How much money can you make from an event? Also what do you need to be a mobile dj Lighting, sound equipment, permits / music license and any other issues that might come along? thanks

Welcome MGSOLID.

Sounds like you're just starting out. As to how much DJs make, a beginner should first analyze the local competition and see who is offering what at what price. Settle yourself on the low end of this spectrum, unless of course you have made a very significant investment in equipment or have previous experience etc. When I started, I averaged $50 an hour at age 14. Now that I've been at it for 4 years, it's gone up. In most counties, you can go to the county clerk and obtain a DBA certificate. Other local laws may need other forms but that is all I filled out. As for other issues, if you are starting out DJ'ing- learn the technique, mixing cueing, MCing. Also market yourself all over the place using many different modes of media, and find what works best.
(newspaper ads, word of mouth, flyers in stores, neighborhoods, pro bono funraiser etc.)

As for equipment here's the basics:
[LIST] CD Players (dual deck or table top style, check out AA's!)
Mixer
Amp
Speakers (or powered speakers)
Mic
Stands
Cables
CD collection & subscription (ERG, Promo Only etc.)
4 Par Cans
Sound activated lights

good luck in your endeavours.

sounds good but I really would need intelligent effects like 2 djscans 250 hps and one of those krypto lasers with a fog machine or two.

While intelligent lights can be more flexible, they are also more expensive. Two or three "spin & puke" effects can cost as much as one decent Intelligent scanner. Also, to get the most out of the scanners, you'll want to add a DMX controller board, like the DMX Operator Pro.

You will want the par cans & a controller for color fill.

Each state has different laws for operating a bussiness. Check with your local governement for more info.

Like RO stated, you will also need a music subscription service. These are "DJ only" music services that send you the latest music on CD every month (or week). They are clean "radio edits" (no curses). There are several companies that offer subsciptions: TM Century, ERG, Promo Only, to name a few. Cost is anywhere from $20 - $40 a month. If you're doing any mobile work, it is essential to have a subsciption.

In the U.S., as far as I know, there is no license needed to play music (as long as you're not a radio station). In Canada, I've heard tales that there's a fee you have to pay every year to play.

I probably should have mentioned this first, but I would recommmend finding an established DJ company, and working with them before striking out on your own. You'll learn the ins & out of DJing, equipement, etc., and make some extra cash (to eventually pay for your own rig).

Good luck!

Excellent advice Bill.

I'm not sure if it's just me or if its the Australian culture down here but the focus for hiring a mobile DJ here seems to be experience and musical entertainment over how many lighting effects I can cram in the setup. I've never been asked to provide specific lighting effects like intels and the like, in fact most of my customers (think they can) try to lower costs by asking me NOT to bring lighting.

To date I've gotten by with a hanful of spin'n'pukes and a set of Par 56s. They're cheap and easy so when I work I'd rather put my effort in chosing the right music than trying to program those damn DMX controllers for my crowd.

I don't do nearly enough schools so maybe thats why I've never had a leaning to own intels. The ones I have done, I've rented for the night, it turns out to be more cost effective for me.

IMHO If I had some spare cash and a choice between intels and a pair of subs or good decks/mixer, I would probably get the subs or decks/mixer because DJing is MOSTLY about sound isn't it?

ROQ out.

Great advice. but how much incoming cash can you get from an event like a small one or a large one? thanks again

I have been into intelligent lighting for as long as I can remember, I got my first dj scan when I was 14 so im not too worried about the cost.

I cannot give you a price purely because I'm from Australia, we have a different pricing approach due to location/culture, tax laws and the big difference between the AU and the US dollar so it wouldn't be relevant.

I think DJ RO had some good advice about pricing in his first response to your question. I would start from there. Good luck dude.

ROQ out.

PS. I just wanted to add to my last post, a good DJ shouldn't have to hide behind his lights as a way of impressing potential customers. Think about it, if you were at a party where the DJ had an awesome lightshow but the music he was playing was total cr@p and everyone sat down the whole night, whould you hire this guy for your party? You've always got to consider your total entertainment value when you are performing for an audience.

