My Career Move in to Mobile DJ'ing

[digga]

Hi One and All

I will first start with the bad news... I was made redundant from my full time job on Monday :(

The good news is that the redundancy payment will see me through for 6 months, and I have decided to take this as an opportunity to go "full-time" as a mobile DJ.

Firstly, a brief history of my DJ'ing career (i'll try not to bore you all). Started nearly 20 years ago (when I was 15) and loved every minute of it. Done plenty of school / teenage / friends parties with the odd wedding. Grew older, had kids, gave up the mobile work. Started again about 3 years ago, once the kids got a bit older, but only the odd weekend here or there to help out some of the local DJ's. This has been more of a hobby for me, than a job, but now I want to take the next steps and make it my full time vocation, and need some advise. I have all of my own equipment, and a full music collection on CD and MP3. I play from CD and laptop, and never transfer music from one to the other.

I will bullet point the areas that I need advise on for easy reference:

A name for my show. Any suggestions
Public Liability Insurance. How much does it cost? Where should I get it?
PAT Testing, How much, and where?
Licences??? What do I need?
Booking forms, contracts, paperwork etc.
Any other useful advise on running this as a proper full time business.

Sorry for so many questions on a single post, but I'm sure all the knowledge and advice I need is out there somewhere.

Pete

[Excalibur]

Others better qualified than I will help, I'm sure.

I've been made redundant twice, and in each case it's the best thing that they did for me. :D Onwards and upwards.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

A name for my show. Any suggestions
I think that's down to you mate. I had enough problems thinking of my own one :bang: Good luck, something will just pop into your head and sound good and you'll stick with it.

Public Liability Insurance. How much does it cost? Where should I get it?
Take a look at Liability Guard on the web. They will give you online estimates. There are some sites too (not sure about this one?) that will give you discount too.

PAT Testing, How much, and where?

I know a couple of sparkies and they do me a good deal on my PAT Testing. I have heard that prices vary between 50p and £2.00 per item if there is a lot of equipment so it can be pricey. If my mate is anything to go by he says that PAT testing is a real pain in the backside. Remember, if you have equipment that is less than 12 months old then it doesn't actually have to be PAT Tested but it is worth it anyway as new items can be dodgy too.

Licences??? What do I need?
I'll let someone who knows more about licenses help you out here.

Booking forms, contracts, paperwork etc.
There are templates available but I made up my own. I have my logo on all booking forms, invoices etc. With the booking forms, along with the usual Name, Address, Contact details, Type of function, Venue, Date, Venue details etc etc...you will also need to have Terms and Conditions too so that you and the customer and also the venue know where you all stand. Most of our Terms and Conditions are all the same I guess apart from maybe some wording and cancellation charges. That's a point - You will need cancellation charges written down too. The booking form is a contract afterall and if the terms and conditions or cancellation charges are abused then you have something to fall back on.

Any other useful advise on running this as a proper full time business.
We all do things differently but at the end of the day, probably along the same lines. I would get yourself some webspace and a domain name once you have thought of a name for your company. There are some very cheap companies out there that will host your site. If you haven't any experience in web design then see if you know someone first before you ask a professional to do one. You can also get something called 'Website in a box' or something like that, that will get you up and running and more importantly, 'out there' so that the public can see what you are offering. It's up to you as to whether you advertise elsewhere. Some people like the Yellow Pages, some don't. I actually do. My payments to them for a decent sized advert which I designed myself, are spread out over 12 months. It only takes 2 confirmed bookings from the Yellow Pages to pay for itself. Search the web and get as many free listings on wedding suppliers sites etc...there are loads out there.

I would also get yourself a seperate email address, one with your company name in it as it looks more professional (rather than something like - [email protected].. that doesn't look good in my opinion). Regarding your emails, I would also make sure that you have an auto response too whether you are in 'the office' or not. Something like "Many thanks for contacting *********. We will get back to you as soon as possible". That way people will know that you have received their email and it is being dealt with. It may also be worth drafting a generic email for enquiries etc as once the enquiries start coming in, you will soon get bored writing the same thing all the time. Just fill in the gaps as and when a new enquiry comes in.

Regarding pricing.. it depends on your area I suppose so you will have to do some 'market research'. I didn't like doing it but it works. Just call up some other companies in your area and make some enquiries and see what they are charging.

