School & Teen Events New Show Concept Taking Off!

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Gas to the gig is less than $20, probably closer to $5 unless i'm doing a school across the city, even then. I get good mileage on my truck and $30 fills it. Music is not exclusive to the school function. I average about $40 in music monthly, divided among an average of 7 gigs per month, it makes the cost of the music in relation to that gig about $6. I don't take a helper for gigs under 500 students because one isn't needed to set up the show. Props consist of some free glow giveaways which cost mabye $6-7. Confetti costs about $10 per shoot. That gives me an average cost per gig of $22. This leaves me with $288 on the cheapest school and $438 on the largest. I'll take that for 5 hours of work and 2 hours of performance that I enjoy. Thats $57.6-$87.6 per hour.

I completely agree with the idea that its possible to make a great show without a lot of gear. I'm told, through my reviews, that my show is very well recieved, and I have even had kids comment "Oh they got the "real" dj this time" when we play a school. One school is Berkeley Middle School, the one i'm playing friday. In October we were contracted to follow a crap DJ and had a turnout of about 100 kids. We brought in a nice show, gave em an awesome party and when we came back in January for the winter formal, the school sold just under 400 tickets. We provide the schools with marketing material and help them promote their dances and the student responses are always fantastic.

I understand the point your trying to get at, but it simply does not apply to me. If I booked just 2-3 big dances a month then i'd structure our shows different. I'm able to book several functions and make a good annual profit after all expenses are paid. More importantly i've built a solid client list who raves about my performance and that has solidified my company in most schools in this area. The kids have a good time and at the end of the night, thats what matters to me.
 
Well, i'll take no offense at it, but i'm quite pleased where I am. For me, most of my shows are my larger packages either $350 or $400 and I'm happy with that. I'm priced competitively for my area. There are lots of DJs out here who charge $150-200 and provide absolutely crappy service...but theyre cheap, and to schools they sometimes undermine quality and will go towards the best value. By pricing myself the way I have, I'm able to remain a quality service and be a good value to my clients. Keep in mind this is yet only middle schools. Our prom packages are expansive and begin at $1000. Many may say that they're charging excess of $1000, but i'd doubt many except a few are. Fortunately, we can command prices of $1-3,000 for our prom packages because we're the largest DJ company in the Charleston area. I'm enjoying being young and i'd rather book lots of less expensive gigs, get experience, get testimonials, than a few higher paying ones.
 
Djcarolina said:
That gives me an average cost per gig of $22. This leaves me with $288 on the cheapest school and $438 on the largest. I'll take that for 5 hours of work and 2 hours of performance that I enjoy. Thats $57.6-$87.6 per hour.
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So, are you, or are you not running a full time business? If you are only spending a total of 7 hours on a school dance, then you are not doing it right. For every hour of set-up and performance, I calculate I spend about 3 hours of prep, marketing, test, clean, and evaluation.

I agree, if this is just some fun you have on the weekends you have, then enjoy your "$50 per hour", but if I charge $1000 for a school dance that is four hours long, I am only making about $62 per hour. If I charged $400 for the same dance, I would only make $25 per hour. Not bad, but nothing near enough to raise my family.
 
No offense but sometimes I really do think that some of you have wild expectations of clients. First off, let me remind everyone that I'm a student and while this is my full time profession, i'm not supporting a family.

Second, i challenge someone to show me a middle school that will pay $1000 for anything.

When i book 4 hour proms theres a lot of work and the price is reflective of it. Our prom packages are $995, $1895, and $2200. I've booked 2 proms for the spring and both are $2200 packages. Both also purchased glow products, and both also added lumiloon packages.

For middle schools, theres really not any prep time for them. I contact the school, send them their information, but I don't spend lots of time preparing for it. I ensure my music is up to date, and I perform the show.

Lots of DJs feel the need to justify themselves by the price they charge, apparently its a trend. But don't insult the amount of work I've put into a show and building a company by referring to it as "some fun you have on the weekends".
 
okay I have to step in here. These fellas are both students who purchased all their own gear and arent paying some expenses that us old dawgs have to worry about. I have watched them both mature and one day I believe they will be some of the industries most well known across the country. We all started somewhere with price. Even A PArty DJ admitted to charging 200 once upon a time. I marvel at what these two have accomplished in the last yr. I will be curious to see where they are with this in just 2-5 yrs.
They are charging more than most of us did 20 yrs ago but 20 yrs ago in Orange County CA I was averaging 750-900 per gig. They are in Carolina and working steady. Once they grow into their show they will be able to make the increase. They are attempting to take some of the market as students which is a tough road to begin with. Much respect from this OLD DAWG. Next yr make it $550 -600. I also do weekday middle schools and rec centers for around 450 myself.
 
I too applaud the vision of the Carolina djs (both of them). I do middle school dances just to fill the schedule. Imho they are just gravy where my real income is weddings. I have a great time with school dances personally, so I am a bit less interested in lining my pockets as most of the dances I do are fundraisers anyway. I have school age children as well and would like to k now that the guy DJing my kids dances does as well. Not some douchebag playing un edited music and not interacting with the kids or the school staff to make a great all around experience.

