Prices

[mg ents]

I know its a question with many answers but.... what kinda price would you give for a friday night general disco....family function??

Anyone who can give some guide prices would be appreciatred....

[leighinstoke]

£25 hour minimum plus travel/setup/hassle...

Leigh.....

[Corabar Steve]

I know its a question with many answers but.... what kinda price would you give for a friday night general disco....family function??

Anyone who can give some guide prices would be appreciatred....
How long's a piece of string, prices can vary wildly from area to area, or even within the same areahopefully some of the forum members nearer to you can shed some light (Cough! Pete Cough!) :teeth:

[soundtracker]

I'm miles away from N.Wales! I would guess prices would be akin to Liverpool & the N.West. But at the end of the day, charge what your worth and what you need.

[Have a disco]

How many people would be a nicer guide as to how big a show they actually want and the size of the venue

£175 is my minimum for a small show for 4 hrs ie 7.30pm - 11.30pm, check out my site for different price guides

this figure covers a 10 mile radius from my home but does not include early set up costs

My figures are top end as to deter the wanna cheap disco's but are not in flexible as regular contractual work gets it cheaper and my milage goes up to 20 mile radius

Its up to you but £150 aint a bad price but it also aint good its totally upto youwhat you charge but always make it worth you while after expences

[Candybeatdiscos]

oh go on give them a freebie.....

lol aye right

nah i say £160 for 4 hrs...

[Danno13]

Between 150 - 175 for normal birthday etc. parties.

£200 + for weddings, although trying to push everything up to this price...

[mg ents]

How do you get over the....'friends of friends', I want a discount..... Who do you discount for and where do you draw the line......after someone rings you and says....im your friend at works brothers cousin.....

Sometime I think people expect it cheaper, at end of day if were recommended then were obviously doing something right.....

[Danno13]

Depends on the time of year for me.. can't afford to do many cheapies during xmas and summer, but quieter times i could probably go as low as half price for some friends and family. Friends of friends get full rate though...

[dj andy allwood]

£150 4 hours
£175 5 hours
£200 6 hours

[Shaun]

How do you get over the....'friends of friends', I want a discount..... Who do you discount for and where do you draw the line......after someone rings you and says....im your friend at works brothers cousin.....



Easy!!. Don't do discounts....period. :beer:

[Corabar Steve]

I'm miles away from N.Wales! I would guess prices would be akin to Liverpool & the N.West. But at the end of the day, charge what your worth and what you need.
You're a sight nearer than most of us :teeth: , I think it's best to go by others close to you when working out you initial prices. You don't want to charge too much or you won't get any work, too little & you'll get all the dross.

[abyssdjhire]

we did a 21st bday last night near melton mowbray for £400.

edit - some weddings etc that we do go up to around £700

[Have a disco]

Never ever do a favour of lowering my prices for a mate, they would never lower the cost of there work If I needed a job doing in there trade it gets silly and people start abusing it.. so stick to your pricing structure no matter what people will respect you more. And if they hire someone else they aint that much of a mate, and family should know better. Its your business, how you make your money, they should be glad to pay what ever you charge and if they look else where then your probably invited anyway...

I say look at about £50 per hour after expences if you can, if not before expences you'll be on the right track

[secretDISCO]

Just think!! After carrying all your gear up and down 4 flights of stairs.........the next time your on the phone taking a booking and your spine reminds you with a little twinge
AAAAAAAAAaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! KERR-CHINGGGGGG ££££££££££££!!!!!
Discount DISCOUNT........What discount!!!!!

[dj_ags]

We offer three shows to suit everyone's budget.

Bronze - £150
Silver - £175
Gold - £200

Obviously, these prices can alter due to timings, type of function, etc. These prices are based on a standard 5 hour disco for all functions..accept weddings and New Years Eve, where these prices do increase slightly for obvious reasons.

I think the standard rate around this area for a 5 hour disco is in the region of around £150...but i wait to be corrected by other DJs who work in this area of the Midlands :cool:

We vertually always end up offering discount for family and friends, but as has been mentioned, keep to your pricing structure...and don't offer discounts if you can help it :)

[soundtracker]

You're a sight nearer than most of us :teeth: , I think it's best to go by others close to you when working out you initial prices. You don't want to charge too much or you won't get any work, too little & you'll get all the dross.


