How Lo Will You Go

[jayboy 0]

I TEND TO DO BETWEEN 1-2 FREE DISCOS A YEAR FOR CHARITY I ALSO HAVE DONE A FAIR FEW GIGS FOR £45 AS A FAVER TO A MATE OF MINE BUT THERS A TIME YOU HAVE TO GET REAL SO NOW I WOULDNT GO OUT FOR LESS THAN £210 IF I CAN HELP IT

 

 

HOW ABOUT U

[C.S 0]

When you write in capital letters you are SHOUTING !!!!!!

I do a couple of freebies for a charity each year. other than that no discounts for anyone!

[Secret Disco 0]

When you write in capital letters you are SHOUTING !!!!!!

I do a couple of freebies for a charity each year. other than that no discounts for anyone

 

I dont do "mates rates"....coz i dont have any

I dont do family or close relations.........bad idea

I discount the local school

and a couple of charity things through out the year

Bar that ......give me your money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a business....Baa humbug

[Norfolk DJ 0]

i don't work for free. always charge expenses even for charity work.

[Andy Westcott 0]

I do about 4 a year for my local primary school free of charge, and they make their appreciation of my efforts very obvious which counts for a lot. But since a (metaphorical) back-stabbing incident by a certain committee here, no-one else gets anything for free anymore. History repeating itself I fear - maybe something in the water around here...

 

As for the school - I have kids there anyhow, and the proceeds of my discos help to offset the cost of field trips, so I benefit indirectly.

 

Also, it's proved to be a fairly good PR excercise, and an effective advert: I've had a few kids' parties as a direct result of this - OK, kids' parties don't pay much, but I probably wouldn't of otherwise been out anyhow on those days.

[Wayno 0]

i try and do a couple for charity so long as they are not on prime evenings, wish it was more but its the full time job and has to pay the bills!

 

I also tend to steer away from gigs for my own family, they seem to expect more then bone-fide clients! and ofcoarse dont want to pay!

 

 

[Welsh Audio Man 21 0]

my local primary school get a discount, as they have always booked me, and continue to book me for all their functions. Family, even though i offer discount, they insist on paying full anyway.

[jayboy 0]

i will make note about capitals thanx for pionting it out

 

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

i don't work for free. always charge expenses even for charity work.

 

Dito.

[D.X 0]

When your family asks you to do them a gig for free ask them to take a day off work next week and come round your house to cut the lawns for you. If that doesn't make em cough up then nothing will.

 

tongue out icon

[bluejools 0]

I have now set a rule I dont play for friends or families since a falling out over a greatly reduced cost ( i think it was expected to be free!)

 

The cheapest I go is where I misquote someone and have to live with the consequences.

[digitaldistortion 0]

I DO, where I believe that it will benefit the business, consider freebies.

As I am still in my first years 'trading' (second time around), I see this as an advertising exercise.

 

How many I do, and whether they are friends (or whatever) varies.

 

I certainly believe that the MS fund-raiser in a 10k seater in Essex next year with (so far) 2 household names is a massive advertising opportunity (as well as a good cause), and I would be a fool to miss that!

 

Having said that, I even designed a gift card (to be used sparingly) that can be given to people for various reasons, and giving them a discount from 100% down!

 

Whether this will end when I'm up to (hopefully) 8+ gigs a month, I don't know!

[Dave80s 0]

I would DJ for free for any friends or relatives - if they set it all up etc. I would happily turn up with my cd's and do an hour or 2.

[UKHero 0]

I TEND TO DO BETWEEN 1-2 FREE DISCOS A YEAR FOR CHARITY I ALSO HAVE DONE A FAIR FEW GIGS FOR £45 AS A FAVER TO A MATE OF MINE BUT THERS A TIME YOU HAVE TO GET REAL SO NOW I WOULDNT GO OUT FOR LESS THAN £210 IF I CAN HELP IT

HOW ABOUT U

 

Hi I am sorry i dont get your post you say you would not go out for less than £210 then say if you can help it.

