I think you are proving my point. Far too many variables. Charge what your market will bear, and what you can get that keeps you working.
GJ
What is the minimum a DJ can charge and still be considered a Professional in your opinion?
- Thread starter DJ Ricky B
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I think you are proving my point. Far too many variables. Charge what your market will bear, and what you can get that keeps you working.
GJ
My personal number is $100 an hour for all time considered, I try to keep it at that level or above.
But I don't really have a judgment number. If someone is charging $300 to do a party around here.. I'd suggest they are either VERY inexperienced or probably not charging enough. But that doesn't mean they aren't a professional. It might just mean they don't understand their own value proposition yet.
But I don't really have a judgment number. If someone is charging $300 to do a party around here.. I'd suggest they are either VERY inexperienced or probably not charging enough. But that doesn't mean they aren't a professional. It might just mean they don't understand their own value proposition yet.
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I personally hate this topic because we normally wind up at a dead end. We have a lot of disagreements when it comes to what a DJ should charge to do a private event.
i like the ideal of breaking it down into 3 parts. 1 the DJ that has been doing private events for a year or less. 2 a DJ that has been doing private events for up to 5 years and 3 the DJ with over 5 years experience at doing private events.
Now price alone will not tell how good a DJ is. What I find for my taste is if the equipment being used is really professional grade, does the DJ know how to properly use the equipment, will they have the right music to play at the event, do they know how to read the crowd, what their setup looks like and depending on the type of event how are they dressed.
If we're talking a backyard BBQ I wouldn't expect the DJ to wear a fancy outfit. Nor would I expect the DJ to get paid $2,500. Now if they do get paid that much for such an event good for them. The thing for me I say it's about what a DJ can get paid consistently and how often are they working private events.
One thing I'm very particular about when it comes to a private event is if we're the right fit for the event. Someone said years ago that if you're a mobile DJ you should be able to do any event. I totally disagree. Who do you know that is great at doing any kind of private event?
Also just because a DJ has been doing this for over 5 years doesn't mean they are a good DJ. Nor does the price a DJ charges to do an event tell how good or bad a DJ is. What it's about is if they re consistently getting paid the price they want to do a private event. If potential clients are consistently not willing to pay the price the DJ wants means either people don't feel they are worth that price. Now it might be that they don't know how to sell the service they provide or they may need to adjust their prices so potential clients will want to book them. Are you satisfied where you're at? If not then you can choose to do something about it. If you don't then don't complain. Each one of us need to do what we feel is best for us. What I find is there"s always room for improvement. Some much more then others.
i like the ideal of breaking it down into 3 parts. 1 the DJ that has been doing private events for a year or less. 2 a DJ that has been doing private events for up to 5 years and 3 the DJ with over 5 years experience at doing private events.
Now price alone will not tell how good a DJ is. What I find for my taste is if the equipment being used is really professional grade, does the DJ know how to properly use the equipment, will they have the right music to play at the event, do they know how to read the crowd, what their setup looks like and depending on the type of event how are they dressed.
If we're talking a backyard BBQ I wouldn't expect the DJ to wear a fancy outfit. Nor would I expect the DJ to get paid $2,500. Now if they do get paid that much for such an event good for them. The thing for me I say it's about what a DJ can get paid consistently and how often are they working private events.
One thing I'm very particular about when it comes to a private event is if we're the right fit for the event. Someone said years ago that if you're a mobile DJ you should be able to do any event. I totally disagree. Who do you know that is great at doing any kind of private event?
Also just because a DJ has been doing this for over 5 years doesn't mean they are a good DJ. Nor does the price a DJ charges to do an event tell how good or bad a DJ is. What it's about is if they re consistently getting paid the price they want to do a private event. If potential clients are consistently not willing to pay the price the DJ wants means either people don't feel they are worth that price. Now it might be that they don't know how to sell the service they provide or they may need to adjust their prices so potential clients will want to book them. Are you satisfied where you're at? If not then you can choose to do something about it. If you don't then don't complain. Each one of us need to do what we feel is best for us. What I find is there"s always room for improvement. Some much more then others.
Here's a coupleofquestions. . What is the minimum you charge to do a private event and do you consider yourself a professional?
this is the 100th time you've asked this. What is your minimum?
Mix, absolutely no one on this forum considers you a professional, in case you were wondering
I would strongly suggest they aren't getting what they are worth. If they are fine with that - I guess that's up to them. For me - I'm tired of the photographer working for 6 hours making 3k when I'm working 12 hours and people think I'm only worth $1500.
