Local 60th Birthday Party Vs 75 minute drive to Upscale Venue Party Difference in your quote

My quote was generally based on how much gear was needed to meet the customer’s requirements, how much pre-planning and preparation was required, and distance to the destination. So my price would have been slightly higher for the one furtherest away. Early on, I charged extra for having to unload and load my van a long distance from the venue, or having to carry gear up stairs. As I got older, I just turned down those gigs out of hand. I never charged extra for parking reimbursement, but I might have considered it, depending on how much. I was NOT a high priced DJ, by any means, but I also never liked to nickel-and-dime my clients.

PS: I loved doing pool parties, but I insisted on being out of the direct sun! I have an extensive collection of 60’s and modern surf music that was always very popular at pool parties. As an alternative style of music; uptempo instrumental Latin music always went over very well with wealthier clientele.

DJ Ricky B said:

You didn't really answer the question. So I'm going to guess "a little bit" is like a $50 difference in the price quote between the two, but you would prefer to do the pool party birthday near your house.

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I didn’t realize you wanted to know HOW MUCH more I’d charge, but $50 seems about right. However, I usually followed the going standard mileage and per diem rates to determine a fair price for my mileage and time. The current formula would be ($.73 per mile) X Excess Miles + ($68 per day/24 hrs. Per Day) X Additional Hours Spent = Total Added Cost.

Note: Mileage and Per Diem Rates can vary by region.

This is a great thread due to it was reported that in every state gas cost over $4 now. It was reported for the first time ever. So it might make sense to some to factor in the price of gas to do an event and make a decent profit to make it worth doing an event.

DJ Ricky B said:

In 2026 how different would your quote be between these two event inquiries? OR would your quote be the same for both? Date is a open Saturday less than 90 days away.

A local 60th Birthday party about a 10 mile/15 minute drive to the client's house where you set up in their back yard near a pool. 6 pm. to 10 p.m. 75 guests estimate

A 60th birthday party at an upscale downtown hotel where you will pay to park your vehicle in a parking garage. Location is about 60 miles or a 75 minute or so drive one way. 7 pm to 11 pm, 75 or so guests estimate.

What's your difference in price, and which one would you prefer to do?

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My price would be the same provide they both required basically the same gear to provide the clients vision of their event,
My pricing is based on the the amount I can make on that particular day Saturday in peak season has more value than a Thursday in the winter

Let me tell this one. In about a weeks time I spent $160 in gas and I didn't have a gig to do then. The way I see it is this way. It's about considering your lively hood to maintain the way you live.

Another way of looking at is in a venue like the one that was mentioned I bet it cost a pretty penny to have that event there. Let's just say the cost per person maybe $150 for example. That amount being paid to the venue comes to $11,250. Now I don't know the venue or what it cost to for the client to have their event there. Just making a example. I know it shouldn't have anything to do with what a client spends to have their event somewhere vs the price you charge.

I find it's about what you can convince a potential client to pay you to book you for their event. I like what Tunes4046 said and that is it depends on certain things that determine what you quote a potential client. Just because it's a pool party near where you live should have nothing to do with what you charge to do the event. Also I think it’s about how badly you need to do either event.

DJ Ricky B said:

In 2026 how different would your quote be between these two event inquiries? OR would your quote be the same for both? Date is a open Saturday less than 90 days away.

A local 60th Birthday party about a 10 mile/15 minute drive to the client's house where you set up in their back yard near a pool. 6 pm. to 10 p.m. 75 guests estimate

A 60th birthday party at an upscale downtown hotel where you will pay to park your vehicle in a parking garage. Location is about 60 miles or a 75 minute or so drive one way. 7 pm to 11 pm, 75 or so guests estimate.

What's your difference in price, and which one would you prefer to do?

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Assuming both inquiries came in around the same time and both require the same production, they’d both receive the same exact price.

The difference in gas and parking is under $100. Don’t see what the point is of going against my normally stated base line to increase or reduce my price by $100.

djtaso said:

Assuming both inquiries came in around the same time and both require the same production, they’d both receive the same exact price.

The difference in gas and parking is under $100. Don’t see what the point is of going against my normally stated base line to increase or reduce my price by $100.

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You theory is the same as mine, we both charge enough that an extra $100 hours n expenses isn’t something to concern yourself with, however if you were a sub $1000 DJ it could make a lot of difference

So which event will you be doing?

DJ Ricky B said:

If I had your starting price, I would probably be inclined to charge the further drive upscale venue location the normal stated price, but I might offer a discount to the local pool party event if I wanted to work a local venue for a change. I have this mind set because I rarely book events under a 20 minute drive from my house, and I drive so often that a local event is a breathe of fresh air. I also see my time and fuel expenses to go into D.C. and back plus the additional stress involved due to logistics as being worth at least $150 to $200 in cost on my end.

