Why do we get paid less?

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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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Is Abbey our clients? (Well, maybe?...I mean she/he is still anonymous.)



I don't think anyone said what you seem to think they did. :sqconfused:

I find it more sad and stunning when someone has a hard time accepting or understanding the FACT that someone else in the room might actually be considered more valuable to the client than they are.


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All I'm worried about when I'm packing up is that I'm covering the expenses I need to cover and walking away with the modest profit margin I count on.

Note that any arbitrary and subjective notions of "what I'm 'worth'" aren't any part of that equation. :sqwink::sqlaugh::sqcool:
 
Abbey Lane said:
Then, I started thinking why is the video guy getting paid more then the DJ.
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Because he asked for it and you didn't.

Never mind the memories crap. Without the DJ there would not have been an event.
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It's not entirely clear which the client values more - the actual event or the video record of it.
 
There was an "LOL" at the end of the "just push play" comment. Am I the only one who saw that, before everyone started defending how much more valueable videographers are, versus D.J.s, here on a D.J. forum?
 
DJ PAUL said:
Go figure. DJs are the first to devalue what we do.


Paul
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Exactly. And it makes me sad.

I considered discussing the hours I spend managing music and video files (and then finding things from a list, that I'd never heard of, and then buying them), going over details with clients in person, over the phone, and in emails, gear maintenence, testing of new configurations of computers and audio and video video gear, making playlists full of ideas from the clients and some of my own based on theirs, and then backing up all of this on multiple systems "just in case", but yeah I just "push play" right?

Last Friday night, I spent four hours going through FIVE different video sources, trying to make sure they would all WORK. Four were Powerpoint presentations (why on earth would they submit a disc with POWERPOINT on them?). I found and used a conversion that yielded .avi video. I then went through all FIVE videos. One was supposed to be silent and used behind whatever was playing at that time. The other four had audio. One was supposed to, and did not. I replaced the song that was supposed to be there (and wasn't), and re-rendered it. Two had single songs, and were fine. One had a montage of music with HORRIBLE transitions, and audio levels all over the place. I fixed up the levels, and rerendered it. If I had run it "as is" and it sounded like garbage, do you think they'd have blamed Aunt (whomever) who made this presentation, or me the "sound" guy?

I should mention that I was brought in, as part of a team, 5 days before this wedding. They had just fired the D.J. the venue "recommends" who just pushes play. We billed them 3 to 4 times what the other guy was going to make. Did they think it was worth it? We received overtime AND a tip, so I'm going to say "yes".
 
DJ PAUL said:
Go figure. DJs are the first to devalue what we do.


Paul
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The whole point of what is being said (at least by me) is that this isn't an "either/or" or a contest here.

Folks trying to "defend" a videographer's point of view by pointing out some not-so-obvious factors that go into their finished-product or their pricing does not equate necessarily or otherwise with a "devaluing" of what we do or what goes into our pricing.

All that's being said is that trying to equate pricing from two distinct areas of expertise delivering two very distinct and different products and/or services is NOT comparing apples-to-apples.

Once we realize that, any question regarding a difference in price between the two is both moot and absurd.

"To know what questions we may reasonably propose is in itself a strong evidence of sagacity and intelligence. For if a question be in itself absurd and unsusceptible of a rational answer, it is attended with the danger- not to mention the shame that falls upon the person who proposes it- of seducing the unguarded listener into making absurd answers, and we are presented with the ridiculous spectacle of one (as the ancients said) "milking the he-goat, and the other holding a sieve." ~ Immanuel Kant
 
DJ PAUL said:
Go figure. DJs are the first to devalue what we do.


Paul
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Steve Sharp said:
Exactly. And it makes me sad.
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If that's all you're taking away from this, I suggest you read the thread again without the tunnel vision.

Why the hell would we want to devalue ourselves? We're simply admitting that others can sometimes value us less with valid reason. We are also pointing out that the same stones cast against us are sometimes cast by us to others. Abbey did this by creating the thread and not by the tongue in cheek zinger.

The snafu of envelopes could have been handled quietly with understanding and respect.



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If that's all you're taking away from this, I suggest you read the thread again without the tunnel vision.
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Am I missing a coded lesson here? Some wisdom I was to take with me?

The Dj recieved the wrong pay and when he looked at it he said," Hey .. the video guy made more than me."

Shame on the DJ I hope he learned a lesson.

Don't group us all in the "Why do WE get paid less?"

I suggest you read the thread again without the beer goggles she ain't that hot!

Paul
 
DJ PAUL said:
Am I missing a coded lesson here? Some wisdom I was to take with me?

The Dj recieved the wrong pay and when he looked at it he said," Hey .. the video guy made more than me."

Shame on the DJ I hope he learned a lesson.

Don't group us all in the "Why do WE get paid less?"

I suggest you read the thread again without the beer goggles she ain't that hot!

Paul
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I would reply, but I'm too excited that someone as great as yourself has actually quoted and addressed me in a thread.

I will drink some beer in your honor.

:sqwink:
 
Hank Davidson said:
If that's all you're taking away from this, I suggest you read the thread again without the tunnel vision.
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Ok, I'll give it a shot. But it's pretty subjective to say yours is the correct interpretation, isn't it?

Hank Davidson said:
Why the hell would we want to devalue ourselves?
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Excellent question. I don't know.

Hank Davidson said:
We're simply admitting that others can sometimes value us less with valid reason. We are also pointing out that the same stones cast against us are sometimes cast by us to others. Abbey did this by creating the thread and not by the tongue in cheek zinger.
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It wasn't that long of a post. You got ALL THAT out of it?


Hank Davidson said:
The snafu of envelopes could have been handled quietly with understanding and respect.
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And perhaps it was. Do we know, either way?



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?
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^there's the entire post.

Abbey, I like Sony Vegas, although I have a friend who prefers Adobe Premiere.
 
From experience here with Abbey, I'm certain nothing was really meant by it and more was probably taken from it than was intended. I sounds to me like it was perhaps their first exposure to/experience with a videographer's rates and it just wasn't what was expected or they didn't necessarily know what went into deriving such a rate.

I don't think it's all it's been made out to be. But yes - Please do come back Abbey and clarify:p
 
Hank Davidson said:
Hey, I'm married...This is the only place I get to be right all the time. So, there. :sqlaugh:
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Much like the best mans speech on saturday night.


He told his brother (the groom) to put his hand on top of his wifes hand. So he did, and many people said "AWWWWWWWW".........he then said "Now Ty, remember this moment forever, because this is the last moment you will have the upper hand!" And everyone broke out laughing.

Kinda goes with what Hank said...this board is a place for all of us menly men to be the man for once! :sqeek::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:
 
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