Everybody has a cell phone with a camera on it - so why hire a photographer? Oh cause you want quality photos and the job done right? Same goes for why you don't get Uncle Bob to play Spotify off his laptop to a bluetooth speaker for your wedding dance then.
I don't care what anyone else thinks of me. I care what I think of me. My point when I made that post is to keep the focus about you and I don't have a minimum. If I feel good about doing an event and we agree on a price, then so be it. I do have some events that if a client has a certain price in mind and I don't agree with the price they want to pay, I will wish them well.
on how we do what we do.
Anyone getting paid to do a job can be called a professional. It doesn't tell how good or bad they are at doing the job. When I worked my day job I learned how to strip floors, wax them and then buff a floor. I was an expert at doing it. I even considered opening up my own company doing just that. The thing is not having the money to open the company and my health condition not being that good at the time.
It's up to each one of you how you conduct your business. Good skill with your business.
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I know this won't be a popular notion on this board but I've worked as DJ, Photographer and now Venue owner. While DJ is important to the event, it's also fairly low in importance with most brides. Photos are probably on par with venue choice in the mind of a typical bride. As for work involved, most of the events we've shot are 8-10 hours on the day of but that's just the beginning. The real work is in editing and it's easy to burn 20-40 hours and if you think that's bad, try being the venue owner. The work involved for DJ or Photog pales in comparison, as well as the investment required just to become viable. If you're pulling an average of $1.5k, then I'd say you're doing well. To increase your take I think you're looking at add-ons (photobooth, uplighting, cold sparks, etc). I don't want to offend anybody here but it's just the hard fact of life. We DJs are low on the totem pole.
I say that depends on the DJ. I don't see Taso or Bob Carpenter being low on the list for a bride to book them. Some just see what we do as not a big deal. It becomes a big deal when the event is over and the DJ did a poor job.
I agree with you - it is fairly low in importance with most brides. The question is why? Your DJ is your planner/coordinator, DJ, MC..doing many different roles. People are going to remember the party - a survey by theknot agrees with this.
You can make a similar argument on why bother with a caterer? Just order a bunch of pizzas.
I get it - we're at the bottom. The goal is to educate people that if you want to DIY then this is how much it costs to rent proper sound equipment, legally get your music, play it in a fashion that is entertaining to a crowd and find someone willing to spend their time doing it.
People ask me if I'm expensive - I tell them no - at least not in relation to the success of your event.
I've been doing this for over a decade, offer special services that others don't that sets me apart, and will be your coordinator, DJ and MC, not just making the announcements that it's time for the first dance - I'll be doing that 5-10 min in advance so Grandma can get a good seat to get a picture.
Am I the most expensive DJ around here? I hope so - I think I've earned that.
I vary my pricing on the event and the hours required.
I am booked for the majority of 2023 but I've noticed a massive shift people enquiring they want hours of music but are not willing pay.
One in particular wanted me to do 10 hours for less than the national minimum wage.
I am booked for the majority of 2023 but I've noticed a massive shift people enquiring they want hours of music but are not willing pay.
One in particular wanted me to do 10 hours for less than the national minimum wage.
If you're avg you're convenient... but not in demand necessarily. If you're subpar, you're avoided with exception by those that have no means to other options. You do something beyond peoples expectations... you're remembered, sought after, and likely to have people willing to spend more to experience it. Applebees is avg... it's good, it's convenient.. it doesn't hurt the wallet... and you likely don't need reservations. Carbone in NY on the otherhand is incredible... it's an experience... it's in demand. They only accept reservations 30 days in advance, and when reservations open for a certain day, they're gone in 15 minutes.
I'm not trying to compare myself to carbone or anything in particular, but my belief is when you do something different, people notice. This is something I received a couple of weeks ago:
When it comes to the use of the word "professional" by DJs, it's just like the "price" a customer pays for a "professional DJ."
Price is insignificant! In other words, what you charge doesn't make you a professional. It's what you do that really matters.
Price is insignificant! In other words, what you charge doesn't make you a professional. It's what you do that really matters.
Simple question here. What makes you worth the price you charge? I ask this question because I want us to keep the focus on where it needs to be and that's on us.