There you are Steve, Ags, is 75 mile from me and a lot closer to North Wales, yet his prices are half mine! Having said that, most people around here charge half my price, yet I'm busier than I've ever been.

[DJ Spinko]

Two threads here:

How much to charge - I think the idea from the other postings from dj's is to establish a price guide for your work. There are several elements to this, locations, time,etc.. most of which I have no doubt been covered elsewhere in the forum. With a pricing structure you are at least consistent and don't have to worry 'what did I charge last-time'.

Discounts - A nightmare as family and friends will probably think that you will do it cheaper. Personally, I only give a discount to the venue that I work at regularly for their functions only as they put a lot of other work my way. If I do do any for the family, usually the 'discount' is seen as their present from me as they know what they would have to pay for another dj if I was booked by someone else that evening.

Cris
DJ Spinko

[Corabar Steve]

If I do do any for the family, usually the 'discount' is seen as their present from me as they know what they would have to pay for another dj if I was booked by someone else that evening. He said "do do" :teeth:

I must admit I don't do discounts for family & friends, I do however do freebies as a wedding / birthday / whatever present. Our rate is our rate & unless it's offered by Angela or me as a present, everybody pays full whack

[spin mobile disco]

I tend to structure my prices by people in attendance (for what sound equip to take) what lighting they want (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 items on the cross beams) special effects cause face it the bubble machine is a pain in the rear end to clean up after. And the smoke costs more to run than a gas fire these days. And then by how far, any stairs, can i park near building or do i need a buss pass. I saw one guys website and he took a picture of all his gear in each setup and then posted prices next to them so you pay £200 for this or £250 for this that kind of thing. Thought it was a good idea myself but never have the time to set it up just to take photos but whatever works i guess.
Hope this helps and hi by the way.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I tend to structure my prices by people in attendance (for what sound equip to take) what lighting they want (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 items on the cross beams) special effects cause face it the bubble machine is a pain in the rear end to clean up after. And the smoke costs more to run than a gas fire these days. And then by how far, any stairs, can i park near building or do i need a buss pass. I saw one guys website and he took a picture of all his gear in each setup and then posted prices next to them so you pay £200 for this or £250 for this that kind of thing. Thought it was a good idea myself but never have the time to set it up just to take photos but whatever works i guess.
Hope this helps and hi by the way.

So you don't take into account, travelling, type of function and length of booking then?

How can you price by amount of sound needed, when you've just replied in another thread saying you only use one pair of cabs?

[Have a disco]

Is it not time all discos unified and set a minimum price of say £250 for a basic set up

[soundtracker]

Yeah, lets all join together and work cheap! Gets my vote!



























NOT!

[Corabar Steve]

Is it not time all discos unified and set a minimum price of say £250 for a basic set up
Because for some of us that would be a cut.

[Have a disco]

I did say a basic set up which to some could be a funfair of lighting others 2 pieces + 1 special effect lets put the cheapies off the market place

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I did say a basic set up which to some could be a funfair of lighting others 2 pieces + 1 special effect lets put the cheapies off the market place

The point is Badger, we don't all work like you in pricing a gig.

I never give a 'cheap' price if a venue determines a smaller rig.

It's all about selling yourself, not your rig.

If it is a massive venue then maybe, but mostly it's the same price, plus travelling and extra time etc.

[Thames Valley Discos]

that would be classed as price fixing, besides why should i base my price on others. my needs are different to yours.Hey badger, lets base our price on per bulb used! per Watt used! :teeth:

[Candybeatdiscos]

unfortuantly for me the cheepies run my local market - i do not get a lot of bookings as i am the most expensive @ £160 for a standard evening ie 7-12 birthday in local, everyone else charges £80-£120 I depend on shaun passing me work these days lol - christ considering giving him commission

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

unfortuantly for me the cheepies run my local market - i do not get a lot of bookings as i am the most expensive @ £160 for a standard evening ie 7-12 birthday in local, everyone else charges £80-£120 I depend on shaun passing me work these days lol - christ considering giving him commission

You mean you don't? :omg: :teeth:

[Candybeatdiscos]

not yet - lol

[Corabar Entertainment]

Is it not time all discos unified and set a minimum price of say £250 for a basic set up.... and those who charge less now to undercut others would really go for that, wouldn't they















NOT.

