gigs

[mrrawuk]

Speaking to a mate who has passed me a gig. He's a top lad and i've given him loads of club work over the last 10 years.

Gig is in march and all seems good. My mate said local gigs are like £120 and £150 if you lucky these days. He said to many SID dj's about and doing gigs for less than £80.

I have to wonder if its even worth going mobile these days?

[DJ Jules]

Yeah.... Don't believe all you hear. While you're "over the bridge" from me in Bristol and (from what I've been told) rates in South Wales are typically less than those in England. They're not that much less. If you're prepared to travel 45mins to an hour, then I know for a fact that there is plenty of work at reasonable rates in the Bristol, Gloucestershire and Cheltenham areas.

Take a look at http://www.needadisco.com/pending-negotiation.php and slap Cardiff into the search and you'll see 3 birthday parties at around the £150 mark, but 2 weddings at £300 and another at £500.

The key is that you need to be good and presentable and you need to market yourself appropriately. If you're only working pubs/clubs and only getting gigs by word of mouth, then yeah, you're not going to see much money. But the money is there if you set yourself up to take it.

Julian

[mrrawuk]

Yeah.... Don't believe all you hear. While you're "over the bridge" from me in Bristol and (from what I've been told) rates in South Wales are typically less than those in England. They're not that much less. If you're prepared to travel 45mins to an hour, then I know for a fact that there is plenty of work at reasonable rates in the Bristol, Gloucestershire and Cheltenham areas.

Take a look at http://www.needadisco.com/pending-negotiation.php and slap Cardiff into the search and you'll see 3 birthday parties at around the £150 mark, but 2 weddings at £300 and another at £500.

The key is that you need to be good and presentable and you need to market yourself appropriately. If you're only working pubs/clubs and only getting gigs by word of mouth, then yeah, you're not going to see much money. But the money is there if you set yourself up to take it.

Julian

Thanks for the reply mate.

I'm fortunate to been a club dj since 91 and i'm still going strong.
My view is a decent rig and some good self promotion might be the key...pretty much what i've done in the club game tbh.

[musicology]

That's a very good link. I didn't know NAD had that page and I'm a subscriber! Very useful to see customer budgets in any one area.

[Corabar Steve]

With all due respect to your mate, what a load of twaddle!

[mrrawuk]

With all due respect to your mate, what a load of twaddle!

Probably the same everywhere with £80 dj's but i am not looking to be in the cheap game. Perhaps my view is different as i have been a dj for so long and not a young lad who is just starting out etc.

[DJ Jules]

That's a very good link. I didn't know NAD had that page and I'm a subscriber! Very useful to see customer budgets in any one area.

It's worth joining the Facebook group (from memory you have to email [email protected] with your subscriber ID and Facebook name) as Martin posts useful little snippets about new features and planned changes on there.

Julian

[Nakatomi]

A couple of guys I know subscribe to the 'you'll never get that round here mate' mentality. And you know what, they're right! With the kind of gear they use & their attitude towards customer service they'll never get that round here. I've already bagged a few gigs over & above the 'local rate' & the gigs are fairly local. Trouble is, I need more. Many, many more like that.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Every area has their £80 clients and £80 DJs.

Is it worth going mobile these days? You bet your backside it is ;)

[ppentertainments]

Every area has their £80 clients and £80 DJs.

Is it worth going mobile these days? You bet your backside it is ;)
Totally agree - although I know of hardly any 'DJs' these days as most offer additional services which I would think falls outside of what people would class as a DJ - photo booths, dance floors, letters etc

One thing I will say to the op is talking about £80 v £150 there is no difference there, they will all attract the same type of customer who will likely go with the cheapest. Start looking at £400+ and things change :eek:

[ppentertainments]

A couple of guys I know subscribe to the 'you'll never get that round here mate' mentality. And you know what, they're right! With the kind of gear they use & their attitude towards customer service they'll never get that round here. I've already bagged a few gigs over & above the 'local rate' & the gigs are fairly local. Trouble is, I need more. Many, many more like that.
One reason I very very rarely work locally. Whilst there are a few decent pickings, venturing out further afield was a must for me :)

[Corabar Steve]

pppOne thing I will say to the op is talking about £80 v £150 there is no difference there, they will all attract the same type of customer who will likely go with the cheapest. Start looking at £400+ and things change :eek:If we're talking before add-ons I'll agree with you.

