What is the next gig you have to do?

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I'm sorry bud I know you defend your high paying dj jobs Im really not concerned about that .i make enough money to have no need to seek out of town work for way less then i make now
 
I think me doing free shows has afended some people and if so I'm sorry .but if you want to blame anyone for giving the idea .well its Carry underwood's moms fault . back in 2000 I was in reno NV at RnR that's Russel ray my karaoke dj friends club when Carry and mom cam in carry went up and just blessed the room with song. her mom sat at my table .I asked her why is she in this tiny bar singing when she just got done doing a concert . she said its so nice to just give a small group something nice for free . well the rest is history DJ Free was born
 
While I don't disagree, Carrie is not known for free events and most certainly does not do many. Several 'off time unnannounced pop ups' are one thing (and to many, are probably relaxing as the stress is also gone) - scheduling them and performing them are quite another. If Carrie was known for free events, you would see her value take the elevator down - because as already pointed out, why pay for it if I can get it for cheap or free? Additionally, Carrie would most likely not be in the entertainment / performance industry if the value was lost (and her paycheck was gone).

Many of us are fine with hobbyists - but as a hobbyist, you also have to understand the other side of the conversation.
 
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Many of us are fine with hobbyists - but as a hobbyist, you also have to understand the other side of the conversation.

I'm with Tigger you do you man. We have a wide variety here everything from young guys that are learning to old salts that are willing to pick up a few tricks. Hobbyists to people that make their whole living in the business and hobbyists that think they run a business. I love DJing but I don't see doing it for free on a regular basis but if it works for you props to you
 
Hey I have A great Idea if any DJ feels they are losing gigs do to me freejaying I Am more than willing to give them a shot in front of 4000 of my Gambler 500 friends at are next rally keep in mind we get people from around the world and if you like custom off-road cars trucks boats kind of like mad max n burning man all in one .let me know . Jessi combs was at are event she was amazing. fastest woman in the world may she rest in peace.
 
I think you missed the point .. it's not that anyone is likely losing a gig to Gambler 500 events .. it's that, that performance should equate to a value, and by making it free, it becomes devalued not just for you - but for all other performers - just as if Carrie were performing for free at events would damage the entertainment / performance world.

You should also probably know that performing for several hundred or thousand people at an event may not be considered a hobby - and most likely requires royalties to be paid. While I understand that you have a day job that pays your bills - and this is 'fun', you have to understand what legal implications there may be.

On a similar level, if people came into your office and did your job for nothing, do you think your job would be valued as much? Many of us also have day jobs and spin during the night.
 
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Ok so How am I supposed to fix this if I charge then my love for music hobby will then lose its value in my sole then its just a job and if I'm payed then I'm bound by rules and I lose my artistic touch. I could try n tell myself its ok but that wont help
 
Ok so How am I supposed to fix this if I charge then my love for music hobby will then lose its value in my sole then its just a job and if I'm payed then I'm bound by rules and I lose my artistic touch. I could try n tell myself its ok but that wont help

I can't speak for everyone but I maintain artistic control over my shows in my contract. Obviously when I'm playing events such as weddings I have to allow others input and do what they want in a lot of cases but for what you say you're doing there is no real reason to lose artistic control regardless of working for free or paid
 
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Ok so How am I supposed to fix this if I charge then my love for music hobby will then lose its value in my sole then its just a job and if I'm payed then I'm bound by rules and I lose my artistic touch. I could try n tell myself its ok but that wont help
We charge because we have a love for the music (and all other performers / entertainers that also value this business and/or hobby). We understand the value of an event. These funds also help buy better things (equipment, lighting, music, etc) - without taking away funds from primary jobs (for those that have them). Most of our businesses pay for themselves (and much more).

If by charging, you lose the value, love you had and artistic touch .. then you (and the people) didn't have any of that in the first place. Your time, passion, talent and materials should have a value - and you above all else, should value them. If you don't, who else will? That said - while you may place a certain value on what you do, your customers will determine what that value is. If I give away free chicken, I will always have a customer, regardless of the condition of the chicken. This places no value on me, the chicken or my customers.

To us, it's never 'just a job'. We are also only bound by the rules established in contracts.
 
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maybe this will help so the events i do are about volunteer's the gambler and my event are about cleaning the forest we have had the largest volunteer clean up in the nation so 4000 people clean the forest for free . what should we charge them for music after all that hard work .we already not me but the gambler founder charges 40 per motor vehicle to stay in camp .that's to pay for camp cost.
 
