re full time dj's

[dave stanson]

hi members
how many of you out there run thier disco as a full time job & are you realy coining the cash in. i await your replies. regards the duke

[groovy-nights]

I am a full time dj

[Ace DJ]

I am afull time DJ. Have been now for 20 years. Altough this last year has seen a dramatic fall off in the work available. Though a lot of DJ's out there don't admit it !!!!!
Ace DJ

[rob1963]

I am a full time DJ and pub quiz host, so I don't have a daytime job.

As for coining it in, I certainly am.

Last year I made just over £120,000.

:rolleyes:

[Excalibur]

I am a full time DJ and pub quiz host, so I don't have a daytime job.

As for coining it in, I certainly am.

Last year I made just over £120,000.

:rolleyes:

Steve, Flying Pig smilie please. After that, we need the men in white coats for him. :(

[rob1963]

Steve, Flying Pig smilie please. After that, we need the men in white coats for him. :(

Huh huh, huh huh huh, huh huh, huh huh, huh huh, huh huh.

:coat:

[Vectis]

£1200,00.


Surely?

[rob1963]

Surely?

Ooh...vectis is back with the red edit marks, or are they proofreading marks? :rolleyes:

I wish it WAS that much, vectis!

:D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I run a full time business.

[Ace DJ]

I am a full time DJ and pub quiz host, so I don't have a daytime job.

As for coining it in, I certainly am.

Last year I made just over £120,000.

:rolleyes:

Another one of them cheapo mobiley discoy chaps undercutting me again !!!

Ace

[DJWilson]

I am a full time DJ and pub quiz host, so I don't have a daytime job.

As for coining it in, I certainly am.

Last year I made just over £120,000.

:rolleyes:


is that with tax taken off etc...?

[Corabar Steve]

Full time here too.

[Dragonfly]

full time for the next couple of months.

[rob1963]

is that with tax taken off etc...?

What's tax?

:rolleyes:


full time for the next couple of months.

Dave...what's happening in a couple of months?

[Danno13]

Full time here too.

[Dragonfly]

Dave...what's happening in a couple of months?

maybe amputation of my right leg , find out for sure on 19th march as i have to undergo psychological examination as apparently the procedure is not reversable :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

if i have it and wake up and decide it was a bad idea I won't have a leg to stand on.

[sandysounds]

full time......

[BeerFunk]

Part time, was full time at one point.


maybe amputation of my right leg , find out for sure on 19th march as i have to undergo psychological examination as apparently the procedure is not reversable :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

if i have it and wake up and decide it was a bad idea I won't have a leg to stand on.:eek:

I have to say it's very admirable the way you're dealing with it then, a lot of people would go to ground over something like that. I know someone who had his leg amputated, and it actually doesn't affect him in his life as much as you would think.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Full-time, not really coining it, but am only just starting to actively promote myself.

[Daryll]

Part time at the moment, but.....................

Daryll

[Corabar Steve]

I have to say it's very admirable the way you're dealing with it then, a lot of people would go to ground over something like that. I know someone who had his leg amputated, and it actually doesn't affect him in his life as much as you would think.

I must agree with Callum here.

Everything that can be crossed is.

[jamesh]

Still count myself as full time at the moment although currently freelancing as an AV Project Manager for a company providing AV for conferences... It's looking at the moment as though they want me to go full time with them so who knows what the future holds...

One thing i know is since taking on the contract i've not had any boring weekdays :D but only having sundays off as discos on a saturday kind of sucks a bit... But hey they discos are fun and all this extra money lets me buy even more toys :D

[Tony Scott]

Part timer, but at the moment feels like full time.............glad I got an understanding boss!! :D

[Excalibur]

Part timer, but at the moment feels like full time.............glad I got an understanding boss!! :D

I didn't know you worked for your wife. :confused: ;) :D

[Tony Scott]

I didn't know you worked for your wife. :confused: ;) :D

LOL! got two understanding bosses in that case! :D

[theoloyla]

We've had this thread before but I have been a full time professional dj at several stages of my life but these days it is just part time like Rob and similarly to him I teach line dancing as opposed to pub quizzes several times a week which is more profitable as last year I made £125,000.

[theoloyla]

maybe amputation of my right leg , find out for sure on 19th march as i have to undergo psychological examination as apparently the procedure is not reversable :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

if i have it and wake up and decide it was a bad idea I won't have a leg to stand on.
Best of luck mate and fingers crossed. You'll have to play Danny and the Juniors "At the Hop" at every gig!

