Dealing with Talent Agents - an NYE event

[DJ Ricky B]

I had a Talent Agent call me up out of the blue. He has been in the business a very long time, and he use to work with my Dad back in the 70s. I hadn't talked to him in probably 7 years.

Anyway, he has an account at a Casino where he is looking to book a DJ. The DJ they had last year was more local to the casino (Only lived 20 minutes away from it). That DJ charges $220 for a 4 hour show on a regular Saturday night. He asked for $375 for New Years Eve last year. Well this year, that DJ is already booked for NYE. So they needed to find someone. The guy in charge of entertainment at the Casino was shown my website, and he was originally interested in my older brother, but he is already booked. He was interested in me as the next option as he wants a DJ with Wedding Experience since it's a crowd that will want music from different generations.

Anyway, I offered to do the job for $500 to me. The Agent is charging $600, and taking $100 off the top (He usually takes 33%, but knows if he adds 33% to $500 the Casino won't want to pay it. I'm wondering if I should have asked for a little more money because he called the Casino guy up, and he wanted to book right away. ...Then again NYE is on a Thursday night this year as well...so basically a week night gig.

I let another Talent Agent(The Agency that regularly books me) know I am putting NYE on hold, and he responded basically saying "You are stupid to accept $500 this early". ...Of course I did a gig for him last year on NYE which also paid me $500. ...I am thinking he just saying that cuz he doesn't want me to take a gig from another agent, and is losing out on making money by not being able to book me that night with the same client (Of course that client hasn't re booked yet, and it's almost September)


Just thought I'd share.

NYE is pretty weak, and I look at it as one of those nights that either I want to work, and make some money, or take the night off. I know it wouldn't book at $1,000, but I probably low balled it a bit offering to do it for $500. This is the second New years in a row I will be working. Next year I plan to take off.

 

[steve149]

Why take it off next year? Celebrate on New Year's Day Eve instead ...

 

[DJ Ricky B]

True. Except being married, it's just a good idea to take NYE off once in a while. Even if it's just spending time with the wife at home.

 

[steve149]

Certainly you need to decide your own schedule, but there aren't many good gigs in the Winter other than holiday parties and NYE.

 

[DJ Ricky B]

Yeah, I remember when I use to look at New Years Eve as the biggest money night of the year, and would always try to ask for Double a normal event. I booked NYE back in 2002 for like $800 which was a lot to me back then being 20 years old. The Recession changed all that. Not to mention, people use to look at NYE as a special night to go out and party. It's really toned down over the years. Drunk Driving Laws, and the fact that too many venues were trying to over charge patrons in general to party for the night got old. I had a couple of dry years, and then realized that NYE is essentially a night that if I want to book, I can either look at it as just a "regular gig" week night (Not an in demand Saturday) right before the DEAD season kicks in, OR I can just opt to have the night off.

This past January and both February were DEAD. I didn't have my first gig this year until March 7th, and even that was a short birthday party. So, essentially, I'm thinking I should probably work NYE this year, and plan to do no gigs in January because right now January is wide open again, and so is February so far.

 

[tunes4046]

I have always booked new years EVE at $200 per hour with a 4 hour minimum, one of the highest demand nights there is basically the only night you can make real money at a bar/ club gig

 

[DJ Ricky B]

I have always booked new years EVE at $200 per hour with a 4 hour minimum, one of the highest demand nights there is basically the only night you can make real money at a bar/ club gig

I have only booked NYE above $500 twice. Back in 2002 I was able to book it for $800. Back then it was easier to book at a good price. In 2010 I was able to book it for $650 at a Luxury Senior Citizen apartment complex out in Delaware. Every other year I have worked it was for $500 or less.


My Dad is working NYE at an American Legion as he always does. They pay double for NYE to him which is $400. The Elks Lodge will only pay $300 for NYE (1.5x) what they normally pay for a 4 hour show which is $200.

The Agency get's contacted by local restaurants and bars down near D.C. every December for NYE. The restaurants/bars are higher upscale places usually. They tell the agency they have a budget of $250 or $300 for NYE. The Agency finds DJs for a few of them, but most of them the agency can't get a DJ to work for so low, so they don't bother. I have a feeling some of those restaurants just go without a DJ in the end. Most of those places don't regularly have DJs though...they just decide to try to bring one in for NYE.

 

[Ausumm]

I remember in the beginning...when I worked at the multi-op.
We would hesitate to say "Yes" to a NYE gig in September...
cause there was a darn good chance a better offer was coming.
These days, I would say "YES" if someone asked me in February!

But, it is supposed to be the highest paying night of the year, regardless of the day of the week.
I was getting $1000 for a private gig with less than 50 people...
which seemed to be the average for a non-bar party.

