Too Many DJs

[SoftJock Rick]

WHO is successful in China?
Certainly NOT the workers!
They are paid wages lower than most American teenagers working at Burger King.

The country (China) as a whole (big picture) is successful. You have to look at the macro economy, and not the micro.

China is a communist country -- they look for success for the entire country, not for the one individual.

They are doing better than we are. If I recall correctly, they own 17-20% of our debt. So we owe them like 3 trillion dollars. Care to cough up your share...?

 

[steve149]

We could do better too if we paid people peanuts .. Forced them to work where we wanted them too .. and spent almost nothing on them.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

We could do better too if we paid people peanuts .. Forced them to work where we wanted them too .. and spent almost nothing on them.

Agreed -- and that's how the US was founded. That's why it was successful.

We're not so successful anymore. Any company that pays $30 an hour, for some moron who can't read or write, to screw 5 lug nuts on a wheel with a power tool no less, is wasting my money that I could spend on a $9 chicken, because all the feed went for bio fuel, and they gave them blueberry yogurt instead.

 

[Scott Hanna]

I tend to disagree Scott.

a) We don't need more tax money, the gov't needs to spend less.
b) If someone wants to hire someone, do it for $10 an hour, versus $20 per hour for basic unskilled labor.
c) If things were lower cost, more people would buy them.


Our previous economic growth was built on cheap labor costs, and low cost of goods and services. How many people can afford a $40-50,000 dollar car these days? China is the new US -- they keep their labor costs low, sell products at a much lower rate, and they are being successful, because the volume makes up for it.

While I agree that we don't need to increase taxes, doing smarter things that could add to the tax pool could offer other areas where it could be cut.

Plus, Workers in the US have a much much higher standard of living than workers in China. Many workers in china make next to nothing, working 6-12 hour days in horrible conditions.

Many companies there freely steal other's work and produce things they don't have the rights to.

Trying to compete with them for unskilled labor is not something I'd be interested in. Our only option is to be better and be worth more.

but I do agree that unskilled labor is not worth $20 n hour. It's rarely worth $10

 

[SoftJock Rick]

Our only option is to be better and be worth more.

What are we better at these days -- World of Warcraft...?

I think we are failing as a country, because every one seems to want more money for doing less work.

The gov't subsidizes everything. Banks, car companies, etc. How can we have any incentive to work harder, innovate, when we don't have to...?

At some point in time, we will run out of money to innovate...

 

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

We could do better too if we paid people peanuts .. Forced them to work where we wanted them too .. and spent almost nothing on them.

How did we get side tracked from the original topic Canute made?

 

[ahoustondj]

How did we get side tracked from the original topic Canute made?

Because there are too many DJs! :BangHead::BangHead:

 

[Scott Hanna]

What are we better at these days -- World of Warcraft...?

I think we are failing as a country, because every one seems to want more money for doing less work.

The gov't subsidizes everything. Banks, car companies, etc. How can we have any incentive to work harder, innovate, when we don't have to...?

At some point in time, we will run out of money to innovate...

i never said more money for less work. I said more money for more or better work. You said earlier it was a good idea to want less and work for less. I personally think we are better off if more people work harder, are better educated and worth more to someone. I think th US needs more people like that, not people working for less because the only skill they have is general assembly,which we know the Chinese can easily do.

i think there is plenty of incentive to work harder....better neighborhoods, better home, better lifestyle.

there is also plenty of jobs available for people that are willing to work hard, present themselves professionally, are well spoken, and able to add value to a company.

 

[steve149]

How did we get side tracked from the original topic Canute made?

That was a sarcastic rebuke to #61 .. Not a statement to the OP .. though if you read the entire thread, it fits in.

 

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

That was a sarcastic rebuke to #61 .. Not a statement to the OP .. though if you read the entire thread, it fits in.