So a wedding if you charge 2000 cash to do 4 hour set say 500 people attend .well 498 people at the wedding are getting a free DJ .the only ones that know the value are the bride n groom and possibly a wedding planner . so when you talking to the audience do you tell them by the way I cost the newlyweds 2000 cash so please show me respect and value .
 
In 1979 I was mixing on wax then cassette tape .I would pull mixes off the radio and go to parks and play my tapes on my boom box . I never got into CDs they were way to costly and failed to often . but who knows maybe some day I will understand what the soul of being a DJ is.
 
So a wedding if you charge 2000 cash to do 4 hour set say 500 people attend .well 498 people at the wedding are getting a free DJ

Actually they are getting a $2000 DJ that someone else paid for....
 
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maybe this will help so the events i do are about volunteer's the gambler and my event are about cleaning the forest we have had the largest volunteer clean up in the nation so 4000 people clean the forest for free . what should we charge them for music after all that hard work .we already not me but the gambler founder charges 40 per motor vehicle to stay in camp .that's to pay for camp cost.
People should be thanked - I don't disagree - but there is a cost and a value for this. If you thank people with food, do you get the food free? .. and if so, is it really free (as in no one paid for it?) Is storing, cooking, moving it free? Do you get free portapotties (again, truly free?). Is power in these remote locations 'free'? Each of these things have an associated cost - as does playing DJ. Do your guests think the portapotties have a value? What about the food? When you make it free, you remove the value. Vendors that donate items are also donating a value - and quite a few of them can write that off (sadly, by established laws, a vendor cannot donate their time or services .. aka DJ). Unless specifically addressed, the fee your group charges .. is ultimately what people think pays for all of these things.

Example: Guests at a wedding usually attend for free. Was it truly free?

Also, if you have a large amount of people in an area (like 4,000), you can't play music just because. Someone has to pay for the rights to play that music (Royalties) - even at an all volunteer event. While I'm sure there are volunteers, there are other costs involved (several listed above). Performing - is another cost and it should be valued. Showing a movie to this same group will also require heavy duty equipment and royalties to the movie associations. Equipment for a 4,000 person event is not light, it is not quiet nor is it cheap. Everything has a cost.

A very big legal difference between a wedding and the the event you're discussing: A wedding is a private event among a small close group of family and friends. Your event is a public event - this alone changes all of the rules. Add in the resources and financials and it gets worse from there. The promoter(s) will be on the hook for any and all musical permissions and royalties. As relates to parks, many parks require permits for musical events (among other things) - especially if it entails groups as large as you're discussing.
 
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So a wedding if you charge 2000 cash to do 4 hour set say 500 people attend .well 498 people at the wedding are getting a free DJ .the only ones that know the value are the bride n groom and possibly a wedding planner . so when you talking to the audience do you tell them by the way I cost the newlyweds 2000 cash so please show me respect and value .
A wedding reception is the party that the wedding couple is throwing for their friends - there is no need for the guests to know the price (but there is a known and established value between the customer and the performer). In this example, the DJ / entertainer is the hired help - and while you may not announce a price, most guests can tell the value. If you've ever been to a club with a really good DJ - did you know what the club was paying that performer? What about a bad performer? In either scenario, was there a need for you (the visitor) to know how much they were being paid? If the bathrooms at a wedding are a trough, a portapotty or an indoor bathroom - do your guests not see a value? Served meals vs buffet vs pot luck vs byo - is there not a value seen? Karaoke singer vs Carrie - is there not a valued difference?

The problem with your scenario is that you're free - and you've made it well known. You've established the value (even though you said that it's your way of giving back). Would you serve 4,000 people with food for free (that you paid for with the money from your day job)? If not, why not? Same / same. It's giving back. Respect and value are earned - they are not demanded.

Imagine Carrie singing for free everywhere - and then all of a sudden saying these are her prices. This is where 'value' comes into the picture. You get paid for your time at work .. would you do it often, for nothing? If not, they why is your time here worth any less (regardless of it being fun)? Donating to organizations like Vets groups is amazing .. but it doesn't pay for things. You're certainly more than welcome to do that - but at the end of the day, your time, equipment and artistic touch should be worth something.
 
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