Thought I'd share this.

[Cowlinn]

From a friends facebook status, highlights the problem in the DJ industry I think.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I have to disagree and say there is....

There are people who don't rely on the money and are not particularly good businessmen or are charging their worth and are very good too.

[CRAZY K]

I have to disagree and say there is....

There are people who don't rely on the money and are not particularly good businessmen or are charging their worth and are very good too.

Spot on--problem is that the hours required generally for Entertainment allow part timers and moonlighters to exist and many do it as a second job, therefore they dont have to charge high prices because they have a day job--therefore really they can charge as little as they like-- its not a problem as its not their main job.

And as Darren rightly points out they can be good but not value themselves or want to charge a lot and treat it as a hobby job.

Unless there is strict regulation ( unlikely) this will carry on.

Of course full time Professions and Occupations cannot work like that--

My only comment would be --the people who say I want it cheap and good obviously dont have a clue about the realities of life.

Supermarket physcology I fear--in one today for my Wifes replacement Kitchen Kettle and Toaster--Own cheap Brand Product £20 each---well known make with track record £40 each.

Depends what you want--some people just want a noise in the corner of the room :daft:

[Cowlinn]

I have to disagree and say there is....

There are people who don't rely on the money and are not particularly good businessmen or are charging their worth and are very good too.

That's true. I guess I was semi frustrated at the comment, too.

[Excalibur]

Biggest problem at the moment is that (many/most?) people are shopping on price alone at the moment, and so it's the only criteria considered. The lad playing for £60 at his local could be absolutely brilliant, or absolutely rubbish. Unless the punter knows which he is in advance, he'll get the gig, not me.

[CRAZY K]

Biggest problem at the moment is that (many/most?) people are shopping on price alone at the moment, and so it's the only criteria considered. The lad playing for £60 at his local could be absolutely brilliant, or absolutely rubbish. Unless the punter knows which he is in advance, he'll get the gig, not me.

Using some tactics currently being employed by my sons Rodeo Bull business we openly challenge customers to ask cheaper competitors to supply pictures of their set up as we know there is some real rubbish out there--true of DJs also I imagine.

This is not a willy waving exercise--just simply saying you may get a rubbish set up--you may not as Peter highlights --whether or not the customer cares is a completely different and worrying issue.

There appears to be an acceptance of poor quality with low prices in general ( excluding the OPs enquiry )

Certainly our marketing for both businesses is aggressive and in the coming tough year will continue to need to be like that IMHO to avoid the cheapjacks with poor equipment and no presentational skills obtaining business which we believe should be ours.

Of course if people with good equipment and a Professional show want to allow themselves to be exploited giving it away for peanuts---fair enough they deserve whats coming ;)

[Totally Plucked]

We are always challenged by "Sixty quid Sid" and it has been debated heavily in the past that there is always room for both highend services and your £60 pub DJ.

However, I think due to the current economic climate and the recession taking another bite at "Joe Public" , there seems to be a few long established "Professional Services" throwing in the towel, unfortunately widening the market for "Sid" :mad: :mad:

However, there is no compromise for quality in any walk of life and as sadistic as it may sound I love it when I hear "Oh the Disco was awful !!".................Then comes the "Magic question"............."How much did he charge?"


You all know the answer !!

Sixty Quid !!!!! :daft:

[Pe7e]

However, there is no compromise for quality in any walk of life and as sadistic as it may sound I love it when I hear "Oh the Disco was awful !!".................Then comes the "Magic question"............."How much did he charge?"
You all know the answer !!
Sixty Quid !!!!! :daft:

To some extent price reflects on a DJs ability, but more as to their marketing and salesmanship ability than their performance. I've attended many events over the years (especially weddings), where the DJ left a lot to be desired, yet they charged a top - end fee. Charging a high fee doesn't make you a great DJ, and going out for peanuts, doesn't make you a rubbish DJ. just lacking in self confidence.

[Megamix]

She may be best to ask people for some good discos that they have seen and then get the price - she may be surprised. But if cheap is £50 prepare to compromise - maybe she means say £140-£200 when it opens up quite a bit.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

That's true. I guess I was semi frustrated at the comment, too.

It is very frustrating that DJs go out and work for virtually no profit and don't realise it.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

A few years back I knew a guy that was a local DJ but never did any work locally. He thought that he was doing well going up to London for £300.00 when I was getting the same for local work. I couldn't understand that myself. He was a full timer too.

[Larry B Entertainment]

It is very frustrating that DJs go out and work for virtually no profit and don't realise it.

