Average Charge For 2008

[deejaymitch 0]

people who go out for less in my opinon are odviously not paying tax and insurance and are what as classed as bedroom djs with hobbies. thats why this job is saturated.

regards

john

 

Or maybe they've spent an absolute fortune getting set up, are doing everything legally, and just to need to take any booking they can get to try and make a living, get a good reputation and hopefully charge more in the future?

 

When I started I had to work for peanuts to get any work. Luckily people kept coming back to me because they were happy with my service and didn't mind paying more as I raised my price incrementally. But if I hadn't worked for very little initially, I would never have had the chance to impress them, probably wouldn't be working now and would be saddled with a lot of debt for equipment I wasn't using.

[markthedoc 0]

I find that setting my prices slighter higher than the average seems to get me better quality gigs.

I find if I put my prices up just a little more than most other people I seem to get the higher end jobs.

Gigs in Marquees, posh hotels that kinda thing.

Which are always preferable to gigs in backstreet pubs etc.

 

 

[jukeboxdj 0]

I find that setting my prices slighter higher than the average seems to get me better quality gigs.

I find if I put my prices up just a little more than most other people I seem to get the higher end jobs.

Gigs in Marquees, posh hotels that kinda thing.

Which are always preferable to gigs in backstreet pubs etc.

 

 

but are you getting the same annual income

thought about doing this myself but was worried after losing "the backstreet pubs"

which are the bread and butter would i still be able to create the income

[McCardle 1]

people who go out for less in my opinon are odviously not paying tax and insurance and are what as classed as bedroom djs with hobbies. thats why this job is saturated.

 

that is a pretty strong allegation, but then again it is just your opinion :fan: . it is amazing then that some of the foundations for strong businesses and indeed even entire corporations have all been built on low cost goods / services and the stack em high sell it cheap method. Walmart, Richer Sounds, Virgin are just three examples of many, so are they going about it all wrong?. When you book air travel do you always pay for business class on British Airways or do you find the cheapest deal going?, after all the cheaper companies may not be paying tax and insurance, at least not if your point is to be believed. It is actually possible that the Dj's you refer to, are more content to do 8x £99 bookings per fortnight rather than one £700 one and still enjoy a similar annual turnover, but they love the job and would rather do more work for less money rather than reach a point where business is so quiet that they spend the majority of their time watching come dancing on Saturday Nights rather than working. Of course, if you can get 8x or even 4x £700 bookings a fortnight, then you have the best of both worlds but i really think that business model will only apply to a minority and not the majority, in the same way as Harrods doesn't have an outlet in every town. i don't see that this industry is any more saturated than any other and i dont see why some feel that it should be unique in being immune from the same problems that other industries suffer from!. Really, if you are earning a good annual proft, run a healthy business and have plenty of work then why spend so much time losing sleep over what other people are doing, in my opinion its the businesses in debt or running at a loss which are doing something wrong, regardless of the price which they are charging and that applies to any business whether its making pizzas or doing discos.

Edited February 8, 2008 by McCardle

[old soul 0]

Who's the guy that is charging less than £100? I want to know why?

 

Actually I know someone who only charges £80 a night. He's well into his sixties and does afternoons at old peoples homes and birthday parties for the older generations. Strictly speaking what he does probably wouldn't be classed as a disco, but he does take equipment, set it up and play music. He also does a job that I wouldn't be able to do.

 

Be very surprised if he was voting in polls on here though

 

[dj.silver 0]

people who go out for less in my opinon are odviously not paying tax and insurance and are what as classed as bedroom djs with hobbies. thats why this job is saturated.

regards

john

Well I take umbrage to that statement, I go out on average for £120 a night, I pay taxes and N.I. You have no idea at what type of gigs I play or types of venues I play at.

 

Are you telling me that dj's doing children's parties are charging in excess of £150!?