[ppentertainments]

If we're talking before add-ons I'll agree with you.
Yeah, I was meaning for an Evening Disco only :)

[yourdj]

With all due respect to your mate, what a load of twaddle!

:agree:

Toni Winyard did a great article on this in the last Pro Mobile. http://promobile.org.uk/issues/articles/57/In-Defence-of-Sid

He thinks he can't achieve that so will try and persuade everyone else that is the case. Assuming you have presentable equipment, know what you are doing, good business skills and marketing charge £300 and half the work. Add extras like uplighting and net at least £400 if not £500. You mate will have to work 6 events to make that, while you just do the one and have much more attention to detail and do a better job resulting in repeat booking, a better reputation and a more enjoyable time, which will show on your face. :)

Ditch your mate and hang out with guys like this, bet he charges over £400 and is busy every weekend of the year? ;)
http://www.weddingdjcardiff.co.uk

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

One thing I will say to the op is talking about £80 v £150 there is no difference there, they will all attract the same type of customer who will likely go with the cheapest. Start looking at £400+ and things change :eek:

Yup, you could argue that £150 DJs are cheap and bringing down prices.

As has already been said - absolute balls that "you can't get that here." I'd imagine the Central Belt of Scotland is the most saturated market outside of London, Birmingham and maybe Manchester which in theory should mean the prices are artificially lowered but that's simply not the case - sure there's plenty of £120 gigs out there but there's also plenty of £400+ gigs.

[mrrawuk]

I have another mate who has been around for yonks and is doing High End Weddings and offering lots of addons.

Fair play to him though he works his ass off and is very driven.

http://www.weddingswalesltd.co.uk/

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I have another mate who has been around for yonks and is doing High End Weddings and offering lots of addons.

Fair play to him though he works his ass off and is very driven.

http://www.weddingswalesltd.co.uk/

Well there you go then and I'd go a step further and say getting higher paying gigs has little to do with add ons - you can charge a premium without them providing you offer a top notch pro service.

[ckpr2]

Probably the same everywhere with £80 dj's but i am not looking to be in the cheap game. Perhaps my view is different as i have been a dj for so long and not a young lad who is just starting out etc.

£80 ?
In 1976 I was earning £2 a night as a trainee DJ/roadie.
Of course it was done for the fun of it and the pulling power it gave me.
Some nights we had up to 4 DJ's so there wasn't much jiggle room for wages.

You could get 6 gallons of petrol in those days for £2.
Showing my age !

[Pe7e]

You could get 6 gallons of petrol in those days for £2.


Correction, you could only get around 2.5 gallons, the last time you could get 6 gallons for 2 quid was around 1969, petrol shot up in price around 1974 and the price of petrol guzzling cars plummeted, believe me or believe me not, I swapped an old HA Vauxhall Viva for a 3.8 E-Type drophead. The E-Type was not in great condition but was one of the earliest still in existence and made me a lot of money when I sold it on. Happy days!

[ckpr2]

Correction, you could only get around 2.5 gallons, the last time you could get 6 gallons for 2 quid was around 1969, petrol shot up in price around 1974 and the price of petrol guzzling cars plummeted, believe me or believe me not, I swapped an old HA Vauxhall Viva for a 3.8 E-Type drophead. The E-Type was not in great condition but was one of the earliest still in existence and made me a lot of money when I sold it on. Happy days!

I was out by a few years then.
I was an apprentice mechanic in 1972 and was selling 6 gallons for £2.
It was about 1976 when I got into DJing.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

As has been said already, there are plenty of SIDS around. You have to do something that stands out from them. People WILL pay for quality.
Also as said already, be prepared to travel too.
Word of mouth and recommendations go a long way in this business and people will pay for something that is as far away from the SID'S of this world as possible.
Yes, those SID'S will still appeal to some and I don't think they'll ever go away because the way technology has gone over the years and the prices of LED lighting are cheaper, it is easy to set yourself up and get out on the road within no time at all.