Thanks for the bit of inspiration...I just got off the phone with one of my middle school clients (funny that he called me as I was reading this thread) and we are going to have a blacklight (not sure what I will call it, I don't want to step on anyone's toes by using "their" name) dance next school year.
 
What were we all doing as HS Seniors. I was stoned crazy:sqlaugh: trying to chase the rock and roll dream in a band. Dont hate them because they dont have bills like us semi old and old dawgs have. We all had a time in our life when we had no real responsibilities. Let them enjoy their time.
These guys have better gear than a lot of DJs their age ( or older) and its all paid from the proceeds of their gigs. They are trying to do it the right way, coming up with innovative marketing names for their shows and basically trying to create a brand. They are here trying to learn from the older guys. Ive seen less accomplished teen dj's act like they know it all. Hey, at least respect the honesty of them sharing what they charge and being proud of it. It sure hella beats working at Hollister or some other retail store ( but if thats what you have to do no shame in that either).:sqwink::sqbiggrin: Go for it guys and good job.
 
Price isn't the issue here. I really think it comes down to charging according experience. What they charge in their area is their business. If they want to compete at that pricepoint while CREATING A WHOLE NEW market with this business plan, then power to them. To us, we know its a school DJ and a dance. To the school its a whole new formula and way of entertaining. Once they see it, they won't want anything else for a while.

When they sharpen their teeth and figure out the business model a bit more I think they'll figure out what they want to settle on for a rate. Especially for NEW clients. Give em a year, they could easilty get $100 to $200 more for NEW clients and then keep the same rates for the OLD clients who helped them get to where they are.

For now, its about the buzz. Twightlight would be a very new thing to try here in KS. I can understand their price point right now. They are comfortable with it. Cool.

I'm beginning to market Rock Band and Wii Parties with me DJing too! Its geared as an add on and for private events and I use either an 8' screen and a 14' screen. Right now, I'm needing gigs just to see how I can make it all better from gig to gig; so I can learn what the real work of it is. After all, this concept is more like an iPod Dj setup. The kids run the equipment just fine from what I can tell, so I feel like I'm not doing as much active DJ'ing. It just goes to the next song and I announce the next group.

Do I charge like I would for a wedding? Heavens no. Do I have have overhead to pay? Hell yes. Am I sure I want this as a standard business package? Not sure...but I know that I wouldn't feel comfortable charging full price for this at this point. I need some lower paying customers who want to take a chance.

I can only say that if after 1 year, several gigs and the pricing stays the same, they'd better be keeping that equipment busy to pay the bills!
I think they will be in high demand either way.
 
Jeremy Jones said:
I agree, if this is just some fun you have on the weekends you have, then enjoy your "$50 per hour", but if I charge $1000 for a school dance that is four hours long, I am only making about $62 per hour. If I charged $400 for the same dance, I would only make $25 per hour. Not bad, but nothing near enough to raise my family.
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Jeremy, do you DJ dances for schools? I make $1000 for proms but that's one month a year here. If I'm making $62 per hour according to your math, that's pretty good! Heck $25 per hour by your math feeds my family better than sitting at home too!

Now if I have a way to make more, I'm with you. But if I'm not booked and school needs me to work, regardless of the amount, I'm prolly gonna go make the bread!
 
APartyDJ said:
OK GREAT IT'S TIME TO RAISE YOUR RATES !!!
I Don't Want To Come Across As An Ass But I Was Charging $200.00 IN 1980 !!!
SO RAISE YOUR RATES !
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But you are......

In 1980 I was charging $600.00 for a school dance,,, you should have raised your rates!
 
APartyDJ said:
Sorry , Its Me Again I Was Reading It Over Again...
Im Still Floored...

>>>> This package is aimed at attracting middle schools with budgets between $300 and $450 to spend on an entertainment package. It seals in the work for me because there is NO other DJ in my area that can compete with the interactivity, and high-energy show that i provide, especially not in the price range that I provide it in.<<<

How Do You Make Any Money?

Gas... To The Gig... $20
Music For The Gig... $50
If You Need A Helper... $30
Props... $50

DJ Insurance...
Car Insurance...
Cost Of Business...
( Phone, Biz Cards, Web Site Office Space, Wear & Tear On Your Van & Your Gear ... )
Reinvestment Funds Back In To Your Company...

YOUR TIME $
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I'm very aware of the point you are making, but as Darwin once said those that can't adapt will die off, only those that adapt will succeed. In these days, schools CAN'T afford to pay the kinds of rates you are talking about for a dance. Instead they will simply NOT have a dance. Charlotte-Mecklenburg School reciently had 12 million cut from their budget. Now, schools are having to cut assistant principals, teachers, and more. The fine arts programs are funded by the parents, and each and every athletic team at some time or another is going door to door selling whatever to raise money so they can compete. In times like this, I'm not under the delusion that I should only go out for $1k, because I realize that this would be dumb and I'd lose ALL of my business.