[Have a disco]

look Im assessing my prices as I speak

why

(1) I feel Im undercharging

(2) I never know where Im working next size of venue etc etc so selling myself helps but if one is not very good at selling oneself there has to be structure to work form

(3) I want to distance myself from the cowboy/bad end of the market and working in coventry is a darn site easier than Haverhill suffolk unless you have a supershow with a humongus advertising budget which Im afraid I dont. Dont worry Im working on it. I started the disco building a lot later than some of you 3 yrs ago not 10yr ago.... up til 3 yrs ago I worked other peoples mobiles and DJed in clubs so this is a change for me in competition stakes.

I have rubbed many a mobiles nose in it recently with good work done so far, and they do not like it and are mudding my name up destroying my flyers etc etc its all out war here even cutting prices to take my work away within town I mainly work out of town now and people still expect me to go out for pittence 20, 30 miles away in the end some work is better than none!!!!!!!!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

£250 an hour would be good.
























































I'd take a paycut:teeth:

[Have a disco]

Yes reading a great affluent area for good discos not Haverhill where £150 is the norm

[Corabar Steve]

Yes reading a great affluent area for good discos not Haverhill where £150 is the norm
How close is Haverhill to Sewards End again????????

[Have a disco]

thats the point sewards end is saffron walden territory not haverhill in a sense I cant afford to advertise everywhere but yes I am in their internet directory till I can afford to advertise more wider then I am stuck to a point as Have-A-Disco.co.uk is already on every internet page I can find without havin to pay a blooming fortune even on 118gethitched which is my big expense for the year.

Like everything it takes time to get established even harder when its just 1 show not 2 o3 like some of you can do with ease

[Candybeatdiscos]

if i charged £250 a time i would be out of work....lol would never get any bookings

[Have a disco]

if i charged £250 a time i would be out of work....lol would never get any bookings

thank god for that thought I was in a minority

[Candybeatdiscos]

bloody nora - i am having to cancel my local karaoke as the landlord is only willing to now pay £60 a week, i was charging him £120 as a favour as my normal karaoke price is £150 for private functions and £175 for public bars

[Candybeatdiscos]

i wont let anyone take advantage of my good nature - and will never ever do favours as a result (to payers/landlords)

[Corabar Entertainment]

...even harder when its just 1 show not 2 o3 like some of you can do with easeBadger, I'm getting really fed up with you coming out with that one, whatever we are talking about. What difference does that make?

Yes, it does take time to build a reputation - that I will grant you, but how many jobs do you think we do on our doorstep? Very few, I promise you.

You keep saying that locally they just won't pay the money (I can't comment on that, because I don't know Haverhill at all), but Seward's End, and even Bishop's Stortford and all around there isn't far away..... and I can promise you that they WILL pay for a good DJ around there...... and no, we don't advertise around there but we do pick up quite a few jobs around there.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yes reading a great affluent area for good discos not Haverhill where £150 is the norm

It has nothing to do with that.

It's the market you work in.

There are plenty of deprived areas round here too and also a lot of DJs going out for a lot less than you'd think.

If your market is social clubs and pubs, then those are the sort of prices you'll get, even in 'affluent' Reading.

There are cheap DJs and discos round here, but they don't work in the same market as me and don't affect me.

I concentrate on what I and the company do best, not what others are charging.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Well said. :)

[Shaun]

There are cheap DJs and discos round here, but they don't work in the same market as me and don't affect me.

I concentrate on what I and the company do best, not what others are charging.


BINGO!!...well said. Have a drink :beer:

[Candybeatdiscos]

ok...well i am going to write a letter advertising my business to all hotels around about Fife, perthshire & Edinburgh - you have inspired me....

[Candybeatdiscos]

after all thats the market i wasnt to specialise in...my costs will go up 20% as i will need a few beers as well lol

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

BINGO!!...well said. Have a drink :beer:

I am :teeth: :beer:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

ok...well i am going to write a letter advertising my business to all hotels around about Fife, perthshire & Edinburgh - you have inspired me....

Good man - i wish you luck :)

Don't forget, people buy people.

For all my mutterings about moving heads and Mackie speakers, that is what people buy - me and the company. :)

[spin mobile disco]

So you don't take into account, travelling, type of function and length of booking then?

How can you price by amount of sound needed, when you've just replied in another thread saying you only use one pair of cabs?

