What's a reasonable amount of payment for a 3 hour long set?
What's a reasonable amount of payment for a 3 hour long set? Posted on: 05.01.2014 by Mitsuko Fanucchi Recently started at university, and to my surprise the market for DJs is much more open than I had anticipated. And being here only a couple months, I've gotten more gigs than ever. Very little competition. Along with this, I've begun getting paid for these gigs, which is a lifesaver. Now, I "advertise" myself as an producer DJ. I'm pretty accustomed to playing in lineups, where my set is usually an hour, and never more than an hour and a half. This is all on CDJs. I've been getting booked by the university's club that puts on parties and events/dances. They now want me t play at an upcoming back to school dance event. They will be providing speakers, lights, etc. All I am providing are my CDJ's and music. They want me to play a 3 hour set, and asked me how to much I would share. Which I've never really done before. I'm not sure what a reasonable amount is for that? I don't want to charge too much, but I also know I need to set a level of quality, to sell myself as more than the frat party beatport top 10 DJs. | |
| Layne Kitt 19.01.2014 | I believe it's really up to you, and you should gauge it on what number is going to make you feel really good and excited to play the set. The exchange is important so that you feel like it is worth your time and energy, and as other people have mentioned, this can vary from gig to gig depending on many different factors. Ask yourself the question, and whatever number you feel in your gut right away, I say go with that one. You'll be able to feel if you are selling yourself short, or selling the client short. Trust yourself |
| Delphine Mauser 13.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by 031999
However, people asking me to DJ somewhere is generally because they heard me at some event or party etc. Most of the time I can say, I'm gonna play what I want, and then give a generalized list of genres. Personally I dont like doing club gigs very much. I find the majority of the random club public has high expectations for music I dont like. Now if some friends are doing a themed evening at some bar or club, I am WAY into that and if I dont have to bring my PA, I dont expect much money. I do like playing specialized parties, like work parties, birthday parties, mardi gras parades, art gallery openings, trade show events, etc. I have a goto quote. $300, any thing over 3 hours is another $100. I try to decide whats it's worth for me to show up with all of my gear, set it up, play and tear it down. Sometimes I get the feeling someone is expecting less money, and the event they are trying to do sounds fun, and could possibly get a lot of business, maybe I don't need to bring my PA or anything. In this case I would play it by ear and maybe offer a much lower price. Sometimes I get a gig through somebody who refers me as a DJ, and they will tell me "these people got money." Sometimes I charge more, like some corporate event kind of thing. I know I am gonna have to play stuff a little more normal as well. Sometimes an event or party is pretty huge, and I will get offered, lots more than my usual quote, thanks Universe.
Originally Posted by Polygon
Maybe you've started to believe you are nothing but a young jukebox. You could command a different self image. At 40 bucks a lawn, I could mow 7 lawns, in 7 hours and put that $280 towards new gear. When I was young people use to try to take advantage of my graphic design skills. Tell those people to give you what you're charging, and if they say no, YOU say NO. If they do pay you well, you better give them what they paid for. |
| Lannie Kutay 12.01.2014 | for me 100 an hour is the "i do it because i love it" price. if they want me to play top 40 well, that's gonna cost em. |
| Ninfa Mazariegos 12.01.2014 | Since they are supplying lighting and speakers, I would shoot for around $150-200. |
| Yong Aptekar 11.01.2014 | I played at a local bar every Friday for 3 months for free on that note. My buddy was running the evening , and i needed some exposure and experience on stage behind the decks, so I didn't mind helping him out, I still had a blast. If you've got a residency though, you should be asking for a %of the door, free drinks and/or more money. Bit playing for people os playing for people, and if you enjoy it, then keep enjoying it. |
| Dannie Dimora 11.01.2014 | I know i'm getting ripped off, believe me i'm not blind. But it's either this or staying in the bedroom. Even relatively high-profile local djs don't get more than 100-150 per gig... |
| Yong Aptekar 11.01.2014 | Just booked a dj for my work Christmas party (im not that kind of DJ, and its not my $) , $100 an hour. Don't do 50$ gigs, you're getting ripped off. |
| Tera Baragan 11.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by Polygon
