If You Could DJ Full Time, Would You?

If it was possible to maintain a comfortable living as a DJ and drop your regular weekday job, would you do it? This is considering you make enough as a DJ to support health insurance and retirement expenses as well.

I don't think I would. I love having the flexibility to accept the gigs that I want to do. Having a day job allows me to block off dates such as family parties so that I can spend time with my family and not have to worry about DJ'ing to make money.

More importantly, if I had to DJ all the time it would probably lose it's appeal. It would no longer be a "fun" profession, I think it would become more of a job at that point.

Your thoughts?

Since I was let go at the School District in June do to budget cuts, I HAVE been full time. Unfortunatly, this is our "Low" time and not much going on. Need to restructure things to keep thing rolling year 'round. And...I need to explore more corporate work. Just need to get it done and not just "Talk" about doing it. :)

Chris that is a great deep question. Some do it and others don't... Nothing wrong with that.

I feel I would provide less than excellent service if I was full time. I like doing a multitude of things, and that's exactly what my company allows me to do. I also work for a company that allows the same thing, I don't like being chained to my desk or a cubical filing papers all day long ;)

I rather projects to keep me going through the day.

That's a good question. Like Basic, it is nice having that flexibility. Even if I wanted to, I have good benefits such as health insurance that I just don't want to give up

Maybe....
I could spend more time with my kids for sure.

I don't put in any stinkin' 30 hours for a wedding. My work load is fine where its at. I'm afraid I would get board.

Now....that being said, if I had the investment capital to nail more corporate gigs then I'd definitely go for it. Big screens, high end sound, truss like a mutha. I'd definitely put in the hours to have that kind of fun. I would aim to work 5 - 7 days a week doin it for sure....I'm just not there....

At my age, no.

If I was 20 years younger, yes.

That about sums it up for me.... :sqwink:

Once upon a time, long, long ago (back in '92 and '93) I was a fulltime KJ/DJ. Over the course of two years, I did over 500 shows. Now keep in mind that the VAST majority of these were bar/club gigs. But, by the end of those two years, I got to a point where I found myself dreading going "to work" every night.

So to answer the last part of Chris's post, I DID find that it became a "job" and I lost my passion for it. I don't know if I would feel the same way had I not been doing primarily bars and clubs... However, I am now working to build my business back to a point where I can DJ fulltime again. (Of course, I wouldn't take any bar jobs this time around. I'm just not up to punishing myself like that...)

I'm carrying 3 nights at the club now....2 more would be perfect and yes I would do it full time. Back in the day I use to do 6 nights.

I would need to gross about 175K to net what I make at my current job. So, if I could work 175 - 200 events a year and gross that, then yes. If not, then no.

After 18 years as a programmer/instructor/consultant, I gave it up to go into DJing full-time in 2000. My income plummeted, but my wife's career took off at the same time. She's now making just a little less than what I was making when I stopped the IT rat race. I have my health insurance through her, and our retirement savings is doing well. I have a 401k (frozen) and a Roth IRA. She has a 401k, a rollover IRA, and a Roth IRA--and we have other investments.

She likes the fact that I can do all kinds of things (the old Honey-Do's) during the week when she can't. I can pretty much do what I want. I don't have a "day job" tying me down. As far as having to take every event that comes my way, that's the reason I work for myself! I don't have to take a job because someone else tells me to! I take 'em when I want to take 'em.

Now be sure that I'm not making anywhere near what I was as an IT Geek, but I like life a lot more now. Money isn't everything. There's also that "quality of life" issue.

Thats been my goal since I went on my own 3 years ago. I have a ways to go but I'll keep plugging away. It sure beats the horse poo that I put up with in the corp world.

Oh and by the way Kirby POOOF your 20 years younger, did that help lol

I would love to be able to DJ as a sole source of income. Unfortunately, this area is up to its neck in DJs. Everyone knows someone who is a DJ. And they all work dirt-cheap.

When I look at our mortgage payment, utility bills etc, I am glad to have a full time job that keeps the bill collectors happy. I hate going into work every day... but I love to eat. :)

I actually really enjoy my day job (when it's busy), but I would love to be able to DJ full time. But, the only FT DJs in Northern Michigan are mulit-ops. That's a can of worms that I don't want to open.

I love having the flexibility to accept the gigs that I want to do. Having a day job allows me to block off dates such as family parties so that I can spend time with my family and not have to worry about DJ'ing to make money.

More importantly, if I had to DJ all the time it would probably lose it's appeal. It would no longer be a "fun" profession, I think it would become more of a job at that point.

