Which event would you rather do?

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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If given the choice between choosing 5 different events to DJ on a open Saturday, which one would you choose?

A. 60th Birthday Party in a Community Center for 75 guests less than 5 miles from your house. Super Easy Load In. Free parking. Casual attire 6 - 10 p.m. one sound system no lights wanted, but bring lights if you want - $375 cash
B. Farm Ceremony and Reception for 120 guests. Ceremony outside. Reception in a barn 5 - 10 p.m. Mediocre load in. Two sound systems, small light show, 75 mile drive each way into rural area - $1000 - Paying with credit cards
C. Downtown Wedding Ceremony , Cocktail hour and Reception for 250 guests. High End venue in Nearest large city to you.. Terrible Load in and Load out. Worse than any other load in you have dealt with. Parking is $50+. You have to pay an assistant or even two to help.. 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Must be on the road at Noon (5 hours prior to start time) 3 Sound Systems, Big light show. Full Room Up lighting, dancing on the clouds for $3,000 paid via credit card
D. High School Prom in a Suburban Hotel Ball Room 45 mile drive each way - 600 students. 7 to 11 p.m. One sound system, large light show. Provide the most bang for their buck at $1,200. School is paying with checks. Parking is free
E. Local Bar Night. Free parking. Less than 15 mile drive each way. Bring laptop only. Play whatever you want 9 p.m. to 1 a..m - $150 cash at end of the night. + a few free drinks

🤔
 
All of the above. Especially the one for the 60th birthday celebration. Super easy gig for me.
 
C... but for about just over $1000 more. This event and package is common for me so I don't see any stress involved with it. My price would be $3350 for DJ w/ 4 heads and uplighting, $150 travel fee (closest city is NYC or Philly... Manhattan would actually be a $300 travel fee), $200 for ceremony, $100 for cocktail hour, $350 for dancing on clouds effect.
 
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Giving up 3% of a $3,000 payday is $90 in processing. In the grand scheme of things, it's a cost of doing business. But I always prefer a check if I can get it.

Yes. Correct. BUT, out of that 3K fee you would need to also pay a couple of assistants. Figuring that reliable help these days in a big city area is likely a minimum of $200 each person for the night unless you know someone who will work with you for cheaper. Plus the $50 in parking cuts into it as well.
 
If given the choice between choosing 5 different events to DJ on a open Saturday, which one would you choose?
Barring some personal relationship or association with the event's host, I'd choose the most profitable.

Why so much concern with how you are paid
My guess is because he is operating a legitimate business, but that is purely a guess.

BTW, Impersonating Dramachoman inquiries will gain you no favor...or respect.
 
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Yes. Correct. BUT, out of that 3K fee you would need to also pay a couple of assistants. Figuring that reliable help these days in a big city area is likely a minimum of $200 each person for the night unless you know someone who will work with you for cheaper. Plus the $50 in parking cuts into it as well.

Right.. so let's say you pay 2 assistants $200 each. $50 to park, and another $90 to process a credit card... you're still walking away with ~$2,400.

So based on your examples, the daily value of your time is much higher. And I look at my dates as my inventory, so I'm trying to maximize them.

The part of your premise I disagree with is that a barn wedding is going to be priced THAT much lower. Certainly you can get cheaper DJs to do them. But I do a lot of barn and rustic weddings at rates I'm comfortable with.
 
C,B,A,D,E in that order

The reasons? C is obvious I'd maximize my earning potential. I'd also only be paying one assistant

B: Pretty easy gig for me good earning potential

A: Extremely easy gig for me musically and physically

D: This is closer to the bottom because I don't do too many proms anymore. My Daughter would be playing most of the night

E: Easy gig but the compensation isn't enough to be worthwhile. If it was a Monday night or very last minute and I wasn't booked I might step in. I don't drink when I play but I would gladly accept a few wings and some Pepsi :)
 
D: This is closer to the bottom because I don't do too many proms anymore. My Daughter would be playing most of the night

I feel you on this one. I still have 2 prom accounts and I'm doubtful one of them is going to call again this year. Even if they do, I'm turning it down. The other is my hometown and I don't intend to do it past this year.
 
I feel you on this one. I still have 2 prom accounts and I'm doubtful one of them is going to call again this year. Even if they do, I'm turning it down. The other is my hometown and I don't intend to do it past this year.

I can still do them I just really don't like doing them and that probably makes me more of a liability than an asset. I am lucky in the fact my Daughter has a deep interest in the business and she loves making money. She's 15 so she's not far off their age
 
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