[Sam]

We've had this thread before but I have been a full time professional dj at several stages of my life but these days it is just part time like Rob and similarly to him I teach line dancing as opposed to pub quizzes several times a week which is more profitable as last year I made £125,000.

You made that much by djing and line dancing.... :rolleyes:

[theoloyla]

You made that much by djing and line dancing.... :rolleyes:
Oh yes! After all everyone knows there is no skill in being a dj and we all make loads of money for doing very little dont we?

[Sam]

Oh yes! After all everyone knows there is no skill in being a dj and we all make loads of money for doing very little dont we?

Urm.. would be nice to just have a straight answer as to whether you do or not really.. for an interested party.
Just seems a lot.. same as the upper end of a BA Captain who has been flying for many years.

[DJWilson]

how many gigs do you need to do a year to maker yourself a full time dj and i take it you do gigs in the weekdays

[Danno13]

Depends how much you charge.... charge enough at the weekend and you don't necessarily need the weekday ones. I do seem to be getting lots of Sunday and weekday weddings this year, so thats always a bonus!

[Excalibur]

how many gigs do you need to do a year to maker yourself a full time dj and i take it you do gigs in the weekdays

To earn £125,000, somewhere around the 900 mark? ;) :D

[theoloyla]

how many gigs do you need to do a year to maker yourself a full time dj and i take it you do gigs in the weekdays
When I was a full time professional dj in the 70's I worked 6 nights a week and made a comfortable ammount of money but there are very few dj's (myself included) who get rich from running a mobile disco. It has provided my main source of income for most of the last 40 years but I have never made a fortune at it and I dont know any other mobile dj's who have either.

[DJWilson]

To earn £125,000, somewhere around the 900 mark? ;) :D


:eek: :eek: :eek: :lol: because if i dont get a reasonable job when im older then im thinking of going full time, and because im starting younger ill be wiser when im older and have the reputation....hopefully :D


and with the £125,000 incomes a few people have said thats better then quite a few jobs that are open and are not in london

[theoloyla]

To earn £125,000, somewhere around the 900 mark? ;) :D
I wondered why I had so little spare time.

[Sam]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :lol: because if i dont get a reasonable job when im older then im thinking of going full time, and because im starting younger ill be wiser when im older and have the reputation....hopefully :D


and with the £125,000 incomes a few people have said thats better then quite a few jobs that are open and are not in london

Hopefully a good reputation! :D

And I wouldn't base everything on earning 125k from djing.. to me it seems very rare to be able to earn that much.. especially when you look at what all the other jobs out there are earning.

(that works out at about £400 a disco if working 6 nights a week if i'm not mistaken.. hard work!)

[Danno13]

I think the 125k figure was a joke..

If you want to earn say a wage of £20k, then you'd probably need to turnover about £35-40k, which is 100 gigs at £400, or 100 at £300 and another 50 at £200 (for say mid-week jobs). Or... 100 gigs at £300, 25 at £200, and 100 other sub-contracted gigs making £50 in commission for each.

I'm somewhere in the middle of all those options!

[theoloyla]

I think the 125k figure was a joke..



At last a person under 25 who understands irony. Well done Danno. I managed a record shop in Sheerness for several years; so I am not surprised.
I've just had an e-mail from a nigerian man who needs help getting £5,000,000 pounds out of a Swiss bank account. Anyone want his address?

[Danno13]

(that works out at about £400 a disco if working 6 nights a week if i'm not mistaken.. hard work!)

You are mistaken :D That would create £125k in turnover.. not profit (earnings). So you'd probably be looking more like £5-600 a gig! (plus VAT as well!)

[DJWilson]

You are mistaken :D That would create £125k in turnover.. not profit (earnings). So you'd probably be looking more like £5-600 a gig!



he is probaly thinking of mark breeze who used to be a mobile dj and no is a club dj for clubland and htid

[PropellerHeadCase]

As was Norman Cook.

[Sam]

he is probaly thinking of mark breeze who used to be a mobile dj and no is a club dj for clubland and htid

I don't understand your comment Nathan..
Danno said that I was mistaken because I under estimated it... Turnover is what you get without taxes / costs and all that jazz.
Profit is what your left with.
So why would I have been thinking about a club dj :S


Anyway...
I didn't realise they were talking about profit :p

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I do it full time and regarding "coining it in..."

I have doubled what I was doing in a 'normal' job and am doing less than half the hours and it's only my second full year of business..

