grug
Hi everyone. Im just curious to know what is the average price a DJ charges for a club or private function. Feel free to use your own currencies but if dollars please specify if US or other. Please also include what size crowd you play for as I do realise that bigger clubs pay bigger money.
Thanks!
Grug
Thanks!
Grug
Posted Wed 26 Apr 06 @ 3:24 am
socross
I charge $600 USD for weddings, $300-$500 for private parties. I usually get $200 plus part of the the bar tips for a club gig.
Pricing is always tough, but you are devaluing your product if you offer it at a bargain price. Start high and see what they say, you will be surprised.
Pricing is always tough, but you are devaluing your product if you offer it at a bargain price. Start high and see what they say, you will be surprised.
Posted Wed 26 Apr 06 @ 5:46 am
A Man and His Music
Your price should be based on your skills. There is a lot that goes into that. Who cares if you can rock the party, if you are unreliable, and don't show up on time or at all. I have a minimum of $800.00 for a mobile gig. I have a Friends & Family price of $600.00. Overtime is $125.00 an hour. If you are a regular, we don't even discuss that, but it's on the contract. I also charge $75.00 for stairs. I can't discuss what I get in the club that I work at 5 days a week. At a regular club that I only bring my computer and controller, I get $200.00 to $300.00. This is all US dollars.
Posted Wed 26 Apr 06 @ 6:38 am
PCGumshoe
As a KJ, you're screwed...
My experience as a KJ is that you get screwed because "Karaoke" is seen as a "cheap" form of entertainment and just about anyone that has a few disks (and I stress FEW!) thinks that they can "host" and "run" a successful karaoke show... Consequently, karaoke has a bad NAME for itself.
Do youself a favor, if you're thinking of "offering" karaoke, stay away, we get screwed.
Personally, I don't do a lot of private parties because I don't like the RIGIDITY of it, I prefer club/bar environment and I base my pay on how much I want to be there. For me, this is a hobby. I will not take what the last guy got paid, because chances are, the last guy sucked (or gal). They hire me because I'm the best KJ there is, if anyone thinks they are better, fess up, I'll come check you out, then introduce myself. If I think you are as good or better, I will tell you, if you are not, come see me, learn and let's make it better for us "cheap" people so we can start making the money we deserve.
It should be noted, I have over 33,000 songs, I guarantee that if I don't have it I'll get it, if it does not exist, I will make it (if I can), and I will make you sound great because I will listen to your voice and I will tune you in and blend you with the music. Additionally, I will give you what YOU want in the monitor (Yes, I use a monitor), I won't use the "house system" because it wasn't designed for vocal reproduction, and I will make the non-singers sit up and say, "Hey, look, a video with music and people I know..."
Factor THIS into my equation as well, I could sing 5 songs a day, for 365 days in a row and never sing the same song twice.... that's over 1800 songs and chances are if I heard it once or twice and it was in certain genres I could sing it.
On top of that, I keep things moving in a fast paced flow.
What am I worth?
As a singer between $500-1000
As a sound engineer $400-800
As a Great VJ $300-450
As a Great DJ $200-350
As the Best KJ $150-300
These prices are for a club/bar, and my experience, I enjoy karaoke and singing and this is my hobby, if I get to buy new equipment, have the best computer, the largest library and take it all home at the end and OWN it outright, PLUS I get some drinks for free, maybe employee pricing other times and I enjoy the atmosphere, I'm happy.
It boils down to not only what you can do, but what you are WILLING to do.
Wow, that was a mouth-full!
My experience as a KJ is that you get screwed because "Karaoke" is seen as a "cheap" form of entertainment and just about anyone that has a few disks (and I stress FEW!) thinks that they can "host" and "run" a successful karaoke show... Consequently, karaoke has a bad NAME for itself.
Do youself a favor, if you're thinking of "offering" karaoke, stay away, we get screwed.
Personally, I don't do a lot of private parties because I don't like the RIGIDITY of it, I prefer club/bar environment and I base my pay on how much I want to be there. For me, this is a hobby. I will not take what the last guy got paid, because chances are, the last guy sucked (or gal). They hire me because I'm the best KJ there is, if anyone thinks they are better, fess up, I'll come check you out, then introduce myself. If I think you are as good or better, I will tell you, if you are not, come see me, learn and let's make it better for us "cheap" people so we can start making the money we deserve.
