I'm new to the city I'm now in, so this reflects probably the bottom rate in town, but the last gig I did was $150 for 7 hours. They also wanted me to run lights, set out trash cans at the beginning of the night and turn on all the neon in the windows.

I told them after two or three gigs that they could put me on their "stand in" list in case someone needs the night off or calls in sick, but that I wasn't interested in a regular gig. Not worth the headache and stress.

Wow you guys are getting screwed it sounds like.

It may be cause I live in a smaller town so it easier to build a rep but the lowest I get is $300 for 4 hours and all I have to do is bring in my tables, mixer and laptop plug into their sound system and go. No set up, clean up or dumb shit like that.

I feel bad for you

XSV

Those figures are effing low man. I have probably the sweetest deal in my city- I get a base $200.00 plus 2% of what the bar makes. Thats for 4.5 hours. I walk out with at least $300 every Saturday and most of the time alot more. Same deal with the Friday night guy. Really motivates me to be the best dj I can be knowing that I am in control of what I make somewhat. It also exposes inexperienced dj's who don't know how to build the crowd and keep up with flipping.

trash cans?
fuck that

the owner wants to sleep with your moms too

I have been doing hr/hr 1/2 sets for $100 and I dont bring anything but my laptop. What is the going rate for a all night set with out bringing tables and bringing own table?

...bringing out tables?

I'm in Augusta GA and the average is about $150 a night. I really hate the scene around here. Everybody is a so-called rapper or DJ. All you need is a laptop and virtual dj. Sometimes I hate the fact that I went all out and got a TTM57. Nobody gives a phukk what you're using as long as you play all the radio hits. They a mindless zombies who can't tolerate a new remix or any thing they never heard before. I did have a spot where I could play real hip-hop and the people respected it but then the owner would only pay $125. I liked the place so much I agreed to it even though I had to bring my own speakers. Needless to say he only will pay for me every OTHER week. haven't played a club in over a month. It SUCKS. Now I'm looking for a spot to rent for my own place. If you can't join em, BEAT em.

with the company i work for, i get 150 a night (for plug in to house system) but i get a lot of referals/mobile work from all those gigs, plus i'm pretty much guaranteed at least one gig a week, sometimes as many as 4. usually 3 hours (11-2). plus i get free "rentals" (we have a pool of equipment) for mobile work.

everyone else $200+ for plug-in to house system, $350+ to bring speakers. this is for 4 hours. i'm relatively expensive though, but the promoters/people i work with dont have a problem it seems.

holy shit. i wont step behind the decks at a club for anything less than $500....for a 3 hour show....

No one would pay that, where I am. I'm moving more towards sound reinforcement than DJ'ing. People just don't respect DJ's anymore, as soon as they see the laptop come out, they feel like anybody can do it. Plus you don't have to show any skill, people just want to hear their favorite songs and repeat the words.
This is speaking from a rap standpoint. EDM is totally different.

Spinning for anything less that $300 is a waste of time. If you're doing it for the love of music and to have a good time, then that's cool. For those of you guys looking to make more cash, reserve your saturdays for private gigs. You can easily make $400-600 a night without touching the Wedding market.

$75/hr or go fuck urself

$100/hr comfy minimum

I think $50-$100 is an average rate, it depends on the size of the club, how many people etc.
Another way to look at it is you should be getting around 10% of what the bar is making eg.Bar makes $1000, you make a $100..Bar makes $5000 you make $500.
To give you an idea, a bar holding say 150-200 people should be making at least $3500, $7000 above would be a good night.
Theres alot of variables to consider,opening hours,location,type of music,is it a cocktail bar even the layout and design of a bar can make or break it. I worked at a bar that had shit management,shit beer fridge/topshelf lay out and because of this i had to work twice as hard to keep people there...still got payed crap so i left.

There was a spot out here that wasn't paying an hourly wage, but the DJ would get 30% of the bar.

That could be REALLY REALLY good, or really bad.

More than likely good.

+1

If thats your mind set. thats why your stuck there... I play all the time and get what im worth.... If the bar wont pay, i wont play.... the crowd DOES care about skill, and its very important to know how and when to play the songs that they sing along too....

you have to be confident in yourself... if you think, "all im gonna get is 100 bucks" thats all you gonna get........

That's already my mind set, which is why I didn't have a gig this weekend. Money is really tight right now and all the Club owners want to cut corners. There are people in my city doing gigs for $75 bucks!! The big name DJ's set the tone and the biggest guy here is stupid cheap. I always wondered why people would cringe when I said my rates were $75/hr plus $100 set up fee. It's just too easy to get a laptop and download all the most popular songs and say your a DJ. Yes you do have to know what to play but again SKILLS do not matter if you play the songs they want. I'm in the country man, they are so far behind. The drunk club go-ers aren't asking for much just "lollipop" 3 times a night, a semi-watered down drink, and a orgasm by any means necessary.

