Speakers on poles???[emoji2] How does that work for computer techs??? [emoji2]And all of this is different from a computer tech how?
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Ouch, rates again
- Thread starter rickryan.com
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When they listen to their mp3 players? Computer conventions? Rooms where they have their machines setup for gaming - flight simulators, etc?
you are worth ... ? what they pay you. Now if you ask X and get no resistance (as was my case last year) than IMO/IME you can/should ask more. People should complain about the price (a bit anyway) or you're too cheap and they're buying 'too fast'.
IMO it's very hard for a prospect to judge one DJ against another. Easy to do with photography, they can see pictures easily enough. But DJ? they have no idea what the difference is between a $300 guy and a $1000 one, do they?
Found this site today - Wedding DJ Prices | Easy DJ Productions
they're focused on the city where it's common to get 20-40% more than where I am (one county over, much more rural and everything costs less here - a beer at a bar is $2.50, in the city $4+ for example).
My new pricing puts me in the lower end of the silver category.
IMO it's very hard for a prospect to judge one DJ against another. Easy to do with photography, they can see pictures easily enough. But DJ? they have no idea what the difference is between a $300 guy and a $1000 one, do they?
Found this site today - Wedding DJ Prices | Easy DJ Productions
they're focused on the city where it's common to get 20-40% more than where I am (one county over, much more rural and everything costs less here - a beer at a bar is $2.50, in the city $4+ for example).
My new pricing puts me in the lower end of the silver category.
I think a difference between DJ (and it applies to many other businesses inlcuding photography in particular) and a 'real' business is we have a lot more PT DJs and few have any business plan/accounting system/accountability.
If you belong to a pool, say 40/mo so you have the latest songs, pay insurance ($400/yr?) and spend no other money you're out nearly $900 a year in overhead. And I know you buy gear...and odds are some advertising (if not in money then in time). So you can easily spend $2k a year. Now you do 6 weddings at $500 each..that's 3k in. Add up your time and you'll possibly make more per hour at mcdonalds.
I see lots of DJs on the knot...$2500 a year. I see them at the big bridal shows in town ($900/weekend for the booth, plus handouts, door prize, etc). I'd be they spend time/money on mailing, emails, websites, other marketing. I can see them dropping $5k plus a year easy on marketing. Do 40 weddings and it's $140 a wedding in marketing costs. Spend 2k a year on gear, some on software, insurance, music... easy enough to spend $8-10k a year. Go to a convention and that can go higher yet.
Now you do 40 gigs and before you get a dime to yourself the overhead sucks up 200-250 off the top of every gig.
teh link in my last post, seems they want $20-/mo to be on the site and 15%/$75 (whichever is less) for each booking and they infer strongly that you better do 5 bookings a year thru them or they'll not list you. My math says thats $125/booking in marketing/commission PLUS whatever other marketing you do...yeah, you need to charge a lot to stay in the black and no you can't take a $250 grad party/bday party cause your cost figures infer it's costing you more than that. Unless those gigs are above and beyond the 40 weddings.
But 'we' service folks don't think that far ahead and don't want to see the math. But if you were to say, try landscaping and buy a dump truck, trailer, backhoe for $100,000 you'd be damned sure to find out what you can charge and how much work you can get to pay that big nasty loan off.
And you'd never do it part time!
That is the big difference between 'us' and the 'real' world.
If you belong to a pool, say 40/mo so you have the latest songs, pay insurance ($400/yr?) and spend no other money you're out nearly $900 a year in overhead. And I know you buy gear...and odds are some advertising (if not in money then in time). So you can easily spend $2k a year. Now you do 6 weddings at $500 each..that's 3k in. Add up your time and you'll possibly make more per hour at mcdonalds.
I see lots of DJs on the knot...$2500 a year. I see them at the big bridal shows in town ($900/weekend for the booth, plus handouts, door prize, etc). I'd be they spend time/money on mailing, emails, websites, other marketing. I can see them dropping $5k plus a year easy on marketing. Do 40 weddings and it's $140 a wedding in marketing costs. Spend 2k a year on gear, some on software, insurance, music... easy enough to spend $8-10k a year. Go to a convention and that can go higher yet.