..I'm doing something right!

(and no...I wasn't on £5,000 a year before anyone says!!!:p :p :p )

[rob1963]

I do it full time and regarding "coining it in..."

I have doubled what I was doing in a 'normal' job and am doing less than half the hours and it's only my second full year of business..

..I'm doing something right!

I'm very similar to you, Gary.

When I left my daytime job & went full time three and a half years ago, my income virtually doubled, and the hours I work reduced by nearly two thirds.

:D :D :D

[BeerFunk]

When I left my daytime job & went full time three and a half years ago, my income virtually doubled, and the hours I work reduced by nearly two thirds.

:D :D :D
If reading and posting on these forums is counted as part of your work, then I reckon it's gone up by nearly two thirds! :p

[rob1963]

If reading and posting on these forums is counted as part of your work, then I reckon it's gone up by nearly two thirds! :p

More than that!

:Laugh:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I think myself and Rob have gone down similar routes and will continue to do so. We are on the right lines mate....fair play and good luck to you!

[rob1963]

I think myself and Rob have gone down similar routes and will continue to do so. We are on the right lines mate....fair play and good luck to you!

And to you, Gary.

:beerchug:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks mate!

[Tom]

ok, without starting a new thread and taking over this one. just a quick one, im sure this has been said before but how did you give up your daytime job to work full time as a dj and get the work coming in???

i ask as im intrested but dont want to quit my job just yet incase the work dont come in.

[Excalibur]

ok, without starting a new thread and taking over this one. just a quick one, im sure this has been said before but how did you give up your daytime job to work full time as a dj and get the work coming in???

i ask as im intrested but dont want to quit my job just yet incase the work dont come in.

If anyone comes up with a satisfactory and foolproof answer to this, we're all ears. ;) :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If anyone comes up with a satisfactory and foolproof answer to this, we're all ears. ;) :D :D

I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you. ;) :cool: :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Well, I was lucky in the fact that I had worked previously for someone else so I had contacts. I literally walked into my £25k job one day (which was good money for me) and said "I won't be coming in again, I am handing in my notice"...I didn't have a plan as such and did it all the wrong way. I should have really thought it out properly and got things in place but I was just itching to do what made me happy.

I didn't get a business loan or anything for equipment and slammed my credit cards on that and advertising etc...I got residencies pretty quickly and made a point of making sure that they were on fridays so all of the private stuff could be done on saturdays. I do 2 thursdays a month too and the odd thing here and there on other nights and it's very profitable.

You do a good job and it spirals and other people get interested and book you. I'll be honest, it was hard starting out but it wasn't long before the work started coming in. I went full time in February and by May/June I was doing loads of work. If you have a decent advert and website and you are good at what you do then it should be a doddle.

I have also found that if you come across a bunch of people that have got serious money and you do a good job, the people at their function that are also more than likely going to have more money too, will also book you. Then you get into the higher end of things where you are earning more money and doing the same hours etc etc

Good luck if you decide to do go for it (and you should do....do what makes you happy mate!).

[rob1963]

ok, without starting a new thread and taking over this one. just a quick one, im sure this has been said before but how did you give up your daytime job to work full time as a dj and get the work coming in???

i ask as im intrested but dont want to quit my job just yet incase the work dont come in.

Tom,

Assuming that question was directed at me, I actually gave up my daytime to become a full-time DJ AND pub quiz host.

About two thirds of my income comes from the pub quiz nights (I do 5 a week) and the other third from mobile discos.

I am lucky with the quiz nights, as my friend runs an agency which provides about 15-20 quizzes a week to local pubs, and he always has new ones starting, so he was able to find me 4-5 of them within a few weeks of leaving the daytime job.

You never know when a quiz night will end, or when you are going to have a quiet period with the discos, but luckily that doesn't matter much to me, as I earn four times the amount I need to live on, so I have a nice cushion...just in case!

:)

[kilmeedyman]

as I earn four times the amount I need to live on, so I have a nice cushion...just in case!

:)

Blimey Rob, you must be a SiNK!

I earn four times what I need to live on too, however I only earn half what my wife and kids need to live on. :eek:

[rob1963]

Blimey Rob, you must be a SiNK!

I earn four times what I meed to live on too, however I only earn half what my wife and kids need to live on. :eek:

Indeed I am, kilmeedyman!