 

[Jeff Romard]

Why take it off next year? Celebrate on New Year's Day Eve instead ...

That's what I've done for the last 33 of them I've never been out on a NYE since I was a kid I've played every NYE this year it's a wedding they booked back in January. At this point we have another one also for a regular client, a local community hall. We have done NYE for them the last 6 years

I've never played for less than $450 on a NYE and the last time it was for $500 was in the late 80s. It's strange I probably live in the lowest priced market in North America but NYE they will open the purse strings and throw money at you

 

[rhythmgj]

The rule we always used and I always heard was "3X your normal rate."

I too have grown accustomed to staying home with the family on NYE, however. They would have to offer me A LOT of $$ to get off the couch...

GJ

 

[rhythmgj]

PS-- Watch out with the agent thing. Do you know him (either of them?) really well? Are they trustworthy? There is still a lot of "double-contracting" going on...

GJ

 

[Randy A]

I'm not familiar with your talent, business model or demographic area, so it's hard to give you advise on whether you're going in cheap or not.

For myself, ALL holidays are premium fees. I'd really rather spend the time off and with family/friends. I even black out certain holidays and won't even entertain working those dates. After doing it for almost 3 years and losing the most important thing in my life (my wife) it just isn't worth it to me.

 

[rickryan.com]

The last time I booked NYE (this was direct, no agency), I was charging $650. I didn't want to work it but since it was a referral from a prime source I quoted $1300. Much to my dismay, they took it. 12/31 is also my Anniversary. I took so much heat that it was my last NYE gig. Incidentally, in answer to your question, yes, I think you booked it entirely too cheap.

 

[Ausumm]

The last time I booked NYE (this was direct, no agency), I was charging $650. I didn't want to work it but since it was a referral from a prime source I quoted $1300. Much to my dismay, they took it. 12/31 is also my Anniversary. I took so much heat that it was my last NYE gig. Incidentally, in answer to your question, yes, I think you booked it entirely too cheap.

Being married as well, I completely understand the heat you took.
But my wife is only sentimental about our anniversary to a certain price point.
I've worked on our anniversary several times in the last 28 years, with her approval.
Heck, we can go out to dinner and celebrate it ANY day we want.
But of course, having a birthday the day after Christmas, having three sets of parents, and parents that live far away...
means we are quite used to not always celebrating things on the actual day.

 

[DJ Ricky B]

Being married as well, I completely understand the heat you took.
But my wife is only sentimental about our anniversary to a certain price point.
I've worked on our anniversary several times in the last 28 years, with her approval.
Heck, we can go out to dinner and celebrate it ANY day we want.
But of course, having a birthday the day after Christmas, having three sets of parents, and parents that live far away...
means we are quite used to not always celebrating things on the actual day.

You all need to ask your wife if it's okay to work? Do you ask them if it's okay to buy anything?

 

[Chuck The DJ]

My wife married into the life... she knows that since I am full time that I can only work so many days a month,,, if an event happens to fall on her or my BD, I take it,, Christmas, Anniversary,,, and even NYE... I will work. Unless of course we plan something really special, but in the 24 years of marriage, we just don't do that.

With that being said I will charge enough on those days to make it worth my while and in 24 years, I think there have been 3 N
YE that I haven't worked.... but what works for me, may not work for you. You have to make your own decisions on what is best for you, your family and your business.

 

[rhythmgj]

Absolutely ^^^^. And DJ Ricky, you're not married, are you?

GJ

 

[DJ Ricky B]

Absolutely ^^^^. And DJ Ricky, you're not married, are you?

GJ

Definitely married!

Yesterday was the 7 year mark of our engagement. I totally wasn't thinking about it till she mentioned it on face book.

I had made the excuse "I have to ask my wife!" before I bought my last car LOL. I took her to test drive my Chevy Traverse to "get her okay" before I bought, BUT...I now see that might have been a mistake. She acted like she wanted it too much. "Oh, this is sooooo nice, it ride's sooo nice" ...In my mind I'm thinking "SHUT UP!"

I probably could have worked out a better deal on my trade in when dealing with the dealer, but with my wife talking too much, it hindered my advantage. I realized that. Next time. Just buy the car myself. The Wife can test drive it after I buy it

 

[rhythmgj]

Don't forget Rick-- "Please be advised, this is a public forum..."

GJ

 

[DJ Bobcat]

I would probably take a NYE gig for $400 for 4 hours, but unloading and loading would likely be VERY unpleasant! At that time of year we generally have snow and ice. Sitting at home by a fire on NYE with the wife and a glass of champagne is much more enjoyable[emoji4]!


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