Now you do 40 gigs and before you get a dime to yourself the overhead sucks up 200-250 off the top of every gig.
teh link in my last post, seems they want $20-/mo to be on the site and 15%/$75 (whichever is less) for each booking and they infer strongly that you better do 5 bookings a year thru them or they'll not list you. My math says thats $125/booking in marketing/commission PLUS whatever other marketing you do...yeah, you need to charge a lot to stay in the black and no you can't take a $250 grad party/bday party cause your cost figures infer it's costing you more than that. Unless those gigs are above and beyond the 40 weddings.
But 'we' service folks don't think that far ahead and don't want to see the math. But if you were to say, try landscaping and buy a dump truck, trailer, backhoe for $100,000 you'd be damned sure to find out what you can charge and how much work you can get to pay that big nasty loan off.
And you'd never do it part time!
That is the big difference between 'us' and the 'real' world.
What do you think of when you see the letters DJ? Obviously someone that plays music. That's the primary reason a person would look to book a DJ to do an event for them. Some people see that as all we do. If that's all you do why should someone spend say 1k to get you to do an event for them?
Let's examine this thing further. Even though it's a nice thing to be able to use a computer to DJ with that's part of the reason things have slaked off with this business. Look at how many more people have become a DJ because of this. Then how many of those people have become a DJ thinking this is a easy job and a quick way to make some fast easy money? How soon do they find out differently.
Let's examine what are the basic things you need to become a computer DJ. I remember the first DJ I saw using a computer, he was using a tower with a monitor. If you saw a DJ using that today you'd probably crack up laughing thinking that's old school. So you can get a laptop and it doesn't have to be a MackBook for you to be a real DJ like some think. Laptop prices have come down. I just know that you need at least 4 gigs of ram to run just a DJ software program so it doesn't keep freezing. There was a time where you need a box like Serato so that the computer could read the CD players you were using. You needed CD disc in the CD players to work with the software program on your computer. No need for that any more as controllers have built in interface.
You got the laptop and now what's next. You can get a controller. You can buy a cheap controller to DJ with that will just get the job done which is to play music. Next you can get a set of powered speakers and you don't have to spend a lot of money unless you want real professional quality speakers. Get some headphones. Then for music you can use a external HD and load it with music to play. Myself I have 2 external HD's. One is a 2 TB portable HD. They had a 4 TB portable HD from Seagate from Micro Center on sale for $120. I'm talking the basics to become a DJ. Oh I did forget you need a software program to use with the computer so you can play the music. Some controllers have built in a DJ software program. So you don't have to spend extra money on a software program unless you want a different program besides the one installed.
Now how many DJs are entertainers and don't just play music? I remember one radio jock that died some years back. Some of you will remember him. Frankie Crocker the chief rocker. He was a radio DJ that was on WBLS for many many many years. He wasn't just a guy playing music on the radio like so many others. He entertained you when you listened to him on the radio. Of course he had to play records for people to hear some of the latest music that was out there. He was a legend because of his personality on the air. That's why people tuned in to listen to him. He had a friendly personality that you felt. He rarely if at all came on with a bad attitude.
Myself I try to keep a pleasant attitude while working and depending on the event dress to impress. I'm not the DJ that goes crazy on the mic and some people love me for that. I get more than my share of compliments from clients and their guests at a lot of events I do. What they are doing without knowing it is complimenting me on the gear I use and my years of experience. Since I was snowed in due to the bad storm I decided to look online and came across a site that said that a person could become a DJ and in less than 2 weeks be a star DJ. Ha ha ha! If someone believes that I have some doo doo to sell them for a million dollars.
yes, computers have changed the industry - but they've changed every industry.
Music is now easier to get (from home, google anything, or spotify, etc)
easier to transport, find during a gig, easier to store it.
These all reduce YOUR cost - so you can keep the pricing you had and pocket the extra profit OR what is typical in the US is lower your price to get more market share and keep your profit the same.
Yes, the barrier ot entry is lower - it is in many fields for several reasons - google anything to learn about it. Nothing is as much a mystery as it used to be.
Need customers? Again, the internet puts newbies on par with older established companies.
Now..do you sell music or personality? And if it's the latter do you charge a premium for that? I did a wedding as photog last fall where the DJ was a radio jock, 300+ person wedding, no sub, one light (one acrobat).
I saw him visit the tables during dinner and chat people up, asked what hey wanted to hear, etc.
He mentioned the name of the first dance song, parent dance songs like a radio dj does. Never heard that before..not sure it belongs at a wedding but maybe it's his schtick.
