What is a fair net pay for a DJ that you book on gigs?

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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I haven't booked my sister on a gig since last year. She knows that I have always taken 15% off the top. I booked her on a last minute gig this past weekend that paid fairly well for 5 hours. It was an opening day at a new luxury apartment complex. They paid me with a credit card the day of the event as my sister had just set up her equipment at the location since it was so last minute.

Now I pay my DJs a 85% NET of their pay, and I even offer to direct deposit right into their bank accounts the Wednesday after an event just so they don't have to wait for a check in the mail. I will mail them a check if they prefer that as well.

Anyway, Today I direct deposited my sister's pay. I texted her letting her know I deposited her pay, and how much it is. She texts me with an angry tone asking why $90 is missing. I'm like "Umm...you get paid 85% NET. The gross amount is $600, so you are being paid $510. I do have to pay for the web site, advertising, insurance etc. etc. you know"

She then goes on saying "Fine, I need a receipt for the $90 then since my $90 is going to pay for business expenses" ...WTF? ...I said "No...you get 1099 for what I pay you at the end of the year...there are no receipts".

My sister all of a sudden has a stick up her butt, and thinks I shouldn't be taking any money on stuff I book her on through a company that I run, and pay for.

Her tone is almost like "biting the hand that feeds you"

Compared to other DJ companies out there, and KNOWING that the talent agency that books her takes 25% commission...I think that 15% is very, very fair. I'm not out do take advantage of her or any other of our DJs.

How much do you pay your DJs? Or what percentage do you take out of the total?


If you have a DJ who all of a sudden has a problem with their pay, how do you, or would you handle it?
 
I wouldn't confront her, just don't book her again. In my own case, any DJ who provides their own gear gets 66.6% of whatever the take is. If a job pays $750 and the venue gets $75 for a marketing fee then the DJ gets 66.6% of $675, net pay in this case would be $450. If I provide the gear, they get 50% of the take. Your sister is COMPLETELY and utterly in the wrong here. If it were someone I were hiring, her phone would never ring again (at least from me).
 
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If you didn't have a standing negotiated employment agreement with your sister then her surprise at your cut is understandable.

You haven't booked her in over a year, so I don't think you have a valid claim to "expenses" associated with giving her a gig you couldn't do anyway. I would call this a schedule conflict on your part, over-flow, and not really a booking agreement. You did after all, retain the contact and there is value in that.

That being said 85% is quite high. At best I would pay a DJ no more than 1/3 - 1/2 if I am producing the dates and clients. A good multi-op charging $1200+ likely pays out no more than $500 for an employee crew (MC $300/DJ $200) and $700 for sub-contractors.

Sales is actually more valuable than the DJ being sold because without a good sales department the DJ earns nothing; showcases none of their abilities. A bad DJ gets no more work - but, a good sales person can generate bookings for a large number of quality performers generating many more times the income of any single good DJ.

Keep in mind that having a website and some extra gigs does not establish a lot of value to someone who would be in your employ. Their perception of your value is one of agency - your ability to consistently produce repeating work for them. If you can do the latter you deserve a bigger cut.
 
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Show up and play...vs market to clients, negotiate, book, contract, insurance, overhead for all that to happen...85% seems very high to me. Now if she brought her own gear, provided her own music, had a lot of travel, issues at the gig then that's worth more.

The question I have always had trouble answering is the late booking bit - "got a wedding next week - can you make it?" vs "got a wedding in june or 2016" - should there be a price difference? And if so, in which direction? I have nothing booked this saturday so ANY money I make I see as 'free' money...but then maybe the client is in a bind and would be willing to pay a premium for such short notice...and same for 'employees' or subs.
 
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Your offer is more than fair, but what matters more is what she was expecting based on what things have been in the past / what you've told her / what she agreed to for this date. If it -wasn't- really discussed, and she just heard you throw out 85% when offering her the job, then...... I'd say both of you are to blame. You should have emphasized NET to her, even if you did actually say it, and she herself didn't listen carefully.

Possible solution might be to bite the bullet, split the difference, and make things clearer (if there is a) next time. Or just give her the $90, if you'd rather keep things nice. Splitting the difference, though, would be an equal compromise.
 
