Promote yourself? or the Agency / Multi Ops?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I have also worked for agents that have ground me down to my lowest fee possible to find out that they have charged nearly 3 times what I asked for originally

Why work for an amount you aren't happy with? It doesn't make sense. It shouldn't matter what the agent makes as long as you are happy with your wage.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'd rather let the multi ops and agencies do what they do and look after what I do to be honest.

Gary, if you have other DJs working for you, then you are either an agent or an employment business. It doesn't make any difference how many DJs you have or how many times they are out in a year.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I operate however the agency asks if I'm on one of their gigs...its only professional courtesy IMO

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Gary, if you have other DJs working for you, then you are either an agent or an employment business. It doesn't make any difference how many DJs you have or how many times they are out in a year.

That's new to me to be honest mate. I thought it was called networking and passing on work but the booking is under my business name?
I'll have to look into that. It doesn't happen that often but as you say, it doesn't matter?

[ukpartydj]

Sometimes it really isn't worth the hassle when you are a small operator like myself and not a multi op or agency. Getting extra bookings and doing the admin, co-ordination, meetings etc just for an extra few quid here and there is more hassle than it's worth sometimes.

It's a fair point, I enjoy doing it which is ultimately why I do it. Last year 25% of my income was from the agency side of things, and the upside is that I can take on a cheap gig, if I get a better one come along then I give somebody else that gig, if I don't then I've got income on that day which I probably would have turned away.
If I'm being honest, I hope one day to just be an agent and only DJ the gigs I want to do. Long long way off that idea at the moment.

Why work for an amount you aren't happy with? It doesn't make sense. It shouldn't matter what the agent makes as long as you are happy with your wage.

Exactly! If the heinz beans cost too much - buy some different beans. If you only like heinz then they've got you over a barrell and that's what I call excellent business!

EDIT - Just look at Apple's products - good product - high price - everybody buys it regardless - good business.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Why work for an amount you aren't happy with? It doesn't make sense. It shouldn't matter what the agent makes as long as you are happy with your wage.

Have to second that.

Don't get me wrong, I've done cheap agency work in the past and I will take on cover jobs if they're going but it's for money I'm happy with regardless of the other DJ or agency's take (which at times was well over double my take home with the agency)

Have a set figure in your head that you're prepared to work for on a given event and stick to it. If you start humming and hawwing and dropping your prices just to secure a gig then you devalue yourself and the profession whilst also bringing down prices along the way and resenting the work you do.

[jk74]

Why work for an amount you aren't happy with? It doesn't make sense. It shouldn't matter what the agent makes as long as you are happy with your wage.

The agent in question gave me a sob story telling me they had a low budget & he would give me lots more work for helping him out with that one. After I heard the fee he charged I never worked for him again.