In reality we all play the same music. The wobble is the wobble is the wobble. How you run your evening for a wedding is pretty fixed, so you have song selection/order played to keep the party going. I've got that fairly figured out, but will tweak and learn and grow with more experience.
Now a prospect is shopping DJs..online as they all do now...what do we need to do, CAN we do to set us apart?
"I have a great party personality!"...really?
"I have a library of 20,000,000 songs!!!"...so what?
"I have 30 years experience!" ... so you're old.
"My gear is top of hte line, new and wowee wow!!"...they don't care.
In person your personality can come across. Maybe you can do a video that they'll see and be moved by. testimonials help I'm told. (not sold on that idea yet...wom from FRIEND helps, or a venue/vendor..just random snippets online? Not enough to sway anyone IMO as we all do it now)
Music is now easier to get (from home, google anything, or spotify, etc)
easier to transport, find during a gig, easier to store it.
These all reduce YOUR cost - so you can keep the pricing you had and pocket the extra profit OR what is typical in the US is lower your price to get more market share and keep your profit the same.
Yes, the barrier ot entry is lower - it is in many fields for several reasons - google anything to learn about it. Nothing is as much a mystery as it used to be.
Need customers? Again, the internet puts newbies on par with older established companies.
Now..do you sell music or personality? And if it's the latter do you charge a premium for that? I did a wedding as photog last fall where the DJ was a radio jock, 300+ person wedding, no sub, one light (one acrobat).
I saw him visit the tables during dinner and chat people up, asked what hey wanted to hear, etc.
He mentioned the name of the first dance song, parent dance songs like a radio dj does. Never heard that before..not sure it belongs at a wedding but maybe it's his schtick.
In reality we all play the same music. The wobble is the wobble is the wobble. How you run your evening for a wedding is pretty fixed, so you have song selection/order played to keep the party going. I've got that fairly figured out, but will tweak and learn and grow with more experience.
Now a prospect is shopping DJs..online as they all do now...what do we need to do, CAN we do to set us apart?
"I have a great party personality!"...really?
"I have a library of 20,000,000 songs!!!"...so what?
"I have 30 years experience!" ... so you're old.
"My gear is top of hte line, new and wowee wow!!"...they don't care.
In person your personality can come across. Maybe you can do a video that they'll see and be moved by. testimonials help I'm told. (not sold on that idea yet...wom from FRIEND helps, or a venue/vendor..just random snippets online? Not enough to sway anyone IMO as we all do it now)
Testimonials on website is like one of those "As seen on TV" products today. It's very 2004. It doesn't work today because there are online reviews on multiple web sites. ...Plus the average site visiter reads over your website in under 5 minutes with many only sticking around on your web site for 2 minutes or less. Very few stick around to read all the info in front of them. The Testimonails does little today.
So what you are saying is that anything DJs do to try to set themselves a part is null today?
Only option is to win clients over the competition is having the best price they can find?
The market (as in how people shop n buy) is changing.
I see it in my kids - stores? Salespeople? Why?
They can and do shop online with no human interaction.
I've seen a big change in the way customers contact and interact with me over the past 2-3 years. Email or chat online - phonecalls? You mean TALK? Not sure if people find it 'safer' to not talk to a 'salesperson' or what.
On the photography side it's been calls 'do you have my date?' and confirm the price and done.
As for DJ the questions are price and time. I can't remember anyone asking about anything else..gear, music, songs, how I dress, etc.
Now is that my marketing, who it appeals to, my market, my market segment, I can't be sure.
I have pricing on my website...few if any DJs do, at least around here. I found on my photo website with weddings in particular that if I had no pricing the phone was dead. I put up packages and the phone rings.
I know when I shop online I want prices. Even a ballpark price (like a car) where there are variables. If prices are similar then other factors are considered - shipping time maybe, shipping cost, do I know the vendor, reviews of the vendor, past experience with them, etc.
It gets tougher when you need, say, a plumber or furnace repairman - something service oriented that you buy infrequently. Now how do you decide who to call, how many to call, what to ask and how to evaluate the responses and then who to hire, or meet with, etc. Do testimonials, or angie's list or asking amoung friends on FB count in your decision?
I see it in my kids - stores? Salespeople? Why?
They can and do shop online with no human interaction.
I've seen a big change in the way customers contact and interact with me over the past 2-3 years. Email or chat online - phonecalls? You mean TALK? Not sure if people find it 'safer' to not talk to a 'salesperson' or what.