I do use only one pair of cabs but it depends which pair i use at any one time hence the charge for people in attendance, and i dont charge for travelling as i have a catchment area, but people are free to charge if they have to travel. And yes I forgot i do charge for anything past 4 hours at overtime rate. But cant remember everything. lol
As for type of function I dont charge by type really as time and people in attendance seems to work for me. I tend to get mostly weddings anyway, with maybe a few birthdays and anniversary's.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I do use only one pair of cabs but it depends which pair i use at any one time hence the charge for people in attendance, and i dont charge for travelling as i have a catchment area, but people are free to charge if they have to travel. And yes I forgot i do charge for anything past 4 hours at overtime rate. But cant remember everything. lol
As for type of function I dont charge by type really as time and people in attendance seems to work for me. I tend to get mostly weddings anyway, with maybe a few birthdays and anniversary's.

Fair enough.

What I was getting at, was that your charges seemed to be based on the gear you take and nothing else. :)

[spin mobile disco]

Basically yes, im short of space for transiting most of my gear so i tend to hire a vehicle for the bigger venues hence the change in price. Basically my gear is good for up to about 300 people although even these tend to be rare in my area. So as only about 1 in 20 of my jobs require me to hire a van i tend to price accordingly.
Also the more lights i have up the more chance of bulb blows and wear and tear and i have to charge more to replace them when they go.
Most of my disco's used to be with an agent for last 18 years so im still a bit new when it comes to pricing as the agent used to do that for me. Trouble is i started on the south coast where the prices tend to be a bit more on the expensive side.
And yes i dont really charge more or less based on anything other than equipment, length of function and any special needs. i.e how many flights of stairs and is there a lift that works. lol suggestions welcomed though.

[Danno13]

Badger.. you're right next to Cambridge and only about 65 miles from london.. are you telling me noone will pay decent money in these places?

I tend to travel around 100-150 miles (round trip) for quite a lot of my gigs these days, as its simply makes more sense to travel for 200+ than to do local gigs (which for me are still around 20 - 40 miles as i'm out in the country) that only want to pay 150ish (although i do lots of local weddings which i can get decent money for..)

[Paul James Promotions]

Most 'private party' clients in this area will only pay £80 - £120 for a DJ, but I still get better work of £300 - £500 or more. Once again, you need to work on your marketting, and stop worrying about others.

[soundtracker]

ok...well i am going to write a letter advertising my business to all hotels around about Fife, perthshire & Edinburgh - you have inspired me....
Please accept this in the spirit that its meant, I honestly feel you will be wasting your time writing, you will be better off speaking to the entertainment person, making an appointment and chatting face to face. As Daz said "people buy people" :)

[Have a disco]

I have spoken to many entertainment managers (not many called that these days more like assistant managers) in cambridge hotels only to be laughed at as they use LARGER businesses in cambridge that have been around for a LONG time and charge CHEAPER rates and still come out with just the basics 2 lightboxes 2 speakers and one windup bar with lights. Its not my marketing trust me its the lack of willingness to pay more than a certain amount of cash usually lower than £150 my pricing structure is fine if a little lower than most of you on here.

Even a newer market in Stanstead, Bishops Stortford is much the same the hotels have been tied down buy bigger concerns. I do feel that some of you should start from scratch as a personal experiment with nothing but Income support to build a disco from like I have, and this is no offence to anyone else whom is doing so. some of you out there have lost perspective to the smaller outfits now you are bigger and have sorted out your reputation. Haverhill has more self-employed failures than in most other simular sized towns but people still try like myself

[alexperrins]

Well said!
I’m 20 and starting from scratch as a few of you may know. I have little experience apart from a few birthday parties and one wedding and although I work, I don’t exactly pull in a big wage. My start up costs are pretty large compared to what I’m going to make in the first year, so I need to make sure what I buy is going to be reliable and last me for a while. It is certainly proving very difficult and the maximum I am charging at the moment is £125 on a weekend with every little bit of equipment I own being used!
However, I am confident that this will work for me as I know lots of people who have spent a lot more for a DJ who is to be honest, taking the biscuit. Although the sound is fine, as you said, some of the lighting is poor and even the selection and appropriateness of the songs chosen were appauling.

