A Mad Day

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

No joke and I'm not bragging (well, ok maybe just a little bit)... My phone hasn't stopped ringing today. I don't know why today has been chosen as 'Book a DJ Day' but blimey.

Every one of my calls today has resulted in a confirmed booking too.

3 Weddings for 2008 (one of them a last minute job in December midweek)
1 Prom Night for 2008
2 Birthday Parties for March 2008

Best one of them all was a call I had about 2 hours ago. A big christmas ball next week for a university. They want an Indie / Alternative DJ for (wait for it)...1 hour (10pm - 11pm) and all of the equipment is there already and they want to pay me £200.

Now, for the footie!

[Corabar Entertainment]

Wouldn't it be nice if all days were like that? :D

[Pierre Le Sound]

Wouldn't it be nice if all days were like that? :D

Except for the footie.:zip:

[Corabar Steve]

I was thinking that P

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Yeah, it would be.
RE: The footie, we ALWAYS let ourselves down and now we have to reply on other teams. The BBC were making excuses for the pitch before the game had even started.

Anyway, back on topic, yep, it's been a mad day! (lol)

[mikeee]

"Best one of them all was a call I had about 2 hours ago. A big christmas ball next week for a university. They want an Indie / Alternative DJ for (wait for it)...1 hour (10pm - 11pm) and all of the equipment is there already and they want to pay me £200."

Great, what are you doing for the rest of the evening to make your money up?????

[Corabar Entertainment]

I'm getting a little fed up with people coming on here an belittling other members for what they are getting paid: it's hardly supportive or helpful, is it? :mad:

[PropellerHeadCase]

To be fair, he wasn't belittling the money - £200 for an hour's work is, if anything, a little excessive, and thus some of us may be a wee bit jealous, and stuff :D

[mikeee]

No, not belittling, just stating a fact. If the client is willing to pay £200 for an hour, how much would they pay for the evening??, also, if you are only doing an hour, what about a job before hand and after??? I could say more, but.................I won't.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Right folks, I didn't see these replies until now so here you go. As I said, it's a walk in job so I can turn up just before I start, no setting up etc and then as soon as I have finished, that's it...I'm on my way.
No hanging around all night or anything like that.

It's on a tuesday night (a night I usually play darts) so £200.00 will do just fine.

Mikee if you want to say more...then why not say it? I have hopefully answered your questions in this post so there you go. The floor is yours.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

No, not belittling, just stating a fact. If the client is willing to pay £200 for an hour, how much would they pay for the evening??, also, if you are only doing an hour, what about a job before hand and after??? I could say more, but.................I won't.

The trouble is Mike, it's all talk from you.

Have you been busy this year?

[mikeee]

You didn't mention it was a Tuesday.
What I was trying to get to, because the kit is there, are you working before and or after to maximise the evening financially. :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:

"The trouble is Mike, it's all talk from you."
Talk is good, but only the bits you are allowed to hear, so don't you worry too much.:jumping:


"Have you been busy this year?"
Not as busy as other years, but hey, thats life. :cry:
It has given me time to concentrate on two other projects, and a third one since the BPM show. :D :D :D :zip:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The point I was making Mike, was that it's OK to keep saying how much people should be charging and earning if you are getting lots of work for those figures.

I could say "I charge £1000 for a standard 4 hour gig" and yet not be working at all.

[sandysounds]

also the area you operate in is crucial....as I've found out. I started my DJ life in Cornwall where 175 to 200 is considered a good fee....but up here its more a case of if they are not paying 300 or above they thinking they're getting a cowboy. I personally don't think anyone should get judged on their fee.....but judged on their feedback and testimonials from jobs!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Mikee, to be honest, it shouldn't really matter what day it is as it's only an hours work and I'm getting paid well for it. Saying that though, IF it was on a friday or saturday then I may have turned it down as it would mean that I wouldn't be able to do anything before or after.

You are around my neck of the woods so you know what people are willing to pay in the area for someone that is good at what they do.