Now, as far as the rates, the $350 shows DJCarolina talked about are 2 hour shows. Obviously, a 4 hour show will be much higher, however that is where the fundraising options come in. If schools sell 100 of our glow necklaces for $3 each, then they have gotten $300 back at almost no cost to us.

Your rant perplexes me, because I'm not going out with 2 speakers on sticks and 2 lights, undercutting the industry, I provide the best, and highest quality entertainment I possibly can. I'm sorry I'm not so high and mighty that I don't go out for under $1k, but that's the way I do business and if you don't like it then I don't give a rat's a**.
 
Jeremy Jones said:
So, are you, or are you not running a full time business? If you are only spending a total of 7 hours on a school dance, then you are not doing it right. For every hour of set-up and performance, I calculate I spend about 3 hours of prep, marketing, test, clean, and evaluation.

I agree, if this is just some fun you have on the weekends you have, then enjoy your "$50 per hour", but if I charge $1000 for a school dance that is four hours long, I am only making about $62 per hour. If I charged $400 for the same dance, I would only make $25 per hour. Not bad, but nothing near enough to raise my family.
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So let me get this straight.... You charge $1000 for a Prom and claim that it works out to $62 per hour, which would put your time invested at just over 16 hours.... Do you do school events? There isn't much prep work! Setup time, performance time, and teardown time. You could prep music for a high school show in less than an hour and use the same plan for a few weeks till the music changes. Where are your 16 hours of work, lol?
 
Anthony M said:
You could prep music for a high school show in less than an hour and use the same plan for a few weeks till the music changes. Where are your 16 hours of work, lol?
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Exactly....Want to know how to prep a high school event?

Answer: bring the latest stuff and take requests.
 
Anthony M said:
So let me get this straight.... You charge $1000 for a Prom and claim that it works out to $62 per hour, which would put your time invested at just over 16 hours.... Do you do school events? There isn't much prep work! Setup time, performance time, and teardown time. You could prep music for a high school show in less than an hour and use the same plan for a few weeks till the music changes. Where are your 16 hours of work, lol?
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I agree that a school event takes little prep time in itself, but at what point do you account for the time you spend in the shop fixing or improving the system, licking envelopes or applying stamps for marketing, etc. There is additional time that should be applied a little toward each event. So, 16 hours could be an average event, setup, teardown, and the average hours worked per gig? Just guessing. Very few people account for some of this time that is not directly related to a specific gig.

OTOH, I think these guys are doing very well with what they're doing, and don't particularly need a raise-your-rates-lecture. They are agressive, and have accomplished much at a young age. Consider it a compliment that perhaps some of these guys don't present themselves on the boards as young as they really are.
 
I think this also has a lot to do with the kind of Services you provide. As a part timer who DJs not only school dances, but weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc., I can afford to mix and match what I do, how much I do, where i do it, all the time. In my area, Weddings go for $1500-2000, but they also do NOT want all the fancy lighting and so on that I would bring to a school event. I make a higher profit at a wedding, and as a result I can afford to make less profit at the dance... but provide better entertainment with all the added stuff. Better entertainment = they want me to come back = I gig more and get more $$ as a result.

Back to the original purpose of this thread: The Twilight Dance thing sounds great Brian! I am hoping to go in that direction with some of my dances in the near future. I just feel like there is noting like that in my area yet and it would get a great response from the Kids.

Do you have any specific songs you are thinking of using, and if so, do you mind sharing?
 
APartyDJ said:
DJ Insurance...
Car Insurance...
Cost Of Business...
( Phone, Biz Cards, Web Site Office Space, Wear & Tear On Your Van & Your Gear ... )
Reinvestment Funds Back In To Your Company...

YOUR TIME $
Click to expand...
:sqlaugh:That is the most hilarious thing written in this forum.:sqlaugh:
 
Ok so heres an update to this thread.

Last night I did the first ever "Twilight" dance for a local middle school. All week ticket sales were in the toilet, and by Thursday 50 tickets had been sold. :sqeek:

I went in to talk to the principal and initially she wanted to call it off (again) but, with a little persuasion and a big rate slash I was able to keep her out of the hole and get her to go off the idea that most kids will wait until the last day to purchase tickets, and MANY will purchase their tickets at the door. In the end that is what happened and I estimate that over 250 kids were there, a great turnout for this school considering it is the first real dance they've ever had. I expect the numbers to be close to doubling next time.

Now, as far as my side of the story, it was a great show with a few little issues including a UV wash not lighting up, and a ColorSplash JR. not lighting up. I did also have a few sound issues, which I corrected within the first half hour. Most of the issues I had were because I didn't give myself enough time to set it all up. I gave 2 hours to setup, but by the time I got loaded in I had an hour and a half, and without an assistant I just got it all going on time.

The Kids LOVED this dance, we hit them with lots of fog, lights, confetti, and a few other special effects in the video. Here is some footage, this is a promo video I made for the package. The footage from the point where the video displays "Twilight" on is all footage from last night. Enjoy!

YouTube - South Charlotte Productions Presents Twilight
 
Brian, GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!

I also think that because you worked with school to make sure cost were covered will want them to bring you back many more times at your normal rate.

Once again, GREAT JOB!!!!
 
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