I meant that for Soft Jock Rock. Now with that said he's my take about charging a client for our services that we provide. I've seen him mention how some of us DJ's are raping clients with the price we charge them. My take is that what I do when a potential client contacts me about booking our services. I need to know the date of the event to see if we have that date open. Then I want to know what type of event it is? How many hours will the event be that you need a DJ? What things are you looking for us to provide for that event? The type of music you want played at that event if we are to be the DJ service you book. Then comes time to talk price if I decide to take on that event.

Once I give a price and someone agrees to that price, then it's time for the potential client to read the contract. If they agree then it's time to get the contract signed and get the retainer from the client. Once that is done that lets me know they are satisfied with paying us the amount stated on the contract. I've never put a gun to someones head telling them they must pay us this much. It's up to them. They sign of their own free will. That to me is not taking advantage of anyone nor charging them to much for our services.

Now we did a class reunion over 2 weeks ago. (look in the gig log section for that one) The event turned out great and they loved what we did. Now I found out something after the event was over that has never happened all my years as a DJ. My partners girl friend went to that very school so it was her class reunion too. They needed us to cover the event for the 4 hours they had the spot reserved for. Now the event was in Brooklyn, NY and we were coming from East Orange, NJ. His girl friend told the lady that organized the event we could do it for $400.00 since it was her own class reunion. The lady her friend who was the planner of the event decided to pay us $600.00. She said that was to help pay for gas and tolls since we had to come that far. Like I said that was the first tie that has ever happened.

With that said how many would have told them no we won't take the extra $200.00 and just do it for the $400.00? If it's me I'll take the money and run with it. I wouldn't argue with anybody willing to pay me more then the price I quoted them.

Now Soft Jock Rock I see you've been all over the place. You went from telling us that you cut your rates by 50% and are getting more bookings. Then you said you were only doing a small amount of gigs here and there. Then you went on to say you were doing gigs where you weren't getting paid out right but letting people put money in a tip jar and that you were getting several hundred dollars that way. Which one is it because you're even confusing me with all of that?

I'm sorry my bad. We did that event almost 2 weeks ago.

 

[DJCC]

I meant that for Soft Jock Rock. Now with that said he's my take about charging a client for our services that we provide. I've seen him mention how some of us DJ's are raping clients with the price we charge them. My take is that what I do when a potential client contacts me about booking our services. I need to know the date of the event to see if we have that date open. Then I want to know what type of event it is? How many hours will the event be that you need a DJ? What things are you looking for us to provide for that event? The type of music you want played at that event if we are to be the DJ service you book. Then comes time to talk price if I decide to take on that event.

Once I give a price and someone agrees to that price, then it's time for the potential client to read the contract. If they agree then it's time to get the contract signed and get the retainer from the client. Once that is done that lets me know they are satisfied with paying us the amount stated on the contract. I've never put a gun to someones head telling them they must pay us this much. It's up to them. They sign of their own free will. That to me is not taking advantage of anyone nor charging them to much for our services.

Now we did a class reunion over 2 weeks ago. (look in the gig log section for that one) The event turned out great and they loved what we did. Now I found out something after the event was over that has never happened all my years as a DJ. My partners girl friend went to that very school so it was her class reunion too. They needed us to cover the event for the 4 hours they had the spot reserved for. Now the event was in Brooklyn, NY and we were coming from East Orange, NJ. His girl friend told the lady that organized the event we could do it for $400.00 since it was her own class reunion. The lady her friend who was the planner of the event decided to pay us $600.00. She said that was to help pay for gas and tolls since we had to come that far. Like I said that was the first tie that has ever happened.

With that said how many would have told them no we won't take the extra $200.00 and just do it for the $400.00? If it's me I'll take the money and run with it. I wouldn't argue with anybody willing to pay me more then the price I quoted them.

Now Soft Jock Rock I see you've been all over the place. You went from telling us that you cut your rates by 50% and are getting more bookings. Then you said you were only doing a small amount of gigs here and there. Then you went on to say you were doing gigs where you weren't getting paid out right but letting people put money in a tip jar and that you were getting several hundred dollars that way. Which one is it because you're even confusing me with all of that?

