I have a little philisophy...... I have earned a very good living as a mobile jock and had such great times. The best job I do is the pre flight party for a charity called "dreamflight" - dont know if you guys know it but it was started 14 odd years ago to send sick/disabled kids to disney. Just to see the faces of those kids who may not see christmas is an inspiration - loads of celebs turn up and sign autographs and when I have done my bit, there are a queue of kids waiting for mine also! You know what its like when you get a buzz from a really good gig - well double that and then some more. I dont charge because I get so much from it.
My motto is you get out of life what you are prepared to put in. I know so many charities approach you and if you earn your living doing this job, as I do, you cant work for nothing for all of them. Guys, choose one charity! I promise you that you will never get a bigger buzz than when you know you are actually really making people happy

I agree whole heartedly with this one! My philosophy was much the same, i've been given a damn good living DJ'ing and if you can't give somethig back a couple of times ayear its a pretty poor show. No you can't do them all but you can make a difference! (Even the local Youth club has my old Deck, speakers, twin CD player, and a couple of lights) on the proviso if they close it returns to me but until then its theirs to use every week.

I do agree with kazzachi, and I'm glad that i'm not the only D.J who is happy to undertake such work. A few weeks ago I did a disco for a sick children's hospice, and yes it is very distressing, especially when some of the illnesses are terminal.

However, nothing is more genuine than the enjoyment of Children and when they have told you that they have really enjoyed themselves - you know that they mean it.

I was especially touched when, at the end of the gig, they gave me an engraved tankard to mark my 5th year of doing the disco's for them, and I have to say that it really makes being in this business worthwhile, and that you can make a difference

Here, Here.

I help out the local Leonard Cheshire home, and i'm involved in the Frimley Park Hospital ENT cancer appeal. You got to do your bit for charity mate. now who said that, not arf.

I hardly do gigs but when I do i usualy do em for free... i treat it as more of a hobby at the moment. I would like to get into the buisness but i wont have time soon cause im going to college in sept.

I do gigs for mates occasionaly (like twise a year) and I do the summer fate at my old primary school every year (i'll be doing it this summer again) which i;m also doing for free. never know, i might get some payed jobs out of it!

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primary school every year

At least start making some money from this one.

It's nice to read others that are likeminded. Good stuff everyone.

If we all ever get together on that DJ stage in the future - why not make it for a few good cause's?

Recent postings relating to working for friends & relatives for free has reminded me of a call I received regarding a charity disco. It’s always honourable to do work for charidee but you do need to be careful that you’re not being exploited.

A few months ago I received a phone call from the landlord of a pub who was organising a function in aid of a local charity and could I do the disco. My initial reaction was yes but the conversation to discuss details went along these lines:

Tickets were to be £5 each and when I asked if all this money would go to the charity I was told yes apart from the printing costs and paying 2 doormen.

Are the bar staff getting paid? – ‘Yes’

What about the extra profits from the sale of drinks? – ‘What about them – I have overheads you know’

So the only person expected to work for nothing was me and in my opinion this is not a charity function in its true spirit so I declined the request.

Personally I have selected 1 children’s charity that I have researched and know that the money goes to good use (even if it is for a party to make them feel better) because, and I’m sure there are others on here that can back me on this, when you’re in business there are always unsolicited phone calls, e-mails & letters asking for support, some of which can be very persuasive, but tell them you have a chosen charity that you support 100% and they tend to leave you alone.

PaulS

Do 2 free youth club gigs a year plus a free 3 month dj course for 2 under 16`s,also do 4 day courses for under privelidged kids! Feels so good i would pay to do em

My frrebies are not Disco's but normally compere cabaret shows for selected charities, last November the cause was for a charity that runs a cerebal paulsie learning centre in Kent.

The show was in the restaurant on the side of a pub near Chatham, I managed to organise comedian Jimmy Jones, 3 members of the west end musical "Buddy" an Elvis tribute, a female vocalist, a comedian and a close up magician. All the acts worked for free & donated their expences to the charity.

The venue held 170 people and we managed to raise £5,000

a superb night

The one I did is a organisation for people with learning difficulties, hearing problems and downs. the best night of the year, starts at 6pm and finishes around 9pm but they come in and start dancing and enjoying themselves straight away, start to finish, then every since person will come up and have the biggest smile ever and thank you personally.

I agree with the comments about being exploited. I have (and do) fund raising events for our local school. A big open air event I do for nothing every summer, plus a number of fund raising disco's eg Halloween, Valentine, 70-80's nights etc then I get paid a few quid to cover costs (fuel, bulbs etc).

I have been approached a number of times by pubs doing "fund raising", especially as we also hire out a kids bouncy castle. I have once (and never again) supplied my services free to a local pub only to find out the the pub's only fund raisng was to sell raffle tickets for cheesie prizes given by local companies, plus the brewery! Judging by the number of beer drinking punters the pub did really well, not arf!!!

Anything you do that make kids happy and smile makes it all woth it!

You could do a freebie or charity event every week if you wanted. I only do the above mentioned one, and as I have been doing it for years they now INSIST on paying my expenses. The only other one I do is a staff party for a regular hotel

the way I handle those "its for charity" requests is to tell them that I support one charity and am not able to undertake any further unpaid work. I also tell them that if they want to book me I can come up with 1000s of ideas for quick money making games etc to boost the coffers!