last night's gig

I did a jr. high school 2-hour party last night in their cafeteria. I cut a heck of a deal for them because my nephew was part of it. Anyway, I know that they were hurting for money because they paid me after the gig $300 in $5.00 bills placed in a sandwich bag. I am going by the school on Monday and giving them $50.00 back that they overpaid me. I only charged them $250 for the 2-hour night. The sponsering teacher was a real sweet lady so she will be suprised when I drop by. It was an easy gig with nothing but rap and I had the night open. Sometime you just need to cut people breaks...thx

I do my son's middle school gigs for free...It's my gift to him. His school has like 0 budget for this....small school..only 50-60 kids attend.

For my son, it makes him a "quasi-celebrity"....All the kids think I'm the coolest (if they only knew).

Last event, the Home and School rep gave me a Christmas card signed by the kids, with $50......I was touched.....bought a nite at the movies for the family.

He's got one more year there....so I gotta figure out what happens then....

I do my son's middle school gigs for free....

My son will be getting his freebies beginning next year when he moves up to middle school...thx

I did a party on Fri evening from 7-9 for a school in Valley Stream grades 1-6 for 350.00. I would have been happy with 250.00 but the gig was sub contracted to me and the price was already set. It really makes me feel great to see these kids have such a great time. I felt bad for shutting down at 9 so I played until the last request was filled. Got out at 9:20. The best part was bringing my 15 year old son with me. Looks like I have a new partner, he was awesome.

Congrats, Eddie. I'm happy to hear. :)

... He's got one more year there....so I gotta figure out what happens then....
Then you follow him to the high school shows. :)

Eddie is right... many schools simply don't have a budget for dances. Admission and concessions help to pay the DJ more often than not.

Congrats, Eddie. I'm happy to hear. :)


Then you follow him to the high school shows. :)

Eddie is right... many schools simply don't have a budget for dances. Admission and concessions help to pay the DJ more often than not.

Fred - Honestly....I probably won't.

I never marketed middle school dance. The only reason I got involved here is that the old service was overcharging as I saw it and the show was pitiful; no lights, poor music. The owner did these and frankly it looked as if this was the last place he wanted to be.

I look at other playlists posted for middle school.....I play virtually no hip=hop at all....that would have to change in a high school setting...just thinkin' though...like John, maybe I'll have my son spin.....

Yeah... I know the feeling. I haven't marketed to school events in some years now.

When my daughter was in middle school, she got me in to do a lot of their dances. It was fun ~ Electric Boogie, The Train etc. Easy gigs. Make a lot of noise. :D

When the students moved on to the high school it was a whole nother thing with DJing. They want lighting and interaction. The high schools shows are better suited for younger DJs. :)

my son still reminds me of the dances i did for his middle school in vilseck, germany...i spun mostly all vinyl and a few casettes back then...he can recite every peice of equipment i brought with me...i allowed him to "mix" several times which made HIM the mac-daddy the next day..we were chatting a couple months ago and he told me those few opportunities to "mix" facilitated a motivation to become a true "mixing" dj...he now subsidizes a blues guitarist income with occational techno dj gigs in west palm area...makes a "daddy dj" proud...

Schools don't have a budget for DJ's because they get a DJ who will do it for free..... I know that I am going to get hit here, but if school would charge a certain amount to get in, then they could pay the DJ a decent wage.

Now the schools that are small, like we have here on Maui it is harder.

Parents pay $10.00 or so for their kids to go to movies, maybe more,,,, so why can't a school charge more than $4.00 to go to the school dance?

If a DJ is doing the dance for free, what are they charging at the door and where is that money going?

Are they putting on the dance so the students will have something fun and positive to do or are they trying to make money for the band uniforms?

And yes I did dances for my daughters school, and I even did her prom,,, but I didn't do them for free. All that is teaching them is that they can work the system to get something for nothing and not that there are responcibilities in life and that in order to survive, people need to work and GET PAID so their parents can buy them things like an iPod.....

There is a lot of truth to all opinions above. We don't discount schools because it's still the same amount of work; the business loan payment won't be less that month, etc. It works for us. Sometimes you have to stick to your guns to see what you really can get. Last weekend we were pretty well paid and got a $300 tip. That was a big school (over 2000 kids). We start the prom season in March with our smaller, close to home schools (enrollment in the 45-60 kids range) and the smallest contract we have out is $1600 for our little system.

That said, I'm all for compassion where it is merited. I am very much in favor of supporting your childrens schools to make their experience better. To each his own.

There is a lot of truth to all opinions above. We don't discount schools because it's still the same amount of work; the business loan payment won't be less that month, etc. It works for us. Sometimes you have to stick to your guns to see what you really can get. Last weekend we were pretty well paid and got a $300 tip. That was a big school (over 2000 kids). We start the prom season in March with our smaller, close to home schools (enrollment in the 45-60 kids range) and the smallest contract we have out is $1600 for our little system.
That said, I'm all for compassion where it is merited. I am very much in favor of supporting your childrens schools to make their experience better. To each his own.


She's so modest when her "little" system puts many of our large systems to shame.

She's so modest when her "little" system puts many of our large systems to shame.

Valerie has a skewed sense of what the word "little" means ;)

Schools don't have a budget for DJ's because they get a DJ who will do it for free..... I know that I am going to get hit here, but if school would charge a certain amount to get in, then they could pay the DJ a decent wage.

Now the schools that are small, like we have here on Maui it is harder.

Parents pay $10.00 or so for their kids to go to movies, maybe more,,,, so why can't a school charge more than $4.00 to go to the school dance?

If a DJ is doing the dance for free, what are they charging at the door and where is that money going?

Are they putting on the dance so the students will have something fun and positive to do or are they trying to make money for the band uniforms?

And yes I did dances for my daughters school, and I even did her prom,,, but I didn't do them for free. All that is teaching them is that they can work the system to get something for nothing and not that there are responcibilities in life and that in order to survive, people need to work and GET PAID so their parents can buy them things like an iPod.....

Chuck - This is a small school, about 300 kids max......50 - 60 attend dances...the cover is 2 dollars.

I know they were paying the other DJ $250/dance...He was terrible...the money came from the school's "playground" fund...That and the fact i wanted my son and hid friends to experience a "real" show is why I'm doing it for free..
I've done charity events for free as well


Nothing wrong with your thinkin' Chuck...Just different philosophies

Valerie has a skewed sense of what the word "little" means ;)

I often refer to the systems as Big and Bigger.

Chuck - This is a small school, about 300 kids max......50 - 60 attend dances...the cover is 2 dollars.

This is exactly what I am talking about,,,,, Why only $2.00? It could be $4.00 or even $5.00 and everyone would be okay, or at least better?

I think I paid $2.00 in 1972 to go to my school dances....


again this is a shot or question at the school, not you as the DJ

I have worked with local merchants to help assist the lower income arenas with donations to assist the kids having a great show available. Lots of free money within reach from the merchants who want the kids to respect their interests which in turn cuts down on vandalism increases shopping in those merchants store etc. Allows me to play at their events.

I often refer to the systems as Big and Bigger.

ME TOO:sqwink: