Family gigs

[Cowlinn]

Because of me having this small business, my family are always keen to use me at their parties. I did my aunites for a cheap price, and people took advantage of their DJ being their cousin/nephew/brother etc, and I promised myself id never do a family gig again

This weekend I'm doing my sisters engagement party for free, I didnt want to but felt like I had to. I feel my sister has taken advantage of this and has given me job after job.

I really do not have time for working for free, so my question is do you do family functions? Do you give them a discout? Do you do any for free?

Over to you :beer1:

[JTRS]

That's always a difficult one when family is involved.

If you want to be blunt then explain to them that this is your business and if you are working for them then you are losing money by not taking a full paying event, and you have had set-up costs (equipment) and ongoing costs (music etc) to pay so you can't do it for free.

If you want to be diplomatic you could try the 'But you're family, it's a family party and I want to be there as a guest and not working' or 'I'd rather not do it because if anything goes wrong I would feel terrible'

Or you could try the win win situation, tell them you will do it for free as long as you don't get a full paying booking on that day, then nearer the event tell them you have had an enquiry and if you do their event for free you will lose £x and ask them to pay that, if you don't get an enquiry you can choose if you want to do the event for free and showcase yourself as a DJ to the guests.

When I started out I did jobs at 'mates rates' and I found I was just getting taken advantage of, so now it's full fee or book someone else.

JTRS

[hammy]

:agree: full fee or go elswhere, Harsh as it may sound, If you sold cars that you had built from brand new components and it was a good business would you give your sister a car for free????

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:agree: full fee or go elswhere, Harsh as it may sound, If you sold cars that you had built from brand new components and it was a good business would you give your sister a car for free????

That's a product. We sell a service.

[Sapphire Disco]

I give relations and very close friends a good discount approx 20 %

Parents/Brothers/Sisters/Grand parents definitely free of charge they are
your close family, if they want to make you take something it's up to them.

Everyone else normal price.

[milo]

If they're close enough for you to do a discount then you should have been invited as a guest. I wouldn't do it...

[funkymook]

Once you've had to turn down a couple of well paid gigs because you're already booked for a free or cheap family/friend one it does get a lot easier to charge them full price.

You could say you can only confirm 5 days before in case a full paid gig comes along, if they want you to confirm before then, it's the full price!

[DiscosMobile]

Yeah when I was young I did that mates rates etc etc.. Which were £50-£70 But the norm was only £90-£120 back then.

I think you can do them "cheaper" but you have to make money too. Just let them know in future I am not a charity I cant afford to do it for free/cheap and they will understand..

hope that helps.

[Cowlinn]

Yeah I agree with all points made. So me having to buy songs etc has made me out of pocket :eek:

This'll be the last time, in future it's pay me in full, or pay someone else in full.

[Charlie Brown]

This'll be the last time, in future it's pay me in full, or pay someone else in full.

So you would really charge your sister the full amount?

Surely it's down to common sense. We all have different relationships with our loved ones, some better than others.

The relationship Matt has with his family may be very different to what I have etc. It's hard to say.

[Cowlinn]

So you would really charge your sister the full amount?

Surely it's down to common sense. We all have different relationships with our loved ones, some better than others.

The relationship Matt has with his family may be very different to what I have etc. It's hard to say.

I have a really good relationship with my family I think, we all go round Nan's every sunday for dinner ect. We're very close.

My dad needed some plumbing done, my uncles a plumber. At not one point did Dad expect him to do it for free :confused:

He payed for parts and his time, as you'd expect.

I don't work for free :)

[Sapphire Disco]

I have a really good relationship with my family I think, we all go round Nan's every sunday for dinner ect. We're very close.

I don't work for free :)

How much do you pay your nan for cooking dinner ?

[JTRS]

How much do you pay your nan for dinner ?

Is Nan running a catering business, does Nan lose money when someone who is close family is sat having a meal there? Did nan spefically buy all the kitchen equipment to launch a catering business? Try comparing apples with apples!

And to answer the comments made by others saying it is wrong to charge your sister, I'd have said it was wrong of your sister to ask you to DJ the event without asking if you would prefer to be a guest. If it's family that is that close then you should be a guest (or at least have been given the option to be one)

JTRS

[Sapphire Disco]

Is Nan running a catering business, does Nan lose money when someone is sat having a meal there?

JTRS

That's not really the point but there are cost's involved :)

[Mark Wild]

I'm always booked when family ask me to do a gig ;)

[chrisj]

During 42 years I have never done a gig for family, or friends come to that.

I have been asked to do a wedding for a nephew next year but no date at present. I said I would do it 20% discount as it is my income that will be reduced.

[Cowlinn]

How much do you pay your nan for cooking dinner ?

I pay her in being a lovely grandson :D


Is Nan running a catering business, does Nan lose money when someone who is close family is sat having a meal there? Did nan spefically buy all the kitchen equipment to launch a catering business? Try comparing apples with apples!

And to answer the comments made by others saying it is wrong to charge your sister, I'd have said it was wrong of your sister to ask you to DJ the event without asking if you would prefer to be a guest. If it's family that is that close then you should be a guest (or at least have been given the option to be one)

JTRS

Very well said, I agree.


That's not really the point but there are cost's involved :)

Yeah, to buy meat and 2 veg, I've spent a bit more than that :eek:


I'm always booked when family ask me to do a gig ;)

I think I will be in future too, funny that ;)

[Excalibur]

The only hurdle is in getting family to appreciate that you are running a business, with business expenses. If they think it's "only a hobby/pastime/passing phase ", they'll expect freebies. It they know it's a business, they will appreciate they have to pay close to your market rate. Simples.

[milo]

I’m on the events comity at my son’s school and they always ask me to help out with Christmas parties and end of term disco’s etc.

I tell them I can’t turn down paid bookings to do freebies. However, I go up to my local toy store (Smyths) and they give me £100.00 toy voucher in exchange for a couple of hours balloon modelling when I’ve got nothing on. This way I don’t loose any money and I get to be listed on all the flyers that go home “Christmas Raffle – 1st Prize £100.00 Smyths voucher donated by Milo’s Entertainment”

Have you done it for free as a present for your sister?

I wouldn’t say it’s cost you anything to buy new music as, presumably, you would have bought those tracks anyways.

Maybe let it slide as it’s your sister… if you’ve got useful family you can always do free stuff for them if they do free stuff for you… Exchange of services?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yeah, to buy meat and 2 veg, I've spent a bit more than that :eek:


Really? You've bought/rented a house, paid for electricity and bought all the white goods?

[milo]

lol – A Sunday roast for a big family is easily £100.00 these days by the time you’ve had some wine and decent joint of beef… Poor gran… I hope you all chuck £10.00 in!

[Dynamic Entertainment]

My family understand this is my livlihood, and wouldnt ask me to work, even for a drduced fee as they know i could be out earning my full fee.