Maybe we DO charge too much.....

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
594
64
Valley Forge Area
Or not, but let's put this in perspective:

My wife just wanted some painting done, including a wall that has "faux" painting. We also had our front door painted, including sealing it with caulk.

The TOTAL bill was $1187.

Now let's break it down:

On Monday we had one guy at my house for 7 hours, and one guy for 2 hours..... 9 total man hours....

Tuesday a guy shows up and works 3 -4 hours. ..... Total 13 hours.

The guy who owns the business spends about 8 hours on the job, and has to come back for another hour.... so, 9 hours for him.....

That is "about" 22 man hours.... or about $50 an hour..... And the owner has some seriously good artistic skill in the "faux" painting area... Of that $1187, he spent about $100 on supplies...

So basically, he worked for just under $50 an hour....... and he has skills I could never have.......

We are VERY LUCKY to make the money we make.....
 
Just to put things in perspective...

I once figured out my hourly wage for writing software, running the company, and doing support.

I make about a bit less than minimum wage :sqerr: :sqeek:

But, I love my job :)
 
That entirely depends on your methods of accounting for time worked.

Do you include:

(Their being clients)

Time spent working on their job at home or office?
organizing music playlists?
Burning cd's? (if computerized)
Time lines for the event?
Meetings with the client?
Picking up "new" cd's at store as needed?
Practicing introductions
Improving skills?
Editing music?


There are many other things that some consider "time on a client".

Not trying to say we don't get a respectable paycheck (some) for what we do, but many do not truly take into consideration all "time" spent on a performance.

If you only look at the time at a performance, vs true time spent on it may come up differently.

Don't sell yourself short on talent either... Just because one can paint, does not mean they are an artist, any more than because on has top of the line equipment, they are a top dj.
 
Flyingdjdan said:
That entirely depends on your methods of accounting for time worked.

Do you include:

(Their being clients)

Time spent working on their job at home or office?
organizing music playlists?
Burning cd's? (if computerized)
Time lines for the event?
Meetings with the client?
Picking up "new" cd's at store as needed?
Practicing introductions
Improving skills?
Editing music?


There are many other things that some consider "time on a client".

Not trying to say we don't get a respectable paycheck (some) for what we do, but many do not truly take into consideration all "time" spent on a performance.

If you only look at the time at a performance, vs true time spent on it may come up differently.

Don't sell yourself short on talent either... Just because one can paint, does not mean they are an artist, any more than because on has top of the line equipment, they are a top dj.
Click to expand...

Well, actually he is an artist, as he graduated from the Phialdelphia College of Art, and actually has been shown in exhibits, but I get your point.

As far as my TOTAL time DJing... I would say that the average event ( 4 hours ) takes about 7 - 10 hours of my time..... So $75 - $100 goss per hour.
 
Papa no way do we charge too much..........
 
Flyingdjdan said:
Time spent working on their job at home or office?
organizing music playlists?
Burning cd's? (if computerized)
Time lines for the event?
Meetings with the client?
Picking up "new" cd's at store as needed?
Practicing introductions
Improving skills?
Editing music?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking about adding extra for each of these things, but then I would have to give discounts, say, when I have only E-mail and/or phone conversations, or if I don't have to buy special music, or when I don't need to make introductions, or when I don't have to shave (savings on cream)...

There's also the tread wear on my shoes (it's different whether it's an outdoor gig on the grass or indoors on concrete), the expenses so that I can dry clean my tux, the walk up the steps (cuz sometimes I have to actually walk onto a stage rather than just a few feet from the entrance)...

On the other hand, I think I have a fair rate already, but I have explained this on other threads...
 
Quick question Papa. You said you got "some painting" done. To me that's not a whole lot.

Then you say they worked for 22 hours? I could tape and paint 2 houses in 22 hours. How involved was the faux painting that took so long? Any pics?
 
The Vinyl Spinner said:
I'm thinking about adding extra for each of these things, but then I would have to give discounts, say, when I have only E-mail and/or phone conversations, or if I don't have to buy special music, or when I don't need to make introductions, or when I don't have to shave (savings on cream)...

There's also the tread wear on my shoes (it's different whether it's an outdoor gig on the grass or indoors on concrete), the expenses so that I can dry clean my tux, the walk up the steps (cuz sometimes I have to actually walk onto a stage rather than just a few feet from the entrance)...

On the other hand, I think I have a fair rate already, but I have explained this on other threads...
Click to expand...

Curious?

Do you not consider this "work related" that you should be compensated for? Time spent away from family, friends, other hobbies, or relaxing?
 
