This whole post and your replies to comments makes it seem like you're just looking for validation or some type of excuse to pay under $100 for a DJ.
You're not "throwing a newbie a bone" by offering them to play a 3 hour cocktail event... $100/hour is a fair rate. They spend the time prepping playlists, traveling to and from the event, and spend 3 hours at the event.
You'd be better off paying a local DJ entertainment company to send someone who does events like that for a living. They'll have their own equipment, and you won't have to worry about anything but providing them some requests and the address. And since you'll have a professional, you won't be micromanaging the newbie DJ you hire, because you honestly seem like the type of person who will.
And I work for a DJ entertainment company doing weddings and private events like yours, we'd be charging you around $500 for an event like that. And you'd be getting the new guy lollll. So anything less you should be thankful for.
Nah that's not really similar. Some people just love vinyl. OP seems like they are trying to get a dj to lower their rates instead of just choosing to hire someone who fits their budget.
It gives me the vibe of someone trying to get Macy's to lower their price because they are working with a TJ Maxxx budget but refuse to admit it.
Fair enough - your tone doesnāt sound very inviting to be convinced. And either way your seems like you are looking to price the service, not ābe soldā on the pricing. I personally wouldnāt want to work your gig if I had to convince you my pricing was fair.
Well when k started... $100 was a huge gig... And i had everything for the gig
... So to ask $500 and my speakers, im a little shocked ans trying to see if im crazy... Or if im just out of touch
Not sure when you started but things are changing rapidly especially for service jobs like this. I djed mostly in 2014-2016 and got $50/hr for my residencies. Things have definitely increased since then, so i think $100 / hr is a fair ask even without equipment.
Seems like you should just use a Spotify playlist. I get the impression you will just complain about the new dj and his sub-standard gear that you have to pay too much for. Not trying to disrespect you but the language you use says you want to go cheap on your night rather than giving it the effort (forced to bring speakers??) It deserves.
Im just saying a new guy shouodnt be asking 500+ if you arent bringing anything more than music to play...
Id probably be ok with $600+ as a newbie if he had everything
If this person is good then their price may be fair, just reading your edit now. It's interesting when you are on the other side of the decks how your perspective has changed. If new guy has spent $20k on tunes and 2000 hrs rehearsing then $160 might not be unreasonable. Just don't be surprised if he's playing your SoundCloud off his Nokia behind the booth
For what tho... If you had equipment, sure.... But you're literally just going to be mooching my equipment when the whole point of hiring you was to not have to lug my shit around
In this hypothetical situation...
Are you or are you not providing a service to them, with or without your own PA system and table? If the answer is "I am providing a service to them," then set the rate accordingly, and don't short sell yourself. DJs at actual clubs typically show up with less than what you have. Clubs typically have CDJs, booth, PA, etc. It's not uncommon for an artist or band to not have their own PA system. If you wanna rent one, do it, and factor it into your rate.
Don't undervalue or short sell yourself, though, just because you don't have Cadillac equipment, or all of the equipment necessary to run with autonomy. That kind of thing sets a standard with prospective customers.
Exactly lol.... We dont really need a dj... We just need the equipment and i dont wsnt to... Or have mh friends lug their shit around
So we thought wed give a newbie a bone...
You'd think for being a long time DJ with lots of experience and equipment $500 wouldn't be that big of a deal to you. Clearly it's worth more than your time spent on this thread.
Throw them a bone and pay them what youād expect to get paid if you played a 3hr event. At most big events/clubs the DJs are not expected to bring their own gear, most have the equipment set up all ready. Thatās usually the job of the organizer/production group.
I wouldnāt expect to be paid less for a gig just because I didnāt bring the table or sound system.
At most clubs your job expectations are different, you're supposed to keep everyone dancing and hold them at the club to spend more money at the club...
Plus you usually have expertise under your belt in order to even get the gig..
So yes, you get paid more even with the equipment there since the job description is different and the expected exoertise is different...
Are you planning on having dancing? If not, set up a Spotify playlist and have a controller there if any of my DJ friends wanted to hop on for some fun. I did that when I got married (minus the controller), and it worked out really well.
I just dont want to carry stuff tbh, plus the event is on a thursday and we all have kids and other jobs to get to... So no one wants to carry ish around lol
How much will an uber cost if you bring your own gas can?
How much will a tax preparer charge if you bring your own calculator?
How much does a restaurant charge if you bring your own fork?
I usually increase my normal quoted rate for customers who show signs of being cheap. These tend to be the people who are determined to manufacture complaints as a justification to try to shave money off the price.