:D :D :D

[Excalibur]

Tom,





You never know when a quiz night will end, or when you are going to have a quiet period with the discos, but luckily that doesn't matter much to me, as I earn four times the amount I need to live on, so I have a nice cushion...just in case!

:)

I would have thought with all that money, you'd be able to afford a whole sofa! :eek: :sofa:

[Danno13]

I think it'd be madness to just dump a well paid day job and then hope to have enough booking to live off. The trick is to build up enough work in the first place to have the confidence to take that leap.

I guess I'm lucky, in that I went from being a full time student, to my current position.. and any amount of income is a better situation than being a poor student!

[Tom]

for shakermaker


There are a few hotels around my area but they already have there own dj's. I wont say anything about them :zip:

Would it be right to send the hotels some kind of email or letter saying that if they need a dj then give us a bell or somthing or would they ;ike me to be there residency dj?


and for rob.

Quizes do sound like fun and a laugh but in a professional way but i dont think i have what it takes to become a quiz host so ill think ill have to knock that on the head. :(



Seems like a lot of people who are runing this full time are earning a lot of money. rob says he earns 4 times more. So how much are the paper rounds these days. :lol: Sorry.

I wont say what im on at my work but if people are earning a lot of money from this buisness then i dont want a part of it as i do love what i do. yes i may not have the best gear but its not about that at all, its about playing thr right music at the right time to creat a good mood in the room. And without being to up myself i think i do do a good job at that. always get people coming up saying how well i did and all that. thats what makes me want to do more disco's.

Anyway. ill shut up now. lol

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Do a mailshot to all the pubs, venues, hotels etc...You may not hear anything from 99.9% of them but just one getting back to you will be worth it. Just because hotels etc have someone in there already doesn't necessarily mean that the hotels are 100% happy with the service plus it's always good to have backup!

[rob1963]

I would have thought with all that money, you'd be able to afford a whole sofa! :eek: :sofa:

All WHAT money?

I have no savings whatsoever.....

:cry:





















.....although I have no debts either!

:D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Surely if you're earning 4 times the amount you need to (or whatever it was) then you could save?

You haven't got a big mattress full of cash have you Rob?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I have no savings and loads of debts but life is short and at this moment in time, I love the job I do. I am 40 in 2 weeks and although I feel a bit knackered, I'm enjoying possibly the best time of my life because I am doing something I enjoy, getting paid well for it and getting told week in week out that I am good by people that I have never met before. It's rewarding both financially and also to my ego (which I lack).

What other jobs can offer that? Every week is a new bunch of people who enjoy what you do and praise you for it and you are your own boss too!

[Sam]

I have no savings and loads of debts but life is short and at this moment in time, I love the job I do. I am 40 in 2 weeks and although I feel a bit knackered, I'm enjoying possibly the best time of my life because I am doing something I enjoy, getting paid well for it and getting told week in week out that I am good by people that I have never met before. It's rewarding both financially and also to my ego (which I lack).

What other jobs can offer that? Every week is a new bunch of people who enjoy what you do and praise you for it and you are your own boss too!

:) It is nice when you enjoy your work for sure.
But.. with the savings.. what will you do when you decide to hang up the DJing hat.. or something means you can't DJ anymore.. you wouldn't have any money to fall back on?!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Mate, I didn't think I would make 30 let alone 40. I live every day like it's my last. I suppose I will have to see what happens if that makes sense.

[rob1963]

Surely if you're earning 4 times the amount you need to (or whatever it was) then you could save?

I could if I wanted to Darren, but while I was clearing my debts (which only happened last year), nothing else was a priority.

Now the debts are clear, I can start spending money on the stuff I've wanted for many years.

I started with the eye surgery last year, next up is about £10,000 worth of stuff for my flat, then the money for my next van...so it will be a year or two before I'm in a position to start saving.


You haven't got a big mattress full of cash have you Rob?

If only!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I could if I wanted to Darren, but while I was clearing my debts (which only happened last year), nothing else was a priority.

Now that the debts are clear, I can start spending money on the stuff I want.

I started with the eye surgery last year, next up is about £10,000 worth of stuff for my flat, then the money for my next van...so it will be a year or two before I'm in a position to start saving.





I forgot about your eye surgery.

I wasn't being flippant (for a change) with those comments. :)

[rob1963]

I wasn't being flippant (for a change) with those comments. :)

I know you weren't!

:D

[Sam]

Mate, I didn't think I would make 30 let alone 40. I live every day like it's my last. I suppose I will have to see what happens if that makes sense.

