In my area there isn't a place that has 3 flights of stairs , Ive had to go 2 flights and its the same price i don't nickel and dime people, maybe thats the reason why i am fairly busy, reasonably priced and great service with a smile :tribiggrin:
Weddings What do you charge?
- Thread starter TJtheDJ
- Start date
In my area there isn't a place that has 3 flights of stairs , Ive had to go 2 flights and its the same price i don't nickel and dime people, maybe thats the reason why i am fairly busy, reasonably priced and great service with a smile :tribiggrin:
let put it this way most of the places i have played at have been ground floor, farthest Ive had to go was 2nd floor
So you see, "What do you charge?" is a question that a simple generic number does not fully provide the answer to.
I do events from 350 to 700, if its a wedding I always ask the venue, then the number of people, this can determine the price. if they call and just want to know what you charge an hour, slow them down and get the essentials,, they are just shopping, I tell them its not just the play time, its setup/breakdown and the several hours you plan the music into folders.
weather its the ground floor or 3rd floor i charge the same price , i don't have the fancy flat screen TV set up and the clients know this so when you call i give you all my info and my price which is $550.00 for 4 hours
:trismug::tritongue::triwink::tribiggrin:The key as to what to charge is inherent in your own mind (WYW) and abilities, equipment.
Most of us, but I speak for myself, deliver a product based upon variables; time, size of sound system, load-in issues, mileage. If your claim is "mobile dj" then travel is an issue. Last year I travelled 4.5 hours (one way), stayed overnight in hotel day before and night of wedding. I suppose you'd consider that for $550 and not blink an eye? Some of us include lighting for dance floor and room decor lighting in our price, others choose to bill as additional to the flat fee. So, there is no standard price other than what we figure in our head, so-to-speak.
I have a flatt 4-hour price and a 5-hour price. If someone want 3-hr, its the 4-hr price.
Like others have asked, where you from? What's your price? Please entertain us with your particulars.
Most of us, but I speak for myself, deliver a product based upon variables; time, size of sound system, load-in issues, mileage. If your claim is "mobile dj" then travel is an issue. Last year I travelled 4.5 hours (one way), stayed overnight in hotel day before and night of wedding. I suppose you'd consider that for $550 and not blink an eye? Some of us include lighting for dance floor and room decor lighting in our price, others choose to bill as additional to the flat fee. So, there is no standard price other than what we figure in our head, so-to-speak.
I have a flatt 4-hour price and a 5-hour price. If someone want 3-hr, its the 4-hr price.
Like others have asked, where you from? What's your price? Please entertain us with your particulars.
as i stated before my travel area is 30 to 50 miles so i would not be staying at a motel
I will fill out my profile.
Some of you say you need a base line. I included some typical variables. 7 hour show - Cocktail/Dinner/ 4h dance with a basic light show.
I have been doing my own looking and have found some pretty consistent pricing all over Canada and the U.S. Which is why I asked, because I am getting the sense of how much people charge is based more on our own self value than what people are willing to pay as a general rule.
As I said in my area prices ranges $500 - $2000. There are only 2 company's that charge the $2000 price and 80% of everyone else is in the $500-$750 market there being about 20 or so people advertising as DJs.
So my follow up question: How much time do you put into marketing your business? Not money per say because marketing can be done many different ways and I think a dollar value would not be relevant.
When you look at your average day, say you had 4 hours for example. How many hours do you spend on marketing your business vs how many hours do you spend doing your business (books, training, upkeep of equipment etc)?
I will answer this again for my self first. If I had 4 hours in a day every day I would spend no less than half my time on marketing. If not up to 3 of the 4 hours. And yes I do spend time every day on my marketing in my area from looking at my online ads, paper ads, networking with other businesses, testing and changing my ads and so on.
Some of you say you need a base line. I included some typical variables. 7 hour show - Cocktail/Dinner/ 4h dance with a basic light show.
I have been doing my own looking and have found some pretty consistent pricing all over Canada and the U.S. Which is why I asked, because I am getting the sense of how much people charge is based more on our own self value than what people are willing to pay as a general rule.
As I said in my area prices ranges $500 - $2000. There are only 2 company's that charge the $2000 price and 80% of everyone else is in the $500-$750 market there being about 20 or so people advertising as DJs.
So my follow up question: How much time do you put into marketing your business? Not money per say because marketing can be done many different ways and I think a dollar value would not be relevant.
When you look at your average day, say you had 4 hours for example. How many hours do you spend on marketing your business vs how many hours do you spend doing your business (books, training, upkeep of equipment etc)?
I will answer this again for my self first. If I had 4 hours in a day every day I would spend no less than half my time on marketing. If not up to 3 of the 4 hours. And yes I do spend time every day on my marketing in my area from looking at my online ads, paper ads, networking with other businesses, testing and changing my ads and so on.
When we all were going through law school, they told us most dropouts become DJ's.
:tritongue:
I cover alot more than 30 / 50 miles.
For me, the first 1.5 sets are free. The other 1.5 is gonna cost ya dearly.
If you know the 'consistent pricing', then why ask us?
Your price should reflect the work you put into the show and the service you provide the customer. Rule #1, You Get What You Pay For. Some of us have been doing this for eons, so the customer is also paying for our experience and knowledge.
I also don't carry fancy flat screen TV's but my rate changes with how far I have to go (need to buy this funny smellin' stuff called gasoline), how much equipment is required, how long the show is, etc. Will there be pre event meetings, etc. All of this gets rolled into my price.
Houston, that was Proctologist School. Astronaut's are those guys that go on a rocket ship into outer space.
:triwink:
I use a service called gigmasters, you can get one that covers 100 miles one that covers 500 miles, now I dont go out 500m miles , but the 500 can get me in different areas , Im near greenville,sc, so this takes me towards Charlotte,Asheville,NC, Columbia,SC, Charleston,And this side of atlanta, and if you get gigs worth the money Ill take em
Let's see, I have charged as little as a $100, also worked for free - a lot - and had one event @ $4100. :tritongue:
*blushes and shrugs* For me at this point, with just starting to establish myself, my price to get off the couch is to break even, and for the year to be able to maintain and improve my setup. My love is ultimately to learn music and people and to rock the event.
But I just...can't dial up anything over $400 right now. I guess hobby versus occupation Really comes into play on this question. For instance, I work at a high school and set up for, and mix live for all of the hockey and basketball home games. I get maybe $50 and a hot dog, but I love exposing people to a good dj and hopefully digging up some more clients.
Simply, it matters a ton on whether its your livelihood because then you do start counting pennies
And as was said, it somewhere between what you get away with and what gets you off the couch- Ausumm
But I just...can't dial up anything over $400 right now. I guess hobby versus occupation Really comes into play on this question. For instance, I work at a high school and set up for, and mix live for all of the hockey and basketball home games. I get maybe $50 and a hot dog, but I love exposing people to a good dj and hopefully digging up some more clients.
Simply, it matters a ton on whether its your livelihood because then you do start counting pennies
And as was said, it somewhere between what you get away with and what gets you off the couch- Ausumm
the biggest thing no one has said is you can only get what your area will pay,
some have said they get $2000 for a wedding i don't care how many bells and whistles and fancy flat screens you got come to my neck of the woods and you would be out of business in a week the money is NOT here, i only wish i could get $2000 here i know its never gonna happen.Big city more money small town they laugh at you
some have said they get $2000 for a wedding i don't care how many bells and whistles and fancy flat screens you got come to my neck of the woods and you would be out of business in a week the money is NOT here, i only wish i could get $2000 here i know its never gonna happen.Big city more money small town they laugh at you