It's a tuesday night as I said, it's not a problem missing the darts and I must admit that when I first read your reply, I was pretty narked off to be honest. I am in my second year of business and things are going up and up all the time. It's a shame you aren't as busy as you have been but that still doesn't mean that you can try and diss what I am doing.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

also the area you operate in is crucial....as I've found out.

I disagree. It's the market you operate in that's important.

If you work in pubs, village halls and working men's clubs, then you are less likely to get a higher fee than if you were working in a 4 star Hotel.

[sandysounds]

I disagree. It's the market you operate in that's important.

If you work in pubs, village halls and working men's clubs, then you are less likely to get a higher fee than if you were working in a 4 star Hotel.

location influences any business. More affluent areas will attract higher fees. In the case of Cornwall, which relies heavily on the tourist season which lasted for about one week this year, there is a massive amount of undercutting....irrelevant of the market sector that you are targetting. The large hotels down there have really felt the pinch this year.... so are looking for the cheapest entertainment deals they can find.....and I'm talking about the high class venues here.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

location influences any business. More affluent areas will attract higher fees. In the case of Cornwall, which relies heavily on the tourist season which lasted for about one week this year, there is a massive amount of undercutting....irrelevant of the market sector that you are targetting. The large hotels down there have really felt the pinch this year.... so are looking for the cheapest entertainment deals they can find.....and I'm talking about the high class venues here.

But what are you basing your facts on? You can't possibly generalise and say that all the Hotels are looking for the cheapest deals they can get.

I'm not just talking about one place - I'm talking about the business on the whole. The market sector you are targetting is not irrelevant. That is a very blinkered view of one area. Have you worked in every Hotel in Devon? Do you know what all the other DJs are charging?

How can you generalise and say that more affluent areas will attract higher fees? I live in a fairly affluent part of the country, but there are still DJs going out for a third of what I charge. Does it worry me? No, because they don't work in the same market as me.

[sandysounds]

But what are you basing your facts on? You can't possibly generalise and say that all the Hotels are looking for the cheapest deals they can get.

I'm not just talking about one place - I'm talking about the business on the whole. The market sector you are targetting is not irrelevant. That is a very blinkered view of one area. Have you worked in every Hotel in Devon? Do you know what all the other DJs are charging?

How can you generalise and say that more affluent areas will attract higher fees? I live in a fairly affluent part of the country, but there are still DJs going out for a third of what I charge. Does it worry me? No, because they don't work in the same market as me.

I was talking in general and basing my assumptions on my own experiences in Cornwall and the many DJs I work with down there. None of us work pubs or village halls! And as for Devon......never done a hotel there....but I am doing a private party there in two weeks time (my best paid gig ever!) Devon isn't deepest Cornwall!

I wasn't saying that the market sector was irrelevant, but undercutting was occurring in all areas of the market.

In summary, your targetted market area does affect your fee, but so does location!

[Have a disco]

I totally agree with sandy upon the above comments. Living in Haverhill is a very cheap paying clientel, Hence most of my work is in the affluent areas around it. I am purposely charging dearer for a better type of clientel and the word of mouth is working slowly but surely

PS go shakermaker go £200 for an hours work is much better than nothing

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I was talking in general and basing my assumptions on my own experiences in Cornwall

I meant Cornwall, not Devon! :o

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I was talking in general and basing my assumptions on my own experiences in Cornwall and the many DJs I work with down there.

OK, fair enough, but that might be a very small section of people and a small area. How long have you been working in that area to base your assumptions on?

[mikeee]

Mikee, to be honest, it shouldn't really matter what day it is as it's only an hours work and I'm getting paid well for it. Saying that though, IF it was on a friday or saturday then I may have turned it down as it would mean that I wouldn't be able to do anything before or after.

You are around my neck of the woods so you know what people are willing to pay in the area for someone that is good at what they do.

It's a tuesday night as I said, it's not a problem missing the darts and I must admit that when I first read your reply, I was pretty narked off to be honest. I am in my second year of business and things are going up and up all the time. It's a shame you aren't as busy as you have been but that still doesn't mean that you can try and diss what I am doing.