Right on Brother ROQ. Every word you wrote in your last two posts is the gospel truth. I have experienced the same phenom here in Texas. Any one seeking advice on this subject would do well to pay heed to ROQ's words of wisdom.

Always comparison shop the competition. What is available on line will answer most questions. Also check out the rental rates for the gear you would require to do the show. That way you have a real world cost of doing the gig.

Add 40% for reasonable profit and there you go. The cost of staying current is not just the iTunes cost or where ever you get your music but the learning of the music where to put it and when has a cost to acquire.

Don't sell yourself short. You deserve a reasonable profit from your effort.

PS. Don't get me started on humping the gear, setup and takedown etc.

It all comes down to - What is your time worth?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DJ RD Tall,

I have been Djing for almost 2 years.......i just bought my dream car (Audi TT) cash.......I am close to New York so my prices are a little more but basically if you work hard and dedicate yourself to learning and getting better all the time...it can be a wonderful side business.

Be sure you take into effect the start up cost...although I have little experience, I quickly learned you get what you pay for.

Cheap speakers sound......cheap.

Personally, I have a 2500w QSC system (dual 750w subs and dual 500w tops)that in many cases will blow a small club system away - but it didn't come cheap!

Do your research - read everything you can including peoples reviews and opinions - the people on this forum are VERY intelligent and almost always give great advice...

I have a LOT to learn.....but I am having a blast.

Regional issues play a BIG factor in price.

Where I live, people shop by PRICE only. They want cheap. They do NOT want quality. Quality costs extra, so why bother? Who cares?

I don't compete with DJ's. I'm not a DJ and I'm not gonna spin msic and claim "Hey, I'm an artist", because flat out, you're not. I'm not saying there isn't skill in knowing how to read an audience, and then liking essentially mindless disposable music that is the flavor of the moment before it's vomited off the charts the next week either.

But, let's face facts, there are COSTS involved. Do you own or rent? What are the costs to own vs. rent? Whne you rent, you have to ensure you clear those costs, but it keeps your costs UP because you have to rent AND you have to take what you can get. Does quality and consistentcy matter?

Ownership costs more. How much more? Depends. I've spent WELL OVER a quarter of a million dollars to provide a full service, oriented around concerts. I'm a sound production company, NOT a DJ. Cameras, mains, monitors, microphones, large console, multiple consoles, outboard and other signal processing. The only people who can compete with me are the big sound companies in the area.

But, alas, this is what people in my area want:
Cheap lights, cheap speakers and some idiot with an iPod full of stolen music, and that's what they call "Quality entertainment".

This is the funny part. Some slacker gets a gig, stinks up the joint, and then people complain to me about it. Like I care. I simply tell them "you didn't hire me, so it's not my problem or concern".

So, I've had to drop my prices to compete for business. But I don't take DJ jobs. There are a LOT of event promoters who thing hiring a DJ will address their concerns for the bands they've hired as an after-though. Yeah, well, we're ya gonna get 30-channels of input? A DJ can't handle that.

If I move away, I can work other markets and get more because people seem willing to pay money, but since I'm not "native", they don't call me, despite the fact that I travel.

The critical issues are many.

First off, quality gear. Where to start is usually at the mixer since that's where all your signals consolidate down before being summed and sent out. But here I will stay quiet because even for DJ-work, there are better gear than what the company here makes. But, properly knowledge and skills in sound are also critical. Here's a tip: Running in the red is bad, so learn gain structure!

The next step is the sound reinforcement system: your stacks and racks. Speakers and amps and any signal processing. Active vs passive vs powered vs active driven... so many choices.

Those are your big ticket items usually. Your mixer, your mains. But that's not always true. Some lights get costly, but you do get what you pay for.

