Have you ever worked in a Bar what makes you think it is so easy? Did you read this post they go untill 3:30 $75.00 is a joke and I have never recieved a tip in a bar.
Bar & Club How much?!?!
- Thread starter DJ Joe
- Start date
Have you ever worked in a Bar what makes you think it is so easy? Did you read this post they go untill 3:30 $75.00 is a joke and I have never recieved a tip in a bar.
WTF 50.00 a night 6 hours your music pathetic. It is hacks like this that make DJ's look like a bunch of loosers.
I think this must be more of an ego/worth thing, cause I used to do lots of bars for $50-100 a night (some even free), and walk out with $200-500 cash in pocket!
It's called hustling to make a living -- and I don't mean that in the sense of conning people -- it means working yer crowd for tips, just like the bartenders and waitresses
No disrespect, but I've found many mobile DJs these days, didn't start out in bars, and are not used to that kind of working environment -- where one pocket holds the pay you technically make, and the other holds the real cash you earned...
Just how do you work the crowd for tips put out a tip jar?
Sooo true Mike (and sad)...
I think a lot of people are now going to HAVE to learn, with sooo many out of work...
They're in for a BIG surprise!
I have worked for commission all my life I know all about hussling for a living I also can recognise when somone is hussling me it is not a matter of ego it is a matter of getting paid what you are worth *******s who take jobs like this are setting the bar to low for the DJ's out here who are trying to make a decent buck for providing a good service.
If you don't know -- you probably never will...
I don't mean that in a derogatory way -- just factual.
Hustling is a way of life -- it is an earned art form (pun intended). Look at how YOU tip other people, and find out what it is they do to earn a good tip. Then implement that same methodology.
Bars are easy, but I've also made more tips at some weddings, then I did for the gig pay!
You don't just put out a tip jar (although that doesn't hurt) -- you work the crowd against each other. That may sound bad, but when you realize that humans are animals, and have a competitive nature, it all comes together
Example: Joe Bob comes to the DJ booth, and requests song A for this hot chick he just met. He hands you a five, you get it in queue.
Billy Bob comes up, with much the same request (different song). You tell Billy Bob, that you have x number of requests already lined up, at $5 per pop. He offers you $20, to bring his song to the top of the list.
It's called capitalism, BTW
If you don't know -- you probably never will...
I don't mean that in a derogatory way -- just factual.
Hustling is a way of life -- it is an earned art form (pun intended). Look at how YOU tip other people, and find out what it is they do to earn a good tip. Then implement that same methodology.
Bars are easy, but I've also made more tips at some weddings, then I did for the gig pay!
You don't just put out a tip jar (although that doesn't hurt) -- you work the crowd against each other. That may sound bad, but when you realize that humans are animals, and have a competitive nature, it all comes together
Example: Joe Bob comes to the DJ booth, and requests song A for this hot chick he just met. He hands you a five, you get it in queue.
Billy Bob comes up, with much the same request (different song). You tell Billy Bob, that you have x number of requests already lined up, at $5 per pop. He offers you $20, to bring his song to the top of the list.
It's called capitalism, BTW
From the discription of the jobs you take and the pay you make you are the last one who should be telling me about capitalism I left home when I was 17 (1981) and sold Vaccuums for the first 4 years and made and average of 36,000 a year, had my own advertising company for 8 years and made an average of 80,000 a year etc if there is one thing I have learned for sure it's if you under value yourself you will fail!!!!!!!!!! and if you undervalue a service or product are a deprement to that industy.
Holy Sh_t -- I'm now a deprement (what the Hell is that, BTW - no wiki)?
I am a capitalist in good standing Sir. That means that I will make as much profit as I can, while providing the best product/service I can
When I roll into bed at night, I do not count sheep, and I do not care if I've made some bar higher for people I don't know, or care about. I care that the heat is working, the roof is not leaking, and my dog is not hungry.
BTW, there is a reason there's a border between the US and Canada -- stay on yer side...
Holy Sh_t -- I'm now a deprement (what the Hell is that, BTW - no wiki)?
I am a capitalist in good standing Sir. That means that I will make as much profit as I can, while providing the best product/service I can
When I roll into bed at night, I do not count sheep, and I do not care if I've made some bar higher for people I don't know, or care about. I care that the heat is working, the roof is not leaking, and my dog is not hungry.
BTW, there is a reason there's a border between the US and Canada -- stay on yer side...
I will not take the bait on the border comment I will say this that if you do not draw a line on your worth you will become worth very little.
Since you've reopened this old thread lets do the math shall we....
In my area atleast the going rate for a Bar DJ/KJ for 4-6 hours runs on average between $125 and $200.... you have to carry in all your own gear setup & tear down which also means you have to show up a minimum of 1 hour prior and be there at least 1 hour after... so that 4 hour gig just became 6 or that 6 hour gig became 8 hours... and lets not forget about the maintenance of said equipment.
Or... just show up 10 minutes early plug in and go.... and out the door 10 minutes after close and get $75.00...
Now if it were me I'd negotiate for much more that the $75.00....
