For me, this year was make or break. I was beginning to get a bit fed up of DJ'ing, primarily because it can take up sooooo much time. Time I could be with my friends and family.

So, I decided to take a leaf out of a number of DJ's from this site's book...I raised my price quite a bit. The idea was to keep the income steady but work less - work smarter not harder as my name counterpart promotes (DJ Rendezvous).

Last year, my typical four hour party in my area was £120. This year I started off at £140. Since June it has been £175. This has all been a plan as I wanted to see if work did tail off.

It hasn't. Just like all the other 'more expensive' dj's said it wouldn't.

I am now in two minds...build a show that is of better quality, takes up less space and is quicker to erect and dismantle and put the prices up to my target of £220...or...ditch the disco. I'm still pretty fed up with it all, I love it when I have a good night, but they are becoming fewer and fewer.

October is fairly busy (by my standards!), including two corporate evenings. By the end of the month I hope to have dished out a few cards, taken a few bookings for November and December and I may be in a better position to decide the direction to take next year.

Although I have some weddings booked for next summer, my New Years Eve wedding gig may be final bow.

NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep going mate, like I said in our conversations, double the price and work half as much.

Keep pushing your price up until you find the point when the gigs tail off. Then either put them up a bit more and do less gigs or give up your other job and go full time

Paul

why not give yourself a break after new year and see if you miss it, if you get the buzz back then get your show you want and raise your prices.

bigben, learn a new skill - learn to mix if you can't, you will find a new lease of life for your work

Ditto and i actualy think all djs should learn eventhough they might not need it

I am going to take a different attitude to the other guys here.

I agree that if you have had enough of it, stop. Life is too short. There are times when I have had enough too. I feel like stopping often, but its my full time job, so I have to force myself to carry on.

If I have a bloody awful night I feel like turning my investment (over £30,000 at moment) into something else. There are some guys who will say that they never have a bad night, which is a different subject.

I totally understand what you mean Ben, do what is right FOR YOU!

Good luck in whatever you do.

OK















I'll offer you a £100 for the gear, but no bookings

You'll be ok.

keep it up!

Don't give up just be selective. Only take the bookings that you want to do. Notch your prices up to make up for the drop in bookings and if thinks get really bad take your wife along with you as your "Roadie" I'm sure she will be thrilled with the idea But at least you get to spend some time with her and you never know it may take a completely new route.

Hi Rich,

I'm taking a similar approach to you - OK, you don't get so many bookings, but you work less and hopefully earn a similar amount of money. I did a wedding fayre last week at the Moat House in Stoke and have deliberately priced myself above other DJ's who were there. I got some bookings, gave out about 300 business cards and will hopefully get some more.

If you also work full-time, then you need some leisure time - I've recently done every Thursday/Friday/Saturday for about the last 6-7 weeks and now appreciate a few Saturdays off.

Keep at it and be better than the rest!

Ian