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Like you, I rarely have a drive less than an hour to most spots. But either way, ive never discounted something bc it’s closer. I’ve only charged more because its well beyond my typical market (3+ hrs)

djtaso said:

Like you, I rarely have a drive less than an hour to most spots. But either way, ive never discounted something bc it’s closer. I’ve only charged more because its well beyond my typical market (3+ hrs)

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You sir have a great reputation and the people that book you to do a wedding aren't brides on a tight budget most times. The infesus is on weddings because that's the only events you told us you do today.

I can't see a client spending 5K for you to do a pool party unless it's at a mansion where a client has money to spend and it's a drop in the bucket for them.

DJ Ricky B said:

In 2026 how different would your quote be between these two event inquiries? OR would your quote be the same for both? Date is a open Saturday less than 90 days away.

A local 60th Birthday party about a 10 mile/15 minute drive to the client's house where you set up in their back yard near a pool. 6 pm. to 10 p.m. 75 guests estimate

A 60th birthday party at an upscale downtown hotel where you will pay to park your vehicle in a parking garage. Location is about 60 miles or a 75 minute or so drive one way. 7 pm to 11 pm, 75 or so guests estimate.

What's your difference in price, and which one would you prefer to do?

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Your question begets the aimlessness of your approach, There's no business plan here - it's like a form of gambling.

For example, Taso isn't going to chase either of those gigs because that's not the business profile he wants. He wants clients who will buy a $3500 or higher dance floor centric package, and he will travel to find it. In most cases that's going to be a wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and with few exceptions not a 60th birthday.

My parameters are different. I want Local business in all shapes an form. I want to service multiple clients on the same day, any day of the week. I want clients with recurring and/or multiple continuous event needs. My rates vary for the same service because I help clients grow and I'm versatile enough to be able to do that. I have intention - which is more powerful than a price list.

I moved away from DJ work because it suffers from one very serious weakness: It presumes dancing as the primary goal. Get rid of that specificity and the event business opens up 1000 fold. I started by applying DJ skills to other areas like fashion shows, award events, retail events, etc. and finally asked myself: why am I letting myself be held back by dance floors and prerecorded music as a requirement?

Have you ever considered just asking a prospect about their intentions and how much they'd like to spend? Those discussions alone are priceless because when we throw out numbers and hear: "No, thank you" we learn nothing about of value about the business environment in we are operating within. Real opportunity may simply be passing us by.

This is one of the primary reasons for so much social and economic discontent. People end up living in a pretend world of internet ambition that is void of any local and tangible reality. They are simply gambling and like lottery tickets or casinos the occasional nominal "win" displaces the true cumulative reality of what we are doing.

I would probably charge more for the downtown party because of paid parking a longer drive.

$500 for the backyard bash.
$600 for the downtown party.

In my age, I would rather do the backyard party.

DJ Ricky B said:

Good Answer. Just curious though. If you would prefer to do the local backyard party, wouldn't it be prudent to quote a much higher price for the downtown party to make it feel more worth doing for you? If they deny your quote, at least you tried, and it wasn't really more advantageous to do at only $100 more or a similiar price point to a local house party. For example, quote $800 on the downtown party. If they book, you are earning $300 more over a local easier event vs only $100 where your parking cost has to be taken out of that $100 too. Or do you feel that is "over charging" the client for the event, and prefer to be honest with yourself when quoting similar events where the difference is location and caliber of the venue/event?

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You asked what I would quote for each.
I was pricing it as two separated inquiries, NOT as two gigs competing against each other.
But I would still choose the backyard gig, even if the difference was only $100.
It's an age thing, not a money thing.

DJ Ricky B said:

Good Answer. Just curious though. If you would prefer to do the local backyard party, wouldn't it be prudent to quote a much higher price for the downtown party to make it feel more worth doing for you? If they deny your quote, at least you tried, and it wasn't really more advantageous to do at only $100 more or a similiar price point to a local house party. For example, quote $800 on the downtown party. If they book, you are earning $300 more over a local easier event vs only $100 where your parking cost has to be taken out of that $100 too. Or do you feel that is "over charging" the client for the event, and prefer to be honest with yourself when quoting similar events where the difference is location and caliber of the venue/event?

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I don’t understand how you price things, I’ve always been busy enough that each day I have a set amount the day is worth plus any extra unreasonable expenses incurred, ridiculous parking fees over night stay required extra labor I have to pay for