This is hitting way below the belt.

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
Jeff Romard said:
That's generalizing multi-ops a bit Cap we don't all work on that basis. actually last weekend I helped another multi in my area he was on vacation and had a bit of a crisis. Even though I had 4 this weekend I stepped in and found a DJ and made arrangements for him to make sure no one was left in the cold. I'm sure he would do the same for me. Between the two of us we save many gigs that single ops bail on
Click to expand...
When I did muli-op I had two guys that were paid 375 a week, they did mostly bar gigs and an occasional wedding they got a $200 bonus if they did a wedding that week I supplied all the gear and music, this was the early 90's they were very loyal, $20,000 a tear in the early 90's for a part time job for a 19 -24 year old wasn't terrible money
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard and ittigger
there have been some wedding photography outfits like that.

5 years ago a good wedding photog would get $2000 for a wedding - they offered $400-600. All you did was talk with the bride a week before the wedding, show up and shoot (your gear). No selling, no editing. They did all that.

Now, you had to shoot as an ass't at least 2 weddings, for free, with one of their experienced guys - not so much training, but a check out of your skills on the job, not just the 10 best pictures you ever took.

Some like that - just do the fun part, take pictures (or play music) with none of the 'business' part to deal with. But like everytyhing in life, if you only do part of the job you only get part of a paycheck.

And like most things, sales pays the best.

Now if you're filling in open dates it's not a losing proposition, any money is better than no money. But NONE of these will let you market you of course..so there's no residual value in it for you.

And once you get used to $100/night you go chargre $300 and feel you hit the big time - and kill the industry.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard
First I'm glad I made this thread instead of regretting it. The thing about the photography deal sounds not that bad considering we're talking $400-600 per shoot. That's way better then $50-100. Itigger I'm only going by what the ad said. You're probably right but that would mean you're assuming that is the case. One thing to remember is I have a van that I drive and it cost money for gas, tolls and maintenance. Either the next oil change or the one after that one I will need some break work. Depending on where the event is to take place it may cost me anywhere between $50-75 to show up to do the event. Remember this ad was from NY. So we're not talking around the corner. I think if I'm not mistaken it cost $14 to get into NY through the 2 tunnels or GWB. For me not worth it.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
First I'm glad I made this thread instead of regretting it. The thing about the photography deal sounds not that bad considering we're talking $400-600 per shoot. That's way better then $50-100. Itigger I'm only going by what the ad said. You're probably right but that would mean you're assuming that is the case. One thing to remember is I have a van that I drive and it cost money for gas, tolls and maintenance. Either the next oil change or the one after that one I will need some break work. Depending on where the event is to take place it may cost me anywhere between $50-75 to show up to do the event. Remember this ad was from NY. So we're not talking around the corner. I think if I'm not mistaken it cost $14 to get into NY through the 2 tunnels or GWB. For me not worth it.
Click to expand...
If you only need your laptop, you can do it by train or bus a lot cheaper.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard
steve149 said:
If you only need your laptop, you can do it by train or bus a lot cheaper.
Click to expand...
You're right. That would be cheaper. Also a PITA to me. Now I got to worry about what might happen on the bus or train carrying my laptop or whatever else. Anyway they can have that work. Let somebody else take that on.
 
Depends...
The typical gear i take to DJ cost me less than 4 grand. Plus music.
A gig is 5 hours (wedding) most of the time, and prep is what, an hour or two at most, hour setup 1/2 hour tear down. Under 8 hours all in.

Most full time and even serious hobbyist photogs have 'pro' bodies - canon's latest is $3499. JUST the camera. You'll need an extra battery ($80) and lenses - cover 16 to 200 at 2.8 is about $5500.
And you need a second camera, can be used, so $2k, flash ($1000 plus - again, one is none, two is one!), plus memory cards, computer and software to cull the images, etc.
Time wise..rarely is a photog working less than 7 or 8 shooting hours, a bit less on setup/tear down. Travel is the same for both so i'm ignoring it.
Meetwise/prep is an hour tops.

Now if you do it for yourself and edit the wedding afterwards add 8 to 20 hours. But since we're just trying to compare apples to apples..

So my wedding photog bag has about $23,000 of gear in it. Well in excess of my DJ gear's cost, and my insurance is more than double as well - few people will walk off wiht a speaker..but a $2000 lens will fit in a pocket.

the real bitch is in 2000 a typical photog would get $3500 for a self-employed wedding and $1000 easy for shooting for someone else. And the gear was a tad cheaper and lasted longer (digital is out of date the week you buy it LOL).

At least DJ prices have risen, not much, but they're not 1/3 what they were 15 years ago!

