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how much should i be charging?


Genetic
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ok so i've started getting paying gigs for private parties, just curious on how much i should be charging?

i already make it quite clear that if my equipment breaks while it's "in use" by them they have to pay for it,(after last time something broke).

should i charge a fixed rate per x hours then hourly rate after that? \

should i charge just an hourly rate?

should i factor in other costs? (fuel, energy drinks,booked time off work)

your feed back would be greatly appreciated

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it all depends on your skills and what you bring to the party the way i do it is triple what i get paid hourly for my day job or if you don't get paid much start at $50 an hour , if people are asking you to dj then your worth it and get yourself some insurance for your gear and factor that cost in.

Because your not going to get anyone to pay for your gear if it get's drinks spilt on it or broken or at worst stolen unless you have a written contract stating they will pay for any cost involved.

And your host should be supplying anything else you need (drinks , Food etc)

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i'd try and get away with cdj800's, djm 700, table, trouble maker but i'd probably take my tt500's aswell.

i can get set up in about half hour from pull up to play time- there's probably a hello or 2, a few smokes in there, i don't think i need to bring any lighting except maybe just a lamp for me

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check out what mobile dj's in your area are charging and keep in line with them .

Don't undercut there if you think you can provide the service charge people for it , it's no good for you or your wallet to do a job cheaper just because your starting out

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Get them to sign a contract of some sort! (find one on the net and modify it to suit your needs)

If they break something of yours, they pay. If you break something of theirs (ie kill an electric circuit or need an after hours technician to reset the fire alarm), they pay.

An hourly rate isn't always the best way to charge. Say your at a private party and the police close it down after two hours. You may not even cover your costs. Maybe offer a package price and then an hourly rate if you work longer than a predetermined number of hours.

Charge more if you have to drive long distances. You may even want to charge a fee if the venue isnt easily accessable (ie expensive parking prices or even the fact that you have to carry your gear up two flights of stairs!).

Think seriously about public liability insurance. If some drunken idiot trips on your speaker stand or you blind someone with an illegal chinese lazer, you could loose a lot of money. This is why other Dj's charge so much.

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As source said you have to have public liability insurance if someone trips on a cable and falls and breaks there neck or if you for some reason burn the house down or break something you are responsible and these days you will be sued.

What kind of gigs are you doing ? and do you have an ABN (are you declaring your income) i might be able to help you out with some pl insurance and gear insurance

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this is just a gig for a mate, although i do have an abn, just haven't done anything with it for a few years(used to be a subcontracter). i was under the impression that the venue owner/renter would have to cover things like public liability.(this will be on private property) and not a hired venue

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if its a big party i mean at least 80 + people do it for free but make a deal with the person running it that they have to hand out your business card i guarentee you will get at least 1 gig for every 20 people that are there and then you charge for there party because they know what they are getting and they obviously like it and would be willing to pay you more then what they would of if you had never been heard

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$50 an hour is pretty standard. you dont want to seem like your ripping anyone off.

also good idea just to ring other mobile type deals in your area and see what there doing, trust me if someone is having an 18th there parents that are funding arn't going to know the differece between you and Disco johns super fun disco hire whom might be $10 cheaper.

also if the gig is far away chuck a extra $20 one off travel fee.

Deposits is a must incase you rock up and they've canceled or the party gets busted up by cops. so then at least the whole night wasn't a waste of time if they do the dodgy on you

also said this before you MUST, MUST get a contract for your equipment, there is no way anyone will give you $1500 for what they see is "just a cd player"

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ok so i've been fucked around... by someone i thought was a mate and had this literally pulled out from underneath me, now i'm just gonna do a set- i got a call while i was at work asking if i wanted to dj at a party this weekend i'd probably only have to bring my cdj's i asked if it was the same party i'd already been asked to dj at...yes... he had just jumped in and said hey man i can organise the sound without asking me if i'd taken it

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yeah basically caleupe he cut my lunch.

he isn't a dj he just knows a heap, biggest problem is he's stuck in that whole thing of anyone can mix cds there is no skill to mixing cd's... doesn't matter how many times i tell him he still thinks he can jump on cd's and mix them well

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Rock up, play the set, insist on free drinks, have fun, finish set, take CDj's with you (just say your off to another gig). If he hasnt supplied his own CDj's and suddenly realises he cant play any more music, hire them to him for $100 an hour. Tell him that includes delivery, set up, pack down and removal. Nuff said... :twisted:

(Nahh...just play your set and let the crowd work out who is the better Dj)

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