People aren't silly though (well, the majority aren't) and they can suss out what is quality and what isn't.
I did a last minute gig a few years ago at a social club out of town (think classic Peter Kay type stuff). The guy who phoned me begrudgingly agreed the price with me which was 3 times more than his £100.00 regular SID. He was impressed when I set up and I hadn't even played a song yet. At the end of the night he asked for a card and I ended up doing quite a few nights there until someone else took over who just happened to be a big fan of the SID'S of this world.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

As has been said already, there are plenty of SIDS around. You have to do something that stands out from them. People WILL pay for quality.



I don't need to expand on the 2nd part of your post as I couldn't have put it better myself but this ^ is spot on.

The quickest way to wind up in a lower type of working bracket than you'd like to be is to assume that there's no way you can stand above that. Sids don't bother me because the people that are after a £150 wedding DJ or an £80 kids DJ are never interested in hiring someone like me and likewise, someone who has budgetted for my kind of fee and is genuinely concerned about quality isn't going to decide they'll save themselves a wad and book sid...

I still generally do weddings but for the past while I've ended upw ith a handful of school disco and party bookings. i remember an amp dj meeting a few years back when I hadn't done a kids disco for years and someone mentioned they got £200 for them and I thought it was nonsense - skip forward now and I've realised that those prices are viable and as well as that - hour for hour, work for work they're far more lucrative and hassle free than weddings. if I didn't spend all my weekday working with kids I'd probably solely focus on high end kids and school discos.

[Jonny Boy]

I'm down the road from you in Zooport. (Newport.) I'd like to think of my DJ service price point as "middle-of-the-market." Certainly and typically well above the £150 range you mention.

Agree with everything that has been said before. Only thing I'd add is to find yourself a niche and/or your "USP" = Unique Selling Proposition. That is, what is different about YOU and YOUR service to everyone else.

Just as the bottom feeders are all scrabbling and competing for £80, something I've observed about some the "top of the game" DJ/Wedding Service here in S. Wales is that the ALL seem to offer "everything"... LOVE letters, LED floors, uplighting, monograms blah blah.

Not that theres anything wrong with this: they make good money and are VERY good at their marketing BUT IMHO are so identikit that even for clients with money, it fall to price and/or personality. The rivalry between them is palpable at times.

You're going up against some big-hitters if you take that route, IMHO.

Rather, I'd suggest you initially at least focus on your USP.
You mention your club experience: why not capitalise on that and market "nightclub DJ experience" events and target the dance-generation, 21st etc? I see lots of posts of bridal forums who don't want a "typical" (read generalist) DJ for their wedding/event.

I know a DJ in Swansea that has done this very well and sells trance weddings, garage weddings, RnB weddings etc with great success.

Just some ideas....

[musicology]

I've just found this helpful snippet on NAD:

"The overall average rate for bookings confirmed via the site this year is £227.67
Weddings are averaging £353.18
Children's parties are averaging £141.88"

[funkymook]

Rather, I'd suggest you initially at least focus on your USP.
You mention your club experience: why not capitalise on that and market "nightclub DJ experience" events and target the dance-generation, 21st etc? I see lots of posts of bridal forums who don't want a "typical" (read generalist) DJ for their wedding/event.

I know a DJ in Swansea that has done this very well and sells trance weddings, garage weddings, RnB weddings etc with great success.

Just some ideas....

Excellent advice, specialising and creating your own niche removes you from the competition (or greatly reduces it). You also get less random enquiries just wanting a ‘disco’, high conversion rates and as a specialist service you can charge more.

You have to be brave with your marketing and website, proudly state the music you play and don’t dilute it by trying to cover all bases, that just takes you back amongst all the other DJ’s again and you won’t stand out.

And remember todays clubbing B&G’s will have parents that were probably clubbers in their day too - it’s not going to be a difficult concept to sell.

[Vectis]

I've just found this helpful snippet on NAD:

"The overall average rate for bookings confirmed via the site this year is £227.67
Weddings are averaging £353.18
Children's parties are averaging £141.88"

That's based on enquiries received and closed since 1st Jan this year ... ie 6 days.