I know a guy that goes out with a Pioneer setup (CDJ 900, DJM 800) and a full Martin light show and just works for beer money. He is working pretty much every weekend. He doesn't do it full time however, he also has a good paying day job. DJing is just a hobby to him.
I think this is where the public get the perception that all DJs should cost the same.

Saying that though, if money was no object to me then I would probably be doing the same as I love DJing as much as he does.

[mattydinx]

here's a thought though....

I'm by no means the cheapest, but I'm far from the most expensive. I work full-time and run my DJ-side of things essentially only at weekends.

Each gig I pay myself £10/hour (including set-up/packing away), I cover travel expenses, I cover wear & tear and depreciation on my equipment and then put my profit on top of that - yet I'm still roughly half the price of some of the full-timers.

This year I essentially started from scratch again having sold most of my kit last year, I built up my rig again slowly - granted I paid for the initial outlay from my own wage, but treat it as a loan which was paid back after the first few gigs. I'm not the busiest DJ at the moment, things have been a lot slower than I would've liked - but my business is maintaining itself, building up profits, paying for additional/upgraded equipment out of my profits (with the exception of my PA which is on credit)

There's a lot of competition in my area going out for £80-£100 with a rig that belongs in a skip, poor music selection, no personal touches or meetings with the clients, no booking forms, no PAT, PLI - most show up in jeans and a t-shirt - I even saw one guy show up to the gig with his 3 kids!

For me, it's about customer satisfaction and providing value for money. Do I think I'm worth more than what I'm charging now? Probably! Would it affect my bookings if I increased my prices? Possibly.

Should I put my prices up just so the full timers can warrant their prices? No, I don't think I should.
I work 37 hours a week at my main employment for a reasonable living wage, my disco just tops that up so I've a little extra cash. I don't see it to be any problem of mine to put my prices up so that some full-timers can justify working 7 hours for an equivalent living wage (assuming they do one gig a week)

Yes, I could increase my profits so my business benefits, I could increase my wage I pay myself so that I would benefit but at the end of the day, I love DJing and I know what it costs me to put out a show and still make a profit from it without having my prices double what they are now.

[Corabar Entertainment]

hI don't see it to be any problem of mine to put my prices up so that some full-timers can justify working 7 hours for an equivalent living wage (assuming they do one gig a week)Ignoring the (extremely disappointing to see yet again) dig from a part-timer to the full-timers, as far as I can see, this is where the full-timers seem to differ vastly from the part-timers. I often see people say x number of hours, but we spent an awful lot more time than that on things associated with a gig. Maybe that's the difference.... do the full timers spend more time with their clients?

[mattydinx]

do the full timers spend more time with their clients?

I don't think it's a case of spending more time with clients, I'm fortunate enough to have a boss who lets me answer disco-related calls and emails at work.

In terms of client meetings, generally I'm limited to evenings and weekends but generally, so have most of my clients due to their work commitments.

With regards to other preparations - for me, things like keeping my music collection up to date and organized isnt' really work, and on a whole probably takes less than a couple of hours a month.
Things like looking for leads and extra work are down to the individual I suppose as to how many hours are put in.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Everything associated with running your business is work.

If you did it full time you might think more that way.

[yourdj]

It is very frustrating that DJs go out and work for virtually no profit and don't realise it.

Or in-fact loose money :p

It does not say what the function is? if it was an 18th any muppet can do that.

good and cheap can come in the same boat but lots of the time its a gamble unless you have seen them.
Some people just want someone to push buttons and play cheese all night and the budget goes into a £2000 dress and £500 cake :lol:
Thats not my client and I would not even give that facebook thing another look as the wedding is not my cup of tea.


On the other hand I know some expensive DJ's who advertise themselves for gigs they have not got a clue how to manage and to be quite frank a £150 experienced DJ could probably do a better job. :)

[Megamix]

Full (or maybe part) timers with big rigs and good client base, advertising etc need to cover their costs. Once again it's horses for courses - I only do so many a year, I'm happy with that, I charge accordingly and enjoy it.

Our club books a pair of part time (singers) who have day jobs but quite frankly the best singers we have - they are professional, got good sounding gear, good backing and are great value for money.
We also have professionals who turn up, knock it out and leave. No finesse, no style, not very good singers but that's their living.
How much you pay is not necessarily a good guide.

[Corabar Steve]

In terms of client meetings, generally I'm limited to evenings and weekends but generally, so have most of my clients due to their work commitments.
Being a full time operation helps there. We often have lunchtime meetings with clients (3 of our last 4 for example).

We give them the option & they choose what suits them.

[Mark Wild]

here's a thought though....

I'm by no means the cheapest, but I'm far from the most expensive. I work full-time and run my DJ-side of things essentially only at weekends.