I am sure others on here will be able to help you out better than I have but hope I have given you some ideas. Bad luck on the redundancy thing but things happen for a reason and this could be the best thing that has happened to you as you will be your own boss and do things the way you want to do them. Hang in there though....things may be quiet to start off with and you may get down because you think you've made the wrong move. That's how I felt and I was almost tempted to go back to a day job but I hung in there and have never been busier.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

I get my public liability insurance (2 million) along with my equipment insurance from dj guard

http://www.djguard.co.uk/

Pat testing i paid £2.50 per item

Advertising,Once you have a name for your company get yourself a professional web desiger to create a better looking website(well worth it rather than the diy one).Then advertise on all the free listings websites like this one and others.

Make sure that you have terms and conditions that go out along with your booking forms,stating cancellation fees ect.

Go round all the schools \social clubs golf clubs \hotels ect in your area and leave your business cards with them.

Good luck

[Excalibur]

There is a deal at the moment with £10m PLI for less than £100. A link to it has been on here but I can't find it. There is a link to somewhere else if it's OK to post it.

[theoloyla]

Join SEDA for loads of help and advice (there is a meeting this Sunday in Maidstone), DJ Associates are offering PLI for £49 at the moment, my PAT man is based in Lingfield I can put you in touch if you want. As for name Digga Disco seems to roll off the tongue. Other than that use the search facility on this forum you will find pretty much all the answers on here.

[Excalibur]

That's the one for PLI, thanks Theo. I guess if you're using MP3 you'll need a Produb licence. There's a sticky on this part of the forum for a discount code.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

When I said about the 'Website in a box' type thing, it was purely to get you started that's all. I have heard of some people that have had websites designed for them and it has cost them a bomb. It has also been a problem for them when they have wanted to update it etc. At least if you know the basics then you can show someone what you would like. I do my own, it's passable but not excellent but at the end of the day, it does the job I want it to.

[nigelwright7557]

Unless the area you are in has the capacity of people to get the gigs from then I would steer clear of doing it full time.

I do it part time but have a full time job.

The work I find comes in bursts, there will be 5 offers one week then nothing for a fortnight ! Where I am its not reliable enough to do full time.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

How many people in Carlisle and the surrounding area then? Only a few thousand?

[nigelwright7557]

How many people in Carlisle and the surrounding area then? Only a few thousand?

About 100,000 in Carlisle and about 2 pages in Yellow pages of mobile discos.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

143000 in Reading and a few more pages in the YP.

Strange how there is so much work down here then?

[nigelwright7557]

143000 in Reading.

Strange how there is so much work down here then?

Reading is a much more affluent area.

£150 a night is a very good rate in Carlisle.

[Danno13]

Yes, that must be what it is.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yes, that must be what it is.

Hehehe....

Yep, no-one in the North gets more than that.

Although I'm not sure how Nigel knows that when he's by his own admission been charging £70 as it's a hobby to him.

How would someone know what others are charging if they don't work in the same market, eh Dan?

[digga]

Thank you all very much for your advice, it has been a great start for me. With regards to the name, I'm still undecided :-(
The PLI I will get from DJ Associates as it seems the best deal, £69 membership includes £10m PLI.
PAT Testing I will look in to.
Do I need a ProDub? As I thought this was only for DJ's who transfer media. I keep my downloads on my laptop, and I don't rip my CD's.
Thanks for the help with the booking forms, T&C's etc. I'll try the web based site and see how it does.
The website isn't a problem, I can do this myself, I've done about 30 sites for friends over the years.

Keep the suggestions coming, I really do appreciate your support.

Pete

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Unless the area you are in has the capacity of people to get the gigs from then I would steer clear of doing it full time.

I do it part time but have a full time job.

The work I find comes in bursts, there will be 5 offers one week then nothing for a fortnight ! Where I am its not reliable enough to do full time.


Nigel - I know it may seem like I am constantly going against what you say but that's life I guess and a differing of opinions. In my area there are loads of DJ's and what with Reading being just 20 minutes away and easy to travel to, there are probably double the amount there too BUT...I still have loads of work week in week out. What I am saying is that there may well be loads of competition out there but if you are good and advertise correctly (I don't really need to advertise that much now) then the work WILL come in.

Maybe you are Part Time because you aren't getting enough work and that could be for a number of reasons.