[soundtracker]

I assume that's aimed at me, so I will take great pleasure in answering. I did start from scratch again three years ago. I had to give up a few years ago due to a severely arthritic hip, which meant I was hardly able to walk without pain let alone stand all night DJing, anyway, cut to the chase after the operation I decided to start back up again. I had of course in the meantime lost all of my regular haunts and gigs, so it was just like beginning all over. In the first year I did half a dozen Discos for the local school and Football Club, advertised in the local rag, and did a few parties. At the end of the first year, I met up with an old mate, who knew me from years before, and I did a few Christmad dos' for him. This snowballed and led to me covering most of his double bookings, including a good few weddings. Inspired by this I got my (then) 15 year old son to put together a website for me, aimed at the wedding market, and avoiding pubs and clubs which is where I percieved the top dollar was. I also went out and visited the local hotels and was confronted by the usual, "we've got someone mate" - but I refused to be beaten by this and used my selling skills to get them to give me a chance.
I won't say that its all tickety boo quite yet, I seem to get very little work locally apart from saturdays, and this is my next task, I have now recruited three venues that put all of their enquiries my way, have not had a saturday off since 21st Feb (on purpose-my birthday) and have also supplied work regularly to two other DJs, who I have investigated and trust with my reputation. In January I joined NADJ in South Wales- despite the fact that the meeting is over an hour away from me. This has meant networking with about 20 other DJs, we pass work and enquiries around on a regular basis, and in this 8 month period I have secured £2400 worth of business just from that source. So is NADJ worth the £55 quid - I think so, just about. Speak to any of the Welsh boys, they'll tell you the same. This isn't just me blowing the NADJ trumpet because I'm on the NEC , I'm there because they needed my Insurance skills, I'd be saying the same even if I was a member.
So don't come to me with your sob stories, about the big boys taking all the work, its like everything- you get out what you put in. The only reason my business has worked is because I planned it to.

[Have a disco]

was not aimed at anyone in general Soundtracker, just stating an obvious fact that alot of members do seem to continually forget where they started, and that this site is here to help advise people to do things the right way ie: passing tips to promoting themselves better. (which most do not like giving tips) Its like the site has a ritual protection spell around the general way to success without people screaming for it???

The find out for yourself routine as present as ever

[soundtracker]

Well it looked that way as I was the only one commenting on that exact topic.

[Have a disco]

message edited to finish what I was saying did you have to buy your gear again when you restarted

[soundtracker]

Yes I did, the whole lot, and the majority of my CD's, previously I had worked for others with all of the kit.

[Candybeatdiscos]

The find out for yourself routine as present as ever

Sorry mate - i wouldn't say that is very apparent in this site, i think perhaps what you mean is that a lot of the guys on this site perhaps say "See what works for you" as everyone is different - personally i feel that i could sell sand to the arabs, but others are maybe not so confident and perhaps need to ask about other alternatives.

i feel the advise i have recieved on this site from yourself and the others has been great - but at the end of the day i can take it on board or mix and match it to suit me.

[theoloyla]

Heather McCartney has just consulted a divorce lawyer for 3 hours at £1,000 pounds per hour. She could have found a cheaper one much more easily. How can he charge that much and still get work. The reason is he is the best. I charge the same for a 3 hour gig as a 5 hour one, to 50 people or 500 people. I can only be in one place at one time and do one gig so a night is a night. If it is a short easy gig I might and that is might knock a tenner off the fee but then if I do that and I get offered another gig which would have paid full price how do I feel?
In the end we all charge what the market will bear. If you are good and have got a full diary then you can put your prices up. If you are only mediocre then you will have to do cheap gigs because people will not pay. New entrants to the market will usually start off cheaper but people still pay top dollar to go to Harley Street dosctors because they are experts.
As to whether you give discounts thats a personal decision. Would they help you out? Will it do you any good in terms of exposure and reputation? Occasionally I will do a cheaper gig for someone that I owe a favour to but generally it is a direct booking and I am only giving them off what I would have paid in commission to an agent. Makes them feel good and grateful though. Dont ever work for free and dont be pressured.

[Have a disco]

Sorry mate - i wouldn't say that is very apparent in this site, i think perhaps what you mean is that a lot of the guys on this site perhaps say "See what works for you" as everyone is different - personally i feel that i could sell sand to the arabs, but others are maybe not so confident and perhaps need to ask about other alternatives.

i feel the advise i have recieved on this site from yourself and the others has been great - but at the end of the day i can take it on board or mix and match it to suit me.