Each gig I pay myself £10/hour (including set-up/packing away), I cover travel expenses, I cover wear & tear and depreciation on my equipment and then put my profit on top of that - yet I'm still roughly half the price of some of the full-timers.

This year I essentially started from scratch again having sold most of my kit last year, I built up my rig again slowly - granted I paid for the initial outlay from my own wage, but treat it as a loan which was paid back after the first few gigs. I'm not the busiest DJ at the moment, things have been a lot slower than I would've liked - but my business is maintaining itself, building up profits, paying for additional/upgraded equipment out of my profits (with the exception of my PA which is on credit)

There's a lot of competition in my area going out for £80-£100 with a rig that belongs in a skip, poor music selection, no personal touches or meetings with the clients, no booking forms, no PAT, PLI - most show up in jeans and a t-shirt - I even saw one guy show up to the gig with his 3 kids!

For me, it's about customer satisfaction and providing value for money. Do I think I'm worth more than what I'm charging now? Probably! Would it affect my bookings if I increased my prices? Possibly.

Should I put my prices up just so the full timers can warrant their prices? No, I don't think I should.
I work 37 hours a week at my main employment for a reasonable living wage, my disco just tops that up so I've a little extra cash. I don't see it to be any problem of mine to put my prices up so that some full-timers can justify working 7 hours for an equivalent living wage (assuming they do one gig a week)

Yes, I could increase my profits so my business benefits, I could increase my wage I pay myself so that I would benefit but at the end of the day, I love DJing and I know what it costs me to put out a show and still make a profit from it without having my prices double what they are now.

Do you live at home with your parents Matty?

[theoloyla]

This is why I always come back to personality and individuality. There are thousands of bands you could book but there is only 1 Status Quo. There are thousands of dj's you could book but there is only 1 Theo Loyla. Lots of people provide a disco service and they will be compared to their rivals. No one else provides me. I am unique. I a punter wants a cheap disco they dont want me.

[mattydinx]

Do you live at home with your parents Matty?

Yes, I live with my mum but Before the 'you don't have bills to pay or a house to keep' card gets played, actually I do, my mum can't work due to ill health so the majority of money I earn pays bills or buys food.

[Excalibur]

Everything associated with running your business is work.If you did it full time you might think more that way.
There is a famous quote about that which sort of agrees with Matt, but in this case I'll say I agree totally with you Darren.

I'm neither Fish nor Fowl, since I'm not full time, but my disco income isn't a top up or beer money, it's what I need to live on.


Being a full time operation helps there. We often have lunchtime meetings with clients (3 of our last 4 for example).

We give them the option & they choose what suits.
Isn't letting them choose your outfits taking customer choice a little too far? :whistle:

[Corabar Entertainment]

Isn't letting them choose your outfits taking customer choice a little too far? :whistle:
Actually, we do that too! :D

[Charlie Brown]

Yes, I live with my mum but Before the 'you don't have bills to pay or a house to keep' card gets played, actually I do, my mum can't work due to ill health so the majority of money I earn pays bills or buys food.

Respect. :beer1:

[Excalibur]

Actually, we do that too! :D

I'm all in favour of it for the function, but as I pointed out:

Being a full time operation helps there. We often have lunchtime meetings with clients (3 of our last 4 for example).

We give them the option & they choose what suits.

That's just taking things a bit far. :p :D :D ( Mind you, thinking about it, having seen examples of Steve's sartorial choices, perhaps there's a lot to be said for the punters telling him how to dress. ;) :D :D )

[Corabar Entertainment]

Sorry, dear.... missed the joke the first time around :doh:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Why does it always have to come down to the Part-Time / Full-Time thing?
It's not a dig, just a question.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Why does it always have to come down to the Part-Time / Full-Time thing?
It's not a dig, just a question.

Because it can have a big bearing on how you run your business.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I understand that mate. I just wondered why it seems to always get mentioned but hey, not complaining.
I'm Full-Time, I'm not rolling in it but I'm doing alright.
I don't have the best set up in the world but I'm doing alright.
I wouldn't change any of it.

At the end of the day, in my opinion it's down to the actual DJ. It's not just about pressing buttons and standing there until the song finishes so you can't start the next one - is it? As Toby says, any muppet can do that and a lot do.

We've ALL seen rubbish DJ's that don't have a clue but have decent equipment. We've probably all seen rubbish DJ's with rubbish equipment too and I am sure some of us have seen decent DJ's with both rubbish equipment and decent equipment.

The good thing is that there ARE customers and venues out there who don't mind paying for quality and not for the cheapest price they can get.