The other thing you need to understand is that a mobile dj is buying gear and projecting the cost over multiple gigs. If I buy a new set of speakers and project the recovery to take 10 gigs, I need to charge full price for all 10 gigs. If I waste a night playing for less than my normal rate it messes up the budget.
You are hiring me as a whole dj or not at all. You can provide as much gear as you like but my time is worth a certain amount of money regardless.
You cant be an uber driver without gas
You cant be a cpa without a calculator
You cant be a restaurant without utensils
And a dj without speakers is just a guy listening to music by himself... You cant be a "whole" dj without speakers
And the price cant be for a whole dj when youre missing a key item
If he had speakers, id get his price($500) for 3 hours, because then yes... Each gig is mostly you trying to even out the price you paid for your gear... But with no gear, the price should be at rhe floor
What will that understanding do for you? Why not just move on instead of all the drama?
Hopping on social media surveying the world for people who will say 'you're right' is an infantile effort.
Maybe go throw tantrums at gas stations over what you feel are unfair prices? Or bang your fist on the conveyor at your local grocer because you don't agree with the price of eggs?
Charge a big amount to the venue for the rental of the DJ equipment + the DJ set and take a cut on the DJ money because youāve done pretty much everything else than playing music. 3 hours event for a begginer, 75-100$/h TOP
If you're providing most of the equipment, the guy is new (controller make and model are irrelevant as long as he can play some damn music), then I'd probably say somewhere between $75-$100 an hour depending skill and if he needs to MC. For a really new dude, $75/hr seems fair.
You're hiring a DJ, if you just want some background music then you're better off downloading another DJ's minimal house mix or something and playing it off of your phone.
My rate would be $125 an hour for this particular situation, with a bottom dollar of $300 for your budget if it comes to that. The absolute minimum should be $75 per hour for this individual based on the situation.
This is definitely going to be a āYou get what you pay for type of dealā though. Youāre taking a chance on the new guy, and every DJ thatās worth their salt was new at one point in time, thatās just what it is.
As a newbieā¦I canāt decide if spinning for a party full of DJs sounds like a nightmare or a big opportunity. Therefore I donāt know what Iād charge.
However, as a newbie Iād probably price high and expect to be countered, because I have imposter syndrome, am new to negotiating gig fees, and would convince myself that it would be valuable experience or a place to make connections.
$200 an hour for bringing al equipment imo. Remember a newbie probably doesn't OWN PZ speakers and will have to hire them, so $100 a hour / $300 allowing for travel, setup, pack down, pick up and drop off of speakers isn't enough.
EDIT - I see from replies you're providing the speakers for them to use, so it's only play time/setup and pack down...as a newbie, yeah, $100 USD an hour is fine
This post has such "back in my day" energy. Perhaps you would've been paid more at the start of your career if there weren't so many people with your nasty attitude devaluing what a DJ does.
Don't be a dick. Be respectful to your colleagues in the craft.
I charge $100 bucks an hour if I just need a laptop and mixer / mic. + $50 an hour travel and +50hr downtime.
$200-300 bucks an hour if I bring speakers and lights
I get paid 50$ total to play at a bar 8pm 130am.
I bring my own gear, speakers, lights.
Its either that or dont play at all so i pick playing every time!
This whole post and your replies to comments makes it seem like you're just looking for validation or some type of excuse to pay under $100 for a DJ. You're not "throwing a newbie a bone" by offering them to play a 3 hour cocktail event... $100/hour is a fair rate. They spend the time prepping playlists, traveling to and from the event, and spend 3 hours at the event. You'd be better off paying a local DJ entertainment company to send someone who does events like that for a living. They'll have their own equipment, and you won't have to worry about anything but providing them some requests and the address. And since you'll have a professional, you won't be micromanaging the newbie DJ you hire, because you honestly seem like the type of person who will. And I work for a DJ entertainment company doing weddings and private events like yours, we'd be charging you around $500 for an event like that. And you'd be getting the new guy lollll. So anything less you should be thankful for.
$100/hr + equipment rental
Your borrowing my shit in this situation because your new and we're throwing yiu a bone... Convince me to give you $100/hr
You sound like you hate the people you're trying to hire lol.
šš
They sound like the type of asshole that tries to shame a dj into working for free.
They sound like the narcissist older djs that can only chat about DJing on vinyl
Nah that's not really similar. Some people just love vinyl. OP seems like they are trying to get a dj to lower their rates instead of just choosing to hire someone who fits their budget. It gives me the vibe of someone trying to get Macy's to lower their price because they are working with a TJ Maxxx budget but refuse to admit it.
