How much should mobile dj's charge?

[LiLMuNZtA]

Hey guys been doing a few house parties and was wondering how much people charge and what equipment they have? And how do you work out how much to charge? I have 2 x 400w UV lights, fog machine, 2 firework laser, 1 RGPY laser, 1500w strobe, lighting truss and 2 x 1000w speakers was chargin mates $150 for some pocket money but thinkin of chargin round $350?

[mattus123]

ive only just started playing parties

i charge $180, but $80 goes straight to speaker hire

depending on your mixing skill, you could probably get away with stepping it up from $150... myabe not such a sudden jump to $350 though, that might throw people off?

[LiLMuNZtA]

True haha i might try around $300 and see how it goes, if its to expensive for them i'll knock it down and i just wont bring as many lights haha

[imadje]

Am in uk and on iphone so you'll have to do your own currency conversion. I work for specialist agency which chsrge 350 to 450. I get 200 to 300. But we do a lot of homework planning types of music, genres, etc.

The agent supplies lights and pa. I take dex.

There is a wide range of fees depending on your skill, your adaptability, your rep etc.

I know a lot of our competition go for half the price or less. But they just do commercial chart and edm. We getmore for knowing more and supplying the niche market where clients want some real music.

[LiLMuNZtA]

200 pounds is $317 so was pretty on target haha and yeah i have pretty good rep with everyone who knows me and only play commercial stuff if i've got a decent remix of it. Must be some pretty sikk parties if they're spending that much money haha

[imadje]

^sikk parties make it all worthwhile mate, the money pays the bills, the life gives me the thrills

[Jaz]

If you have speakers and lights I think $40 an hour minimum

[Lurk6r]

Depends if their your friends etc. I do mates rates $150 for all night but I get food and am allowed to drink and have absolute choice over music. Otherewise $60 a hour and I'm sober, dress how they want and follow their song list(within reason)

[LiLMuNZtA]

Yeah i'd still charge $150 for mates haha just wanted a price to tell everyone else, thinking of just sorting out packages so that way people can kinda decide how much they wanna spend =P

[Lurk6r]

If you wanna get technical about it. Think about your expenses.

Initial: aka - in how many gigs you want it payed off

cdj/turntable/mixer

sound system

lights

music

licences and whatnot <------ for the sake of completeness

Personally, I try to save up money and buy gear only when I know Im getting at least half of it back from gigs within a month or so.

Ongoing:

travel expenses

wear on equipment (future repair bill/replacement)

fog juice

music

insurance maybe

You don't need to go into THAT much detail, but at the very least make sure you making enough to cover your costs, a little bit to put into your savings for upgrades and replacements and then a little bit for yourself.

Cause you know, if a bitch spills a drink on your cdj it hurts a little bit less if you planned for it.

[LiLMuNZtA]

Just worked out these packages, already got most of the gear so money will just go towards emergency replacements and production now haha and for insurance is there a specialist or anything just for dj's?

Basic Party kit- 2x Firework lasers, Fog machine and Speakers = $200

Laser Mayhem – 2x Firework lasers, 1x RGPY laser, 1x Strobe, 1x Fog machine, Lighting truss and Speakers = $300

UV Blitz- 2x UV lights, 1x RGPY laser, 1x Fog machine, 100x Glowsticks, Lighting truss and Speakers = $300

The Ultimate Party Package- 2x UV lights, 2x Firework lasers, 1x RGPY laser, 1x Strobe, 1x Fog machine, 1x Bubble machine (with UV bubble fluid), 500x Glowsticks, Lighting truss and Speakers = $425

Last package charged more to cover $45 for glowsticks and $40 for bubble fluid

[Lurk6r]

where you get your glow sticks from?

[LiLMuNZtA]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/500-Multi-Co ... 3f0f1180b8

[anditz]

I wouldn't give people the option, more often than not they will just choose the cheapest option. Give a competitive flat rate with an additional 50 bucks an hour after say 1:30.

I do 350 +excess or if its for other types of functions I simply say 50 bucks an hour. For weddings and engagements you can charge a little more - say 6-700 for the evening, but you better bring your a game and be prepared to do a little mc-ing

[imadje]

lol, it's a case of "each to their own" but i fixed this to suit me...

you better bring your a game and be sure you already explained you dont do any mc-ing

[LiLMuNZtA]

Sounds good and have to agree that people will most likely go with the cheapest option, i'll probably just cross off the cheapest one as i dont think many people will be happy paying $425, i could probably do a little mc-ing or i could just let the drunk guy on my left do it for me hahaha

[Lurk6r]

I usually just tell people (at weddings mostly) the best choice is to go with a close outgoing family friend, because they know all the in jokes and how formal/casual they have to be, otherwise I might as well do. I find fathers of the bride are hopeless at this, as their usually boring and cant relate to the crowd.

Also, one of the biggest "dj" companies in australia charges $300 for 5 hours + $70/h overtime ($500 for weddings). And this is what they have.

Ignore the laptop. 3 walkmans and 3 chan mixer.

One of these.

Coulnt find a picture, but basically a wooden one of these. AND they'd only replace globs when blown, on 2 of mine the color completely wore off and it was like a normal light bulb.

So don't feel the need to go cheaper than $300 unless its for mates.

[LiLMuNZtA]

Yeah i'll stick to $300 as its pretty reasonable and get someone else to MC and that price is just ridiculous but thats nothing compared to the "dj's" at my formal. They charged $300, rocked up with a chunky computer (Stone age material), 2 cheap scanner lights and played the whole night using itunes... i wanted to murder them!

[Lurk6r]

The worse part is people as well as organisations think that is okay...

[DJBigKev]

Depends if you class yourself as "professional" or not, 14yrs ago I was charging $400 a night seems from my research $100 min per hour upto $400 per hour for professional DJ's. I found this example elsewhere on the net as to prices.

$500 Is usually a budget DJ with less than a few years experience

$500 - $1000 DJ has 5 to 10 years experience

$1000 - $1500 DJ is a Top Line DJ, uses top Equipment and 10yrs + experience

$2000+ DJ has reached Celebrity Status and is in demand but he comes with extra staff and usually pays fee’s to an agency or manager.

[imadje]

^ Wow... you sure that info you got from the net is for mobile DJs mate?

[Mitch]

Got it confused with prostitution rates

[DJBigKev]

yep info is for mobile DJ's doing weddings heres a link to a melbourne company charging $945

Australian:

http://www.bpmentertainment.com.au/Melb ... 0Hire.html

Canada:

http://www.scotiaentertainment.com/Uplo ... _Promo.pdf

I can show you many more examples

[imadje]

wow, wonder how much work they actually get booked at that rate.

I have received equivalent for doing New years eve, celebrity party (where privacy is the key) or large corporate but not for normal wedding.

I also note the link to the dedicated wedding site from the melbourne company isnt working.

[legunner]

If I do a house party the client will know that I play what I want and they know my style. I charge 75 an hour. You would be surprised at how many jobs I actually get haha.