$40 for 5 hours and a cool 20 spot with drink tickets. I charge less with drink tickets, because I can halk those for $3 each. I usually bring water bottles with vodka in it and sell those on the side. Overall it's a pretty rape situation. The only part that sucks. Is when I have play with someone else and have to split it.

Da Cyclone

$40 for 5 hours and a cool 20 spot with drink tickets. I charge less with drink tickets, because I can halk those for $3 each. I usually bring water bottles with vodka in it and sell those on the side. Overall it's a pretty rape situation. The only part that sucks. Is when I have play with someone else and have to split it.

Da Cyclone

I'm playing with a mashup DJ right, shit's crazy, never heard anything ike this before. He's mixing all of these songs together. I don't know how he's doig it, because it looks like it all coming from one turntable. I think he's a producer or something.

Da Cyclone.

I'm playing with a mashup DJ right, shit's crazy, never heard anything ike this before. He's mixing all of these songs together. I don't know how he's doig it, because it looks like it all coming from one turntable. I think he's a producer or something.

Da Cyclone.

$300 11pm-3am (NY/NJ clubs)

bringing nothing besides my laptop and I thought I was getting screwed.

dont worry about it Niro just do your thing

"mashup dj" AKA i play all the months best from crooklyn clan that I premixed in an ableton AIF annoy me. the crowd cant follow them and just they you play 200 hooks of songs in an hour dosent make them good.

i live in germany and i would leave my house under 300 euro which equals like 420 / 450 dollars. for taht i play like 4 hours... and thats much!

wouldn´t ...sorry

I should mention that prior to moving to this town, my average club gig was $400 for 4 hours, I bring my music, they provide the mixer and decks.

I took the cheap gig here mostly to get my foot in the door and start building a name both as a club dj and to ramp up my mobile business in a new location. Also, it was mostly supposed to be a fun job for me while looking for real work to pay the bills.

But it's a "retro" bar that doesn't really know "retro" (I got yelled at for playing New Order and Depeche Mode) - it's really a cheese bar. Which is fine if you know that going into it, but I didn't.

It was the extra work that finally put me over the edge. TVs and neon? well, ok. I guess I can consider that part of the light show. But trash cans? WTF? You have barbacks and beefy security guys running around, make them do that. I'm not even getting tips or a cut of the door.

Again, though, this is kind of a low-rent club in a small-mid size city, and I get the feeling that the place is on its last legs anyway. I may start looking for gigs at other clubs in town, but as some have said in this thread, DJing just isn't really the same. I used to break stuff that I'd hear on the radio 3 weeks later. Now it's more like being a jukebox.

And if I'm going to be in jukebox mode, I'll take the mobile money, please. =-)

I'm hear in atlanta my average rate in $250 per night and on saturdays i make $300, I can't do nothing for less then $250 i feel cheated if i do, Cuz i put alot of work into what i do and its hard work, and i know they make hella money at the door so give me mines ya dig!!! I work 4 to 5 days a week and its good money for me, especially having ya own studio and making beats,


As far as for the love of it is concerned, i love to see the people rock and sing along to songs and all that good shit, but everybody can't be a DJ. Fuck that, Even if there were no laptops!!!!

Sorry for posting twice, damn Sidekick slide.

How come you only gave me $30 when I covered for you that night? Must have been your $10 commission fee for hooking me up with the gig. With $10 going to downtown parking and $5 for gas, I brought home 15 Washingtons baby. Yeahyer!

You know how the agent thing works, 25% for the first 13 months. Trial period, than we'll talk.

Thrilla in Manilla

Niro is more established in Seattle than me - I get $10 a night at the club next door and some flyers.

No drink tab either - I gotta buy that shit.

hope your joking

$250 a night plus a comfy bar tab/drink tickets in upstate NY rocking a college party on Thursday nights. Club has Xone92 and CDJ's but I setup my 1200's,56, and monitor. During the summer in NYC and the Hamptons, its $100 an hour, or $250-$300 to open and close for headliners. Corporate Events vary depending on the amount of equipment I have to bring.

This is why I don't do as many gigs at clubs these days. $100 - $150 is the most some places around here wanna pay unless you have a huge following or already have a big name for yourself.

Diablo where u located?

so i guess it's safe to say the best compensation for the club is a percent of the bar. 10% and you're good to go.

Philly. The bigger places pay decent but have their residents and the smaller places wanna be cheap to cut costs.

One place I used to play at like a year ago I would get 10% of the bar (drinks only...no food) and the cover but on quiet night, I'd be lucky to get $50.

Again, Niro, quit with the "rape" usage.

Is it not okay to say I "murdered" the crowd with my set tonight on here either?

It depends how many people that offended or made uncomfortable. The common usage of "rape" that's filtering in can make female members (amongst others) of this forum incredibly uncomfortable, which is uncool considering this is already a highly male dominated place which has occasional sexist undertones filtering through.

I totally agree. I have many friends who have suffered sexual assaults, acquaintance rape, jail rape, and molested by family members. I don't think the "rape" term is cool at all.