Don't get narked, and I'm not trying to diss what your doing either. OK, you didn't say Tuesday in the first post, but as you said, the day of the week makes no difference. You still could do another job, a childrens party 6 to 9, or similar, hence the comment about the rest of the evening.

Yes we are quite close and although I don't work in the center of Basingstoke (never found the way in). The majority of my work is M4 Reading to Newbury and south from there. Nor have I made any secret of what I charge. The agency charges out at £325 to £395 based on 4 hrs for a "standard" show, bigger costs more. My personnel charges have been £450.00 upwards and after doing a wedding fayre in October (the first one for nearly 10 years)and several conversations with people that I know at BPM, my fees from next year will be around £595.00 (subject to the economy). The reason for being a bit quite is, that I took my eye off the ball for a little while and forgot a prime rule about the way people book, so you have DJ "A" for £200.00, DJ "B" for £350.00 and DJ "C" for £500.00. "A" and "C" will always have enough work whereas "B" will complain that there isn't enough work, or people don't book him because he's too expensive. The rule is, people in general don't book "middle of the road". If they are price hunters "A" will get loads of work, if they are looking for "Nice", "Reliable" and not "In Your Face" then "C" will have plenty of work, which then brings in to play the rule "Less is More", less equipement and more money. I've just checked a couple of other sites within my catchment area, and their start price for a standard show is £600.00. So area doesn't mean a thing, it whose ringing you from that area.

Um, hope you kept up with that.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Well, I'd like to say a few things to that post of yours Mikee.
Firstly, you mention DJ A and DJ C getting the most work etc... I think that's wrong (your opinion though). If your assumptions regarding the price DJ B charges is to be believed, then how am I so busy as I fall into your category for DJ B. I have had 2 saturdays off this year and they were through choice, the work has always been there.

Secondly, you say (and I quote) "If they are price hunters "A" will get loads of work, if they are looking for "Nice", "Reliable" and not "In Your Face" then "C" will have plenty of work". That is such a stupid comment to make in my opinion.
Are you saying that you are the only one that is reliable? Are you saying that because people pay the extra few quid on you that it's because they are guaranteed that they are getting someone reliable? How silly is that!!!!?
Personally speaking, I am very reliable and I have never EVER let anyone down. I get tons of work mate, sometimes more than I can handle and it's all down to my services being at a great price plus the fact that I am good at what I do (so I'm told) and I go out of my way to make sure that anyone that books me, whether it's a 2 hour kids party or a 5 hour wedding etc, gets exactly what they want at their function.

You mention the kids parties etc and why could I not do a kids party before I do another function....simple, I do not advertise as doing kids parties as I am busy enough.

I get the impression with you Mikee that you are old skool. At 53 years of age I expect you have a fair amount of experience and have moved with the times. (I would ditch the dodgy 'Butlins' style avatar if I were you though) and you seem to come across as if you are 'the one' when it comes to mobile DJing. Now, that may well be wrong and apologies but that's how you have come across to me in all honesty. You may well think that I or people like me are the new kids on the block when it comes to mobile DJing but think again. I doubt for one minute that you would think I am a threat to you as you seem to be 'right up there above everyone else'.

My area (yes, Basingstoke which you seemed to mock in your reply) is split really. There are parts of the town where people will phone up and not care about the price, if they phone me it's generally because they want ME to do their function and they are pretty surprised when they hear my price. Then there are the people that will turn their noses up at anything over £50.00!! I guess it's the same in most areas if people are honest.

Anyway, this doesn't need to get into a dissing match. I thought it was quite an interesting topic seeing as I am still a relatively new business that has gone from strength to strength and have posted progress during the year but it seems that yet again, one of my topics ends up going off topic because someone who thinks they are better than me for whatever reason (and that's how it looks), decides to give their 'advice'.

Oh well.