Lights are a hard area to get into. You can do a lot with well chosen inexpensive fixtures. You should have some wash or can fixtures. A mirror ball and some pinspots are also good items to have. These are not terribly expensive, tend to hold up well. A basic DMX controller and some dimmer/power/switching parks are necessary.

But are cheaper fixtures a wise investment? If you're willing to do some more up front learning and education, maybe going with cheaper fixtures makes less sense. Maybe going intels is the better way to go. No power packs, but does it save you money, or is saving money not the critical issue? I'm not saying be cheap, intels cost more.

There are no "right" solutions. A wrong solution is one where you simply don't know how to utilize what you've got.

With my wedding clients, they don't need to be blown away. They want something for the stage, a mirror ball and some "hi-tech FX" hitting the dance floor and they are thrilled. DO they deserve more? In my case, for weddings? No. After I pay the band and the idiot promoter sneaks in additional costs(like 2 new vocalists not in the contract and demanding more money on site or else they all walk, to which I've said "walk" recently), my crew, diesel, I am lucky to make $250 in my pocket at the end of the night.

But what sort of experience do you want to provide? Assuming you want to own, perhaps it's time to start right then buy more as work comes your way. Start off with buying GOOD used gear, and HEAR it first. I could give you tips on how to optimize your equipment, making OK gear sound BETTER, but I won't here because it's one of my "secrets" that I don't want the other local Sac-town slackers to know about, but if you find my web site, you could figure it out.

Then, get some used lights. Make sure they are ADJ, and not just because I am on the ADJ site. In the price category, ADJ makes the best value gear. IT just seems to hold up better. You don't need to go nuts, but get something that can "dance", and a few lights for the stage area. If you're doing the DJ thing, just a pair of Par38's are sufficient for lighting you up. Get a DMX controller because you're gonna need it. You can always upgrade later. Advertise and start working cheap. Grow the business a bit, put the money into lights right now. Why? Single items here and there is more cost effective. Stands, trussing, decide what you want to do.

Grow some more. Time for better mixer, better decks, better mains. Bump your rates.

You're there.

Hopefully you're in an area where they want to pay fair market value. I got some idiot on the phone earlier who said they wanted me to do an all-day event and they'd give me $50 for my efforts. I said "good luck with that" before I said good bye. I ain't that stupid, so don't you be either. You can do that for some starter events, but after that, charge something competitive.

What people don't understand is set-up and strike time. This is BILLABLE time. A typical event requires for me a 4-man crew, 3 hours of set which includes load-in, lights, video and full sound/monitor check. Tear-down averages 2 hours. However for most DJ's, it's a one-man show, and the lights tend to be the part that takes up a lot of time. I strongly recommend practicing. In my case, I have guys working stage while I get FOH going, then I move onto wherever is lagging or needs help and dive in.

Chris - great advice bro - thank you.

Personaly here in Canada I make alot more money at weddings then high schools. It also depends what services you supply as well. If you're also going to MC a wedding reception etc then some charge more. Some guys charge more for bringing extra lights etc. So it's really case dependent. For me it's size of venue, how many people (office party/100 vrs high school/500+)and extras (MC). You have to figure out what you're going to offer for services. But I'll tell you...I love being a mobile DJ. Going different places etc instead of being stuck in one club. Downside..lugging and setting up gear everytime. Is it worth it? I've been at it on off since the 70's at 15 years old..I love it.

Sgtdude

personaly, i dont charge much. i dont have the best lightshow, but my lights are decent. i dont dj for a living, and i dont do it mainly for the money. i play at a club fri. through sun. but if i can get a gig, i would rather do that instead. i dont charge much more, but it is somewhat higher. usualy carge around four hundred usd for six hours if it is local. but if i have to travel, then i add a full tank of gas. i think its fair. i have herd some djs charge eight hundred plus for a night. wow! i dont see the need to charge that much. the money is great, but that is not the only reason why i do it. may not make sense, but that is how i feel about it.