Thanks mate Nice to know I did say something right, I do admit I do question alot of the guys toughly but prehaps that is because I am a 1 man 1 disco show so I am finding a bit harder to progress any further than I am currently. Maybe its just the area I live in and I need to look further afield and diversify my advertising

[Jiggles]

I'm as cheap as chips £20 per hour + £5 deposit :teeth:

[Have a disco]

wait til you 18+ see your prices rise then LOL

[DMX Will]

wait til you 18+ see your prices rise then LOL

wait till your 16! We we're charging around £200 a night at the age of 16. Our average is rising slowly now.

[Corabar Entertainment]

... I do admit I do question alot of the guys toughly but prehaps that is because I am a 1 man 1 disco show so I am finding a bit harder to progress any further than I am currently.It's not the questions you ask that are ever a problem - I'll tell you whatever you want to know: but it's the assumptions you make about many of us that I take offence to ('offence' is a bit strong, but you know what I mean). You assume that you are worse off than everyone else; that you are the only one who ever has any problems; that everyone else is making a fortune; and that anyone with more than 1 rig out on a night has got it on easy street..... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corabar Entertainment has been around for a good few years, yes - but it was being run as a 'part-time' business for a long time. It was only 2 years ago when I ended up in hospital having spinal surgery which meant that I could not go to work and was bored at home that I started REALLY putting some effort into it and we started expanding. To expand, of course, meant that we had to plough all the money made back into the business and in the meantime I was made redundant from work. So, it would be appreciated if you didn't make all the stupid comments you do about everything being OK for others, but such a problem for you
Maybe its just the area I live in and I need to look further afield What do you class as 'further afield'? From what you've said, you seem to expect loads of work in your home town.... there's a reason it's called a 'mobile disco' - most DJs travel fair distances for work. As I've said, we're picking up work in the so-called 'closed areas' that are far closer to you than they are to us.

[A1DL]

I charge the same for a 3 hour gig as a 5 hour one, to 50 people or 500 people. I can only be in one place at one time and do one gig so a night is a night.

Theo, looking at the extremes within your example, does this not either;
(a) make the 3 hour gig for 50 guests appear very expensive
or
(b) make the 5 hour gig for 500 guests appear very cheap (since this one will also probably take a couple more hours to set up)

??
tony

[Corabar Steve]

Thanks mate Nice to know I did say something right, I do admit I do question alot of the guys toughly but prehaps that is because I am a 1 man 1 disco show so I am finding a bit harder to progress any further than I am currently. Maybe its just the area I live in and I need to look further afield and diversify my advertising
That's not the impression your website gives

[colinm345]

It's not the questions you ask that are ever a problem - I'll tell you whatever you want to know: but it's the assumptions you make about many of us that I take offence to ('offence' is a bit strong, but you know what I mean). You assume that you are worse off than everyone else; that you are the only one who ever has any problems; that everyone else is making a fortune; and that anyone with more than 1 rig out on a night has got it on easy street..... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corabar Entertainment has been around for a good few years, yes - but it was being run as a 'part-time' business for a long time. It was only 2 years ago when I ended up in hospital having spinal surgery which meant that I could not go to work and was bored at home that I started REALLY putting some effort into it and we started expanding. To expand, of course, meant that we had to plough all the money made back into the business and in the meantime I was made redundant from work. So, it would be appreciated if you didn't make all the stupid comments you do about everything being OK for others, but such a problem for youWhat do you class as 'further afield'? From what you've said, you seem to expect loads of work in your home town.... there's a reason it's called a 'mobile disco' - most DJs travel fair distances for work. As I've said, we're picking up work in the so-called 'closed areas' that are far closer to you than they are to us.

SECONDED

In this business like any other ,you get back what you put in

[Have a disco]

But remember this in reality we are all competetive rivals vying for trade. Im putting a lot of effort in my own area to gain more work, even going back to DJing to make ends meet and pass info on Im putting all I can into it. but I have to eat, pay maintenence etc etc like a lot of us. Which at the end of the day leaves nothing for advertising almost

[Candybeatdiscos]

I myself am a one man show, i have a roadie who helps me out, and can call upon a couple of other guys to help me out from time to time (only have 1 set of lights & two setups which double for karaoke) but basically i am the only full time DJ, i do the advertising, the buying in etc. I have chosen to leave a well paid full time job in order to try and make my living in disco's, although with three children and a wife (who doesn't work) I have had to take on a part time job as well.