 

Does that mean you would go out for less than £210???

 

As some one who also lives in the Midlands and works the Birmingham area including A stint in Broad Street I very much doubt you would always get £210 around here...

 

I am wondering if your post is a ploy to find out what other guys charge. From previous threads on here on this issue you will very rarley get a straight answer to this question.

 

Nik

 

[jamminroadshow 0]

Try to avoid Family and Friends as they often take you for a ride and they expect far too much and pay so little.

 

Charity work is ok but like i have said before a lot of charitys have people that collect money for them who are paid and same with the bosses so why should i do something for free. Also i would say that it really depends on the charity i never say no (unless they are one that uses animal testing) but i would base the price on how strongly i feel for the charity

[Kingy 0]

Try to avoid Family and Friends as they often take you for a ride and they expect far too much and pay so little.

 

Charity work is ok but like i have said before a lot of charitys have people that collect money for them who are paid and same with the bosses so why should i do something for free. Also i would say that it really depends on the charity i never say no (unless they are one that uses animal testing) but i would base the price on how strongly i feel for the charity

 

Totally agree!!

[Mattaious 0]

I did several charity gigs, However there for one charity only, I dont/didnt work for any other charity for free, he only reason i support this charity is that there a cause close to my heart as the cared for my dad in his last weeks. I used to and still get loads of emails and contact from others asking will you work for nowt, NO!

 

I dont do gigs for family or friends either, Never have never will.

 

 

[RonanRaver 0]

No freebies or discounts..Thats my rule maybe if I didnt have a son and bills bills bills!!!!Id have a different opinion,but eh I DONT:)

[jayboy 0]

ive found Charity discos to not only help pepole but to addvertise your company/disco and you servises.

thay will remeber you as the dj that helped them out and thay will deffenetly use you agen and agen.

its not always about the money to me but by doing a few of them a year it will pay for it salf.

[spinner 0]

I've found Charity discos to not only help people but also to advertise your company/disco and your services. They will remember you as the dj that helped them out and they will definitely use you again and again. It's not always about the money to me but by doing a few of them a year it will pay for itself.

 

 

I think a lot depends on the market you're aiming at.

 

When I first came back into DJing, 12 years ago, I offered freebies to my local primary school, mainly to get a bit of experience and this led to paid bookings subsequently. I went on to do the same with the local secondary school, with the same effect and helped out with a few charity fundraisers.

 

The problem with that, though, was that anyone wanting to book after seeing me at either venue would expect the hugely discounted price I gave to each of them. It was useful experience though.

 

I concentrate on far more lucrative wedding and corporate work none of which would be a spin off from the discounted gigs I once did.

 

 

[jayboy 0]

i totaly agree with you however i would only do free gigs for good causes.

so pepole new that it was to help the sik not just for the fun of it.

 

wen i statred this topic i said that i wouldnt go out for less that 210 that was a tipo i mean 120

regards jayboy

 

[jeffwall 0]

I dont do charity events for free

 

I always add 20 quid on....then give them 15 percent off the rate

 

They think theyve got a bargain, But I end up getting the amount i need usually.

 

Birmingham not less than £210 mmmmmmmm

 

not sure about that statement my friend??

 

I look at the work i have already and take an educated guess if I will fill the "low rate date in question" if i probably wont fill it for better money, then I will agree to do it for less money.....If its prime wedding season, and a low rate job comes in months before, I probably will stick to my guns and demand my usual fee

 

Saying "i wont go below a certain amount" can be good or bad for you....

 

bad coz you lose a booking, good if you can fill it elsewhere!

[NiM 0]

I used to do a few freebies every year (not anymore, I've quit discos).. Main one was the mencap party I used to do every year, last year I took 20 odd bookings on that night, so working 1 night for free more than paid off.

Edited July 7, 2007 by NiM

[Norfolk DJ 0]

Never done a freebie