Wish me luck tonight

My Dad did American Legion gigs for years.

I do not currently have an interest in doing those types of gigs, but this is generally where older DJs find a stable home for continued income and DJ work.

My sister just did a one time bar gig at a Casino in Delaware in their bar area. 3 hour job. It paid $225 for a Thursday night. Actually, they invited her back for potential future dates. She just does not know the dates yet. She did the job because, well she needs the money. It's a slow month, and dj work is all she does. It's the same Casino I did NYE at in 2015, and a couple of other events there in the past. They don't call me because I'm expensive. They like to pay low. It was a battle to get them to pay me 1K for NYE back in 2015. They finally did agree I think after they realized they can't find anyone else reliable, and good for NYE for lower. I wanted more...they threw in 2 free buffets to get the price to 1K lol. I did enjoy the buffet though.

DJ Ricky B said:

My Dad did American Legion gigs for years.

I do not currently have an interest in doing those types of gigs, but this is generally where older DJs find a stable home for continued income and DJ work.

My sister just did a one time bar gig at a Casino in Delaware in their bar area. 3 hour job. It paid $225 for a Thursday night. Actually, they invited her back for potential future dates. She just does not know the dates yet. She did the job because, well she needs the money. It's a slow month, and dj work is all she does. It's the same Casino I did NYE at in 2015, and a couple of other events there in the past. They don't call me because I'm expensive. They like to pay low. It was a battle to get them to pay me 1K for NYE back in 2015. They finally did agree I think after they realized they can't find anyone else reliable, and good for NYE for lower. I wanted more...they threw in 2 free buffets to get the price to 1K lol. I did enjoy the buffet though.

Click to expand...

I don't really think of American Legion or VFW Gigs to be working for the club itself. I did plenty of weddings and other events that were for people renting the hall, many who also paid more to have extensive decor and lighting added. Not all that different from Bar Mitzvahs hosted at the Temple's own social hall. I got my rate whether it was a VFW or the Ritz Carlton.

When it comes to the members bar itself - well that's a club shift. I don't have an issue with $200 if I'm arriving to an already equipped site and just providing the DJ/KJ labor, or showcasing my emcee ability. I have AV clients whose rate is $40/hr with a 5 hour minimum, ($200 starting fee) but I am working or servicing their own systems, and they pay for consumables or anything substantial that needs to be brought in. The real advantage isn't the money it's being seen as a regional service provider. There's a lot of opportunity to 'save the day' in this segment and that generates a lot of word of mouth business and leads to larger event sales.

As as club shift the Legion doesn't do it for me. The membership is older and less likely to have any event needs. Attendance is small, and the gig I'd get to do not expansive enough to showcase my real potential. There's no brand associated with it either, as there would be if you were a regular at a well known bar, restaurant, or club. Even in the past tense - I still meet clients today (my own age) who will reference a club they used to frequent when they were younger - and it often turns out to be a site where I was a resident DJ at the same time. Decades later that still carries weight.

Granted, I'm not a musician - so there's a different visual and experience at play. If Rick is looking for live gigs, then karaoke is one way to be seen and heard doing that. Even if it's not a true money maker $200 could at least make it a night of free advertising and doing something that scratches the itch.

My friend does karaoke at 2 different places. He does every Wednesday in a bar. In the diner he does every first Saturday and every other Thursdays. They have another DJ that does it in the diner the Thursdays he's not there. I believe that DJ is 86.

My friend uses Karafun as well. He does it to keep busy so people know who he is and at times gets him other jobs obviously for more money.