On the photography side it's been calls 'do you have my date?' and confirm the price and done.
As for DJ the questions are price and time. I can't remember anyone asking about anything else..gear, music, songs, how I dress, etc.
Now is that my marketing, who it appeals to, my market, my market segment, I can't be sure.
I have pricing on my website...few if any DJs do, at least around here. I found on my photo website with weddings in particular that if I had no pricing the phone was dead. I put up packages and the phone rings.
I know when I shop online I want prices. Even a ballpark price (like a car) where there are variables. If prices are similar then other factors are considered - shipping time maybe, shipping cost, do I know the vendor, reviews of the vendor, past experience with them, etc.
It gets tougher when you need, say, a plumber or furnace repairman - something service oriented that you buy infrequently. Now how do you decide who to call, how many to call, what to ask and how to evaluate the responses and then who to hire, or meet with, etc. Do testimonials, or angie's list or asking amoung friends on FB count in your decision?
Good points. Nobody spends much time on DJs' websites. The one thing that will set one DJ apart from the rest is to do an awesome performance at every event. Capturing lots of fun on video is great too if you can get prospects to watch those videos. But they're on your website which most just skim over. Keep improving performance and customer service IMO.
Referrals still work BEST. However, I will be honest and say that I am seeing my referral base dry up once again. I noticed it last year which is why I tried google ad words which I had mild success with, BUT was very expensive to do.
I will also say that budgets in general are shrinking with brides today.
The last bridal show I did last Sunday at Embassy Suites had a total of 39 brides. They asked each bride to list their budgets. A few had open budgets, but most brides listed their budget. ...The budgets were betweem $4.500 and $30,000. ...At past bridal shows there were always a few brides with budgets of $40,000 - $55,000. At this show, only 2 brides with $30,000 budget. One bride with 25,000, one with 19,000, two with 15,000 and every other budget was 10,000 or less. I can't compete in the $10,000 or less market.
Also out of 39 brides, only 16 marked that they were interested in info from entertainment section. ...So I have a chance with 16 brides...not favorable. I doubt I will book anything from the show.
Things do change and it's about adjusting to changes. I just knew I was never going to be a computer DJ. Thank God my ex-partner pushed me in that direction. I love being a computer DJ today. I was wondering how I was going to remember what to play if it wasn't in a CD book? I adjusted and couldn't be happier. Computers have changed things a lot and have also cost some people their jobs. Like stores closing their doors to a physical store but you can still find them online.
The big thing is having some kind of idea of what you're truly worth and not just settling to say you're working. Sometimes I've learned I just got to say no and keep it moving. Eventually everybody wants to know how much a person has to spend for a product or service. If they think they are getting taken or can find a better deal somewhere else they are gone. I have a mechanic I've used for well over 25 years easily. I stick with them because I know they know their stuff. I trust them dearly! Not to mention that I can go there and depending on the work they do to fix a thing I can get a special price because of our relationship. I've suggested people to them and nobody who went to them ever told me I made a mistake sending them to that mechanic. Ice I'm 57 and I don't let that stop me. I believe in what I do and for those who think I'm too old to be the DJ at their event oh well. That's their opinion. Some are pleasantly surprised when they see me. Especially since I don't look my age.
Yes it does affect business some times. I'll see a ad where they will specifically put in the ad they want a young DJ. Normally that means someone in their 20's. Their thinking is an older DJ won't be a good fit for the event they are having. What they think is all we will know to play is older stuff. So they discriminate. They don't know that they should look for the DJ that has experience at doing the type of event they are having regardless of age.
The big thing is having some kind of idea of what you're truly worth and not just settling to say you're working. Sometimes I've learned I just got to say no and keep it moving. Eventually everybody wants to know how much a person has to spend for a product or service. If they think they are getting taken or can find a better deal somewhere else they are gone. I have a mechanic I've used for well over 25 years easily. I stick with them because I know they know their stuff. I trust them dearly! Not to mention that I can go there and depending on the work they do to fix a thing I can get a special price because of our relationship. I've suggested people to them and nobody who went to them ever told me I made a mistake sending them to that mechanic. Ice I'm 57 and I don't let that stop me. I believe in what I do and for those who think I'm too old to be the DJ at their event oh well. That's their opinion. Some are pleasantly surprised when they see me. Especially since I don't look my age.