I feel I would provide less than excellent service if I was full time. I like doing a multitude of things, and that's exactly what my company allows me to do.

Even if I wanted to, I have good benefits such as health insurance that I just don't want to give up

I don't put in any stinkin' 30 hours for a wedding. My work load is fine where its at. I'm afraid I would get board.

Now....that being said, if I had the investment capital to nail more corporate gigs then I'd definitely go for it. Big screens, high end sound, truss like a mutha. I'd definitely put in the hours to have that kind of fun. I would aim to work 5 - 7 days a week doin it for sure....I'm just not there....The quotes above, not selected to create any animosities, are precisely the reasonings why DJs whose life and livelihood is predicated on DJing, actively seeks the advice of others DJs who share the same adventure without the benefit of a safety net.

Most DJs won't attempt to be full-time because they have no clue how to run a soup to nuts legally successful business.

For 24 years, I've been a full-time solo-op, half of that time the sole-income family provider. In retrospect, I feel I'm a much better businessman than a technical DJ so I need to compensate for the technical deficiencies with other methods and means such as personality and service.

Well put Cap! As a fulltime dj I too hope one day partime djs will take the leap and see it can be done.

Get off the fence! If you truly want to call yourself a dj business jump on in and prove it! Trust in your abilities. Thank God for the few fulltime djs that make partime djing possible!

Paul

Im jumping in the full time water. Before I turn 50 which means in less than 8 months I will unfold my strategy and my plan will go into full swing. Im preparing my safety net by having one yr under my belt as a cabinet wood painter which is going to allow me a potential fill in spot if finances are tight and allow me security as the field is very short on painters.

In retrospect, I feel I'm a much better businessman than a technical DJ so I need to compensate for the technical deficiencies with other methods and means such as personality and service.
I apologize for how this might have been interpreted, that others don't have service or personality, and tried to edit it but too late. Sorry.

What was really meant was "an extremely active and outrageous personality" coupled with "over the top client communication towards" service.

Ahh. That's better.

Jon:Im preparing my safety net by having one yr under my belt as a cabinet wood painter which is going to allow me a potential fill in spot if finances are tight and allow me security Yes sir. This is exactly the point made earlier regarding diversity, a very wise business decision at this point in industry timing. Very wise.

Fred : I hate going into work every day... but I love to eat.Amen!

Dogman: It sure beats the horse poo that I put up with in the corp world.Double Amen!

Is one reason why the full-time potential of DJing isn't taken seriously is that there is a lack of vision on how a possible career can be carved out of this business?

Could it be the imagination and flight plan cannot grasp the possibility because a serious look at personal finances and a realistic study into budgetary business items seems just too overwhelming?

Yes, being full-time is work...lots of it leading up the event itself. Yet the event performance is still fun, lots and lots and lots of fun, the ultimate culmination of the work, even more pleasurable and rewarding than ever before.

I would love to be able to DJ as a sole source of income. Unfortunately, this area is up to its neck in DJs. Everyone knows someone who is a DJ. And they all work dirt-cheap.


Fred, interesting...

According to many on this board...and others...,

Competition cannot affect your business through pricing. In fact, many of these people would suggest that since the other company is getting hired...it must be the quality of your product...not price.

Please bear in mind I'm not poking you...

Just an underlying social observation on MDJs in general.


YourBasicDJ,
Fulltime since 1990-91. 7,000+ performances...still going...

Jon congratulations! Soon you will be asking yourself why didn't I do this ten years ago! You can always get a side job painting when things are slow or diversify you dj busness. I say kudos to you for going for it! I wish you much success!


Paul

Competition cannot affect your business through pricing. In fact, many of these people would suggest that since the other company is getting hired...it must be the quality of your product...not price.
I wish this were the case in this market, my friend. :)

Folks, I've posted this before but it bears repeating: Delaware is a small state ~ 2nd smallest in the Union... yet is flooded with DJs. According to the state Labor Department, this is a low income area. The well paying manufacturing jobs are gone. People don't party at the drop of a hat anymore.

Delaware has more businesses than it has citizens. Everyone who can do so is going into some business or other for himself. A drive along Route 13 during the day sees more trucks and vans with small business lettering than anything else. And those are just the ones that advertise.

When I say that everyone knows someone who is a DJ, I am exaggerating only by a margin. I will share some recent personal experiences:

Most of the fraternal houses ~ Moose, Legion et al have members who DJ their functions. These members are also available at a discount to parties who rent the halls. This is a sizeable bread and butter market that is sewn up tight.