 

My equipment is up to date and consists of the following:

 

Sony Vaio laptop

Toshiba laptop for back up

3 hard drives

2 x licensed Ots Av software

2 x licensed Traktor software

2 x licensed Mixmeister software

Audiophile 410 soundcard

Sennheiser EW 100 radio mic

Mackie 450 speakers

4 x Martin Sfx 500's

1 x RCF ART 705AS subwoofer

2 x Imposibleds

1 set Supa novas

1 x Martin Freekie light controller

1 x Martin Smoke machine

1 x Martin haze machine

1 x giraffe stand

0 x Roadie.

 

You have no idea of my personal situation, my day job, my overheads, my other income, anything!

 

I would suggest before making all encompassing statements as that, you think about the bigger picture before committing to type.

 

http://planetsmilies.net/angry-smiley-8318.gif http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-12081.gif

Edited February 10, 2008 by dj.silver

[Dukesy 0]

By contributing to this thread - Wedding function, 5 hours (1900-0000) disco, 10 miles away from your home, you would charge £120, you have a day job and do kids discos for less than £150??? tongue out icon

:bouncy:

 

 

[dj.silver 0]

By contributing to this thread - Wedding function, 5 hours (1900-0000) disco, 10 miles away from your home, you would charge £120, you have a day job and do kids discos for less than £150??? tongue out icon

:bouncy:

Sorry didn't see it was for weddings only, the title of the therad is ...... average charge for 2008. You can by all means delete my post in that context it is an unfair thing to say. In defense I get seriously hacked off at people having a pop at people charging less than £150 a night.

Edited February 10, 2008 by dj.silver

[NRG Roadshow 0]

well start charging a propper rate then.......people will pay more!

But they wont pay more when theirs a hobby dj down the road that will go out for penuts......thats the only reason why people wont pay more.

 

 

[deejaymitch 0]

Well here's some food for thought. In the space of 12 hours (last night and this morning) I quoted 2 different people the same price for similar functions in similar venues. I nearly lost both bookings because of the price quoted and only got them because the people had seen me work before, which allayed their fears about the price. The only thing was that one was worried because I too cheap and the other was worried because I was too expensive. Even though they both wanted the same thing and I quoted both the same price.

 

It's ridiculous to make sweeping statements like some of the ones on this thread:

 

"Anyone charging less than me must be rubbish/illegal/unprofessional" - complete rubbish for the many reasons given.

 

"If you charge more people will pay it" - rubbish, they'll do it themselves or bring an IPod and arrange to use the venue's sound system.

 

I'm happy for the people who can charge a lot and still get regular work. I wish I could but I can't. I'm based in an area where the market is relatively small, is heavily over-saturated and where people are generally used to paying comparatively little for entertainment. I price myself at what I think is a competitive rate but, as stated, I have over-priced and under-priced myself out of work. That is just the way it is. However for anyone to suggest that I'm unprofessional or don't pay tax etc is insulting. As is the notion that if I charge more I'll still get as much work. This isn't "Field of Dreams", this is my full-time job and I need regular work.

 

There will be a lot of things that many of us will never agree on, so I suppose the main message of my post (which I admit is a bit waffly - sorry) is not to make huge generalisations or assume too much about everyone's circumstances.

[dj.silver 0]

well start charging a propper rate then.......people will pay more!

But they wont pay more when theirs a hobby dj down the road that will go out for penuts......thats the only reason why people wont pay more.

 

Can I ask, was that statement aimed at me?

[Reverandfunk 0]

Just because someone charges a lot doesn't mean they are any good.

 

I charge on average 150 (if someone can tell me how to get £200+ for a 40th birthday I would appreciate it lol)

 

I charge what I charge because in my area any higher and you won't get the work. The feedback I get is that I'm the best DJ they have had/seen and ultimately get a lot of referal work.

 

 

[NRG Roadshow 0]

Can I ask, was that statement aimed at me?

 

Not at you directly no.........ust at people in general who dont charge what they are worth.

 

If you was a punter you would be lucky to be able to hire a P.A. System for £150 a night......