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Your sister's goodwill is probably worth more than the $90 you withheld. If she didn't understand the arrangement I would give it to her and start fresh for the future - in writing. Once the terms are clear and codified I think you can hold the line on future "confusion."
 
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15% is more than fair. There is expense to every gig. I've had guys balk at it before I simply tell them that anytime they want they can put out the expenses and go get their own gigs I'm OK with that. I take 10-15% on each one too If they are using my gear higher. Over the course of a year it comes close to paying my expenses. The big problem is in my area rates are lower than the average on this board so taking much more I would be hard pressed to get someone to do the gig

I'm not looking to make a killing on my other DJ's if I can pay the bills or at least a good portion with what I get from them I'm pretty content

The big thing I see is where it's your sister it may cause some family acrimony
 
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Here's the thing. I operate, and run our business, and handle all the finances, and the expenses come out of my own pocket. Yes, we are a family business, but I run everything, and my name is on everything to do with the business. My sister and brother both book themselves, but they don't spend a dime on their own websites, or advertising. I even cover their liability insurance. Whenever they need a certificate, I send it to the venue for them since I pay to have them covered. A few years ago my sister tried Eventective leads on her own. My brother tried Respond.com on his own. That was the extent of their own money being spent trying to earn business. My sister also did one bridal show she paid for a couple years ago where she got no bookings. They rely on two talent agents to book them, and my bro advertises on Craigslist and books maybe 2 to 3 gigs a year through there...usually cheap gigs on off dates.

I then manage to book them on some gigs through out the year as well. I certainly don't keep them busy, but me throwing them work does help them out, and they use the website for showing to their own clients as well to help market themselves.

In 2011 we had a dinner meeting, and we all agreed on a 85% NET to them whenever I book them on gigs with the understanding that most of the 15% that I would be withholding would go to help pay for the business expenses. They have their own equipment, and have been DJs longer than me! Talent Agents take 20% - 25% depending on the agent. ...So 15% is pretty darn fair.

I'm not sure what my sister's problem is. She was just telling me she needs gigs and needs to be booked. She had a good start this year because she was doing karaoke DJ gigs for the Casino here in Baltimore on Sunday nights...had a contract through February, but the Casino cancelled her. The Agents are not booking her as often as previous years, and she is a full time DJ. She is finding herself working for less and less on every gig lately, and she is probably becoming frustrated. She told me she has no bookings in July, and August, only a couple in June, and is getting worried.

I try my best to book her, but it's tough selling her and talking her up with clients. It seems many clients don't want a female DJ...Some do, but most of the ones that do lately are booking her because the price is competitive, not because they really, really want her and are willing to pay higher price. I can't help but think it is because she is getting older, and not in her 20s, and under 150 lbs any more.

She was complaining that the Her Talent Agents have not booked her on above $1,000 weddings this year. She says that the agents offer her and 2 to 3 other DJs, and almost all the time the prospect goes with one of the other DJs. It's probably because she doesn't market herself well, show them why they should go with her over the other DJs, and doesn't create the need for her services.
 
Oh, and speaking about the $90. The client paid with a credit card. There isn't event $90 left after the $18.60 credit card fee. Not to mention this client came from google adwords advertisement which cost's me $3.50 - $4.25 per click. The cost to retain this client probably cost me the $90.
 
Sounds like your sister might be having money problems .. the issue may be deeper than you've exposed.
 
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Ricky, this situation is not sustainable, long term. You are not taking out enough to make it worthwhile to you, and now your sister is even complaining about the pittance you take. Were I you, I would not confront either of them. I just simply would not book them on anything else, at all, period. If they ask you about it just answer, "Yea, it's been kinda slow lately."
 
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My brother doesn't complain about the 15%. He understands. ...Yes, my sister is having money problems. She has a dead beat X BF who owes her $14,000 in child support. They have another court date coming up in June where he will likely be thrown in Jail because he is not paying her monthly child support. He made one $800 payment just to stay out of jail on their last court date. She is a single mom with 2 kids, and Deejaying is her only income. She has received financial help from the family here and there over the years, but no one is in a position to help her, or willing to help her financially currently if she asks for it. I wish her the best, but her attitude right now certainly isn't healthy for anything.