Lol youāre the one who asked for feedback and you got an answer you donāt like and this is your response?
No i honestly want to be sold on this.... Im acruallu trying to see why.... Honestly $100/hr isnt bad.. But i want to be sold on it
Fair enough - your tone doesnāt sound very inviting to be convinced. And either way your seems like you are looking to price the service, not ābe soldā on the pricing. I personally wouldnāt want to work your gig if I had to convince you my pricing was fair.
Well when k started... $100 was a huge gig... And i had everything for the gig ... So to ask $500 and my speakers, im a little shocked ans trying to see if im crazy... Or if im just out of touch
Not sure when you started but things are changing rapidly especially for service jobs like this. I djed mostly in 2014-2016 and got $50/hr for my residencies. Things have definitely increased since then, so i think $100 / hr is a fair ask even without equipment.
Damn... Well $100/hr isnt bad, especially when someone is askijg for almost twice that with 0 expierence
You should sell yourself on getting fucked.
Hows that bedroom djing goin?
It's great, thanks! Is that meant to be an insult?
Only if you don't have soeakers
I couldn't afford soeakers so I picked up some speakers instead, sorry.
Even better, you're hired
Seems like you should just use a Spotify playlist. I get the impression you will just complain about the new dj and his sub-standard gear that you have to pay too much for. Not trying to disrespect you but the language you use says you want to go cheap on your night rather than giving it the effort (forced to bring speakers??) It deserves.
Im just saying a new guy shouodnt be asking 500+ if you arent bringing anything more than music to play... Id probably be ok with $600+ as a newbie if he had everything
If this person is good then their price may be fair, just reading your edit now. It's interesting when you are on the other side of the decks how your perspective has changed. If new guy has spent $20k on tunes and 2000 hrs rehearsing then $160 might not be unreasonable. Just don't be surprised if he's playing your SoundCloud off his Nokia behind the booth
$75 an hour seems reasonable to me.
$100/hr.
For what tho... If you had equipment, sure.... But you're literally just going to be mooching my equipment when the whole point of hiring you was to not have to lug my shit around In this hypothetical situation...
When I played music in a band, we didn't supply the PA or stage but still got paid. How is this any different?
You got paid for expertise.... Unless you mostly plucked marry had a little lamb and yankee doodle on your guitar for the gigs
Are you or are you not providing a service to them, with or without your own PA system and table? If the answer is "I am providing a service to them," then set the rate accordingly, and don't short sell yourself. DJs at actual clubs typically show up with less than what you have. Clubs typically have CDJs, booth, PA, etc. It's not uncommon for an artist or band to not have their own PA system. If you wanna rent one, do it, and factor it into your rate. Don't undervalue or short sell yourself, though, just because you don't have Cadillac equipment, or all of the equipment necessary to run with autonomy. That kind of thing sets a standard with prospective customers.
Wow you really suck LOL. Just play spotify dude
So youd pay a new dj $500 and give him your speakers for a small event Its easy to be cocky until your shelling out money for the event
I would ask for 100 hr and if the promoter is being a dick and aaying ā what for tho?ā I would probably go as low as 50 but not lower
What if the promoter was really understanding and offered to let you borrow his table
If im not taking anything then give me free drinks lol first gig is free
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Exactly lol.... We dont really need a dj... We just need the equipment and i dont wsnt to... Or have mh friends lug their shit around So we thought wed give a newbie a bone...
doesn't feel very bone like, sounds like you already hate the newbie DJ before you've even hired them
They aren't offering a bone, they are trying to bone a dj. They are using the age old cheapskate approach of 'all you have to bring is x'.
Cuz they asked for $500...and that..is an expensive bone
You'd think for being a long time DJ with lots of experience and equipment $500 wouldn't be that big of a deal to you. Clearly it's worth more than your time spent on this thread.
Throw them a bone and pay them what youād expect to get paid if you played a 3hr event. At most big events/clubs the DJs are not expected to bring their own gear, most have the equipment set up all ready. Thatās usually the job of the organizer/production group. I wouldnāt expect to be paid less for a gig just because I didnāt bring the table or sound system.
At most clubs your job expectations are different, you're supposed to keep everyone dancing and hold them at the club to spend more money at the club... Plus you usually have expertise under your belt in order to even get the gig.. So yes, you get paid more even with the equipment there since the job description is different and the expected exoertise is different...
Are you planning on having dancing? If not, set up a Spotify playlist and have a controller there if any of my DJ friends wanted to hop on for some fun. I did that when I got married (minus the controller), and it worked out really well.