[mikeee]

I'm not knocking Basingstoke, I've been there three times got lost on the roundabouts and gave up trying to find the shops - LOL.

And I'm certainly not knocking you, I don't know what you normally charge, so I can't say if you are a "A", "B" or "C"

The "Rules" are what were passed on to me by my peers back in the 70's, and they are everybit as relevant today as they were then.

I suggested a childrens party because it's short and the time slots fit, no other reason.

You don't like my piccy!!! Old Skool!!! No I don't play the birdy song. LOL
In all honesty the piccy has done me some good over the last couple of years with the "nice" weddings and functions and surprisingly enough, a 40th at Brighton Hill Community Center and a Wedding at Chinham Community Center.

Me, "The One", never, there are thousands like me out there, actually above me, that make me look as if I'm in the "A" or "B" section. All I do is channel some information, that I have learned, and still learning, on to everyone else, no more and no less.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Yes, but see this, your initial reply on the topic gives the impression that you do think you are above us all but as I said earlier, I apologise if I have got the wrong impression.
I can tell you straight that I am in your 'B' category but that doesn't really matter to me. Your comments about Basingstoke are justified as it is a nightmare sometimes but your 2 examples of where you have played don't really do the place justice. Your 40th was in an area that I mentioned in my "moan about anything over £50" comment and the wedding in Chineham was in an area at the opposite scale. What you were paid to do those is none of my business but knowing the areas (unfortunately) well, they aren't the best venues by far.

At the end of the day, all areas...no matter whether they are supposedly up market or down market, depends on what people are willing to pay for their entertainment. There are plenty that I have turned down because they won't pay what I know I am worth. I didn't pay out loads of money for decent equipment just to go down on my prices and those people are happy (I guess) to get someone in cheap (and saying that, I have seen plenty of 'cheap' DJ's who do just as good a job so I am not dissing them).

When I say "What I am worth", I mean this...Someone (a fellow DJ doing exactly the same as me) said to me a while back about my prices. I was getting multiple work because I was undercharging myself. He advised me to put up my prices because I was worth more and said that people would pay it to have me DJ at their function. He was spot on!! I was very nervous at first about doing it but since then (about 6 months ago), every single one of the functions that I have done has been at the higher price.

I'm not sure I would be in the same position if I were to be in the C Category that you mentioned and I was charging £500+ but you never know do you.

[Corabar Steve]

The majority of my work is M4 Reading to Newbury and south from there. Welcome Break, Road Chef or Moto? :sj:

[mikeee]

Yes, but see this, your initial reply on the topic gives the impression that you do think you are above us all but as I said earlier, I apologise if I have got the wrong impression.

Ah, the beauty of the typed word

I can tell you straight that I am in your 'B' category but that doesn't really matter to me.

How do you know that you are in "B"?? Four / Five years ago Basingstoke was £80 (A) £175 (B) and £295 (C), I would hope that it has changed a bit in that time.

Your comments about Basingstoke are justified as it is a nightmare sometimes but your 2 examples of where you have played don't really do the place justice.

:D :D :D

Your 40th was in an area that I mentioned in my "moan about anything over £50" comment and the wedding in Chineham was in an area at the opposite scale. What you were paid to do those is none of my business but knowing the areas (unfortunately) well, they aren't the best venues by far.

Never judge a book buy it's cover - Both these bookings were partially a result of my piccy. The 40th at Brighton Hill paid £295.00, 8.00 to 11.30, and I was worried when I saw the amount of broken glass, but it was a good night. The wedding in Chineham - nice stage, bit of an echo, good evening, paid £350.00. Both of these bookings were around 2003. As I said, never judge a book......


At the end of the day, all areas...no matter whether they are supposedly up market or down market, depends on what people are willing to pay for their entertainment. There are plenty that I have turned down because they won't pay what I know I am worth.

Precisely.

I didn't pay out loads of money for decent equipment just to go down on my prices and those people are happy (I guess) to get someone in cheap (and saying that, I have seen plenty of 'cheap' DJ's who do just as good a job so I am not dissing them).

