Why do we get paid less?

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Abbey Lane

DJ
Jan 22, 2008
1,484
22
Ontario
Did an event recently and when I got paid I was to busy, so I just put the money in my pocket without counting it. At the end of the event, after packing up I counted the money and discovered that I had got over paid. By then the man paying me was gone. A few days later he called me and said that he had given me the envelope for the video photographer and I owed him money.

Then, I started thinking why is the video guy getting paid more then the DJ. Never mind the memories crap. Without the DJ there would not have been an event.

Why do we do it? Maybe I should change over and become a video photographer. It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL .. and splice on their computers in the comfort of their own home.

Anyone know a good software program?
 
Well, I must be paid in full before the event not on the event day this would never happen. I also get paid in cash maybe once in the last 3 years. Most of my customers pay by Credit Card. Checks are down it's about 60 / 40 Credit to checks right now.


On to your question, if you feel you are more valuable than the videographer then you must charge more. Simply the videographer asked for more money than you. Maybe he didn't get a deposit, maybe that was only a partial.

Currently with HD camera's and computer editing being very easy most videoographers here charge $1000 now. That's about $200 more than my small basic package.

When it comes down to it I see video being about the same prep as a DJ, the same working time, but the difference is editing. Also there is possible graphic design of title slides and such.
 
Abbey Lane said:
Did an event recently and when I got paid I was to busy, so I just put the money in my pocket without counting it. At the end of the event, after packing up I counted the money and discovered that I had got over paid. By then the man paying me was gone. A few days later he called me and said that he had given me the envelope for the video photographer and I owed him money.

Then, I started thinking why is the video guy getting paid more then the DJ. Never mind the memories crap. Without the DJ there would not have been an event.

Why do we do it? Maybe I should change over and become a video photographer. It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL .. and splice on their computers in the comfort of their own home.
Click to expand...



:sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:


Well, let's put it this way.... I know 3 very good videographers that used to also work at the TV station I worked at.... Their day starts several hours before our day does, and when they go home they still have 8- 10 hours more work to do, you know, "splicing".... and quite possibly, the value of their equipment can easily exceed the value of DJ gear. I know a guy who shoots weddings with a $40,000 camera. And he has a small studio in his home with easily another $100K of editing and video processing gear.

That's why.


One of the guys from the TV station uses 2 of these:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webap...d=406090&catGroupId=34401&surfModel=AG-HPX370

He paid $9000 per camera.
 
Abbey Lane said:
It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL .. and splice on their computers in the comfort of their own home.

Anyone know a good software program?
Click to expand...

That's the sort of uneducated comment that pisses off a lot of us. (See Papa's post again)

I know you don't want to hear the "memories" crap, but the hard truth is that you will NEVER convince enough people (especially a bride) that the DJ is really worth as much as the rest of the vendors. In my opinion, in most cases, we're not.

I work hard to make the reception great and to insure a fun time to be had by all, but much of the actual execution is practically effortless (for me).

I have seen first hand what a great photographer, videographer, caterer and baker does to produce an equally great result. I'm a great DJ and I'll concede that they work harder and are under more scrutiny than myself.

That videographer was probably on the clock from the time she was getting her hair done and then has to go back the next day and edit all the footage together. Our night ends when the lights come on.

I have a great respect for the other vendors at an event.
 
It's true, the videographers we know well have very nice and pricey gear. And like Hank said, our night ends once the lights come on, there may be a bit of follow up from us, but that's it. Videographers (depending on the amount of footage, level of commitment, etc) can spend 40 hours after the wedding and reception "splicing" video and getting everything to be just right.
 
Abbey Lane said:
Did an event recently and when I got paid I was to busy, so I just put the money in my pocket without counting it. At the end of the event, after packing up I counted the money and discovered that I had got over paid. By then the man paying me was gone. A few days later he called me and said that he had given me the envelope for the video photographer and I owed him money.

Then, I started thinking why is the video guy getting paid more then the DJ. Never mind the memories crap. Without the DJ there would not have been an event.

Why do we do it? Maybe I should change over and become a video photographer. It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL .. and splice on their computers in the comfort of their own home.

Anyone know a good software program?
Click to expand...

I think it really comes down to perception as others have mentioned. After your services are done, that's it -- it's over with. Videoographers and photographers all give the client something physical to hold afterward.

That's not mentioning the fact that to the average onlooker our job appears pretty easy. We're not hustling around to get everyone lined up for pictures or kneeling down to get the best shot -- Again perception.
 