EDIT : I've just read through the 2nd page and seen the rest of the thread.... I didn't mention that I do this full time and I charge a lot more than £70.00. No disrespect to you but what is the going rate around where you live? I don't mean this to sound nasty but say for example that it is £150.00.... The full timers may be charging that and getting it but in a way (like I said...don't get upset about it)...in a way you being part time and charging half the price is kind of dare I say it, taking work away from them.

[Excalibur]

Thank you all very much for your advice, it has been a great start for me.
Do I need a ProDub? As I thought this was only for DJ's who transfer media. I keep my downloads on my laptop, and I don't rip my CD's.
Keep the suggestions coming, I really do appreciate your support.

Pete

Don't quote me, cos I'm no expert, but if you download direct to your playout system, I think you don't need it. Be aware that if you rip ONE track from CD you WILL need Produb. Good luck, keep us posted of progress,there's plenty of help available on here, and some people actually know what they're talking about. (Unlike me ).

[CRAZY K]

Thank you all very much for your advice, it has been a great start for me. With regards to the name, I'm still undecided :-(
The PLI I will get from DJ Associates as it seems the best deal, £69 membership includes £10m PLI.
PAT Testing I will look in to.
Do I need a ProDub? As I thought this was only for DJ's who transfer media. I keep my downloads on my laptop, and I don't rip my CD's.
Thanks for the help with the booking forms, T&C's etc. I'll try the web based site and see how it does.
The website isn't a problem, I can do this myself, I've done about 30 sites for friends over the years.

Keep the suggestions coming, I really do appreciate your support.

Pete

And then theres your back up for your downloads??

If so Pro Dub Licence required---apparently---unless you leave them at home ---always a useful place for back ups ( NOT)

CRAZY K

[Excalibur]

And then theres your back up for your downloads??

If so Pro Dub Licence required---apparently---unless you leave them at home ---always a useful place for back ups ( NOT)

CRAZY K

Alan, will you stop being so mischievous? You know full well there's no point in taking a backup on the road, cos you couldn't use it unless you went online and upgraded your licence to take account of it! Obviously we all leave them at home, to comply with the terms of our licences. Sometimes you really are out of touch with things, aren't you? :confused: :D :D :D

[DJ INDIE]

Thank you all very much for your advice, it has been a great start for me. With regards to the name, I'm still undecided :-(

dont worry so much about your name, although its handy to have a catchy relevant name it isnt the be all and end all.

i chose my name 'sparkling discos' only to fill the title space on my website whilst i decided on a 'proper' name. within this first week of publishing the site i had 4 gigs booked and couldnt turn back - because i was now stuck with the name!! :)

i wouldnt have chose my name in a million years! but the thing seems to work!

all the best in deciding on a good name though!

[Vectis]

My only advice when name choosing is to consider that the internet is probably your biggest selling medium (or if it isn't, it soon will be) and calling yourself Dave's Disco is going to leave you with a big uphill battle getting optimised by the search engines and hitting the top of the stack when folks search for you by name or *******isations of your name.

You need something memorable, meaningful, punchy and easily differentiated IMHO.

[RnGary]

I suggest you should do, or get someone to do for you, a simple basic financial plan, and from this you should see what is the minimum no of gigs you need to 'survive' and at what level you will be comfortable.
Don't underestimate the cost of being in this business with fuel costs, transport (properly insured for transporting a disco business!), cost of music refeshment from the charts etc, PAT testing, breakages/wearing out/updating of kit, ideally a load of back up kit (perhaps not great quality but amp, speakers, mixer, CDplayer/laptop), PLI, advertising/cards/website and then the appaling pro-dub licence. All of these apart from fuel and wear and tear costs are pretty well fixed costs.
As we know prices are difficult to keep up at a decent level and it is not easy to find 5 nights a week work every week for say 45 weeks.

IF you can do 5 nights per week, at £200 per night for 45 weeks then you can gross in £45K. From this you have to knock off your costs. If however you do say 3 nights per week on average cos bookings don't come, at say £150 each your gross drops to £20K(ish) but your costs will not have fallen too much. So we're very vulnerable to no and prices of bookings.
On the plus side your income should get boosted by the odd expensive gig such a NYE/Halloween/Xmas run-up and day long weddings etc, and perhaps afternoon parties followed by evening gigs - so there is an upside.
Good luck - genuinely - but I do recommend you go it into with an understanding of the finances, as it is a business and if it has to feed you and yours then you need a tight rein on this aspect.

