Price out of the equation, when is there an event that you will pass on?

[IceBurghDJ]

I've done a school dance for $175 for 3 hours. Usually it takes $300 to get me out the door.
I've also done a free event this year - but that may not count as I do their pictures for 8 years now..so it's kind of doing them a favor to keep their business coming.
I don't do free unless it's MY organization (my club picnic or banquet for example). Fundraiser? Yeah, well everyone else gets paid so I expect to as well. The baseball league did it at a country club - a casino night - cash bar..hors d'oerves..the room..the company that did the gaming..all got paid. Instead of donating a picture or something for the chinese auction I offered my services - it has some marketing value. Free banquet the past 2 years got the wedding I'm doing saturday.

I would avoid dangerous..but what is dangerous? I've played places that at other times have been in the news, if not the venue then another in town (like a bride shooting the groom...).

Maybe in the city - pita to park, load in, etc. But if they paid enough...I guess I would do it.

Have done weddings with ethnic music..so 4 hours of all greek music might be tough...but if paid extra (to get and time to learn) the music..might do it.

I have nothing that is morally objectionable...it's not my job to pass judgement...and by being a hired vendor I'm not supporting their POV anymore than say, walmart is when they buy their groceries or BP when they buy their gas there.

 

[Albatross]

I got a call last week about working in a bar that was mainly going to be a country format. I appreciated the introduction, but explained that I'm not deeper than a very cursory knowledge of country music, and that I probably wasn't the right fit to be a DJ there.

 

[ittigger]

If I couldn't access the music or didn't have time to learn the music before the event I would likely turn it down.

Say it ain't so x 2.

 

[Proformance]

If I don't know the music (special genre, foreign language) I hire someone who does to work with me.

I've never learned anything useful by turning down opportunity.

 

[redhotdj]

Besides benefits I wont go out the door for less than $250.00, and ive been in some ruff places. (they don't really shoot ya here just beat the hell out of you)

 

[Valerie Hicks]

Stairs are a no-go, as is anything eclectic in music tastes that we simply aren't equipped to handle (and unable to hire that knowledge), an under-secured event where we worry about safety of ourselves or our gear. Otherwise if timing is an issue for transportation we will decline, or if we can't have reasonable access for setup/teardown (again, that we can't compensate for with additional hands). Last thing I can think of is if space or power requirements can not be met. There aren't a lot of events we turn down. Variety is the spice of life. Just because it's a challenge doesn't make it a declined event, but it does sometimes warrant consideration of that budget.