DJing Discussion

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WHAT'S YOUR AVERAGE RATE DJING A CLUB/LOUNGE?

agentorange 6:35 PM - 10 February, 2009
HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS CHARGE A PLACE FOR DJING?

PRICE AND CITY LOCATION, PLEASE?

me:
150$ flat +
5-10% of the bar

on average i pull anywhere from 400-700$/night

I DJed in Midtown, and downtown Jersey City.
Jader 6:36 PM - 10 February, 2009
damn you get a percentage of the bar? do you just DJ there or do you promote for them too? that's a nice deal right there if you can negotiate that.
Dj-M.Bezzle 6:37 PM - 10 February, 2009
150 - 200 a night

Mobile Al....its called the dirty south for a reason
agentorange 6:38 PM - 10 February, 2009
i'd bring the whole night. yeah i would negotiate this to the death. i guess i would double as a promoter. most of those people are useless anyway. my music brings in the crowd; steady too. so i've worked for years doing this. it's the best way to do it, if you ask me.
agentorange 6:39 PM - 10 February, 2009
i guess most the people on this board should look for that.
agentorange 9:39 PM - 10 February, 2009
Quote:
HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS CHARGE A PLACE FOR DJING?

PRICE AND CITY LOCATION, PLEASE?

me:
150$ flat +
5-10% of the bar

on average i pull anywhere from 400-700$/night

I DJed in Midtown, and downtown Jersey City.


for real, though, i'd really like to know how other dj's in other cities get down. i can use a lot of feedback on this. maybe i might move out to a city near you.
Dj-M.Bezzle 9:40 PM - 10 February, 2009
Quote:
Quote:
HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS CHARGE A PLACE FOR DJING?

PRICE AND CITY LOCATION, PLEASE?

me:
150$ flat +
5-10% of the bar

on average i pull anywhere from 400-700$/night

I DJed in Midtown, and downtown Jersey City.


for real, though, i'd really like to know how other dj's in other cities get down. i can use a lot of feedback on this. maybe i might move out to a city near you.



....did i say 150....i meant $1.50
WuaKeeN 9:51 PM - 10 February, 2009
I only do Guest Appearances now & get $100-$150 for a 45min-1hr set. If doing a full night, $100/hr minimum on their system. $200/hr if I need to take gear.
agentorange 9:53 PM - 10 February, 2009
Quote:
I only do Guest Appearances now & get $100-$150 for a 45min-1hr set. If doing a full night, $100/hr minimum on their system. $200/hr if I need to take gear.

that's what i'm talking about, right there!!! take what's yours, buddy!!!
WuaKeeN 9:56 PM - 10 February, 2009
By the way, I mostly do gigs in Los Angeles, Ca. Rate has been pretty stable for a while now. As you say, ask for what you are worth.
dj shortbus 10:14 PM - 10 February, 2009
Suburbs of Chicago

$250 a night I have 2 nights at same place, I have the 3rd saturday off every month as he has a band.......I cant complain as a club 10x the size of the bar/restaurant where I play at only pays $150....but 3 out of the 4 dj's there blow.....the 3 that blow use Serato and the 4th uses cd's and hes the best....lol
DJ Strike It Up 10:16 PM - 10 February, 2009
hold up! you all get paid to spin! no way!
(sarcastic!)
Kadilac 11:11 PM - 10 February, 2009
$200 in Augusta GA, gear or no gear, I usually bring my own so I can run it how I want and I know it sounds great!
Jay Sol 11:16 PM - 10 February, 2009
my rates look like this...

$300 for audio only for 4 hours ($50 a half hour after that)

$500 for audio and video for 4 hours ($50 a half hour after that)

i only do clubs and big events (concerts) unless someone hires me for a event such as a prom or winter ball and i only gotta bring my laptop.
dj lad 11:22 PM - 10 February, 2009
Does your rate hold for weekend gigs vs weekday gigs?

I have a weekday gig where I get paid a bit less (and do video), but I get to basically play what I want and only for three hours.
djtoast 11:25 PM - 10 February, 2009
i'm waiting til the £/$ exchange rate improves before i tell you what i earn :p

it varies quite a bit though, i get triple for saturday what i get for tuesday in the same venue.
agentorange 12:30 AM - 11 February, 2009
personally, i dig the percentage of the bar. but not everybody can swing that. gotta have clout to do so. but JaySol 300$/night, you're prob the richest DJ in Hawaii. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

i wonder what L.A. heads be pulling in in downtown L.A. or what not....