Over time you'll see this mature. IIRC the end-of-year stats for 2015 was closer to £250 / £350 / £150 respectively.


There's a few interesting sets of stats on NaD:

Latest 1000 confirmed bookings: http://needadisco.com/recent-confirmations.php
(searchable by town/postcode etc.)

Reasons given for booking, with comparison of agreed amount -vs- original budget: http://needadisco.com/recent-reasons.php

Live enquiries under negotiation: http://needadisco.com/pending-negotiation.php

"You Won't Get That Round Here" comparison of 36,200 events as of mid-December 2015:
http://needadisco.com/pages/ywgtrh.php

"Income by postcode area" comparison of a years worth of events ending mid-December 2015:
http://needadisco.com/pages/income.php

Happy reading :beer1:

[ppentertainments]

That's based on enquiries received and closed since 1st Jan this year ... ie 6 days.

Over time you'll see this mature. IIRC the end-of-year stats for 2015 was closer to £250 / £350 / £150 respectively.


There's a few interesting sets of stats on NaD:

Latest 1000 confirmed bookings: http://needadisco.com/recent-confirmations.php
(searchable by town/postcode etc.)

Reasons given for booking, with comparison of agreed amount -vs- original budget: http://needadisco.com/recent-reasons.php

Live enquiries under negotiation: http://needadisco.com/pending-negotiation.php

"You Won't Get That Round Here" comparison of 36,200 events as of mid-December 2015:
http://needadisco.com/pages/ywgtrh.php

"Income by postcode area" comparison of a years worth of events ending mid-December 2015:
http://needadisco.com/pages/income.php

Happy reading :beer1:

Interesting reading which blows the 'you can easily get ££ in any area' theory out the water and I can now see why I normally need to travel 60 miles+ :zip:

[Vectis]

You CAN get £XXX everywhere.

What these long-term averages show is that the ratio of availability of £XXX to £X differs quite considerably.

In our (not inconsiderable) experience, obviously ;)

[funkymook]

Interesting reading which blows the 'you can easily get ££ in any area' theory out the water and I can now see why I normally need to travel 60 miles+ :zip:

I’d say 60 miles was within most mobile DJ’s area.

No one says it’s ‘easy’ to get higher fees in any area, just that it’s possible (perhaps they should include ‘with a bit of common sense and effort).

What is interesting is that the higher the fee the more common the client paid a percentage more than their budget (up-selling on Nad!!) and the comments mention customer service type reasons for booking. It’s only when you go quite far down the scale that ‘lowest price’ starts making an appearance and prices are less than the budget.

But like most stats people will always read what they want from them.

[ppentertainments]

I’d say 60 miles was within most mobile DJ’s area.


Not when the 60 miles each way, more or less, becomes the minimum travel.

Agree you can perceive figures to suit, but when my 4 closest areas, incorporating a large area and 4 major cities rank no higher than 114/124 (my 3 immediate areas with approx up to 40mile each way travel rank no higher than 119) I think there is an argument.

Not that it really matters to me :)

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I'm not for a moment insinuating that anyone is fishing following my input in this convo :) but it seems awfully coincidental that I've just received an enquiry direct to my e-mail from a phone instead of using my form where I can track the IP and states they came across me in a manner that I'm almost certain isn't true :D

If you want to know my prices PM or ask - I've nothing to hide and I'm not a bull:Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: merchant.

[funkymook]

but when my 4 closest areas, incorporating a large area and 4 major cities rank no higher than 114/124 (my 3 immediate areas with approx up to 40mile each way travel rank no higher than 119) I think there is an argument.



I’d say if someone can’t find the money in large area which includes 4 major cities then they couldn’t anywhere - so for them it’s probably very true they can’t get that around here....wherever they go.

[Excalibur]

Reasons given for booking, with comparison of agreed amount -vs- original budget: http://needadisco.com/recent-reasons.php


I loved the reason " Only one that was grammatically correct", and no, it wasn't one of mine. :D


I’d say 60 miles was within most mobile DJ’s area.
As would I.




But like most stats people will always read what they want from them.
Lies, damned lies, and statistics, eh? :D


Not when the 60 miles each way, more or less, becomes the minimum travel.