Fair play to you!
I can't exactly talk.. I will probs be going into my career with about an 80k debt.. wooopeee! LOL

[Excalibur]

I forgot about your eye surgery.

I wasn't being flippant (for a change) with those comments. :)

Then please allow me to do the honours, Darren. ;)

Well start saving up for brain surgery then, cos you obviously need it!

Will that do? :confused: :confused: :D :D :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

The way I look at it is that life is short. Enjoy the time while you're here.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The way I look at it is that life is short. Enjoy the time while you're here.

That is true, but then if you have responsibilities, then you have to take them seriously.

[Sam]

The way I look at it is that life is short. Enjoy the time while you're here.

Yeh :-)
I certainly do that :p
And hopefully will have what people regard as one of the best jobs... after DJing of course ;)

--
Couldn't agree more Darren about responsibilities. (spelling? :S)
I suppose one has to find a happy medium?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Solitaire, I have my missus and 2 Boxer Dogs to look after and that's it. We have no plans for kids and both think the same at this moment in time. Things may obviously change like things generally do in life.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Solitaire, I have my missus and 2 Boxer Dogs to look after and that's it. We have no plans for kids and both think the same at this moment in time. Things may obviously change like things generally do in life.

Fair enough.

I have 2 kids, so I have to take that into account. I also have other responsibilities such as running a footy team, being a school governor, trustee for a kids charity, running this site....

Have I mentioned that before? :p

By the way, call me Daz or Darren :beer1:

[Sam]

Fair enough.

I have 2 kids, so I have to take that into account. I also have other responsibilities such as running a footy team, being a school governor, trustee for a kids charity, running this site....

Have I mentioned that before? :p

By the way, call me Daz or Darren :beer1:

Dazen (lol)
Have you ever worked out how much your kids have cost you so far?
I'm guessing it must be a hell of a lot!

Although worth it i'm sure!!!!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Ok Darren...busy man I can see. You have loads going on and that's why you have a different view on things and fair play. You are a responsible adult and I am to some extent but not full on at this moment in time.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ok Darren...busy man I can see. You have loads going on and that's why you have a different view on things and fair play. You are a responsible adult and I am to some extent but not full on at this moment in time.

Horses for courses.

If I didn't have kids, none of those things listed would be in my life and I'd still be completely irresponsible!!

In fact I still am quite often...;)


Dazen (lol)
Have you ever worked out how much your kids have cost you so far?
I'm guessing it must be a hell of a lot!

Although worth it i'm sure!!!!

Funnily enough - my little girl (well, she's 10 now..) used to call me Dadden, a kind of mix of Darren and Daddy...:)

No, I wouldn't dare to work that out. :eek:

And yes, it is worth it. I couldn't imagine being without them. :)

Anyway this is getting slightly off topic!!

Back to it please. :) :cool:

[Excalibur]

Horses for courses.

If I didn't have kids, none of those things listed would be in my life and I'd still be completely irresponsible!!

In fact I still am quite often...;) :

Now there's a coincidence. ;) :D






Anyway this is getting slightly off topic!!

Back to it please. :) :cool:

OK I'm nowhere near full time as a DJ, but it's a very important part of my income. I would love for it and related activities to be my main income, but sadly not yet.:(

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

OK I'm nowhere near full time as a DJ, but it's a very important part of my income. I would love for it and related activities to be my main income, but sadly not yet.:(

I believe if you love something enough and are serious enough about it, then you should do it.

To be honest, I don't want to be have to be DJing in a couple of years time. I want the choice whether I go out and work.

It is slowly getting to that stage now, where I can put others out on bookings and spend the time in the office rather than hefting speakers about.

[Excalibur]

I believe if you love something enough and are serious enough about it, then you should do it.

To be honest, I don't want to be have to be DJing in a couple of years time. I want the choice whether I go out and work.

It is slowly getting to that stage now, where I can put others out on bookings and spend the time in the office rather than hefting speakers about.

Cleft stick really. I'm too old to go for it in a big way, but I'm probably enjoying it more than ever before. Speaker movement is usually the least of any problems Darren, though if you are going to sit in the office, living off the sweat and toil of your minions, maybe your viewpoint is different from mine? :confused: ;) :D :D :D


I didn't want/expect to be DJ'ing past 50! :eek: Have you noticed how hard it can be to give up something you enjoy, which people pay you to do? :confused: :D :D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Cleft stick really. I'm too old to go for it in a big way, but I'm probably enjoying it more than ever before. Speaker movement is usually the least of any problems Darren, though if you are going to sit in the office, living off the sweat and toil of your minions, maybe your viewpoint is different from mine? :confused: ;) :D :D :D


I didn't want/expect to be DJ'ing past 50! :eek: Have you noticed how hard it can be to give up something you enjoy, which people pay you to do? :confused: :D :D :D :D

With all due respect, this is a career for me, not just something I enjoy.