Why should you, as long as the kit is Safe and Reliable. One of the best DJ's in the South East had a slab of ply with two SP 25 mkII, and his lighting was a 30" x 30" peice of ply with bi-metalic strip bulb holders.
His name was Winston Lee and, if I remember correctly, he came from Essex, and ended up as head of promotions / A&R for RCA and was the person behind th highly successful "Disco Direction". At the other end of the scale there was Phil Jay (ex Radio City and Radio One), who had custom built "Orange" equipment (Not the shop). So I refer you to my earlier answer, Never Judge A .......


When I say "What I am worth", I mean this...Someone (a fellow DJ doing exactly the same as me) said to me a while back about my prices. I was getting multiple work because I was undercharging myself. He advised me to put up my prices because I was worth more and said that people would pay it to have me DJ at their function. He was spot on!! I was very nervous at first about doing it but since then (about 6 months ago), every single one of the functions that I have done has been at the higher price.

Good, Good, Good, you don't charge "the rate for an area", you charge what people think you are worth, what people will pay to have you there to entertain them. This is a major step in breaking the myth that you can only get XXX in this area. Trust me, you are heading in the right direction.

I'm not sure I would be in the same position if I were to be in the C Category that you mentioned and I was charging £500+ but you never know do you.

Why Not???? What is "C" for your area??? And another good rule is, ignore everyone else in your field, consentrate on your own show and making it "wantable", the money will follow. Every couple of years, just check what the others are charging, just to see were you are, you may find that you are in "C" without realising it.

[mikeee]

Welcome Break, Road Chef or Moto? :sj:

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I've starred at many motorway services
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I do, do the staff party for the Reading one :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

"Never judge a book buy it's cover - Both these bookings were partially a result of my piccy. The 40th at Brighton Hill paid £295.00, 8.00 to 11.30, and I was worried when I saw the amount of broken glass, but it was a good night. The wedding in Chineham - nice stage, bit of an echo, good evening, paid £350.00. Both of these bookings were around 2003. As I said, never judge a book......"

Firstly, I NEVER judge a book by it's cover. My comment regarding your avatar was simply in jest and if you get plenty of work using that picture as your pulling point then that's fair play to you. From a personal point of view, and again in jest, it's not really my cup of tea and if I were looking for a DJ for say a 21st birthday (example) then it would put me off. Saying that...I don't have any pictures of me up simply because SOME people DO judge you straight away without even knowing you. I have a shaven head and 19 tattoos aswell as a couple of piercings (I took all of the others out), so I don't want to put myself underfire straight away and not get a call or email enquiry. As it happens, clients NEVER see any of that and wouldn't know any different as I am always smart in appearence.

I'm not in the business of giving out my prices over the internet but what I will say is that what I charge, my clients are happy with and more importantly, I am comfortable with what I get paid. Yes, things may well change in the future but who knows?

[mikeee]

I like a little jest. Don't worry, I've had the "P" taken out of me so much in the last 5 / 6 years, I've been miss quoted, miss read, and as for the rumours, well I'm quite used to it. Tattoo's, Piercing's, so, there is something far more important, can you afford to buy me a beer!!!

The price's is an interesting point of view, do you, don't you. As such, we are businesses so pricing should be transparent and readerly available for any one, well you never walk into a supermarket and not see the products priced, and other services some do, some don't and others give a starting price. I've never made a secret of my pricing, and I don't see why it should be a secret, but it does vary to client requirements. Another interesting thought is, if everyone made their prices public you would probably notice after a year or two everybody's pricing would start to balance out, umm, just a random thought. Anyway, time to do some work.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

But the thing with advertising your prices is that some people will be turned off straight away if they see a figure there staring them in the face. Some people have never booked a Disco before and haven't got a clue about prices. If they have called someone before and (for example) have had a quote for say £200.00 and then looked at prices on a website that read £300 then despite quality, experience etc...they think that they are getting a really good deal because they have saved £100 in their minds.