It's a bonus and a novelty when I only travel thirty each way, I can tell you.

[Nakatomi]

The highest 'average' fee for my immediate area (Darlington) is more than double what my residency paid & this is backed up by bookings I've had from customers who've been guests there. So, would I be happy to get that round here? Have a guess. At the same time, I know of a guy who goes out for £80 for a 5 hour wedding reception. He's not awful, has a reasonable PA (15" dB Opera actives) and seems to have a good reputation. There's all sorts for all sorts here.

[ppentertainments]

I’d say if someone can’t find the money in large area which includes 4 major cities then they couldn’t anywhere - so for them it’s probably very true they can’t get that around here....wherever they go.
Very bold statement I have to say, considering nearly every DJ in the area I am talking about that charges good money, travels outside these cities and to the outskirts of the area and beyond.

As I say it doesn't really effect anyones business, you just need to adapt to your surroundings.

- - - Updated - - -



It's a bonus and a novelty when I only travel thirty each way, I can tell you.
Or 'walking distance' as it is often classed as lol

[funkymook]

Very bold statement I have to say, considering nearly every DJ in the area I am talking about that charges good money, travels outside these cities and to the outskirts of the area and beyond.


Glad to hear decent DJ’s in your area are finding well paid work, even if it isn’t quite within walking distance.

[ppentertainments]

Glad to hear decent DJ’s in your area are finding well paid work, even if it isn’t quite within walking distance.

Anyone can find good well paid work I believe, some just have to travel further and often need more efforts.

[funkymook]

Anyone can find good well paid work I believe, some just have to travel further and often need more efforts.

That’s what I said earlier :)



I’d say 60 miles was within most mobile DJ’s area.

No one says it’s ‘easy’ to get higher fees in any area, just that it’s possible (perhaps they should include ‘with a bit of common sense and effort).

[Corabar Steve]

£80 ?
In 1976 I was earning £2 a night as a trainee DJ/roadie.
Of course it was done for the fun of it and the pulling power it gave me.
Some nights we had up to 4 DJ's so there wasn't much jiggle room for wages.

You could get 6 gallons of petrol in those days for £2.
Showing my age !

<br>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgjLJSuGPt8

:sj:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Funny you should post that particular clip Steve as I had a 60th birthday booking before Christmas where the birthday boy wanted me to overdub the audio on that to suit him. It actually worked out really well but my yorkshire accent wasn't that great.

[Vectis]

but my yorkshire accent wasn't that great.

Weren't that great, lad :o

[Shakermaker Promotions]

:o

[mrrawuk]

I'm down the road from you in Zooport. (Newport.) I'd like to think of my DJ service price point as "middle-of-the-market." Certainly and typically well above the £150 range you mention.

Agree with everything that has been said before. Only thing I'd add is to find yourself a niche and/or your "USP" = Unique Selling Proposition. That is, what is different about YOU and YOUR service to everyone else.

Just as the bottom feeders are all scrabbling and competing for £80, something I've observed about some the "top of the game" DJ/Wedding Service here in S. Wales is that the ALL seem to offer "everything"... LOVE letters, LED floors, uplighting, monograms blah blah.

Not that theres anything wrong with this: they make good money and are VERY good at their marketing BUT IMHO are so identikit that even for clients with money, it fall to price and/or personality. The rivalry between them is palpable at times.

You're going up against some big-hitters if you take that route, IMHO.

Rather, I'd suggest you initially at least focus on your USP.
You mention your club experience: why not capitalise on that and market "nightclub DJ experience" events and target the dance-generation, 21st etc? I see lots of posts of bridal forums who don't want a "typical" (read generalist) DJ for their wedding/event.

I know a DJ in Swansea that has done this very well and sells trance weddings, garage weddings, RnB weddings etc with great success.

Just some ideas....

Funny you should say that mate. I was more known for 90's R'n'B (91-2007) and i am going to see if i can specialise in the R'n'B/Garage and Dance kind of gigs as I have played at quite a few and the equipment has been already provided. Despite specialising i would still like to go regular bookings . Those who's events i have done did pay above average for what i thought a mobile event would be £350 etc.

Lots of great posts here and info given guys so fair play to you all.