It should be noted, I have over 33,000 songs, I guarantee that if I don't have it I'll get it, if it does not exist, I will make it (if I can), and I will make you sound great because I will listen to your voice and I will tune you in and blend you with the music. Additionally, I will give you what YOU want in the monitor (Yes, I use a monitor), I won't use the "house system" because it wasn't designed for vocal reproduction, and I will make the non-singers sit up and say, "Hey, look, a video with music and people I know..."
Factor THIS into my equation as well, I could sing 5 songs a day, for 365 days in a row and never sing the same song twice.... that's over 1800 songs and chances are if I heard it once or twice and it was in certain genres I could sing it.
On top of that, I keep things moving in a fast paced flow.
What am I worth?
As a singer between $500-1000
As a sound engineer $400-800
As a Great VJ $300-450
As a Great DJ $200-350
As the Best KJ $150-300
These prices are for a club/bar, and my experience, I enjoy karaoke and singing and this is my hobby, if I get to buy new equipment, have the best computer, the largest library and take it all home at the end and OWN it outright, PLUS I get some drinks for free, maybe employee pricing other times and I enjoy the atmosphere, I'm happy.
It boils down to not only what you can do, but what you are WILLING to do.
Wow, that was a mouth-full!
Posted Wed 26 Apr 06 @ 11:55 pm
A Man and His Music
Yeah, that was a mouthful. So where in the "NYC area" do you live. Or, where can I come to see you?
Posted Thu 27 Apr 06 @ 5:18 am
abnorm
I charge minimum $250 at nightclubs, but average is about $300. More established local DJs charge $800-$1000.
Posted Thu 27 Apr 06 @ 8:11 am
PCGumshoe
I'm in Hoboken. I have one more show this week. Then I'm leaving BACK to Florida where I just bought a house and will be opening another nightclub. I'm a former bar owner and have an opportunity to open a club in St. Pete.
I believe that $800-1000 is for the top DJs in the top clubs in very LARGE communities. I wouldn't expect a person with the same qualifications to get that price in a club with a capacity of 150 people, but if the capacity is 400 or more, sure.
Someone mentioned "sharing tips" with the staff... I think that's a great thing. Another thing that I have done is offered a pricing structure where I get a set up fee (because I bring my own equipment) of $50-75 PLUS a percentage of the GROSS sales between Mic on and Mic Off...
This is REALLY a great way to guage how you as a DJ are doing. 15-20% is your target. Generally, a Bar/Nightclub (excluding a covercharge) will be pouring liquor at 20-25%, that is to say that if you buy a drink, the actual cost of the alcohol is 20-25% of the drink, a $4 drink cost $1 for the actual liquor @ 20% and a $5 cost $1 for the liquor.
Some markets, NYC for example, charge more because they have higher overhead in the real estate department.
Another thing that bars will sometimes do is ad a surcharge when they are paying for entertainment (e.g. a DJ/VJ/KJ). We used to raise our prices by .25 -.50 cents per drink when we were paying.
As a bar/club owner, I don't like to charge a cover charge. I didn't own a HUGE nightclub, but a smaller "local" bar.
Private parties are where money is at.
I'll say that THIS is a loaded question because there are TOO many variables:
Amount of Time LIVE
Amount of Time Setting up/tearing down
Actual Type of Performance
Aggrevation Fees (Flight of Stairs/Wife wants you to ONLY play Country or Iggy Pop, etc)
Other Compensations
Regional Averages
Size of Venue/audience
Travel Expenses
There are, as you can see, just WAY to many variables, now perhaps if you filled in some of these variables, people from YOUR area or an area the size of where you are from and the other variable a better answer could be given.
I believe that $800-1000 is for the top DJs in the top clubs in very LARGE communities. I wouldn't expect a person with the same qualifications to get that price in a club with a capacity of 150 people, but if the capacity is 400 or more, sure.
Someone mentioned "sharing tips" with the staff... I think that's a great thing. Another thing that I have done is offered a pricing structure where I get a set up fee (because I bring my own equipment) of $50-75 PLUS a percentage of the GROSS sales between Mic on and Mic Off...