[kilmeedyman]

Join SEDA for loads of help and advice (there is a meeting this Sunday in Maidstone), DJ Associates are offering PLI for £49 at the moment, my PAT man is based in Lingfield I can put you in touch if you want. As for name Digga Disco seems to roll off the tongue. Other than that use the search facility on this forum you will find pretty much all the answers on here.

Yep, why not see if you can get up to the SEDA meeting on Sunday.
Quite a few of us will be there and it is always good to meet up.
There will be lots of opportunities for advice, suggestions etc. whilst you are there. Why even Darren (Solitaire) and I will be there!!

Village Hotel, Castle View, Forstal Road, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AQ. Just off the M20 J6. from 7.30pm, Sunday, 21st September.

[theoloyla]

I'm no big supporter of Nigel's and agree with Pete The Soundtracker that there is money to be made in all parts of the country and many dj's dont realize it or are simply not good enough for the upper class gigs BUT it is also true that there is more money about in the south of the country.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

There may well be more money down here (I've quoted someone a higher than usual price today and they confirmed straight away) but in my view (and I don't mean to start anything up here ok), what Nigel is doing is taking work away from the full timers trying to run a business.

I'm not going to say anymore as there is someone just like that round my way and no doubt there are others allover the country. The guy round here earns a mint in his full time job, has mediocre equipment and undercuts everyone. I would normally say that it wouldn't bother me as there is enough work out there for everyone BUT....when you have a booking almost confirmed and then the customer calls back and says "Oh, it's ok...we've got ******** to do it now"...it kind of gets on your nerves a bit. I was doing a wedding the other week and the guy in question walked up to me in the last hour. I'd never met him before but I had heard about him (obviously)... He said "How's it going?" (I didn't know who he was)..I replied "Fine thanks, it's been a good night"... He then said "They asked me if I was available but I said no"... I didn't know what to say to that. I then asked a girl I knew there who was talking to him before he came over, who he was. She mentioned his name and I chuckled. There was no need for him to say what he said to me but nevermind eh.

Sorry Nigel if I have offended you but I really think...well, you know what I think.

[digga]

Hi all. Keep the advise coming, it's all good info. As for the SEDA meeting this Sunday, does it really start at 7:30pm on Sunday evening???

If that s the case, I will check with the boss ('er in doors) and if all ok, will make my way to Maidstone :-)

Might see you there. Digga

[theoloyla]

Hi all. Keep the advise coming, it's all good info. As for the SEDA meeting this Sunday, does it really start at 7:30pm on Sunday evening???

If that s the case, I will check with the boss ('er in doors) and if all ok, will make my way to Maidstone :-)

Might see you there. Digga
Yep that is when it starts and it promises to be a humdinger this time.

[nigelwright7557]

what Nigel is doing is taking work away from the full timers trying to run a business.


Surely the opposite is true ?
The full timers are taking work away from me ?

I dont understand why you think its wrong and are getting upset because I choose to be a part time DJ.

I could try to go full time but I am convinced there isnt enough work to do that. There are so many small time discos around Carlisle soaking up the work at low prices.

To be honest I am jealous of the southern DJ's who live in more affluent areas.

[rob1963]

To be honest I am jealous of the southern DJ's who live in more affluent areas.

Move then! ;)

[Corabar Steve]

To be honest I am jealous of the southern DJ's who live in more affluent areas.

I'd never have guessed it :sarc: :sj:



(have you got your images back now Rob?)

[rob1963]

(have you got your images back now Rob?)

No Steve.

:(

[Corabar Steve]

But you're using smilies again :confused:

[rob1963]

But you're using smilies again :confused:

Yes, but only by typing the appropriate text.

When I look back at my post, they then appear as they should.

It's just the smileys you click on to the right of the message box I don't have, along with the ability to bring up the page of additional smileys.

:(

[Corabar Steve]

How odd

[rob1963]

How odd

Indeed...an everyone seems to have run out of suggestions to help.

:(

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Nigel, apart from actually physically hammering it into your head (that's meant in jest by the way!), how many more times do you need to be told that I am NOT getting all upset? Hold on.... You are trying to be clever aren't you as you know it is starting to wind me up so you mention it again.... a bit childish but nevermind.