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| Trula Willadsen 10.01.2014 | Don't play 7 hours for 50$ anymore. Ask at least double or don't go back there. Because you really want to pay, doesn't mean you should be taken so much advantage of. @TS: What is the regular rent price in your neighbourhood for CDJ's? For 2000's plus DJM800/900/2000 you can easily ask 125-150. For anything below that somewhere between 75-100 I guess. For the rest, you can easily ask 50-75 bucks an hour. I would ask 350 in your case and maybe drop to a bottom of 250 but try to play it rather hard. They want you, not the other way around |
| Dannie Dimora 11.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by Kwal
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| Hellen Mindrup 10.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by Polygon
What? |
| Dannie Dimora 10.01.2014 | Well i've been playing 7hour sets for $50 for the last 3 months. Perks of not having any well-known uncle or some shit like that |
| Latoria Kavulich 10.01.2014 | OP, how much would you charge me to play a kick ass 1 1/2 hour set ? |
| Delena Katherman 10.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by keithace
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| Margie Pavell 09.01.2014 | 200...300 hundred if other people are using your CDJs... |
| Ming Devis 06.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by Jester
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| Mitsuko Fanucchi 05.01.2014 | Recently started at university, and to my surprise the market for DJs is much more open than I had anticipated. And being here only a couple months, I've gotten more gigs than ever. Very little competition. Along with this, I've begun getting paid for these gigs, which is a lifesaver. Now, I "advertise" myself as an producer DJ. I'm pretty accustomed to playing in lineups, where my set is usually an hour, and never more than an hour and a half. This is all on CDJs. I've been getting booked by the university's club that puts on parties and events/dances. They now want me t play at an upcoming back to school dance event. They will be providing speakers, lights, etc. All I am providing are my CDJ's and music. They want me to play a 3 hour set, and asked me how to much I would share. Which I've never really done before. I'm not sure what a reasonable amount is for that? I don't want to charge too much, but I also know I need to set a level of quality, to sell myself as more than the frat party beatport top 10 DJs. |
| Celine Weishar 07.01.2014 | One thing to also consider, is how much money the event is generating, that way you can gauge how much to charge. However, other things that factor into price involve gear
provided, work required, and other things that coincide with the gig. Personally, I tend to charge differently depending on the economic situation of the client (not in all cases, but it can be a good tool to use). I'm not going to charge a regular mobile gig what I would charge for a corporate party, even if I'm providing the same exact gear for both gigs. But as always, justing echoing what @HigherFi said, you always have to value yourself, your gear , and your time. You might be charging a premium, but you are providing a premium as well. |
| Ming Devis 06.01.2014 |
Originally Posted by Jester
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| Shan Bauerly 06.01.2014 | Whatever you do, present them a value. If you can't deliver a value, why would you expect anyone to buy your product? On your invoice, list your time separate from the gear . It's not like CDJs are cheap. You gotta charge something to haul them out of the house. $300 seems legit for a tiny plug n play bar gig but not for a massive student party. Got insurance? |
| Lannie Kutay 06.01.2014 | lol my first club gig ever, i played a 4 hour set for $40 haha..... times change |
| Latoria Kavulich 06.01.2014 | work your self out a standard fee, regardless of the length of set. |
| Tera Baragan 05.01.2014 | to determine how much you feel you should be paid believe of how long you search for those bangers each day, how much you spend on tracks. How much you have spent on gear and the wear n tear. Your physical time djing for them, set up, take down etc. and fraction all that out into one gig! its a personal thing. As you aren't bringing speakers or lighting, your price per hour would be less then mine. $300 for 3 hrs? Just curious OP how much have you been getting from other gigs? |
| Chuck Peretto 05.01.2014 | This is kinda an open ended or loaded question that you ask of us. The variables for a DJ's payment can depend on so many things. The simplest answer to this would be why not charge twice what you do for an 1.5 hr set + a bit more for it being a bigger event. |
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