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
First I'm glad I made this thread instead of regretting it. The thing about the photography deal sounds not that bad considering we're talking $400-600 per shoot. That's way better then $50-100. Itigger I'm only going by what the ad said. You're probably right but that would mean you're assuming that is the case. One thing to remember is I have a van that I drive and it cost money for gas, tolls and maintenance. Either the next oil change or the one after that one I will need some break work. Depending on where the event is to take place it may cost me anywhere between $50-75 to show up to do the event. Remember this ad was from NY. So we're not talking around the corner. I think if I'm not mistaken it cost $14 to get into NY through the 2 tunnels or GWB. For me not worth it.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard
IceBurghDJ said:
Depends...
The typical gear i take to DJ cost me less than 4 grand. Plus music.
A gig is 5 hours (wedding) most of the time, and prep is what, an hour or two at most, hour setup 1/2 hour tear down. Under 8 hours all in.

Most full time and even serious hobbyist photogs have 'pro' bodies - canon's latest is $3499. JUST the camera. You'll need an extra battery ($80) and lenses - cover 16 to 200 at 2.8 is about $5500.
And you need a second camera, can be used, so $2k, flash ($1000 plus - again, one is none, two is one!), plus memory cards, computer and software to cull the images, etc.
Time wise..rarely is a photog working less than 7 or 8 shooting hours, a bit less on setup/tear down. Travel is the same for both so i'm ignoring it.
Meetwise/prep is an hour tops.

Now if you do it for yourself and edit the wedding afterwards add 8 to 20 hours. But since we're just trying to compare apples to apples..

So my wedding photog bag has about $23,000 of gear in it. Well in excess of my DJ gear's cost, and my insurance is more than double as well - few people will walk off wiht a speaker..but a $2000 lens will fit in a pocket.

the real bitch is in 2000 a typical photog would get $3500 for a self-employed wedding and $1000 easy for shooting for someone else. And the gear was a tad cheaper and lasted longer (digital is out of date the week you buy it LOL).

At least DJ prices have risen, not much, but they're not 1/3 what they were 15 years ago!
Click to expand...
I am lusting that 5d4 ... though I was hoping far a slightly faster frame rate. I'll wait until it's down to $2500 or below.
 
I believe your anger is misguided.

If they want to hire the least expensive help, I say go for it. They are not going to give me and my team a black eye. They can train them, and I can come in and take the best ones and finish their training properly.

If they have somehow discovered how to find great help at cheap prices that can exceed customers expectations and will stay, then they deserve the business. But I expect they have not and will find unreliable help.

Spend your time trying to grow your business. Getting angry and Sending off emails to others about how they run their business does you no good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard, SEDJ and steve149
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Itigger I'm only going by what the ad said. You're probably right but that would mean you're assuming that is the case. One thing to remember is I have a van that I drive and it cost money for gas, tolls and maintenance. Either the next oil change or the one after that one I will need some break work. Depending on where the event is to take place it may cost me anywhere between $50-75 to show up to do the event. Remember this ad was from NY. So we're not talking around the corner. I think if I'm not mistaken it cost $14 to get into NY through the 2 tunnels or GWB. For me not worth it.
Click to expand...

All I can do is guess - using the info provided. Unless you have specific knowledge, then you're also assuming. You could easily call and talk to them and validate any questions you have.

NY is NOT THAT FAR from you. What 15 minutes?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard
ittigger said:
All I can do is guess - using the info provided. Unless you have specific knowledge, then you're also assuming. You could easily call and talk to them and validate any questions you have.

NY is NOT THAT FAR from you. What 15 minutes?
Click to expand...
You forgot about traffic. It could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes to get into NY through the tunnels or bridge.
 
Last edited:
Ok? It's not like you're a zillion miles from NY. I'm further from DC or Baltimore than you are from NY. During rush hour, either of those could take a few hours to get to. If you need to get there, then you plan accordingly.

Again, you have no idea what these people pay for experienced people with their own equipment. They may cover fuel / tolls. You're assuming all they pay is $50-$100.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard and sonic-vision
Maybe they meant $50-$100 / hr. Maybe they need ONLY a DJ - they setup everything and only need someone to plug in and play - $50-$100 might be enough for that.
 
ittigger said:
Maybe they meant $50-$100 / hr. Maybe they need ONLY a DJ - they setup everything and only need someone to plug in and play - $50-$100 might be enough for that.
Click to expand...
Simple question to you. If all you had to do was plug in and play would you accept $50-100?
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Simple question to you. If all you had to do was plug in and play would you accept $50-100?
Click to expand...

Keep in mind, this may be 'beginner' pay .. but if you did one per day - that's $700 per week,

If you think about it - if your cost is $300 on a 3 hour party using your own equipment, you're only getting $100 to plug in and play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Romard
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back