It is my bread and butter. My family rely on the money.

I don't do this part time and use money from my full time job to subsidise it.

There is a great deal of difference between the two.

As much as I enjoy DJing still, after 24 years and 18 years full time, I would much rather be at home with my family at the weekend. I think what people fail to realise is the amount of hours that I work during the week on the business.

[Excalibur]

With all due respect, this is a career for me, not just something I enjoy.

It is my bread and butter. My family rely on the money.

I don't do this part time and use money from my full time job to subsidise it.

There is a great deal of difference between the two.

As much as I enjoy DJing still, after 2 years and 18 years full time, I would much rather be at home with my family at the weekend. I think what people fail to realise is the amount of hours that I work during the week on the business.

Read mine more carefully Darren, DJ'ing puts food on my table most weeks. It actually tends to subsidise the day job! It's not a hobby!

The age of your family may also have a bearing on your views. I am very sad about what I missed of my family when I was a wage slave in their younger years.

Careful, we'll be crying into our cocoa at this rate.;) :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Read mine more carefully Darren, DJ'ing puts food on my table most weeks. It actually tends to subsidise the day job! It's not a hobby!


But isn't a full time job either. Mine is. :)

[theoloyla]

Once again I find myself like Excalibur. I still have a part time job which provides a small regular income. The disco and line dancing are my main source. Years ago I ran a fleet of mobile discos and had people working for me and I found it very hard work. I am like Rob with just the one show and no headaches and as well as earning a decent sum of money doing it I still enjoy it. Over the last few years the line dancing has grown in significance and there may come a time when I shall stop doing discos and just teach line dancing.

[Tom]

Better than none.

Last night i emailed 5 different places where i could dj for them. And i just check my email and i had a responce from one of them say that they will pass my details on to the managment.

I guess that better than nothing.


Im going to have a look for more hotels, clubs, pubs ect ect.

Off topic but my work have misplaced my wages for the 5th time so me working for myself would be wicked as i know where my money is. lol

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Darren, when you said that you don't want to be (or would rather not be) DJing in 2 years time..., well I kind of feel the same way. The bigger picture for me would be to be in the position where I have a team of DJ's all working for me and me earning the money from them. I hope to supply the equipment etc and pick and choose the functions I want to do.

I think it will take a bit longer than 2 years for me but here's hoping.

[rob1963]

Darren, when you said that you don't want to be (or would rather not be) DJing in 2 years time..., well I kind of feel the same way. The bigger picture for me would be to be in the position where I have a team of DJ's all working for me and me earning the money from them. I hope to supply the equipment etc and pick and choose the functions I want to do.

I think it will take a bit longer than 2 years for me but here's hoping.

I'd always planned to retire from discos by the time I hit 50, so I still have 5 years to go.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Darren, when you said that you don't want to be (or would rather not be) DJing in 2 years time..., well I kind of feel the same way. The bigger picture for me would be to be in the position where I have a team of DJ's all working for me and me earning the money from them. I hope to supply the equipment etc and pick and choose the functions I want to do.



Exactly.

I have a good team now of 6, but I reckon I need to be putting out 10 on a Saturday to be able not to go out.

I love the business still, but am ultimately a businessman and want to earn more money, expand and spend less time DJing.

I reckon I spend on average, between 50-60 hours a week (sometimes more) doing research, office work, marketing, and sales work. That increases when I am writing quizzes.

[Tom]

Just another quick question. How long did you full timers spend working part time dj'ing before you went full time?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I didn't go part time. I went all out and went full time which was hard at first to be honest. There were times when I thought I had made the wrong decision and when the work wasn't coming in I began to worry. In my first year I did actually sign up with a temping agency because I thought that if I could do a bit of work in the week to earn a bit of extra money as back up then it would be ok. Thing is, I was offered really bad jobs so I turned them down and the ones I did do...well, I was sat there in the office or wherever it was wishing I was doing it because I wanted to be doing my own thing. I went self employed and full time in february 2005 and if I remember correctly, it wasn't until June when the work really started to come in.