Myself I feel I'm great at what I do because I don't take on gigs that I feel I'm not the right DJ for the event. I'm good at reading a crowd and I use professional grade equipment. I feel I should be at least decent as a DJ for as long as I've been back as a DJ. This is my 23rd year being back. My first event back I sucked big time. I had to not be so hard on myself and realize I was just coming back and I had more work to do to get better.
Myself I feel I'm great at what I do because I don't take on gigs that I feel I'm not the right DJ for the event. I'm good at reading a crowd and I use professional grade equipment. I feel I should be at least decent as a DJ for as long as I've been back as a DJ. This is my 23rd year being back. My first event back I sucked big time. I had to not be so hard on myself and realize I was just coming back and I had more work to do to get better.
Not working much at all now, but with live performance, recording, or DJing, I always found it helpful to look at two factors. 1) What will the market bear? In other words, what can I get, on the high end? I'll take it, if I can. Why underprice myself? 2) What do I want/need to make hourly? This is very helpful to keep you on track as far as what your actual worth is, as far as what you are putting in (gear, maintenance, vehicle, travel, set-up, and any other expenses *before* you do the gig must be factored in). If you figure out an hourly rate based on all of those things, it's easy to price a job based on time spent. It works in reverse, too. Many musicians (but I'm guessing not a lot of mobile DJ's, other than club DJ's) are faced with contracting a gig at a certain price, then having to deal with the fickelness of club owners and managers if they don't have as great of a night at the bar as they had hoped. "Sorry fellas, we need to talk. Let's make a deal, we want to send you home early." This is aggravating beyond belief, of course, but it was a revelation to me years ago, when someone shared the "Rule of 5ths" with me. Any live gig can be broken down into at least five sections (travel/load in; three sets, or for the DJ, number of hours playing; and load out/travel home). So if you did two out of three sets, you are entitled to at least 4/5's (load in, two sets, load out). Once you start thinking hourly or per segment of the gig, versus total price, it's easier to actually come up with a total price, plus you know how much wiggle room you have, if you want to throw anyone a discount without losing your shirt.
GJ
Unfortunately, I think the "market" has more of a factor on what folks think they should be paying than one's ability. If all your friends pay $100 an hour and they had good DJ's, how likely would you be to offer the job to the guy charging $20 an hour.
I have professional grade equipment (I think to some degree), and I try to offer a high degree of professionalism with my clients, but by "my" opinion, I'm nowhere close to a professional DJ.
I voted in the $75-$90 dollar range. $75/hr is where my party packages start. I charge more for weddings, and may, on occasion, charge less for some things.
I have professional grade equipment (I think to some degree), and I try to offer a high degree of professionalism with my clients, but by "my" opinion, I'm nowhere close to a professional DJ.
I voted in the $75-$90 dollar range. $75/hr is where my party packages start. I charge more for weddings, and may, on occasion, charge less for some things.
I never understood why people charge differently for different events. Unless you do more than one event a day, any event that books is taking a date from your inventory. Now there is different demand for different dates, and can adjust pricing on that aspect, but why should I give up a Saturday in may for one price bc it’s a 50th bday and another price bc it’s a wedding?
I really only market to weddings, but when I do other types of events I often will discount relative to my wedding rates.
My logic is based on the extra planning that tends to go into getting the timeline and music right for a wedding relative to something like a corporate party. And I also have a lot more situations where I need to show up much earlier for a wedding than I would for a non-wedding event.
For example, my rate isn't based on a set number of hours. But I've had situations where Ceremony took place in the same room as Reception, but they didn't need me for the ceremony. I still had to be there plenty early to be set and cleaned up before the ceremony. That creates a dead hour or two where I'm set up but not doing anything. The likelihood of that happening to me at a corporate event is basically zero, but my wedding rate allows for stuff like that when it comes up.
I used to look at it like the way you did... until I went full time and realized every date booked was crucial, especially during the busy seasons, and I had to maximize the income for each date I booked. So whether it was a wedding or small backyard party... that Friday or Saturday in June needs to generate on Avg $3500 or more.
Don't get me wrong, there are still instances that I'll discount... for example a 40th bday party that I did this past weekend came in only 3 or so weeks beforehand. I didn't discount primarily because of the work involved, I discounted moreso because of the last minute nature of the event and that it didn't affect any of my longterm dates which I need to book at a certain amount. The fact that it needed no prep work incentivized me to offer a more generous discount. Keep in mind though... a generous discount is reducing my starting price from $2750 to $2250 and offering like 30-50% off on enhancements.