A potential NYE at a Downstate Moose was nixed when a competitor lowballed our company by $15.00. I'm not kidding. The contact person then booked him to DJ her wedding a month later and he bailed a week before. She called me, moaning about it. I sympathized but that was all I could do. She was not willing to pay our rate.

One particularly notorious person has dominated the local market by purposefully lowballing professional DJ companies then sending warm bodies to contracted shows.

Local rental houses ~ Sheraton, Elks etc do not recommend vendors. We have personally contacted the banquet and marketing managers and attempted to obtain a placement on their vendor roster to learn that there is none and will be none. In truth, there is a friend or relative who is a DJ.

It's not due to a lack of professionalism on our part. At every show we have done, we have been heavily complimented on our professionalism in both service and attire.

I respectfully beg to differ. It is all about price in this market. My recent post about the $75.00 local DJ is testament to this. The owner will DJ any function for $75.00. He promotes this on his website.

When Shirl and I were participating in the local networking group, one theme arose time and again: We're all being beat to death by inexpensive hacks and their numbers are increasing. When one puts himself out of business, three more crop up to replace him.

We've got 'em coming in from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, DC... and there is no end in sight. With the Chrysler plant in Newark slated to close next year, it's going to worsen... hundreds more out there hustling to make ends meet. And all they need is an ipod, Limewire and a RS PA rig...

This is not to say there are no full time DJ companies in this area. To the contrary, I know of a few. One is a member here. However, these folks were already established DJ companies before everyone and his uncle decided to jump on the DJ bandwagon. The full timers have an established client base they work with regularly. Yet, these folks are struggling to turn a decent profit lately.

In closing, nothing would please me more than to see Ken Petersen bring a CM franchise to this area and kick these unscrupulous lowballers right square in the bollux. We're retired from the biz anyhow and can now sit back in our easy chairs to watch. :D

I hope this helps. :)

To answer the original question directly, the answer is NO.

I'm a full time DJ, have been since 2000. I was a single op for 3 years and have been multi for the last 3. I enjoy what I do, but sometimes is a PITA. So to answer the question, yes, I would be a full time dj!

In closing, nothing would please me more than to see Ken Petersen bring a CM franchise to this area and kick these unscrupulous lowballers right square in the bollux.

Ken when you fix Freds market mine is waiting its very similar....

Financially I could go fulltime right now. Things would get pretty tight at times but I could get by. I have several other irons in the fire that I enjoy doing and at this time I wouldnt be prepared to give them up

At times over the years I have been full time. I was between jobs and this was my only source of income. The DJ Biz paid for my education many moons ago

The fact that I had to live on it makes me not want to anymore but its nice to know if it becomes necessary.....

I've been thinking about this - for those of you that are full-timers... what do you do during the "work week?" I know the planning and meetings, etc. But what else? What is full time? Just the normal Fri Sat and occasional Sunday wedding?

I'd like to go full-time and expand as a multi-op - but what the hell am I going to do with all of that extra time?

I've been thinking about this - for those of you that are full-timers... what do you do during the "work week?" I know the planning and meetings, etc. But what else? What is full time? Just the normal Fri Sat and occasional Sunday wedding?

I'd like to go full-time and expand as a multi-op - but what the hell am I going to do with all of that extra time?

Record a DVD or write a book:sqeek: :sqwink:

In closing, nothing would please me more than to see Ken Petersen bring a CM franchise to this area and kick these unscrupulous lowballers right square in the bollux. We're retired from the biz anyhow and can now sit back in our easy chairs to watch. :D

I hope this helps. :)

Geographic Environment
Land Area:
SD: 75,884 sq mi (Density: 9.9/sq mi)
DE: 1,953 sq mi (Density: 401.0/sq. mi)


Economic Environment

Populations:
SD pop (2005 est): 775,933 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46000.html)
DE pop (2005 est): 843,524 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/10000.html)

More population, tightly concentrated.


Median Incomes per Household: (Per Capita Money Income - Nat'l: $21,587)
SD: $17,562 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46000.html)
DE: $23,305 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/10000.html)



Competitive Environment

Potential dance counts:
SD (2005): 6,508 (http://www.discjockeynews.com/statestats/SD.jpg)
DE (2005): 4,667 (http://www.discjockeynews.com/statestats/DE.jpg)

After drawing simple imaginary linear regression from 1969 forward (knowing there are 20 years worth of data missing in DE) to estimate current and future marriage licence counts (a detirmanate for potential dances, and establishing a rough marketshare figure), Delaware trails behind the counts of South Dakota and is showing alarming rates of decrease.

