Paul Forsyth
Oct 25 2003, 04:35 PM
Hi everyone
As there has been alot of talk about pricing I thought I'd add a slightly different slant on it and try to get some info at the same time
I havn't really approached venues direct and am just in the process of doing so also I have been given the tel no of someone that runs ceroc classes that is looking for a DJ. So what do you guys that have been doing this longer here's the questions any answers or additional advice greatfully received (as always)
1 - Do your charges differ if you are working for the venue rather than the client?
2 - Do your charges differ if they have their own system?
3 - How does it work if you get work through an agency? (sorry just never done it)
Hope to get some feedback, and thanks in advance.
Vinnie
Whisky In A Vase
Oct 25 2003, 04:45 PM
1)My fee is the same for a client or venue, to my normal pricing.
2)I have only done a couple of gigs and not used my own equipment and I did not £30 off.
3)Only worked for agencies when they have contacted me for last minute gigs and charged at least the same as my normal pricing. However I have found that they have offered me more than I would normally charge, (I didn't tell them that though)
Chrispy
Oct 25 2003, 04:48 PM
Here are my own answers:-
| QUOTE |
| 1 - Do your charges differ if you are working for the venue rather than the client? |
A- Doesn't really amount to much in my quotes, unless the venue is offering regular work, or a run of block bookings. A "one off" gig is treated and priced at the usual rate regardless of whether its a private booking or through a venue. If, at the end of the night the manager comes over and asks what I would charge for a function like this, then I do put push the discount on regular work.
| QUOTE |
| 2 - Do your charges differ if they have their own system? |
A- I discount my prices by about £15 roughly - like everything else - Labour can be more than the parts!!!!
| QUOTE |
| 3 - How does it work if you get work through an agency? (sorry just never done it) |
A - Agencies often take a commission of around 15 - 25% of the booking fee. Some will forward the payment to you after the gig, but most tend to expect you to collect the total payment and then forward them their "cut". Different agencies work in different ways although the commission is often around that figure.
Most agencies also expect you to use their name, and so any repeat work should be passed through them. In other words don't hand out your own cards or use your own request slips at bookings given through the agent. Run a search for "agency" on the forum, there was quite an indepth discussion on agencies last month.
YourBigEvent
Oct 26 2003, 10:14 AM
| QUOTE |
| Do your charges differ if you are working for the venue rather than the client? |
Depends on a couple of things, firstly, does the venue also give you lots of work, I have a venue that last year gave me over 50 bookings, therefore the price I quote when talking to punters is the same.
| QUOTE |
| Do your charges differ if they have their own system? |
Only knock a tenner off at a regular do, but then the new owners maoned at me because I didn't waer a sparkling bowtie and jacket, so it was time to move on
QUOTE
How does it work if you get work through an agency? (sorry just never done it)
A - Agencies often take a commission of around 15 - 25% of the booking fee. Some will forward the payment to you after the gig, but most tend to expect you to collect the total payment and then forward them their "cut". Different agencies work in different ways although the commission is often around that figure.
Most agencies also expect you to use their name, and so any repeat work should be passed through them. In other words don't hand out your own cards or use your own request slips at bookings given through the agent. Run a search for "agency" on the forum, there was quite an indepth discussion on agencies last month.
That is the long and short of it !!
stevemarshall
Oct 26 2003, 06:21 PM
I charge a higher price for a client/wedding etc than a nightclub night, basically because the hours involved are longer, setting up and pulling down equipment..and the number of hours actually djing are longer!
Paul Forsyth
Oct 27 2003, 08:56 AM
Tonsk
Oct 27 2003, 11:14 AM
An interesting topic - I have my own slant on this.
I usually charge £150-£175 for an evening - Arrive venue 6ish to set up for a 7.30 start - Then play till midnight - pack down leave venue 1.30 home by 1.45 unpack equipment, in house by 2...
Now I covered for a DJ who was busy at a hotel 45 mins drive away.....
I use their equipment, so leave mine at 6.30 for a 7.30 start (15mins breather!) play and then leave at 12.30-1am - hope by 1.45, straight into the house.....
No lugging around heavy stuff - no worrying about bulbs, fuses etc etc only music...
The hotel though only offers £100...... But have offered me loads of dates before Christmas when I was free.....
What would you do??
Is it a good price?
kazzachi
Oct 27 2003, 11:22 AM
each to their own..... when I work for production companies and only have to provide my cds I will do the job slightly cheaper.... I tell that that a roadie would normally charge me around £30 so knock that off, then I give em an extra £20 off for equipment use. The thing I love about working for production companies is that at the end of the night I just switch off the system, gather up my cds cases and walk out!
The Spindoctor
Oct 27 2003, 03:30 PM
| QUOTE |
| The hotel though only offers £100...... But have offered me loads of dates before Christmas when I was free |
Think you answered this one yourself............... go through the dates offered and work out the ones you will definitely fill before Christmas, then take the rest from the hotel! As far as I can see a full diary at £100 a night is better than waiting to see if functions come in!
Spin
C.S
Oct 27 2003, 05:36 PM
And you dont have any lugging! I do mostly club work like this in the winter when the weather is so extreme that its downright dangerous carrying gear outside.
Chrispy
Oct 27 2003, 06:19 PM
Oh Dear!, another one of those Damned if you do and damned if you don't type questions!. Do you take the regular slot at £100 a night, and risk losing a few last minute bookings worth more, or do you hold out for the mobile work and turn your back on the residency?
Hmmmm, Difficult because non of us have a crystal ball or know what will happen!, next month your phone may ring continuously with lucrative bookings and people desperate for cover, then again you may find yourself stuck in front of the Telly!.
I think you've been given some very good advice so far, and if it was me, i'd be taking the regular work as well
YourBigEvent
Oct 27 2003, 06:55 PM
| QUOTE |
| QUOTE | | Now I covered for a DJ who was busy at a hotel 45 mins drive away..... |
The hotel though only offers £100...... But have offered me loads of dates before Christmas when I was free |
When you said you covered for a DJ was it the DJ who gave you the booking as he needed cover or the hotel who rang you directly ?
If it was the first one I would talk to the DJ first and work something out with him as you don't want to upset him, after all he may give you more work from January to November than the hotel gives you in December, therefore you would be worst off, then work out which days you would be working anyway in December, off the top of my head I think it is something like 5/6/12/13/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/31 so therefore you have 10 or 11 @ £175 you are giving up (£1975) plus NYE so you would need to work at least 20 days in December to break even on those 10 or 11 (twice the work, but the same cash
)
Now what do you want to do ?
Dukesy
Nov 11 2003, 03:29 AM
I can be flexible on price and flexible on discounts. After all - some of the earlier comments have already covered what I wanted to say, but my only extra point was I take bookings on a first come, first served basis.
No fuss, no hassel service.
I recently lost 8 gigs to an unknown indi DJ on price. I kept the token deposit, but have planted doubts into the managers mind!!!!
You see, a lot of us charge what we think we are worth, as well as taking into account the demographic locations and competition - to reflect a fee.
I thought I charged a fair price, which, was accepted in principle. But the other DJ boasted they could do the same nights / hours for less money.
That's business. There is no sentiment. But I have now pointed out why my fee was at a certain price, and, I broke down all my charges which was reflected in the price, including, most importantly, PLI and PAT cover AND emergency DJ cover!!!!!!!
If I get asked back - I'll consider my position first....do I want to work or not for a plum?
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