Yes it does affect business some times. I'll see a ad where they will specifically put in the ad they want a young DJ. Normally that means someone in their 20's. Their thinking is an older DJ won't be a good fit for the event they are having. What they think is all we will know to play is older stuff. So they discriminate. They don't know that they should look for the DJ that has experience at doing the type of event they are having regardless of age.
Mix, this mechanic you speak of .. he's ripped you off - and you have been told this. You are not getting any kind of special deal or price - you are being taken advantage of. They see you coming a mile away.
Bridal magazines tell brides what to spend, percentage wise, on their wedding. the reception is 1/2 the budget, so it's not too difficult to know what the budget is of the weddings you work.
Nationally the avg wedding is 150 guests, and here reception meals are as low as 20 and few over 60 in my county (one or two country clubs).
I did a banquet for my club, no booze, but 3 entries, salad, dessert, drinks, hall included, $16/head -including gratuity.
the most popular hall is $40-60 liquor included (they have 3 halls in their building)
So a reception for 150 is under 9k...and can be as low as $2800. So budgets are what, 5600-18k. And if the DJ is 8- 10% of that.
Based on that...i'm too cheap.
Based on what i'm getting for weddings, i'm too cheap (size, venues).
Nationally the avg wedding is 150 guests, and here reception meals are as low as 20 and few over 60 in my county (one or two country clubs).
I did a banquet for my club, no booze, but 3 entries, salad, dessert, drinks, hall included, $16/head -including gratuity.
the most popular hall is $40-60 liquor included (they have 3 halls in their building)
So a reception for 150 is under 9k...and can be as low as $2800. So budgets are what, 5600-18k. And if the DJ is 8- 10% of that.
Based on that...i'm too cheap.
Based on what i'm getting for weddings, i'm too cheap (size, venues).
Is what you're doing and the price you charge working for you? Could you get more? If you went up on your price how much more could you go up without hurting your business? Some just say automatically you should raise your rates without even knowing what that DJs rate is to begin with. Then we don't know each other's circumstances. Then the other factor comes into play here. What are you offering clients now and what else could you add if you wanted to that would get clients to spend more money or at least consider it?
I' haven't read thru all the comments, but this one certainly sticks out to me. I think you're incorrect. I can easily pick out a $300 DJ from a $1000. And, I think any of my target audience clients who inquiry my services can as well.
Looking at my weddings for 2015, avg guest count ...... 290! I know my rates pretty much limit me to a specific target market. My hottest market (Vincennes, IN) was started back in 2009 with one of the largest weddings I had done coming out of semi-retirement. It connected me with a nice size wedding party, with lots of gals who have continued to utilize my services. It has continued to snow-ball with that group as I've connected with their friends of friends. Even thought I'm almost triple in price than most of the other reputable jocks, they continue to use me. I've had several of them move their date to accommodate my schedule (very few, but it does give you a rush when it happens!). These couples aren't afraid to spend some money when it comes to their entertainment, which they know can make or break their reception.
This brings up another good talking point .... do you guys create a business plan with a preferred target client? We all should know that a bride at 20 and a bride at 30 or even 40, have different expectations and budgets.
I appeal (based on what i book) to the older bride, photography wise for sure. DJ...i'm seeing younger brides on average I suppose.
This past year I had a lot of older smaller weddings - as in grandparent age brides, church hall receptions with no dj at all.
Was it just an anomoly? I''ve had odd years in the past as well so one year of a, um, 'unique trend' isn't enough for me to change things.
17 is looking to be a big year, for me and from I'm hearing from others. Last year was down overall everyone says (dj, photog, halls, caterers).
This past year I had a lot of older smaller weddings - as in grandparent age brides, church hall receptions with no dj at all.
Was it just an anomoly? I''ve had odd years in the past as well so one year of a, um, 'unique trend' isn't enough for me to change things.
17 is looking to be a big year, for me and from I'm hearing from others. Last year was down overall everyone says (dj, photog, halls, caterers).
Here's one of the reasons why some of you can charge 1k or more. There are those out there that only play music. They just show up with some speakers and a little other gear and just play music. Nothing more than that. Some of you go way beyond that and that is why you can on average get paid more than the DJ just coming in and just playing music.
I charge well over $1000 and I show up and play music with 4 wash lights, it has very little to do with gear, people hire me not my equipment
Playing music with lights??? You'll have to show me that trick... I've been showing up with audio gear! [emoji1]
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