What Hanks says is right.....Photographers/videographers provide a tangible item; photos and video's; something than can be looked at in 20 years...

Do you believe that someone will remember in 20 years that the DJ was just "ok". When we finish our part, we're done....just like the venue....
 
A DJ and a Videographer are both important to the success of an event. Videographers get paid more because they do a lot more than a DJ. 1 event can occupy 40 - 50 hours of work time. The equipment cost alone outweighs the cost of the DJ's gear. Especially cheap DJ's that choose to use Behringer, Gemini and other garbage gear.
 
Videographers don't have to contend with a bunch of wannabes slashing prices so the Fees in their Industry are a bit more prestigious and stable across the board.
 
ahoustondj said:
Videographers don't have to contend with a bunch of wannabes slashing prices so the Fees in their Industry are a bit more prestigious and stable across the board.
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Well, not as much, anyway, but trust me, it happens.
 
Abbey Lane said:
It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL .. and splice on their computers in the comfort of their own home. Anyone know a good software program?
Click to expand...

the same could be said about DJ's.
except we push PLAY, they push RECORD!
but there is A LOT more involved.
as Hank noted:

That videographer was probably on the clock from the time she was getting her hair done and then has to go back the next day and edit all the footage together. Our night ends when the lights come on.

maybe your prices are too low
maybe his was too high
and as Cam said, maybe that was full payment
and not just the balance due
 
One other thing I wanted to add, which is primarily an opinion, but based on my observations.

Many videographers have real offices to pay for. From what I have seen, not as many DJ's, unless they are multi -ops actually have a real office to pay for.

I have no experience in being a videographer, but I doubt many of them book weddings solely over the phone, like many DJs do. People want to come and see their work, and that works best in a real office.
 
Really guys? We are going to waste our time on this?


The bottom line truth on all these topics we seem to keep discussing all have the same bottom line.

It doesn't matter if you charge $10 or $10,000....the real perception comes from the clients. They are the ones who find the value in our services.


Forget about arguing who works more and the likes....it's all wasted energy if you ask me.
 
DJMN said:
the real perception comes from the clients. They are the ones who find the value in our services.
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If most of the participants in this thread want to suggest why D.J.s shouldn't get paid well (or as well as the videographers) to clients, that's their prerogative. I find it sad, and somewhat stunning, however.
 
Steve Sharp said:
If most of the participants in this thread want to suggest why D.J.s shouldn't get paid well (or as well as the videographers) to clients, that's their prerogative. I find it sad, and somewhat stunning, however.
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I don't think a single DJ thinks we shouldn't get paid well, and certainly nobody said that. But if we are being honest with ourselves, it costs more to be a good videographer, and more time is spent per event.

J Mac, mentioned some folks doing 40 hours of editing. I don't know of any that do, because they certainly couldn't make decent $$$ per hour doing that. That would mean a roughly 60 hour event when all is said and done. I don't know about where you folks live but most of the viddeographers I know - and I know a whole lot of them - charge $1200 - $1500. With upsells they might get to $2200. Now divide that by 60, and figure out costs....

Most of the guys I know pop out the edited video with 8 - 10 hours of editing. Add to that a 10 - 12 hour day of shooting, and any time spent on meetings, and you have 20 - 25 hours of time invested.
 
Steve
I dont think we were saying that DJ's should get paid less as a rule
I think we were trying to explain why (in this case)
the videographer at Abbey's wedding got paid more
(or appeared to get more)
and explain to Abbey that videographers do more than one might assume.

from the original post...

"Then, I started thinking why is the video guy getting paid more then the DJ. It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL .. and splice on their computers in the comfort of their own home."
 
Just a thought here...

I paid the same price for the video guy and DJ at my wedding ($250 bucks in 1987 dollars -- about $500 in today's dollars).

I still watch the video on occasion (the marriage sucked, but the reception was fun)... ;) :)


My priorities were different though -- more money went to the honeymoon I think, than anything else, and I look at the pics from that, more than anything else :)
 
Abbey Lane said:
Maybe I should change over and become a video photographer. It can't be that hard all they do is push record. LOL
Click to expand...
(emphasis added...)

LOL, why should you even get paid CLOSE to what the videographer does they would argue... what you do can't be that hard - all YOU do is push PLAY! :sqlaugh:

But seriously - The only thing I worry about LESS than what other dj's are making is what other vendor TYPES are making.
 
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