At least ya took some bait, and someone caught a fish...
Don't mind me -- I'm fighting it out with Shane for King of the Arcade...
Anyway, my worth is of little consequence to me -- my earning power, on the other hand, is of significant consequence.
Do you think Bill Gates, or Warren Buffet (or even Jimmy Buffet) worries about their worth when they wake up?
I know I don't -- I just look at the bank account balances
And the one thing I have learned is that bar you fellows keep raising is just in your head. What you do in BC or what Rick does in NY or anyone else does where ever really means NOTHING to me here in Nova Scotia. If you can charge $2000/night all the power to you but I'm not going to be able to do that anytime soon and still work. It's called Market Reality
Market Reality is right on the money Jeff!
While some of my competition may only get $300 per gig, and I get roughly $600 per gig, and my stiffest competition can get anywhere from $800-$1400 per gig. Its how good you are, and how well you can perform, and how well you can sell yourself.
Simple as that...no more money figures...every market is different.
I would take the $200.00 and bring my own equipment at least it is a decent days pay if I have to do that 3 or 4 nights a week it adds up to something it is not a problem for me to haul gear I know it will sound good and I am making back some money on my investment. Let some kid work until 3:30 am for peanuts. Oh and Jeff on the market reality thing that attitude is what caused all our manufactuing jobs to be lost to China where the reality is around $3.00 per day for 14 hours of work.
Joker once again your comments beg the question have you ever worked in a night club what makes you think it is just a walk in gig no prep its not like a wedding reception you have to keep it fresh you can't just play the same songs every night.
LMFAO.... dude you owe me a keyboard for that.... I just spit waffel all over it....
What is there to prep for a club.... all you do is go in read the crowd and play the hot songs.... why is that more difficult than doing a wedding?
Do you honestly believe that a wedding requires zero prep?
Come on don't hold yourself so high and mighty here... it's just music and people... $75 is good money for 6 hours of work where all you do is plug in your laptop and go.... big freagin deal... that's over $12 bucks an hour to press play my friend.... and no gear to setup and tear down.... in and out like a cheap lady of the night.
Good God man it ain't rockit science here.
On a Thursday afternoon once a month I go in unlock the system turn on the HD and turn on the monitor, mixer, and powered speakers. Set up a playlist for the Lingerie models and get paid 150. I even have time to do my Thursday night gig at another pub for 200 that very Thursday night (weekly gig). They want me to do a Friday and Saturday once a month as well which I may do through the first quarter of 2010. Then again I could sit at home and make nothing. Not having to use my own gear or laptop even requires nothing more for me than gas to and from the venue. Pretty decent profit margin down here in the lowly sticks of Metro Vancouver. Not sure how many options are available in Vernon.
I did not say anything about a wedding reception requiring no prep I send out a 6 page planner to my brides by the way I have done over 300 receptions myself and have two DJ's working for me and have put in over 4 years total in clubs and as far as music selection receptions to me are easier than clubs once again have you ever worked in a club?????????????????????? Oh and Cheap lady of the night nails that job discription.
I do not get your point we are talking about the merits of taking a 6 hour gig in a club until 3:30 in the morning for $75.00.
I think the issue here, is that you are looking to get paid up front in a club, and not "work it", like many of us have done.
I don't consider a club like a wedding reception -- I consider it a working environment. How hard I work, and how hard I hustle, will determine how much I make. The $75 (or whatever), is simply incentive to get me there -- the rest is up to me.
I think the best money I've ever made, was doing TT bars. The girls are the ones who tip you (sometimes the patrons or owner, but not alot). I've worked many for free, and still taken home a ton of money (plus some nice views and phone numbers)
I've walked out of TT bars many times, with well over a grand in pocket, for a few hours of playing tunes, and watching naked chicks (plus free drinks). Most places have their own system, so you just bring a lappy or your CDs. Cake job
I think the issue here, is that you are looking to get paid up front in a club, and not "work it", like many of us have done.
I don't consider a club like a wedding reception -- I consider it a working environment. How hard I work, and how hard I hustle, will determine how much I make. The $75 (or whatever), is simply incentive to get me there -- the rest is up to me.
I think the best money I've ever made, was doing TT bars. The girls are the ones who tip you (sometimes the patrons or owner, but not alot). I've worked many for free, and still taken home a ton of money (plus some nice views and phone numbers)
I've walked out of TT bars many times, with well over a grand in pocket, for a few hours of playing tunes, and watching naked chicks (plus free drinks). Most places have their own system, so you just bring a lappy or your CDs. Cake job
I did not say that I think a reception and a club are the same thing just that they both require prep time I consider "working it" preparing for the night and keeping the dance floor full and building a following so the patrons come back, in other words making the owner money so he can pay me a decent rate rather than spend my time annoying the patrons for tips. Yes strip clubs are a cake walk I have known a few strip club DJ's the girls just hand you a CD for thier performance and the rest of the time all you have to do is tune in the satalite it is not like you are trying to get people to dance. Personaly strip clubs make me sad.