Direct competition:
40+ MDJ listings on wedj for Delaware.
5 MDJ listings on wedj for estern South Dakota.

After attempting to weigh wedj.com results for business names with DE Dept of Revenue business licences - I gave up. After 20 tries (including members of the various DJ chat boards) I could find none. Not a single DE based DJ service provider was listed as licenced with the Dept. Of Revenue for the State of Delaware. (Disclaimer: if any DE based MDJ firm can use this search tool (https://dorweb.revenue.state.de.us/bussrch/) to illustrate what catagory needs to be search under, I'll glady update this finding.)

Side note: Further digging yields:
3. For all businesses: Delaware does not have a state or local sales tax. Delaware does, however, have an annual business license requirement, as well as a gross receipts tax that is imposed on the seller of goods or provider of services. Sales of tangible property are additionally subject to a retail or wholesaler license and gross receipts tax. These taxes are imposed on the seller and remitted monthly or quarterly, depending on the business activity, to the Delaware Division of Revenue (Chapters 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29, Title 30, Delaware Code).

4. For all businesses: Every employer maintaining an office or transacting business in Delaware who makes payment of wages or other remuneration to a resident or non-resident of this state, must deduct and withhold an amount substantially equivalent to the tax estimated to be due from the employee. Delaware withholding is required, provided such payments are subject to withholding under the Internal Revenue Code (Chapter 11, Title 30, Delaware Code), and is remitted to the Delaware Division of Revenue.
http://www.state.de.us/revenue/services/Business_Tax/Doing_Business.shtml
(Free registration for a Sole Proprieter)




In a period of 2 hours, with informations easily obtained, I can sadly say that due to state of the economic and competitive environments in Delaware:

It won't be me doing it.

Before I hung up the phones for good, 10 of my 16 years were full time (the other 6, I was a sales rep for US Cellular as well). I have to say, there are so many pros and cons to doing it full time, it is really a completely individual tastes choice.

I loved having the flexibility to do what I want when I wanted. But on the flip side of that, whenever I was not working (I am talking about on a weekend here), I was always thinking about how much money I was giving up by not working. It was always a "Man, if I was not here, I could be doing a wedding or party".

But when I was doing the cell phone thing, I was always thinking about how I could be out looking for DJ jobs. It was hard to concentrate when I was doing both.

I can honestly say, right now, I will never do anything except work for myself. I don't think I can ever work for another company, no matter what it would be, again. I am just too indepentent and free thinking to have another calling the shots.

I've been thinking about this - for those of you that are full-timers... what do you do during the "work week?" I know the planning and meetings, etc. But what else? What is full time? Just the normal Fri Sat and occasional Sunday wedding?

I'd like to go full-time and expand as a multi-op - but what the hell am I going to do with all of that extra time?


Hehe. All that extra time. You're funny! It's pretty easy to concentrate on business and burn up 40 hours a week. There is marketing, networking, fixing, improving, etc.

Hehe. All that extra time. You're funny! It's pretty easy to concentrate on business and burn up 40 hours a week. There is marketing, networking, fixing, improving, etc.

That's OK Val', take some time off to enjoy this little diddy about you from the Monkees!

x9iDTn7hlhg

I can say that being "full time" has not made Djing lose it's luster. Again, i'm a multi-op and I do have other business interests that take up some time, but most of my income comes from the DJ business.
Now, if the only thing i did was DJ shows myself, not having the ability to book other shows or not having any other income at all, then maybe DJing would lose it's luster.
I do believe that putting all of my eggs in one basket would either get me bored or crazy with stress.
I do love having the ability to call my own shots and know that if things aren't going well, there is only one person who i can blame...me. When i worked for others, i felt there were a lot of situations that were not under my control that were affecting my income.

Enjoy the semi-retirement. Do what and when I want. Work 5 hours or 65 hours. Downside is missing weekend events involving immediate and extended family.

My call, not some nimrod manager or VP that climbs corporate ladders on the flesh of others and worries more about image than results.

It's not due to a lack of professionalism on our part. At every show we have done, we have been heavily complimented on our professionalism in both service and attire.

I respectfully beg to differ. It is all about price in this market.


Fred, I don't disagree with you. If you look back at my earlier post, you'll see that.


I've been thinking about this - for those of you that are full-timers... what do you do during the "work week?" I know the planning and meetings, etc. But what else? What is full time? Just the normal Fri Sat and occasional Sunday wedding?

I'd like to go full-time and expand as a multi-op - but what the hell am I going to do with all of that extra time?


Spinnermusic,


Extra time?