I am confident that even though someone calling me may have had a slightly cheaper quotation (sometimes more expensive quote), I can turn the enquiry into a booking because of my customer service skills. I also add in that I will go and see them in person to go through their function, no matter what it is, in detail too so that they get exactly what they want. I had a call in particular this week. I quoted a price to a customer that was £25.00 more than a company I know well which is run by a friend. I wasn't pushy or anything but I used my skills. When they called back later in the day, I asked them why they chose to go with me and they said that it was because I was friendly, helpful and also that I was willing to go and see them to go through things. The fact that they called me and didn't know my prices in advance BUT were obviously impressed with the way I came across, tells me that I am doing the right thing. The psychological thing of the price being there in bold may have initially put them off - who knows?

Sorry to ramble on. Like I said, I haven't been in 'business' for 2 years yet and I am still learning as I go along. Yes, I have 20 years experience in DJing but not running a business and I would like to think that I am on the right lines already. The fact that I have loads of work tells me that I am getting there.

[mysteriesman]

OK, fair enough, but that might be a very small section of people and a small area. How long have you been working in that area to base your assumptions on?

Just a point, having read through the threads on here, i have worked in the cornwall area professionally for 8 years and have noticed a marked downturn in the entire entertainments industry over the last 3 years with new legislations regarding licencing and smoking bans and a huge reduction in the number of tourists, this has left my particular county with less people going out and spending less on entertainment, if an area is economically depressed then the fees that djs can expect are bound to be less, it doesnt matter if your equipment is gold plated and you are a clone of the worlds greatest dj, if the money in the local economy is not there you wont command a high fee. Area is everything in this case, and i have worked in nearly every hotel in cornwall over the years

[rob1963]

But the thing with advertising your prices is that some people will be turned off straight away if they see a figure there staring them in the face.

While that might be true, there are also some people who will be turned off straight away if there is NO price shown.....I know I would.

This is because they assume that you don't advertise your prices because you are expensive & don't want to put people off by showing your prices.

I feel that if you don't show your prices, or at least "guide" prices, then you are not providing all the information that potential clients need to know before deciding whether to book you, as knowing the price is crucial before deciding whether to buy a product or service.

Advertising your prices also saves you having to waste your time on calls which begin "How much is your cheapest disco mate?"

[Vectis]

if the money in the local economy is not there you wont command a high fee

Absolutely agree. Where I live the average income is the second lowest in the whole country. However, we also have a LOT of rich retired folks (who don't show in the 'income' stats) and in certain parts a LOT of second homes with folks who spend not much time here, but when they do, they're flush. The island's also a popular place for 'get-away-from-it-all' weddings. Hence why I have packages to suit all sectors of the local market and why my pricing is structured seasonally.


While that might be true, there are also some people who will be turned off straight away if there is NO price shown.....I know I would.

100% agree. I hate looking at websites, menus, shop windows with no prices. I'm no stinge; I'll pay for quality. But I like to know if I'm in the right league BEFORE I pick up the phone.


Advertising your prices also saves you having to waste your time on calls which begin "How much is your cheapest disco mate?"

Not entirely as a lot of my enquiries are still recommendations and people don't realise I have a website. But it's heading that way - more and more first contacts are coming via the web as time goes by.

[TONYTIGER]

also the area you operate in is crucial....as I've found out. I started my DJ life in Cornwall where 175 to 200 is considered a good fee....but up here its more a case of if they are not paying 300 or above they thinking they're getting a cowboy. I personally don't think anyone should get judged on their fee.....but judged on their feedback and testimonials from jobs!

How right you are, the west country has always been bad for money, there are some great mobiles down here that struggle to get £ 150 for a gig ,but they are much better than outfits that charge double its down to location not quality.

[TONYTIGER]

OK, fair enough, but that might be a very small section of people and a small area. How long have you been working in that area to base your assumptions on?

Let me butt in i have been working the area for 40 years and it is a fact that on a whole the money is below average for a mobile in the West Country.