Anyway, how can you say that the full timers are taking work away from you? They do it full time...it's all they do and they deserve to get the work because of that no matter what they are charging. If you are doing it part time because you have a full time job that maybe doesn't pay that well...well, there's nothing wrong with that to some extent if you are doing it all properly and are covered with all of the relevant documents and licenses etc and keep up to date with the music, your equipment is all neat and tidy and acceptable quality etc etc but some people are not like that.

Unfortunately, it's one of those things that just does my head in to be honest. I mentioned the other bloke in my previous post and he is a classic example and I see you and some others like him. To say that the full timers are taking work from you is, in my opinion...one of the dumbest quotes I have read on this forum. I had a lady contact me yesterday afternoon who I had a long chat with on the phone regarding a wedding for next year. During the call she mentioned that she had called a couple of other DJ's before me and they weren't half as informative or helpful as I was. That's fair enough as everyone is different in the way that they approach things but she also said that the reason she was going to book me (and she did) was that I did it full time (as well as being friendly, informative etc), and that she had the feeling that I would give it 100% dedication. I am not saying that part timers wouldn't or don't do the same thing but in her view, she liked the fact that I was doing it all the time and for a living and that she would be dealt with by a company that concentrates fully on what it does and is not half hearted about it. To some customers though, they don't care and just want a cheap price and so if the lady that called me was the other type of customer, she wouldn't have been on the phone for half as long as in reality she wouldn't really care about what I had to say, she just wanted a cheap price so no doubt, somewhere down the line she would have been quoted a price by a part timer or cowboy (for the record, I think they are two different things), and therefore that job wasn't one for me anyway.

Nigel, if that customer is the type of customer that you deal with / cater for then you are welcome to them but the fact that...say for example we lived in the same area....the fact that I am doing it full time and trying to survive doing it and you are doing it as a hobby or for extra income etc means that you can quote a lot cheaper and possibly get the work...taking it away from the likes of myself which I don't think is on really.

[Excalibur]

Shaker, you're pretty much on the mark with most of that. In my Day Job, I can get quite miffed about "Enthusiastic Amateurs" ;) :( :(

I note with relief that you do accept that some of us humble Part-timers can sometimes do a fairly acceptable job. :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I could try to go full time but I am convinced there isnt enough work to do that.

A contradiction in terms?

[Dragonfly]

Surely the opposite is true ?
The full timers are taking work away from me ?

I dont understand why you think its wrong and are getting upset because I choose to be a part time DJ.

I could try to go full time but I am convinced there isnt enough work to do that. There are so many small time discos around Carlisle soaking up the work at low prices.

To be honest I am jealous of the southern DJ's who live in more affluent areas.

so there are no affluent areas within say 30 miles of Carlisle??? genuine question as i don't know the area? that you could advertise in and travel to?

[501damian501]

no one takes work away from no one in this game, its just 100% competation, its how the cookie crumbles, like stated in the previous post, advertise in another area local to where you live and travel their, am based in good old lincoln but still advertise in london, i know its not as good as a mutli op, but it still brings in the pennys, maybe a more upmarket website and take all the links to other websites, away from your website nigel, might help bring afew more customers, also have prove of PAT & PLI on the website with acouple of pics, basicly all you have is an homepage with contact details with about 50 links to other djs, which clearly the customers are not liking the site and booking other djs which the links have come from your website, cheers damian

sorry if i create abit of a storm but had to get it off my chest

[theoloyla]

In Nigel's case I feel it is a copout. He wont use proper contracts and he has some views on doing discos which often are at odds with many on this forum. He has a good day job and does the disco for his fun and in lots of cases the punters enjoy it too but by only charging a low fee he doesnt have to justify himself.

[501damian501]

if everyones getting work and he aint, what is he doing wrong, maybe you should ask yourself that nigel

[theoloyla]

if everyones getting work and he aint, what is he doing wrong, maybe you should ask yourself that nigel

No contracts with terms and conditions, no strippers..........the list is endless:p

[juice]

Christ you lot the poor bloke only wanted some advice and somehow it turned into a bunfight between what seem to be old protagonists. Does not give a good impression in my opinion. wheres the forum moderators?

[501damian501]

if people are going to be picky, and be different from everyone else, leave them to it, but why complain they aint getting no work and everyone else is, clearly doing sumthing wrong like i said, nigel will only take bookings upto a maxium of 3months before, weddings you will be looking at upto a year or well over a year, because of everything else involded, but then he moans he aint getting no work, beggers cant be choosers !

