade for 2 years now, and never makes the move to actually BUY one. So I am doing it for him, LOL. I would very much prefer he has one in use when I book him on events. I don't care if he does not use one on his own bookings. I noticed that my family members have some sort of block when it pertains to spending money on equipment. They say they want certain things, and know it will help their image, or performance, but don't seem to follow through with actually purchasing the items they speak of.
 
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There's a guy I network with. He uses the exact same equipment I do. On occasion, he will be very busy and need more towers. On occasion I do too, so we loan to each other.

He probably borrows a bit more than me, but he is very good with equipment. I'd say he borrows 3-4 times a year and I borrow 1-2 times a year.
 
How do you feel about loaning out equipment to other DJs?

I don't make professional decisions on feelings, I make them on intellect and freedoms that hard work and success have provided me.

I have many trusted friends and allies in this craft and many I consider a brother from another mother and a different daddy. For them, what is mine is theirs. If they are in need, I do everything in my capacities and power to provide.

In 30+ years, I have been both provider and recipient of benefits based our mutual trust and brotherhood. NOT ONCE have any of us, abused this trust.

Everyone else on Earth has to provide for themselves.

I DO NOT LOAN OR RENT MY PROFESSIONAL TOOLS TO ANYONE ELSE!
 
I think Scott said it all....

Ive loaned out stuff in the past to local dj's i know and trust...many times...if im not booked on that particular day... i come along on the gig as a roadie...get roadie pay and care for the equipment ive loaned for myself... (many times they demanded an even split and id dj half the gig or run lights...)

during times i was booked... id loan whatever i could spare and stipulate that it be dropped off the next day...anyone who didnt abide (within reason) by that id revoke future loan priv's ...

There are certainly those type of people who take take take and have zero honor... its pretty easy to sniff that out ...

cc
 
I network with a number of other DJ's in the area. I love helping out when I can.

I will loan equipment with the following criteria:
1)I need to believe this person has the ability and character to replace equipment if gets destroyed.
2)This person must demonstrate that he treats his equipment in great condition
3)There must be a compelling reason why this person doesn't buy his own equipment.
-unique situations
- trying it
4)This person must have equipment that I could possibly borrow.

If all of these things aren't met, it's a rental for me. Rental still need 1 and 2
Great criteria to consider! I have to be honest and say that this person doesn't meet the criteria. He only gets a pass because we've known each other for over 20 years. We pretty much came up in the DJ game together. His main reason for not owning a lot of gear is the fact that he is a touring DJ. He is usually on the road 1/3 of the year.
I think I'm going to go with my gut feeling on this and stop loaning out my gear. I feel like I'm enabling the problem and am being used. For instance, last night I let him borrow a pair of wireless mics for a "showcase" tonight. After checking social media this morning I see this is an event being put on by a large DJ coalition and it has a few corporate sponsors. I find it hard to believe that none of the other DJs in this group, couldn't provide wireless mics. When I loaned him the mics last night I told him that this was going to have to stop. I'm going to need to get a rental fee from now on IF the gear is available. I spend too much money on this gear and I truly don't feel like he could replace it if it got damaged or went missing.
 
I used to be more lenient when loaning out gear. Here's what I've learned:

- Nobody cares about your equipment as much as you do.
- If a friend borrows something at the last minute but takes a year to return it to you, they are not a good friend.
- You might as well consider your loan of equipment to be a gift. Be willing to accept that your gear may not ever come back.
- A DJ that everyone looks up to with the seemingly best setups is careless with gear and the things you loan to him will always come back broken.

Now, the only person who uses my stuff is me.
 
How do you feel about loaning out equipment to other DJs? Do you have a limit as to what you will loan out or how many times you loan the same piece of equipment out to someone before you make them pay a rental fee? I occasionally rent out gear when I'm not using it but I've began to notice that a certain DJ is just using me and our friendship to avoid having to purchase their own gear. I'm of the mindset that if you have been DJing over 30 years at this point you should have your own dependable sound system. I understand things happen and we all need a helping hand from time to time but I feel like this particular DJ is just using me. I'm at the point where I don't even want to rent out gear anymore. It may sound selfish but when I buy gear I buy it for my needs and when I let others use it for free I am just cheating myself and loosing in the long run. I just want to get other DJs opinions on this topic.

I've loaned gear to family or friends for their own uses. I have never loaned gear to someone being paid to perform with it. That type of user pays rent or barters something of value every time. Why you have so blurred these lines I don't know but, the other DJ is not the one at fault here. You have treated your gear like a bird feeder and it shouldn't surprise you how often he flies in to feed.
 
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Like Bob, I only "loan" it out for family members.
My son's job occasionally requires a sound system for a group meeting. (mostly speaking)
So I loan him stuff I am not using.
 
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The only thing I've ever loaned out was a Serato SL2 box. This was years ago... and I was playing an opening set. The DJ playing after me didn't have one with him, and the mixer's internal Serato wasn't working.

I could have stayed all night and taken it home with me. But I knew the DJ well enough and said he could use it and return it later in the week, and I didn't want to stay out until 3am. I got it back a couple days later.

Typically if I'm getting asked about gear, there is a reasonable rental fee involved.
 
You really sound you like you’re getting the short end of the stick. People can only take advantage of you if you let them. What you posted on how you feel is a Conversation you need to have with the guys. I only loan equipment to the few guys who started with me. Maybe they need an extra speaker or something basic. They always have their own equipment. Everyone else I may rent equipment to if they qualify. And I never rent out my main system or mainline items. One thing to think about if someone doesn’t have their own equipment, they may not have the money to replace yours if it gets damaged. If you feel someone is borrowing equipment too, frequently say No. Tell them you will rent it. If they are renting too much, raise your rental price. Very easy to correct.
 
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