There's not a whole lot of extra time. Things slow down a bit dance wise in the winter, however:

Inspecting and cleaning / repairing amps...
Inspecting and cleaning / repairing optics...
Inspecting and cleaning / repairing par cans...
Inspecting and cleaning / repairing cables...

In addition your constantly are:

Dealing with Advertising...
Dealing with Insurance...
Dealing with and restocking Office Supplies...
Dealing with Vehicles...
Dealing with Tax related issues...
Dealing with Payrol related issues 940, 941, Workmans Comp, Unemployment & quarterly reports...
Dealing with Travel arrangements & intineraries...
Dealing with monthly billing...
Dealing with Legal (contract revues...etc)...
Dealing with company books, daily, weekly, monthly...
Dealing with Collections when necessary...
Dealing with Bank issues that may arise...
Dealing with Customer Refunds (not necessarily bad performances) changes in desired services offered, overpayments...
Dealing with Dues & Subscriptions...
Dealing with Employee Reimbursements...
Dealing with Music Library (new music, tagging files, importing, arranging, creating useable lists for brides)...
Dealing with Postage & Shipping...
Dealing with Printing - concept, layout & design of marketing materials...
Dealing with Promotions - concept, viability and implementation...
Dealing with Telephone issues...
Dealing with Uniform cleaning (whether or not it is dry cleaned professionally or done at home)...
Dealing with Rentals - incoming or outgoing...
Dealing with Rentals - equipment needed to assist your performance...
Attending Conferences, Seminars or Association meetings...
Dealing with Credit Card related issues...
Dealing with Website issues...
Laying the groundwork and pre-planning for tommorrow...
Dealing with Music Meetings, finding requests and handling client needs...

Don't forget continuing education...

& First and foremost!

Selling the next event...


Then again, creative self starter types aren't lazy movie watching, gameboy playing, video game junky couch potatoes...

BTW, while I was typing this response I took 3 calls from clients & one from another DJ company discussing an "industry" issue.

First and foremost!

Selling the next event...


I am going to expound on that statement.

The first rut (trap) any greenhorn office staffer imagines is that "there's all this 'easy' time to casually work through that entire list of activities" posted by Mr. Walker...

Until you have presented, and set, the image to your regional consumer that you have a 8 to 5 established presence, you'll never get a true feeling just how many inbound calls actually take place. Playing hooky from the 'day job' for one day will not get you a true sense of what you are missing.

What's being spoke of here is cultivated over time.

It's very easy to just yeild to a fact of if that phone rings, you write-off 45minutes of time. Those are easily 45 mins you cannot place anywhere else other than immediate need for attentions. You are now one-on-one with whom you are talking to:


Your prospects are 'actually talking with someone' - personal relationships.
Your clients are 'actually talking to someone' - trust.
Your professional networks are 'actually talking to someone' -credibility.


By actually stepping out of the office to do any of the above listed actions (mine or Mr. Walker's)... ...consider 2 hours gone.

That's either 9 phonecalls, or 4 errands and your day is done.

All of this pertains to building and establishing a reputation of credibility in the professional environmental arena. Customers and businesses that call want to speak to someone 'now'. If that hotel, prospect, or booked client can't connect with you when they seek to do so:

Personal relationships suffer.
Your trust erodes.
Your credibility doesn't exist.



Which is exactly the irony of those who don't operate with a full-time image, yet say they have attained it via maintaining a day job and other means.

They only know and speak of who they actually have in thier loop...
...totally oblivious to those prospects and businesses who tried to contact them - and gave up - putting their money, energies, attentions, and referrals elsewhere. Somewhere else that has already established an image of credibility.

Thanks, Ken and Dude. :)

So true... time is inventory for both parties. How we invest that time is important because, once gone it cannot be recovered.

Yup, DE requires DJs to obtain state business licences. Also, if your business is located in Dover a separate Dover licence is required. For good measure, let's add additional licences for any additional service or product one offers such as photography or the sale of glow products. And there are some local municipalities that milk the cow themselves by requiring temporary licences for service providers doing business in their towns.

As Ken's research above demonstrates, a large number of local DJs are wildcatters, not licenced businesses. We have a few top-notch DJs in the immediate area who are comparatively successful with full time shops. These folks have been in the DJ biz for many years and have established links to the community.

I will be full time. Soon, but no "date" is yet set.

Laying the groundwork, business understanding, etc.

I have been lucky enough to befriend some great minds. And I greatly appreciate their patience with my neverending questions.

Would I become full time? In a heart beat.

Will I become full time? A "few" more heart beats!

Thanks for some great advice on this thread!!