[kilmeedyman]

To be honest, the people I know with the most disposable income live up north - Warrington, Ulverston (Cumbria), Lancaster, Chester, Berwick to name just a few.

Its not just about salary level but in the NHS I earn the same in Surrey as someone doing the same job in Carlisle. I bet anything you like their house, council tax, food costs are less than mine.

This pleading poverty up north is frankly rubbish.

There's plenty of money up there for a good DJ.

[ppentertainments]

To be honest, the people I know with the most disposable income live up north - Warrington, Ulverston (Cumbria), Lancaster, Chester, Berwick to name just a few.

Its not just about salary level but in the NHS I earn the same in Surrey as someone doing the same job in Carlisle. I bet anything you like their house, council tax, food costs are less than mine.

This pleading poverty up north is frankly rubbish.

There's plenty of money up there for a good DJ.

Facts ????????????
i won't be drawn into a conversation about this again but without hard facts please keep these OPINIONS to yourself :mad: :mad:

PS why do comments like this never come from people in the north?

[kilmeedyman]

I've just given you hard facts.

I know plenty of DJs who live 'up north' who charge the same per gig that I do. The difference is, their costs are less. Go figure.

Oh by the way, the people in the areas I have quoted are all members of my family.

[Excalibur]

Facts ????????????
i won't be drawn into a conversation about this again but without hard facts please keep these OPINIONS to yourself :mad: :mad:

PS why do comments like this never come from people in the north?

Cos we don't get paid much for gigs?:confused: :sofa: :sofa:

Edit: If you live South of Watford, my post was a joke.;)

( Of course, if you live North of there............................................. .....):D

[ppentertainments]

The areas you mentioned are some of the affluent ones in the area yes. Affluency does not neccesarily mean they will pay more.



This pleading poverty up north is frankly rubbish.

There's plenty of money up there for a good DJ.

'Top' DJ's here can earn just over £300 for a wedding disco - The average from a recent survey showed an average of £319 for 'a DJ' in some southern areas (sorry if figures not exact).

Yes, house prices are cheaper in certain areas of the north, I will admit that. However other costs are similar.

So I ask again for FACTS ??

[kilmeedyman]

The areas you mentioned are some of the affluent ones in the area yes. Affluency does not neccesarily mean they will pay more.



'Top' DJ's here can earn just over £300 for a wedding disco - The average from a recent survey showed an average of £319 for 'a DJ' in some southern areas (sorry if figures not exact).

Yes, house prices are cheaper in certain areas of the north, I will admit that. However other costs are similar.

So I ask again for FACTS ??

Its just like there are affluent areas in the South.
Not all of the south is London and, for that matter, a lot of London is far from affluent.

Are you suggesting that there are more part-time, non-tax paying, uninsured DJs in the north that keep the prices artificially low?

I cannot think of a single other reason why the price you can sell a good DJ service for is majorly different.

[501damian501]

i cant really see being legal really bumping up your costs to be honest, when certain websites are offering membership and pli for 10million from £60 pound i think it is, cheers damian

[One Vision]

i cant really see being legal really bumping up your costs to be honest, when certain websites are offering membership and pli for 10million from £60 pound i think it is, cheers damian

That's just the beginning and not touching the iceberg

[501damian501]

thats peoples choice though ?, every trade has its cowaboys, look at that rouge traders programme ???

[One Vision]

thats peoples choice though ?, every trade has its cowaboys, look at that rouge traders programme ???

That's the point though fella, the legal folk who do it for a living struggle to get the work because the double decks down the road can do it for £xx
In some cases with venues they cry poverty by saying they wont pay more than x amount and they can get somebody for x amount so using that as a lever to get your prices down.

[501damian501]

and what can you do about double decks ??? like i said every trade has them, live with it !

[kilmeedyman]

The point is, other trades seem to be able to get over that and charge a proper living wage for their services, so why do DJs find it so difficult to do the same.

It just seems for some its easier to go online and shout "you can't charge more than £XX in my town" than it is to look at their business, do the right thing and charge accordingly.

There are just as many 'cowaboys(sic)' down south as there are up north.

Its just excuse after excuse whereas I for one would love just one of the northern apologists (which isn't all the DJs I know who livce up north by any stretch) to come on here one day and say "d'you know what, I have gone for it and I am now going out for twice what I used to and I'm loving it!'

That would just make my day.