These days, well it's a different story and I am so glad I stuck with it. I still have big debts because of the multiple equipment I got in the first place but also because I seem to be buying new stuff too as I want to keep up with everyone else. I have gear sitting there at the moment that isn't being used but I know it will be used in the future. I also have a friend that runs his own company and I do the odd bit of courier work for him. It's usually once a week and a good earner and I don't do it because I have to...I do it because it saves him a bit of money and also means that my van isn't sitting there doing nothing everyday when it could be earning me money.

I now find that my weekdays consist of :
Being online all day - Generally from 9am - 6pm in order to answer enquiries by email or phone as soon as I get them.
Going to meet customers in the evening.
Keeping the website and accounts all up to date etc

If there is one thing I could do more with, I would say it's enquiries. I get them but in my view, not enough. I advertise in the usual places and also now do the Google Adwords thing too. It's funny though because I am in the position where I am personally out every friday and saturday myself with also 2 thursdays a month too. I am earning good money and if you add the once a week driving job in too then I certainly can't complain. My main thought when I started was to get residencies on fridays and private bookings on saturdays and that's how it has worked out.

It is hard mate but if you are really want to do something that you love and get paid well for it then it's worth the risk. I don't have kids yet and my missus has just opened up her first shop which is doing well too so between us we are doing well. I don't know if I would of or could have taken the risk so easily if I had responsibilities like say..Darren has for example so fair play. I know it also must be frustrating to see some of us doing it full time when you want to do it too but are unsure at the moment.

As I said, I have debts and even though I earn well I HAVE to earn at least £1100 a month just to clear my debts (mortgage, loans, credit cards etc) and when there is a quiet period (thankfully it doesn't look like I have a quiet period at the moment this year!), then it gets worrying that you are earning enough to cover the bills etc but then there isn't much left afterwards to make a real dent and I suppose that is one of the things that puts people off going all out and going full time. Friends of mine say "Gary, you must be doing well and coining it in" but they don't realise that it's not just a case of buying some CD players and going out and playing. They don't realise all of the stuff you have to do to get the work in the first place and then the competition that's out there etc etc.. but they are still jealous!

Sorry I've rambled on again. I just think that you should REALLY have a good think about it. Have you got a partner, wife? Do they work? If you think about it and they support you then it's almost 50/50 isn't it. I couldn't do this if I was single I can tell you that. At least half the mortgage is paid by my other half and some of the bills too. I would be stuck in a job that I hate I guess and DJing at the weekends for extra cash if I was on my own.

As I said, best of luck...go for it if you can!

[rob1963]

Hi Gary,

You've raised some good points there. I think the main things to consider when deciding whether to go full-time are your personal cirumstances & responsibilities.

I made the decision three and a half years ago, and it was quite an easy decision for me, partly because I couldn't accept the conditions in my daytime job any more (not being paid overtime, not being paid for Saturdays, and annual pay "increases" below the rate of inflation, despite the fact that I always had good reports & the company made £6 billion profit a year), partly because I was single with no kids...so only had myself to support, and partly because one of my best friends ran the biggest pub quiz company in the area (as well as providing mobile discos) so I knew he could get me several new regular quiz nights within a month or two - which he did, and also because another close friend ran an entertainment company & could give me extra disco work.

My only regret is that I didn't take the plunge many years earlier!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Same as mate BUT we live and learn and luckily now we are doing ok. I just wish I didn't have the credit card bills and loans that I have otherwise I would fall into the 'pretty well off' category.

Saying that though - If I didn't have the credit cards and loans in the first place, I wouldn't have been up and running so quickly as it would have taken me ages to actually get the equipment, pay for advertising, van etc etc...

I think I will be one of those people that unfortunately will have debts on my back until the day I cark it but...at least I am doing something I love and best of all, working for myself so I can't complain (but I will!!! lol).

[Tom]

Thanks for that post shakermaker.

If i went full time as a dj then this would help me and my other half out a lot. She works in london everyday and does very long hours. So with me only working nights and weekends this gives me time to do anything buisness related during the day and also make sure the house it clean and tidy.

I guess this could help when the idea of children comes along as i would be at home everyday. Quickly moving on. lol

I would love to go full time but i cant take the risk. Just playing it safe i supose.

[Vectis]

I guess I'm in the same boat as many.

Up until about 7 years ago I considered myself reasonably well off... newish motor every couple of years, decent holiday at least once a year, always enough cash to be spontaneous.