This is REALLY a great way to guage how you as a DJ are doing. 15-20% is your target. Generally, a Bar/Nightclub (excluding a covercharge) will be pouring liquor at 20-25%, that is to say that if you buy a drink, the actual cost of the alcohol is 20-25% of the drink, a $4 drink cost $1 for the actual liquor @ 20% and a $5 cost $1 for the liquor.
Some markets, NYC for example, charge more because they have higher overhead in the real estate department.
Another thing that bars will sometimes do is ad a surcharge when they are paying for entertainment (e.g. a DJ/VJ/KJ). We used to raise our prices by .25 -.50 cents per drink when we were paying.
As a bar/club owner, I don't like to charge a cover charge. I didn't own a HUGE nightclub, but a smaller "local" bar.
Private parties are where money is at.
I'll say that THIS is a loaded question because there are TOO many variables:
Amount of Time LIVE
Amount of Time Setting up/tearing down
Actual Type of Performance
Aggrevation Fees (Flight of Stairs/Wife wants you to ONLY play Country or Iggy Pop, etc)
Other Compensations
Regional Averages
Size of Venue/audience
Travel Expenses
There are, as you can see, just WAY to many variables, now perhaps if you filled in some of these variables, people from YOUR area or an area the size of where you are from and the other variable a better answer could be given.
Posted Thu 27 Apr 06 @ 1:05 pm
vpcdj
A Man and His Music charges $70 for stairs?!! pffff i charge $50 for every breathe i take.
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i used to charge $200/night. thats club which already has everything and i just have to plug in. mobile gigs $350. corporate gig $400. corporate gig is the last gig i did before i retired. (yes im retired and under 30 :)
i'll not do gigs anymore coz these ppl (clubs etc) just dont want to pay. $200 is a bargain. i dont see why i shouldnt be paid more than a band when i pull in a bigger crowd.
back in the day when Run DMC was about to perform live they were asked where their band was and they pointed at jam master jay. promoters had a problem paying them but what really mattered was how they rocked the crowd and they got their money.
we djs are just hated on being compared to bands. F bands. theyr too loud and i hate them. let me plug my pc, play the same hits everyone in the club downloads at home, talk ish on the mic, get all these h*z and show me $300. if not i just cant do it. i'll chill at home. wait.... ive been chilling for a while lol.
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i used to charge $200/night. thats club which already has everything and i just have to plug in. mobile gigs $350. corporate gig $400. corporate gig is the last gig i did before i retired. (yes im retired and under 30 :)
i'll not do gigs anymore coz these ppl (clubs etc) just dont want to pay. $200 is a bargain. i dont see why i shouldnt be paid more than a band when i pull in a bigger crowd.
back in the day when Run DMC was about to perform live they were asked where their band was and they pointed at jam master jay. promoters had a problem paying them but what really mattered was how they rocked the crowd and they got their money.
we djs are just hated on being compared to bands. F bands. theyr too loud and i hate them. let me plug my pc, play the same hits everyone in the club downloads at home, talk ish on the mic, get all these h*z and show me $300. if not i just cant do it. i'll chill at home. wait.... ive been chilling for a while lol.
Posted Thu 27 Apr 06 @ 5:59 pm
Bren F
Join the club!, In my town the DJ's in the big clubs seem to suck, ask yourself some questions and you'll soon realise it's about money, they don't want to pay for quality, stupid really, they could take more money if they got pros on the job, "If you think in pennys, you get pennys".
Posted Thu 27 Apr 06 @ 6:35 pm
tdcj
Yes, how much to charge at diffrent venus is dificult sometimes. I charge 275.00 for 5 hours at bars over here in Victoria Texas. 450.00 for a Hall.
Posted Wed 15 Jun 11 @ 11:10 pm
DJRudeDoGG
I rarely if ever do karaoke in an established bar, restaurant or club because unlike 15 years ago when I could command between $500 and $800 a night the going rate these days is about $75 to $150 and possibly $300 if you're really lucky. I do mobile karaoke gigs all of the time and I get a minimum of $500 and average about $750. I have only the absolute best equipment, LCD/Plasma monitors and /or HD projectors using only HDMI output with HDMI splitters. Pioneer spinning equipment, QSC 15" 3 way and 18" sub powered speakers, Sonic Maximizer, DriveRack PX, TC Helicon VoiceWorks Plus and other TC Electronics voice, reverb and effects generators, top of the line Sennheiser EVo 3G wireless mics and TOTL Shure or Sehheiser wired mics (I always have cheapo wired mics for little kids and half drunk patrons, I won't serve a toatlly wasted patron, ever.). Lets also factor in over 150,000 karaoke songs all legitimately acquired and a laser and another light or two for ambiance. Yes, this is not my primary career, it is a fund producing hobby that I love and I have been doing it for over 28 years, since I was 16.
