Hello all

This is an idea I have had re; Giving an option to the person who books you to use The Hat.

Basic idea is: Charge the customer a much reduced Fee...say £50

Explain the concept is to introduce The Hat at the start of the night explaining to the 'guests' that they should 'contribute' in line with how much they enjoy themselves, and send The Hat. round about 1 hour before the end of the night.

I realise it is not an idea for a lot of gigs, and don't think me mental, but it would be good to get votes and opinions of the idea.

To give to charity yes, if you make a living as a dj then no.

i voted no only because im not rude enough to vote prat .we all have to charge a combination of what we feel we are worth and how much we require i.e someone doing it full time needs to earn more from a night than somenoe who as got a full time job.would you go to work everyday and say to your boss i'll work for half price and if i have a good day you can give me a bonus,the other problem is you could be invited to do a party for 150 people and only 50 people turn up and if they dont want to enjoy themselves no matter how good you are on the night they wont enjoy themselves.take the full fee and if they really had a good night they can still give you a bonus

I can't think of a function where this would work apart from, as Chris says, a charity event. People expect that you have already been paid by the organiser and would maybe look upon this as a tip or you trying to get more money (no matter how you package it). Plus it's a risky way to run a business.

So back to the drawing board on this one - but hey keep coming up with new ideas

Let's just consider the flip side to the common sense approach I guess we all adhere to. If you are doing a company Christmas party, where guests are without partners, then they will be sloshed and trying to impress/out-do each other. This means that the hat will get a few fivers from the drunks but the bosses will be slipping tens and twentys in. If it were my boss then I reckon he'd be putting fifties in too.

Risky and unprofessional - yes.
Interesting gamble that will keep the DJ on his toes all night - definitely.
Will I do it - no chance!!

You need to ask yourself if you want to be perceived as a professional or a busker.

I guess the idea may be popular at the low end but would be a real no-no at a wedding or corporate event, and offering it would make it clear to potential customers that you aim your services at the low end.

I actually use this method at my charity events.

I work very closely with a hospice that looked after my dad, sadly he passed away but they were really nice people and they run and survive purely on donations etc.

I try to organise a event nearly every month and always have the hat owt and about.


I wouldnt use it at any other event......... dont think it would go down very well at a wedding lol

why not just get a little dog and a guitar and sit on the steps of the local railway station with an open guitar case