Then helped Mrs VV fulfil a lifelong ambition to go back to Uni, get a degree and become a teacher. So quite apart from the cost of the courses, there's the lost income (probably in the order of £150k over the years based on her earnings at the time she gave up).

Then we took the decision to relocate dahn sahf to be nearer family which really hurt as it meant taking a much bigger mortgage to get a similar sized house.

So right now I'm forced to keep up the day job to service debt, but I can see the candle at the end of a very long tunnel and I'm running towards it as fast as I can. I've got the day job down to 4 days a week now and looking to make that 3 before the end of the year. Maybe, in about 4 or 5 years from now I can drop the 9-5 and run VV full-time. I'm already looking to brand another DJ to take up duplicate dates of which there are an increasing number this year so that's my first step towards multi-op if it all works out.

[yourdj]

I am a full time DJ and pub quiz host, so I don't have a daytime job.

As for coining it in, I certainly am.

Last year I made just over £120,000.

:rolleyes:

Very good :) is that before or after costs?

- Im almost full time, but i need some more gigs first. Still running my graphic design and printing business which is now becoming very boring :(

Good steady back up job though if i break my back or something :beer1:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think Rob might have been pulling our legs about £120K...

[rob1963]

I think Rob might have been pulling our legs about £120K...

:sofa:

[yourdj]

yes just read the whole post :) it is possible. We make between £20-£30k profit off a thursday night event (have not worked out the exact figures for this year yet).

If we had weekend and a weekday events on top of that we might reach the 100k mark? Lots of agencies turn over more more profit than that too shipping djs in and out of venues whilst drinking coffee in thier offices :D Dont know how many jobs you would need a year with a 15% cut after costs :confused:

[Excalibur]

I think Rob might have been pulling our legs about £120K...

What??? :confused: :confused: Well I believed him, surely he wouldn't fib?:(

[Shakermaker Promotions]

30k profit would be nice...blimey!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

yes just read the whole post :) it is possible. We make between £20-£30k profit off a thursday night event (have not worked out the exact figures for this year yet).

If we had weekend and a weekday events on top of that we might reach the 100k mark?

Are you sure about that?

If you've made between £20-£30K profit, then you must be Vat registered?

[redrum2222]

Does Any Body Need An Extra Dj On There Books?
Please Let Me No.
Many Thanks

[rob1963]

Are you sure about that?

If you've made between £20-£30K profit, then you must be Vat registered?

Unless of course he had no expenses!

:rolleyes:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Does Any Body Need An Extra Dj On There Books?
Please Let Me No.
Many Thanks

And the winner for most random post is.....:rolleyes:

[Danno13]

Yeah... the forums full of people who want to give work to people who they don't know anything about and who haven't even had the courtesy to introduce themselves properly ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Red.....

No, sorry.

[yourdj]

Are you sure about that?

If you've made between £20-£30K profit, then you must be Vat registered?

No not really allot of expense as the premises pays for pretty much everything which is good. :) they have a sound, lights so all we need is some decks.

Got loads of expense though from mobile gigs as i have been buying loads of gear this year to build up my kit :(

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What is this venue you do on a Thursday then? Even at £20K profit, that means you are making a profit of almost £385 each week over a period of 52 weeks and that's for one night?

On your website, it says you charge less than that for one off private functions and weddings.

The maths don't seem right to me.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Darren, are you the tax man in disguise? ;)

I've always thought that it's NOT a good idea to talk money and earnings etc on a forum that can be read by anyone and everyone.

I have nothing to hide but if I were blurting that out allover the shop I would maybe think of either deleting or editing my posts ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Darren, are you the tax man in disguise? ;)



No, I'm just interested how someone makes that much profit without too many expenses or an excessive turnover and having to be Vat registered.

I think that 'your DJ' was a promoter, so that maybe answers that.

[theoloyla]

No, I'm just interested how someone makes that much profit without too many expenses or an excessive turnover and having to be Vat registered.

I think that 'your DJ' was a promoter, so that maybe answers that.
Maybe he hasnt told the VAT man!:confused: :p ;) :eek: :attn: :attn:

[Excalibur]

What is this venue you do on a Thursday then? Even at £20K profit, that means you are making a profit of almost £385 each week over a period of 52 weeks and that's for one night?

On your website, it says you charge less than that for one off private functions and weddings.

The maths don't seem right to me.

Oh.:( And I thought it read as if it was just one thursday a YEAR? ;) :D