[nigelwright7557]

Its just excuse after excuse whereas I for one would love just one of the northern apologists (which isn't all the DJs I know who livce up north by any stretch) to come on here one day and say "d'you know what, I have gone for it and I am now going out for twice what I used to and I'm loving it!'

That would just make my day.

If I charged £250 a night it would be commercial suicide.

Unless you live in Carlisle and experience the clients I have had I wouldnt expect you to understand.

[501damian501]

i wouldnt know what other businesses do, but we are allways going to get them

[501damian501]

nigel you cannot say that, why would it be commerical suicide

[DJ INDIE]

there are good paying gigs in the North. Weddings etc can be good earners, but the public perception of what they should pay for a small party or birthday etc is obviously lower. People spend heavily on weddings but not on other types of event (in my experience).

You can get good priced gigs, but unless you are amazingly well established, work for an agency, youll be lucky (or very good) to get 2-3 a week. You have to supplement the good ones with lower ones.


the problem for us in the North West is HUGE competition. In order to get the good paying gigs, you have to travel if working regularily. Within approx 1 hour of me are: Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield. 4 of the 5 major cities in the country - and on top of that Liverpool and Blackpool, with a huge population overall. Add up the cowboys, and legitimate competition in that population and theres one of the reasons the 'average' disco price is lower.
Also, theres a lot of agencies in that huge area that have the money to advertise better and reach more people and potential clients that the individual DJ has to contend with. Im not sure what the agency situation is down south? but also a lot of companies / business / pubs and clubs will only deal with agencies too.

Would be good to hear the reponse to this:

If all existing DJs put their prices up to say £350 for everything, wouldnt that entice MORE cowboys into the market? as theyd see it as an easy earner - especially with the laptop/ipod/cheap gear available today. thus forcing prices even lower in the long run?

[501damian501]

if am right, it was nigel who was kicking up the fuss over the north, but if am also right, he only expects bookings upto 3months, so that means he dont do weddings or other events which are booked upto 18months in advance ?

[DJ INDIE]

it would be fair to say (from my point of view) that if you only tried to do small parties/birthdays etc, and distance yourself from weddings and corporate events, then you are looking at lower paid gigs from the start, which makes it much harder to raise your prices, but i understand why some DJs may not want to do weddings and commit to future work.

[Penfold42]

Can we take it down a notch here please....and respect each others views. :)

Thanks.

[501damian501]

where did you appear from ?, does this forum have a mod emergency alarm ?

[Penfold42]

where did you appear from ?, does this forum have a mod emergency alarm ?

No - I've just finished for the night....and i'm in the kitchen making my supper.

Anyway back on topic please. :)

[501damian501]

kitchem ?

[Penfold42]

kitchen ?

:confused: .......:D :D :D :D

[501damian501]

:confused: :D :D

[Excalibur]

where did you appear from ?, does this forum have a mod emergency alarm ?

Is it a bird? Is it a Plane? NO! It's " SuperModerator". Faster than a speeding tortoise, strong enough to lift two teardrop handle Peaveys. :D :D


No - I've just finished for the night....and i'm in the kitchen making my supper.

Anyway back on topic please. :)

What was the topic? :confused:
Only joking, Digga how goes it? Is there an update on your progress?

[Corabar Steve]

Christ you lot the poor bloke only wanted some advice and somehow it turned into a bunfight between what seem to be old protagonists. Does not give a good impression in my opinion. wheres the forum moderators?
Did we get a new moderator while I wasn't looking?

No, thought not.

Please leave moderation to site staff, if you have issues with any posts or members, use the report post facility or PM a member of site staff.

Facts ????????????
i won't be drawn into a conversation about this again but without hard facts please keep these OPINIONS to yourself :mad: :mad:
This is a FORUM, by it's very nature people state their opinions.

It just seems for some its easier to go online and shout "you can't charge more than £XX in my town" than it is to look at their business, do the right thing and charge accordingly.
Hear Hear

the problem for us in the North West is HUGE competition. In order to get the good paying gigs, you have to travel if working regularily. Within approx 1 hour of me are: Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield. 4 of the 5 major cities in the country - and on top of that Liverpool and Blackpool, with a huge population overall. Add up the cowboys, and legitimate competition in that population and theres one of the reasons the 'average' disco price is lower.
Key word here 'average'.

Of course the average price is going to be low if everyone has the same attitude. Look up the definition of the word average in this context.