I'm sorry my bad. We did that event almost 2 weeks ago.

Every time I read one of your stupid, lame ass post my head hurts.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

Now Soft Jock Rock I see you've been all over the place. You went from telling us that you cut your rates by 50% and are getting more bookings. Then you said you were only doing a small amount of gigs here and there. Then you went on to say you were doing gigs where you weren't getting paid out right but letting people put money in a tip jar and that you were getting several hundred dollars that way. Which one is it because you're even confusing me with all of that?

I don't think you can read MixMasterMachoMachoMan. I WRITE/SELL DJ software. Can you understand that.

I test said software, by using it in real world scenarios -- so I dropped the price of the software. I DO NOT do gigs for the money, I make more selling my software. Now, do you understand why I don't care if I get paid for the gigs -- the tip jar pays for gas, food and beer.

I would think that after some 20-30 years cleaning a junior high's boys room, you would have learned to read -- perhaps I was giving you too much credit. But you might need that skill to file your disability papaers, unless your "partners" GF is doing it for you, because you'd need to hobble in there with your walker, while carrying a 50 lb speaker.

 

[Scott Hanna]

The country (China) as a whole (big picture) is successful. You have to look at the macro economy, and not the micro.

China is a communist country -- they look for success for the entire country, not for the one individual.

They are doing better than we are. If I recall correctly, they own 17-20% of our debt. So we owe them like 3 trillion dollars. Care to cough up your share...?

You are contradicting yourself. On one hand, you say a simple life with few needs is a better life, but then you say a country that practically enslaves most of its workers for 12- to 14 hours a day with little to no rights, and steals intellectual property is successful because it has made some money. I thought money wasn't important to you.

And don't kid yourself. Communism as it has been practiced in Russia and China has NEVER been about the good of the country as a whole. They've been dictatorships, murdering 100's of thousands of their own citizens, while the money made from the workers is lining the pockets of a very few with absolute rule, while the infrastructure of the country deteriorates. The average person there has no rights, no ability to speak their mind

Every see some of the housing that average workers in china and soviet russia lived in?

 

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

Every time I read one of your stupid, lame ass post my head hurts.

The first part of my post above was because Soft says that in this country people are raping others for what they charge for goods and services. If you go to a store and buy something are they raping you when they charge you a price? If you agree to pay that price then wouldn't that say to you that price was fair for what the product or service it is? Now do you get it!

He mentioned someone making a vehicle that cost $40,000.00-$50,000.00 and that's just to much to pay for a vehicle. Suggesting that if you buy that vehicle you're being ripped off. Now I'll bet a new car that cost $15,000.00 won't be the same as one that cost $50,000.00. I equate that to comparing a Technical Pro amp to a Crown Micro Tech amp. Both will do the same thing. Now which one do you think will out perform and out last the other? The one you pay $400.00 for or the one that cost $4,000.00? Remember in this world you get what you pay for for the most part.

Now Soft I'm glad you finally cleared things up. The way you originally posted it made it sound like you were doing gigs for 50% off of what you were charging. Glad you cleared that up.

Lastly DJCC my post wasn't stupid because it has a lot to do with so many becoming a DJ just to make some quick cash. I learned what I should have done in the beginning was to come up with a business plan first before rushing out to do gigs for such a cheap price or practically for free. Now that's keeping the focus on where it needs to be and that's on me.

I ultimately realized how much I was hurting myself. I was giving clients high quality service for a cheap price. So why should they pay more if they can get me to do gigs for $250.00-$350.00 and get high quality work from me. I had people all the time bragging about my work. So that should have been a clue for me to raise my prices. The other big thing I learned from being on here is once I quote a price don't go back and give a lower price to try to win their business. That helped to cheapen our services. So that would leave people to believe that we must not be that good. Just give them a price and let them decide from there. If they agree to that price then good. If not they can look else where. Now that else where doesn't always mean they are looking for a cheaper price but the right DJ to do their event.