Toronto?
Dj Scarface 12:33 AM - 11 February, 2009
$200 - 200+
WuaKeeN 12:43 AM - 11 February, 2009
Quote:
In LA if your not promoting you can forget about trying to get a percentage of the bar.

Exactly. I have yet to meet a DJ in LA that can do that as well but if they are in tight with the promoter I can see this happening. Downtown LA gigs are about the same. I used to have a residency at the Stock Exchange in Downtown L.A. from 1998-2003 & I was paid $400 on Fri & $500 Saturday. Provided Lights & system for a 2nd room & opened the main floor for about an hr. & played in my room for about an hr. Had a few DJ friends show up & spin & kicked them down a few bucks. Working on another deal in Downtown L.A. that should be sweet if I land it, fingers crossed...
sopranosupasta 12:44 AM - 11 February, 2009
weekly residency,= $250 a 3 hour night, $150 opening for guest. Special shows and one off's(local)= $150 an hour. special shows and one off's (travel) = $500 a show (4 hour) + expenses.
agentorange 12:44 AM - 11 February, 2009
i can see that in L.A.- industry standard, kind of. here, in nyc area, they got djs doubling as promotion companies. niggas gettin' money over here, bro.
agentorange 12:46 AM - 11 February, 2009
250$ on a wednesday is dope. looking for one.
Dj Shamann 1:35 AM - 11 February, 2009
Quote:
personally, i dig the percentage of the bar. but not everybody can swing that. gotta have clout to do so. but JaySol 300$/night, you're prob the richest DJ in Hawaii. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

i wonder what L.A. heads be pulling in in downtown L.A. or what not....

Toronto?



Toronto there are so many clubs (I think 600 establishments in the district alone, 2200 altogether in city limits) and even more Dj's (city pop. 6 mil) so the rates aren't what they used to be.

Once upon a time the going rate (and these are general rates, not my rates) for an average club gig: $600+ night. Average bar gig: $250-$400

Nowadays, it's average club rate: $300+. Average bar: $100-$250

Of course there are exceptions to the rule but the growing trend for the smaller bars/lounges are to try and hire the "Dj/Promoter" rather than a Dj and a promoter and the pay rates are wack as fuck.


I just took on something similar to the pay rate + % however it works out to a little more because I'm getting the door as well. I really don't like a setup like that traditionally, I would rather see a lower pay rate knowing it's guarunteed rather than have to worry about banking on how many people walk through the door. But it's a Wednesday night gig so I figured what the hell, I'll call it an expiriment.
Jay Sol 2:37 AM - 11 February, 2009
it sucks but right now, the standard is $150...i will not take that unless i'm spinning fr a friend for an hour or something. other than that, its my normal rate.

i have made exceptions for weekdays before. i've taken $250 on a wed, no video, and $200 on a tues, 10-2 no video but i won't go less than $200 on a weekday or $300 on a weekend.

also, i've taken $150 flat and $3 a head. i had my girl at the time stand out there with his door girl and click the number of people that paid. we had about 200 people that night so i made some decent change. i would do that again, but it wold have to be for someone i trust and right now, that list s very short. lol.
TheMightyThor 3:38 AM - 11 February, 2009
at least $200 for a weeknight and $300 Weekend
Milwaukee
agentorange 8:04 PM - 15 June, 2009
i just got a new spot last week (150 ppl max) in manhattan.

$400+
3-4 hrs

east village/union sq. area off university ave..

what are u people in NYC making? as of current hires...
BERTO 2:02 AM - 16 June, 2009
there is a little bar here in Ny the guy pays 200 a night 3 nights in a row, i got beat out because i didnt buy my speakers in time FML
agentorange 4:04 PM - 22 June, 2009
it gets kinda boring doing the same spot 3 nights in a row. doesn't it?
BERTO 6:23 PM - 22 June, 2009
if i would of gotten the gig i would do totally different sets every day
agentorange 6:33 PM - 22 June, 2009
in the city?
BERTO 8:31 PM - 22 June, 2009
no upstate in this crappy little town