I just keep raising my prices. Right now, no way do I get paid to much. As I have said on another board. I put about 20 to 25 hours total into each wedding I have been doing. My setup is fairly elaborate. Especially if we do lights But my clients are walking away very happy and thats the real reason I do this. I have only been doing this for 2 years now. So my prices do need to go up. In our area our prices are on the low side of the middle. I have been trying to find my happy place. Where I know my prices will still be attractive to many while I get better known. But where I won't walk away thinking I under charged someone. I'm almost there. :sqbiggrin: All I can say is I'm out here paying my dues. )
 
Alot of djs say that you need to be compensated to be away from your family. This always puzzles me as with any job you are away from your family, unless you have always worked at home. The questions then is how much do you need to be compensated. Lets look at a few things.

Only you know the real numbers for your business, so the numbers I use are just that, some numbers to illustrate my point.

What is your break even in your business. The number you need to make to have all the business expenses covered, this is before you pay yourself.
Insurance, equipement, music, office-phone,lights,supplies etc. Future repairs on equipement and transportation, advertising, medical, retirement, and oh yes some profit. I know Im forgetting something but you get the idea.

Now these are numbers for the sake of illustation. Lets say that your yearly expenses are $24000.00. That means that you spend $2000.00 per month just to keep the doors open. Thats a further breakdown of $500.00 per week. The problem is that you arnt doing a show every Saturday so you have to compensate some for that because your expenses dont go away. Now the next number is how much do you pay yourself. This is where the real rub starts. Depending on your lifestyle and what you think, it could be anywhere from $500.00 to $1000.00 per week. Now this means that you should charge from a $1000.00 to $1500.00 per show. Now remember you know these numbers and what they represent the only thing a customer sees is the final cost. For us to explain or educate people that this is a business well you might as well go sit in a mud puddle and fart all day, because they will still see only that number. This is where sales comes in but thats a different story for now.

Now a random thought. Take into consideration what your customers make, meaning how much money do they make. Again numbers for the sake of illustation. Knowing my area the average couple combined probly make $20.00 per hour give or take. Thats $800.00 per week gross, after taxes and insurance maybe $675.00. Now since more brides/grooms are paying for their own weddings you just asked them to give up a week and a half to 2 weeks of their income to you.

Another random thought. There are brides/grooms who cant afford to spend the average cost of a wedding that ranges from $22000.00 to $30000.00. They can afford to spend between $7500.00 to $12000.00 and yet they want their evening to be just as memorable as the ones who can afford the higher paying weddings. I believe they deserve to have the best wedding possible and if I can do that at a lower rate yet one that works for me and takes care of my family I'll do it. You charge what you need to thats your business. As far as my business I've learned that a little compassion and understanding has actually created more business. Just some thoughts
 
Since it's related, as I supply to you folks, I thought I would mention that I lowered the cost of my product from $120 per copy in late '99 - early 2000, to $99.95 now :sqwink:

I will be increasing that somewhat with the next version coming out, but not a heck of a lot. And that's only to cover added costs of hardware needed for testing, software that I don't feel like writing myself, etc.


With me, my sweet spot for income is not demanding, as my lifestyle is not demanding (not in a monetary sense, anyway). Having lots of money, just for the sake of money, doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy anymore.

I suspect I am among the few though...

Virtually all income, goes back into the company to help it grow. Almost all my expenses are write-offs to the company. Basically, I get paid in food and beverages :)
 
Hey Rick.......that's one strange looking goat in your avatar.....LOL


Someone who can read a crowd and rock a party....is very much an artist!

There is a market value for what we do.....find the customers who appreciate that value......DO NOT work for people you would not enjoy working for.

(Which means, for me.......I don't work for people who don't appreciate the value of what we do)
 
Flyingdjdan said:
Curious?

Do you not consider this "work related" that you should be compensated for? Time spent away from family, friends, other hobbies, or relaxing?
Click to expand...

Sure.
 
HiDefDJ said:
Quick question Papa. You said you got "some painting" done. To me that's not a whole lot.

Then you say they worked for 22 hours? I could tape and paint 2 houses in 22 hours. How involved was the faux painting that took so long? Any pics?
Click to expand...



Just like us... add the prep....spackling, scraping, whatever... 22 total hours. And think of this... $1187 was his gross.... he had to pay those 2 guys and buy supplies... I have no idea what everyday painters make per hour.

I can tell you this: We had another guy come in to give us an estimate. This guy painted Allan Iverson's house. He wanted $1800 for the same job, though his style of faux would have been different.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Just like us... add the prep....spackling, scraping, whatever... 22 total hours. And think of this... $1187 was his gross.... he had to pay those 2 guys and buy supplies... I have no idea what everyday painters make per hour.

I can tell you this: We had another guy come in to give us an estimate. This guy painted Allan Iverson's house. He wanted $1800 for the same job, though his style of faux would have been different.
Click to expand...


So I take it this wasn't an "everyday painter." I assume he was more specialized.
 
SoftJock Rick said:
... With me, my sweet spot for income is not demanding, as my lifestyle is not demanding (not in a monetary sense, anyway). Having lots of money, just for the sake of money, doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy anymore.

I suspect I am among the few though...
Click to expand...
Rick, you are in better company than you may know. :)
 
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