Any club/bar paying less then $300 gets the "KISS MY ASS" treatment. I think every DJ should take a stand for themselves and think, what are you really worth. Check out this blog by DJ Gigahurtz:
blog.myspace.com

Here in australia

Max set i do is 2hrs and local clubs get that for min$300

interstate = $450 + flights/acom

Man you guys are Ballin! shit I only know a few people around my city making a $100 a night. But they're real serious DJ's using turntables and all. I need to move to where you guys are from.

Niros

I've been getting 500 a night Friday and Saturdays. But this includes letting them use my speakers during the week to play the radio.

Funny you mentioned "for the love of music" I spin with a band that I am pretty tight with on occasion. I dont charge them anything...they usually pick up my drink tab at the end of the night and thats good enough for me. I guess i like it because they give me free reign on what ever the hell I wanna play. Plus I get to plug into their PA which is badazz. For anything else I def. will take no less than $450.00.

SoCal's mainstream going rate is about $150 per DJ if there's several DJ's. That means you only play about an hour or two. Saturdays I get $150 - $200 for 1 1/2 hours and all I bring is my lappy and serato. If I wanna bring anything else it's up to me, but the club has everything. The owners also do larger events where they pay me more. Now, in SoCal the more of a following you have, or the bigger your name is, the more you make. Remember, here everyone is a DJ.

LOLOLOL

im in Milwaukee and i charge 75-100/hr. i usually get 300 for 3-4 hours and all i bring is my computer, records,headphones, and needles.
if i have to bring tables, mixer, speakers, and all that i charge about $500 for a 4 hour set.
if you're playing for any less than that, you're getting screwed. unless you're only worth $50-100, then you need to get back in the bedroom and step ya game up.

You ALWAYS have to take geographic location and amount of DJ's available in the area when talking about rates. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Where do you spin, Thor?

No residency right now, but i was at Decibel, and Eve, tuesday and saturday, and then random spots other days of the week.
i got undercut at decibel which was real wack. they got some fools to drive up from Chi to dj for $150. F all the undercutting wack ass djs.

Send me a PM with your next couple of gigs... I'll swing by.

It was bad enough with me walking 6 blocks to do a $150 gig at Café on 3rd... I can't imagine driving from Chicago to do that. With gas what it is, there can't possibly be any profit after mileage and meals.

thats what i'm saying. its just shitty how clubs do that to people.
you in milwaukee also? i have a show in Waukesha on saturday that should be real dope.

It's actually more shitty if you think of DJ's doing that to other DJ's.

+1
You're lucky to get $150 a night where I'm at (Augusta,GA)
Plenty of wannabe's with laptops just wanting to get close to some ass and talk like they on tour with Kanye or something

I'm breaking out the vinyl this friday to take it back to the essence.

+++++1 I swear It's the same shit out here and I live in the NJ/NY market. When I lived in ohio $300 just to start the car. In Jersey trying to get my name out here getting me raped right now.

You can't use the "r" word on here...

INBTL!

Thor do u know the cats name that came from the Chi? Also, what we do is a BUSINESS before it's anything else. Cats out for themselves. You got ALOT of new jacks tryna get on the scene and will undercut you. Just continue to do your thing. Focus less on the money aspect and more on skill and the money will follow. I'm not saying you shouldn't get your money, becuz you gotta get yours I'm saying don't let it be your ONLY motivation.

dj Jem i think. but i heard it was like 3 dudes that roll together that came out and replaced everyone that spun at the club.
money isnt my only motivation, but when you get a taste of how nice it feels to bring home $1000 in a week when your 22 years old for "working", its hard not to want it you know?
i keep my skills up, i believe im better than 90% of the djs i know in milwaukee, or have seen. but a lot of times club owners/managers dont really care about skill at all as long as your playing whats on the radio...
what djs do you know in Mil??

Hey ThumpL, what part of Jersey you in?

Hey Thor,

Where are you playing on Saturday night? I'll do my best to make it out there.

Some of you, nah, most of you are getting RAPED! $150 a night?!

That's not even enough for me to set up! And I thought the market was bad out here...Guess its not so bad after all out here!

I only adjust my rate for friends or people who looked out for me...

UK decent club £100 per hour thats $195.36 per hour I can earn up to £600 per weekend . thats $1,172.21

BUT I still do a whole night on thursday down my local pub for £70 thats $136.75 for 4 hours ( thats for the Love and the Girls and the Drugs :) )

Wassup,

I usually don't play for more than 2 hours and the money i get is always around 250€ (arount $330) here in Portugal

I'm right there with Sniffles, when asked I'll tell them $100/hr right off the bat and usually they have no problem with it, but if they wanna work me down, I won't go below 75/hr

Depending upon the size of the club, right? I just got my first club gig coming up at a very well known club in Sydney, Australia & they have two stages. The back room pays out $50 AUD for one hour of djing, and all you need to bring is your music. However, it comes with perks such as free drinks, you can get three people in for free & five for people for discounted entry.