Just because the average price is low doesn't mean yours has to be. Take a chance, raise your prices & watch the average price rise too.


I have deleted a number of posts form earlier in this thread due to one member's use of text speak which he has been warned about on several occasions & an argument between the same member & another which frankly was so childish that it belonged in a nursery school not this forum

[theoloyla]

Its all very well saying jack up your prices and the good work will flow in BUT you have to be good enough to do it and worth that price.

[kilmeedyman]

Unfortunately Theo, you may well be at the (sensitive) nub of the subject.

Not everyone is a top DJ and we all know that, however a competent DJ who delivers week after week for his clients will be able to ask for the money and back that up with references and reputation.

I don't think anyone is saying 'just jack up your prices'. My previous comment and Steve's 'hear, hear' refer.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

the problem for us in the North West is HUGE competition.

Why is that just a problem in the NW? You don't think there are as many operators in the South? We have a little place called London down here.....

Have a look in the directory and tell me if there's more operators in your area than anywhere else.

[501damian501]

theirs competition everywhere, are you competition for the competition, but they are clearly rising above you and taking more work, thats because ????

[Corabar Steve]

Why is that just a problem in the NW? You don't think there are as many operators in the South? We have a little place called London down here.....

Have a look in the directory and tell me if there's more operators in your area than anywhere else.


theirs competition everywhere,

Indeed there's competition everywhere. There are 5 other mobile discos within a mile of me that I know of. Badger has at least 16 rival businesses in Haverhill.

In fact there's probably more competition in the South as we can afford the equipment :sj:

[ppentertainments]

Indeed there's competition everywhere. There are 5 other mobile discos within a mile of me that I know of. Badger has at least 16 rival businesses in Haverhill.


Blimey, have just checked and in yell.com alone I have 20 mobile discos showing up within 1 mile (going by the postcodes) and I don't live in a city (or really a large town). Did not realise there was actually so much competition as there are another 3 I know of who don't advertise in yell :eek:

[501damian501]

now now steve tut tut, now take alook at what your competation is offering and offer the same as them or maybe more, i.e last night in bed i was thinking about getting some of these led par cans and inculde 4 of theses in my large rig, just for the pure fact, people in my area charge an extra £50 plus for this, and also half dont even have them, cheers damian

[Dragonfly]

now now steve tut tut, now take alook at what your competation is offering and offer the same as them or maybe more,

why???????????? really clever people don't need to do that ........ just offer something DIFFERENT.

[rob1963]

why???????????? really clever people don't need to do that ........ just offer something DIFFERENT.

Spot on.

That's exactly what I did.

I found out there was nobody else offering two more lights for another £75, so I started doing it...very successfully too!

:D

[Penfold42]

why???????????? really clever people don't need to do that ........ just offer something DIFFERENT.

My mummy said I was different........does that count!!

[/ATTACH] :bag:

[501damian501]

yes you are different tone :D :D :D bought anymore pikeymobiles ? :D

[Dragonfly]

My mummy said I was different........does that count!!

[/ATTACH] :bag:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! She said you were SPECIAL !!! ........................ now thats ....... different :D :D :D :D :beer1: :beer1:

[Corabar Steve]

now now steve tut tut, now take alook at what your competation is offering and offer the same as them or maybe more, i.e last night in bed i was thinking about getting some of these led par cans and inculde 4 of theses in my large rig, just for the pure fact, people in my area charge an extra £50 plus for this, and also half dont even have them, cheers damian

If the cards I've seen in the local chippy are anything to go by, they're no competition. One or two listed in the phone book for our locality I would consider as equals or better than us, but there's enough work around for all of us.

[PB Entertainments]

To be honest, the people I know with the most disposable income live up north - Warrington, Ulverston (Cumbria), Lancaster, Chester, Berwick to name just a few.

This pleading poverty up north is frankly rubbish.

There's plenty of money up there for a good DJ.

Are you having a laugh???

Berwick has been reported to be one of the poorest towns in England. There also doesn't appear to be many discos in Berwick either.

I'm not disputing there's money to be made for the 'right' disco or DJ, but saying that about a particular town (from your knowledge based on someone you know living there) doesn't seem accurate. I also know someone who lives in Berwick, and they're not well off...

[501damian501]

no bodys well off, even the richest people have large debts hanging over their heads, unless wedding partys stop, birthday partys ect ect then they wont be any money to be made, untill then, crack on