Turned down a easy booking for this Sunday. The Money isn't enough any more

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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I had a Karaoke event come in for this Sunday. 3 hours of Karaoke in the evening at a house in McClean, VA (Expensive area with high end houses). It was last minute, and they were pretty much ready to book. I could have quoted $800 to $1,000 and got it booked. However, I already had plans with the family on Sunday for Father's Day. Family is taking me out along with another Dad to dinner.

Pre Pandemic, I would have booked this event, made the money, and just told my family I had an event come in and I have to take it and figure out another time to do our dinner. Now, after the Pandemic, I see things differently, and am just not in the 100% mind set to always chase the money and spend time working away from family. The way I made decisions about working DJ events has changed.

Sure, I am literally causing myself to earn less money with my DJ business now, but I feel I am making the right decision, and see there is more to life then just working events every chance I get on the weekends.
 
I had a Karaoke event come in for this Sunday. 3 hours of Karaoke in the evening at a house in McClean, VA (Expensive area with high end houses). It was last minute, and they were pretty much ready to book. I could have quoted $800 to $1,000 and got it booked. However, I already had plans with the family on Sunday for Father's Day. Family is taking me out along with another Dad to dinner.

Pre Pandemic, I would have booked this event, made the money, and just told my family I had an event come in and I have to take it and figure out another time to do our dinner. Now, after the Pandemic, I see things differently, and am just not in the 100% mind set to always chase the money and spend time working away from family. The way I made decisions about working DJ events has changed.

Sure, I am literally causing myself to earn less money with my DJ business now, but I feel I am making the right decision, and see there is more to life then just working events every chance I get on the weekends.

Good for you. I think a lot of us are feeling the same way now. I missed the money the last year and a half but I learned it's more a want than a need and as things open up I think I will be doing things differently
 
The way you put it I thought the money wasn't going to be good enough for you to do the event. What you did is fine if you really don't need the money. Especially since it's a last minute booking. I don't understand some people unless who they originally decided to do the event bailed on them. Everything is not always about the money.
 
I'm having the same feelings recently. I have my first wedding in almost 2 years this weekend (thanks Governor). The anxiety is killing me to the point that it's not worth it. In addition I got used to having my weekends back last Summer and I think this may be my last in the biz. I have a good career outside of the DJ business so I have that option. One of my couples pushed to August 2022 so I'm stuck for one more next Summer, ugh.
 
What is crazy today is that I got TWO CALLS from prospective employers who just set up interviews with me. I have an interview set for tomorrow, and one on Monday. So, I might be back to working full time again very soon. With working full time, I am going to limit myself to the number of events I book moving forward.

For the rest of this year, I have 2 more this month, 1 MAYBE in July (I don't have confirmation on if it's actually happening yet as it was a delay from last year), 2 in September, and 3 in October. So it's not a busy year by any means. I'm not pushing to fill my weekends with events next year though, especially if I go back to working full time again.
 
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I'm having the same feelings recently. I have my first wedding in almost 2 years this weekend (thanks Governor). The anxiety is killing me to the point that it's not worth it. In addition I got used to having my weekends back last Summer and I think this may be my last in the biz. I have a good career outside of the DJ business so I have that option. One of my couples pushed to August 2022 so I'm stuck for one more next Summer, ugh.
I feel you on that anxiety, I too have it bad for a wedding I have booked later this year, its been a few years since my last gig too so no doubt that whats causing it.
 
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I'm having the same feelings recently. I have my first wedding in almost 2 years this weekend (thanks Governor). The anxiety is killing me to the point that it's not worth it. In addition I got used to having my weekends back last Summer and I think this may be my last in the biz. I have a good career outside of the DJ business so I have that option. One of my couples pushed to August 2022 so I'm stuck for one more next Summer, ugh.
You don't have to do that wedding next year if you don't want to do it. I know a company that can do it and that is Dance To The Music Entertainment. HEE HEE.
 
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I do like the free time I now have on weekends and evenings. I have a full time job that pays well, but I do miss the extra that my sound company brought in. I’m getting by on my day job money, so maybe when I start up the side gig I’ll be smarter with the extra money coming in.
 
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Reactions: Jeff Romard
I do like the free time I now have on weekends and evenings. I have a full time job that pays well, but I do miss the extra that my sound company brought in. I’m getting by on my day job money, so maybe when I start up the side gig I’ll be smarter with the extra money coming in.
Are you semi retired DJs brother?
 
I had a lead come in on this past Friday for this just past Sat for a 60th birthday bash in my area, no doubt it would of been as easy as hitting that Easy Button of Gig, just wasnt something I wanted to do. The "kids" where coming over and they brought fathers days gifts so that was more important to me.