I also video mix which once you factor in the equipment listed above with all of the video effects, screens and etc. the price is similar to what I charge for karaoke but a bit higher. My bottom price is $650 and can go up over $5000 if you factor in my whole light show of intelligent lighting such as scanners and moving heads, led, lasers, truss fog or haze, bubbles, uplighting and the list goes on and on... I also offer security, maintenance, electrical inspections, repairs and certification, WiFi hot spots, ushers and more too, bringing the prices over $7000 to $10,000+. (I also do conventions, vendor and seminar shows, bridal shows and the like).
An average mobile DJ gig with just the basic sound & lighting package for 3-4 hours is $600 ($125.00 an hour for OT an basic packages, and $150 to $300 for extras on OT) and goes from there depending on how much more sound and lighting they want to add, especially if it is a wedding or Quinceanera which is way different than doing karaoke because of the MC work, timeline, special dances, rehearsals, etc...
I do guest appearances at well known, established clubs throughout L.A. but I only spin for and hour to maybe two hours and I get paid anywhere from $500 to absolutely nada if I'm doing a favor for a favor or just wanna blast my name in a new or established club but I announce my private mobile service, pass out cards and get lots of work that way...
It's all in what you want to do, what you have to do it with, how good you are at doing it and how good you look while doing it (don't think for a minute your looks don't matter, if you're already good, it's that much better if you also look good and are well dressed). I've never been an "EGO" DJ but I know I'm good all the way around and so does my clientele... Don't confuse arrogance with your certainty of your own abilities, yet don't allow either to blur the lines...
...so what's in your aresnal??!! lol
DJ RuDe
Keep Spinnin'
I also video mix which once you factor in the equipment listed above with all of the video effects, screens and etc. the price is similar to what I charge for karaoke but a bit higher. My bottom price is $650 and can go up over $5000 if you factor in my whole light show of intelligent lighting such as scanners and moving heads, led, lasers, truss fog or haze, bubbles, uplighting and the list goes on and on... I also offer security, maintenance, electrical inspections, repairs and certification, WiFi hot spots, ushers and more too, bringing the prices over $7000 to $10,000+. (I also do conventions, vendor and seminar shows, bridal shows and the like).
An average mobile DJ gig with just the basic sound & lighting package for 3-4 hours is $600 ($125.00 an hour for OT an basic packages, and $150 to $300 for extras on OT) and goes from there depending on how much more sound and lighting they want to add, especially if it is a wedding or Quinceanera which is way different than doing karaoke because of the MC work, timeline, special dances, rehearsals, etc...
I do guest appearances at well known, established clubs throughout L.A. but I only spin for and hour to maybe two hours and I get paid anywhere from $500 to absolutely nada if I'm doing a favor for a favor or just wanna blast my name in a new or established club but I announce my private mobile service, pass out cards and get lots of work that way...
It's all in what you want to do, what you have to do it with, how good you are at doing it and how good you look while doing it (don't think for a minute your looks don't matter, if you're already good, it's that much better if you also look good and are well dressed). I've never been an "EGO" DJ but I know I'm good all the way around and so does my clientele... Don't confuse arrogance with your certainty of your own abilities, yet don't allow either to blur the lines...
...so what's in your aresnal??!! lol
DJ RuDe
Keep Spinnin'
Posted Thu 16 Jun 11 @ 3:16 am
VJ Corny
One of the disadvantages of living on a small island: I only get about 100€ for a club gig. One-time events I can get around 300€. Oh well, luckily it's just a hobby and I ain't doin' it for the money... I mean, with these prices, who can, right? LOL
Posted Thu 16 Jun 11 @ 4:21 am
SuperAceMan
This thread is over 5 years old so it is going in the vault.
LOCKED
Posted Thu 16 Jun 11 @ 8:04 am