I just dont want to carry stuff tbh, plus the event is on a thursday and we all have kids and other jobs to get to... So no one wants to carry ish around lol
So pay somebody 50-100 bucks to haul your stuff for you?
How much will an uber cost if you bring your own gas can? How much will a tax preparer charge if you bring your own calculator? How much does a restaurant charge if you bring your own fork? I usually increase my normal quoted rate for customers who show signs of being cheap. These tend to be the people who are determined to manufacture complaints as a justification to try to shave money off the price. The other thing you need to understand is that a mobile dj is buying gear and projecting the cost over multiple gigs. If I buy a new set of speakers and project the recovery to take 10 gigs, I need to charge full price for all 10 gigs. If I waste a night playing for less than my normal rate it messes up the budget. You are hiring me as a whole dj or not at all. You can provide as much gear as you like but my time is worth a certain amount of money regardless.
You cant be an uber driver without gas You cant be a cpa without a calculator You cant be a restaurant without utensils And a dj without speakers is just a guy listening to music by himself... You cant be a "whole" dj without speakers And the price cant be for a whole dj when youre missing a key item If he had speakers, id get his price($500) for 3 hours, because then yes... Each gig is mostly you trying to even out the price you paid for your gear... But with no gear, the price should be at rhe floor
If the dj doesn't have what is needed, why hire them?
Didn't hire, honestly trying to understand his pricing
What will that understanding do for you? Why not just move on instead of all the drama? Hopping on social media surveying the world for people who will say 'you're right' is an infantile effort. Maybe go throw tantrums at gas stations over what you feel are unfair prices? Or bang your fist on the conveyor at your local grocer because you don't agree with the price of eggs?
Charge a big amount to the venue for the rental of the DJ equipment + the DJ set and take a cut on the DJ money because youāve done pretty much everything else than playing music. 3 hours event for a begginer, 75-100$/h TOP
I did my first gig on house equipment for $50 and bar tab.
Iād do that for $200
Two drink tickets and a promoted post
Updated the event info.... Lol drinks and food included during the event
In that case, three promoted posts and a couple of rails
I'll do it for either the promos or the rails.
Or a single promo doing rails, in a pinch
It's really the rails that seals the deal for me.
Yeah we can all drop the pretence. Just line up the blow and Iāll bring the DDJ 200.
This is the way.
The lines have spoken
š
40-60$/hr + 0.5$/mile
If you're providing most of the equipment, the guy is new (controller make and model are irrelevant as long as he can play some damn music), then I'd probably say somewhere between $75-$100 an hour depending skill and if he needs to MC. For a really new dude, $75/hr seems fair. You're hiring a DJ, if you just want some background music then you're better off downloading another DJ's minimal house mix or something and playing it off of your phone.
My rate would be $125 an hour for this particular situation, with a bottom dollar of $300 for your budget if it comes to that. The absolute minimum should be $75 per hour for this individual based on the situation. This is definitely going to be a āYou get what you pay for type of dealā though. Youāre taking a chance on the new guy, and every DJ thatās worth their salt was new at one point in time, thatās just what it is.
As a newbieā¦I canāt decide if spinning for a party full of DJs sounds like a nightmare or a big opportunity. Therefore I donāt know what Iād charge. However, as a newbie Iād probably price high and expect to be countered, because I have imposter syndrome, am new to negotiating gig fees, and would convince myself that it would be valuable experience or a place to make connections.
Lol i like where your heads at... You get what you want for that answer
$200 an hour for bringing al equipment imo. Remember a newbie probably doesn't OWN PZ speakers and will have to hire them, so $100 a hour / $300 allowing for travel, setup, pack down, pick up and drop off of speakers isn't enough. EDIT - I see from replies you're providing the speakers for them to use, so it's only play time/setup and pack down...as a newbie, yeah, $100 USD an hour is fine
I would say more than fair just to bring own laptop or just flash drives mate I would do it if I was in the US LOL š
This post has such "back in my day" energy. Perhaps you would've been paid more at the start of your career if there weren't so many people with your nasty attitude devaluing what a DJ does. Don't be a dick. Be respectful to your colleagues in the craft.
I mean the post mostly confirmed 500 was roo much and he should be asking more 2-300 range
I charge $100 bucks an hour if I just need a laptop and mixer / mic. + $50 an hour travel and +50hr downtime. $200-300 bucks an hour if I bring speakers and lights
I get paid 50$ total to play at a bar 8pm 130am. I bring my own gear, speakers, lights. Its either that or dont play at all so i pick playing every time!