Anyway like the guys say its what you put in, i have only been in business for myself since April and that was because my mum bought me a set up and my sister leant me money to get a set up - which i am only starting to pay back. I will not be in a profit making time until i expect Xmas NEXT year, but i am plugging along, asking advise from the guys who have been around a lot longer than me, my prices are the most expensive in the area, this is because i feel that i am the best at what i do, (14 years experiance with other companies in the area) i also look to give more than the standard disco company round here, but Fife is tiny compared to other regions in Scotland so i understand that i will need to move onto Glasgow/Perth/Edinburgh etc in order to get well paid jobs. I like some of the other guys aim to deal with the higher end market ie hotels etc, but in the meantime i am taking on some of the local pubs etc in order to try and make some money now.

Dude, we all work hard and we have a vision of where we want to be - keep asking for help and advise and work hard to meet your objective - the guys here are not interested in stealing your clients, they want to help you and get rid of the £80 'Pirate' DJ's who give our specialised industry a bad name.

I am already indebbted to Shaun (Elite) as he has passed me work, however he has only agreed to that as long as I charge decent money and not go charging wee piddly amounts, what i charge clients in his area I would never get from clients here, however if they are prepared to pay it then yeah i will charge it. Even then what i charge them is loads more than local area, its still far from my ideal charges (Ie £180 for a halloween party 7.30 till 12 (lots of stairs) compared to the £250-£300 that i expect to be charging in the next couple of years once I am in a profit state)

[Corabar Entertainment]

But remember this in reality we are all competetive rivals vying for trade.... and that's where we differ. I don't view anybody as my rival who might steal a job from us, but as another professional in the industry which will help us all in the long run..... not to mention someone else to network with and help us out if we were ever in a jam & vice versa. There are enough jobs out there for all professionals to be working: you don't need to view everyone else as the enemy.

[Candybeatdiscos]

thats what i tried to say without the waffle lol

[Corabar Entertainment]

Hmmm - waffles :teeth: :teeth:

[sparc]

The minute you start thinking of you peers as colleagues rather than rivals is the minute your business benefits.

Also, if you are thinking local, then the venues will obviously be very limited. I am based in Sussex where there are LOADS of DJs working all the local social clubs, pubs, and airport hotels. They are all competing, and artificially bringing down the price of discos in the local area. Am I bothered? Hell no! I find a niche, exploit it, make sure I do things well, and bring in a good fee, but it is in a different market to most of the local jocks. This takes me all over the southern counties, even occasionally into Suffolk where I have a very good customer who is happy to pay me a premium price in return for good service.

And, this is the best bit - the market is crying out for quality client focussed DJ's who can deliver. The problem is that most of those DJ's don't realise this, and are happy to keep 'competing' at the bottom end. Why?

[soundtracker]

Absolutely spot on Brian - this is where the "bottom-feeders" (if I may borrow that phrase) lose out - they take what they can get, rather than asking for what they are worth. This is the old "path of least resistance" tactic, offer a cheap deal, no-one will argue, and you won't need to use any selling skills.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Agreed. And the other mistake that people make is when 'sellling themselves' they try to do it by running down others - best way to get rid of a potential customer instantly!

Do it by telling them what YOU will provide, not what others won't!!!!!!

[Shaun]

Great post Brian, and so very true.

[Candybeatdiscos]

hear hear - see there are people who talk sense out there

[theoloyla]

Theo, looking at the extremes within your example, does this not either;
(a) make the 3 hour gig for 50 guests appear very expensive
or
(b) make the 5 hour gig for 500 guests appear very cheap (since this one will also probably take a couple more hours to set up)

??
tony
The answer is it may do BUT I dont really think so. As I have said in previous posts I dont have a mega big rig and mostly do small and medium size events. If I am ever booked again to perform to a thousand people or somthing then I would have to make an extra charge for hiring in more equipment/roadies etc. As I said I price at the top end and expect that it is a night rate as I can only do one gig a night and if someone is prepared to pay me the same price for a small or short gig then why not? As a result I am happy to say that I do very few childrens parties! My diary is already booked well for next year and I certainly charge far more than many of the posters on this site.