 

And you provide P.A./Lighting/DJ.....and go and set all the kit up for that money, thats what I mean about charging a proper rate.

[Andy Westcott 0]

Quote:

"Can I ask, was that statement aimed at me?"

 

No, probably more at me! tongue out icon

 

Anyhow, something to bear in mind is there is a great difference from one region to another, in just the same way that £250 would be a fair wage for a week's work in some areas, and yet in others that amount wouldn't even pay a restaurant bill...

 

I think it would be far more interesting, accurate and informative if these price polls could somehow be divided up into regions. Waddya think?

[Gary (GDK) 0]

i charge on avergae £125 for a 2hr kids party

and £120 for a venue on the night.

 

i might be 21, not as experienced as some people on here (professional in kids for 5yrs ish and 3 in adult), but ive phoned round for quotes in the aera and havent found anyone quote over £150 for a similar circumstance.

[dj.silver 0]

Quote:

"Can I ask, was that statement aimed at me?"

 

No, probably more at me! tongue out icon

 

Anyhow, something to bear in mind is there is a great difference from one region to another, in just the same way that £250 would be a fair wage for a week's work in some areas, and yet in others that amount wouldn't even pay a restaurant bill...

 

I think it would be far more interesting, accurate and informative if these price polls could somehow be divided up into regions. Waddya think?

 

I concur! I would guess around London you wouldn't get out of bed unless you got £250 and in some regions from what I've read £100 for a pub gig is a good fee.

 

Polls need to be a lot more fine tuned for accurate results.

[Reverandfunk 0]

I agree with the regional thing, when I hear some of the prices charged on here (fair play if you can get it) I know that in my neck of the woods people would laugh at you lol

 

Plus when I get an enquiry people never ask me what type of speakers I use, how many lights have I got, do I use lasers and smoke etc etc their only concern is price

[spinner 0]

 

 

Anyhow, something to bear in mind is there is a great difference from one region to another, in just the same way that £250 would be a fair wage for a week's work in some areas, and yet in others that amount wouldn't even pay a restaurant bill...

 

 

A week's work doing what though?

 

[Reverandfunk 0]

A weeks work on minimum wage is less than 250 quid

[Dukesy 0]

Interesting reads:

The Jobs People Do

Low Pay Jobs

Average Earnings

Hours Worked

Earnings

Regional Price Levels

Index of Services

 

 

 

[Partyprint 0]

I'm thinking of setting up another website under a different name aimed at the "higher class" customer and put prices over £300, I'm doing this because in the past I have lost out to work for being too cheap (£150) on the other hand I do still loose out to £80 - £100 dj's but I'm happy with the amount of work I'm getting at the moment.

[Reverandfunk 0]

Party how many high class customers do you reckon there are? I think they all must be hiding somewhere I cant find them lol

 

Are people prepared to pay £250 for a 50th birthday celebration at the local rugby club?

 

 

[UKHero 0]

Party how many high class customers do you reckon there are? I think they all must be hiding somewhere I cant find them lol

 

Are people prepared to pay £250 for a 50th birthday celebration at the local rugby club?

 

Well I agree with you they are few and far between but I just had an enquiry come in for a Diamond Wedding Anniversary budget £200 -£300 7:30 - 11:30 sat night in May...

 

Nik

[Reverandfunk 0]

I know there must be some of it out there, but it just seems to me that the only customer requirement at the moment is price. Hence my statement about the well know Kidderminster wedding venue working through an agent and paying peanuts.

 

Girl in travel agents is getting married in December at the Bewdley Ramada, said she had 3 quotes for £150ish! So if I say well I'm £250 but I'm really good will she book me lol

 

Still waiting to hear back from her...lol

[Partyprint 0]

As far as I know there is only 1 company in Liverpool who's average change is around £250 -£300 an they seem to be getting work. I want a piece of that market, its not going to to cost me anything to try, well £5 for the domain name. and I'll do all the printing ect in work.