I may just not bother booking her any more.

You are right though...15% is too low. There just isn't much incentive on my end to want to book them, and my customer retention costs have become pretty high in the last 18 months. 15% doesn't even cover it. I am considering sending her and bro an email stating that on future bookings the NET pay to them will be 75%. They need to reply to confirm that they are fine with that. If not, then they don't get booked by me.

I will take some time and think about that.
 
DJ Ricky B said:
I wish her the best, but her attitude right now certainly isn't healthy for anything.
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You may have summed the whole thing up right there. My wife DJ's for us and aside from me she gets the most referrals of anyone I've ever had working with us. It's also very rare that she answers the phone that she doesn't get the booking especially if it's a wedding and she's talking to the bride. She makes an instant connection with them for whatever reason

I'ts too bad your sister could be a very valuable asset selling brides if it was different
 
Ricky, 25% ain't enough either. I'm sorry for your family's situation. In light of what you said, she needs the income. In light of that I'd have a sit down with her and tell her how good she has it. I'd offer to keep trying to get her work but if she's going to balk at you just taking basic expenses out then she's on her own. Feel free to share the numbers I've given you and keep in mind, I'm being pretty generous. I know of 2 multi-ops in town who are paying $150-$250 to their DJs, and apparently getting away with it. You're doing her a major solid and she needs to understand that she needs to be very grateful instead of giving you grief. Good luck with it.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Oh, and speaking about the $90. The client paid with a credit card. There isn't event $90 left after the $18.60 credit card fee. Not to mention this client came from google adwords advertisement which cost's me $3.50 - $4.25 per click. The cost to retain this client probably cost me the $90.
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You're not gonna like this - and I'm not trying to be mean. It's just that most people take the path of least resistance, sympathize, pat you on the back - and are never honest enough tell you the truth about what they perceive, or anything that might help you.

You need to man up. Your siblings are simply performing to the standards you have set. If you are going to run the whole business then get to work and stop being so casual about it. You're the sales department and you're responsible for booking a fleet of three DJs. So get busy doing the real work of running a business - which is much more than simply paying some bills. .

Your sister needs to woman up. She may have outgrown DJing, or simply failed to grow but, she's responsible for two children and she needs to get a job, get trained, or do whatever it takes. The time for blaming the ex-BF is long over, she knows the reality and now every step forward belongs to her. Your sister likely display's too little self-confidence and too little self-esteem to get hired right now. She needs to fix that first, then people will find her a viable DJ.

Harsh I know. However, the voice in your own head is bound to be far more critical than mine. Congratulate your self for what you do well, just don't use it as an excuse to stop growing.
 
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Ricky aside from credit card costs what would be your cost on booking one of them a gig and what is they average price you are getting for them?
 
Jeff Romard said:
Ricky aside from credit card costs what would be your cost on booking one of them a gig and what is they average price you are getting for them?
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Well. My sister: I only booked her on two gigs last year. $500 gross on one, and $400 on a community pool party put on by Comcast Cable (Their budget is $400 for a DJ whenever they do anything). This last booking was $600 which was a apartment complex opening day. ...No weddings for my sister since 2013 from me.

My brother. I booked him on gigs between $345 for a non profit fund raiser on up to $1,275 for a big Wedding ceremony and reception last September.

In the past I have booked my sister on weddings as high as $1,050. In 2012 the agency booked her on a $1,600 gross event...that is the highest booking she has had as far as I know.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Well. My sister: I only booked her on two gigs last year. $500 gross on one, and $400 on a community pool party put on by Comcast Cable (Their budget is $400 for a DJ whenever they do anything). This last booking was $600 which was a apartment complex opening day. ...No weddings for my sister since 2013 from me.

My brother. I booked him on gigs between $345 for a non profit fund raiser on up to $1,275 for a big Wedding ceremony and reception last September.

In the past I have booked my sister on weddings as high as $1,050. In 2012 the agency booked her on a $1,600 gross event...that is the highest booking she has had as far as I know.
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So what does it cost you to get them a booking?
 
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