Like it has been said you need to be able to show a potential client the value in booking you as their DJ to do an event for them. It's about making a potential client excited that you're going to be the DJ doing their event. Now with tons of DJ's in the area where I live how does one know who to pick to be their DJ for an event they are having? There's a lot of competition around here so you've got to really stand out and that was my reason for buying the lighted facade.

 

[Dj Jimmy D]

I ultimately realized how much I was hurting myself. I was giving clients high quality service for a cheap price. So why should they pay more if they can get me to do gigs for $250.00-$350.00 and get high quality work from me. I had people all the time bragging about my work. So that should have been a clue for me to raise my prices. The other big thing I learned from being on here is once I quote a price don't go back and give a lower price to try to win their business. That helped to cheapen our services. So that would leave people to believe that we must not be that good. Just give them a price and let them decide from there. If they agree to that price then good. If not they can look else where. Now that else where doesn't always mean they are looking for a cheaper price but the right DJ to do their event.

Like it has been said you need to be able to show a potential client the value in booking you as their DJ to do an event for them. It's about making a potential client excited that you're going to be the DJ doing their event. Now with tons of DJ's in the area where I live how does one know who to pick to be their DJ for an event they are having? There's a lot of competition around here so you've got to really stand out and that was my reason for buying the lighted facade.

On that note, how much did you charge for the sweet 16 party this past week?

 

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

On that note, how much did you charge for the sweet 16 party this past week?

It was in the clients backyard and she paid us $400.00 for the 4 hour event. Not too bad since it was around the corner from my house where I live at now. I posted a gig log about that too. Now trust me I know she could have kept looking and found someone willing to do it for less. We just provided a sound system. No lights or any other things.

 

[ahoustondj]

It was in the clients backyard and she paid us $400.00 for the 4 hour event. Not too bad since it was around the corner from my house where I live at now. I posted a gig log about that too. Now trust me I know she could have kept looking and found someone willing to do it for less. We just provided a sound system. No lights or any other things.

WOW Mix! You scored a Home Run! I am proud of you!

 

[steve149]

It was in the clients backyard and she paid us $400.00 for the 4 hour event. Not too bad since it was around the corner from my house where I live at now. I posted a gig log about that too. Now trust me I know she could have kept looking and found someone willing to do it for less. We just provided a sound system. No lights or any other things.

That would have been an extra $200 in your pocket if you did it solo (maybe $150 if you paid a helper to load in/out). Any way .. God job on moving up the chain.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

WOW Mix! You scored a Home Run! I am proud of you!

Yeah a homerun -- he had to split the $400 with his "partner", his partners gal pal, set up and load load out. If they split it equally, I think my calculator says that comes out to about $133 dollars each. Now if you are reasonable, and pay taxes, that's going to be lower.

So, let's say it took you a half hour to load in, and a half to load out -- that's 5 hours. Then you have prep time, getting you music together and meetings. So let's figure a mildly conservative estimate of time consumed -- let's go for 7 hours.

That means your cut, is like $19 per hour.

Your new "business plan", does not seem to be economically feasible...

 

[Proformance]

Yeah a homerun -- he had to split the $400 with his "partner", his partners gal pal, set up and load load out. If they split it equally, I think my calculator says that comes out to about $133 dollars each. Now if you are reasonable, and pay taxes, that's going to be lower.

So, let's say it took you a half hour to load in, and a half to load out -- that's 5 hours. Then you have prep time, getting you music together and meetings. So let's figure a mildly conservative estimate of time consumed -- let's go for 7 hours.

That means your cut, is like $19 per hour.

Your new "business plan", does not seem to be economically feasible...

..if he was working as day labor on the trade show floor doing A/V and IT hookups the pay rate would be $20 /hr so I'd say he's doing just fine for a backyard party with no pressure and being his own boss.