Hey all, I am getting a lot of calls already from people asking me to DJ for them, and I live in a little town and have yet to advertise. Guess this place was starved for some music. Well I was wondering what I should charge. I looked on the other posts and noticed like 100-150 an hour and so, but I am just starting out, and this is a semi small not so rich place and was wondering what I should charge.
Also I got a little bit of spare money left, I was wondering if I should try and buy some cheap lightining, already got some black lights and smoke machine, and a cheap strobe light not worth mentioning . Thanks all!

I'm a firm believer that you should never skimp on any equip. I say a few good effects is better than a bunch of bad. If ya' don't have a local ADJ dealer or one within driving distance use ADJ's web site to determine what you can get with your available money. I started out w/ just 2-par cans, 6-pins,a dime store strobe, & a verdigo all set on a simple 2-branch light tree. Oh yeah, I had an of brand toggle controller. But it was a start!! Do what you can do and grow from there. Remember it still comes down to the music and you presnt it and yourself. Hope this helps a little.

- ircoach

Start out charging $250 for a 4 to 5 hour local small town gig.4 to 5 hours is the average life of most parties.If you can't get that much its not worth loading for.Charge more if you think you can get it.Add $100 if you have to drive more than 50 miles.Make it clear that your cutoff time is 1 AM. Start your lighting with two tripods and 8 par 38 cans with gel frames and a simple chase box & build from there.you can get into a setup like this for around $600.Keep all your equipment close in so people won't stumble over it.Set up your booth so guests cannot come into your work area easily.If you have room to haul them,carry your own tables.They don't take as much room as you might think. It will make life much easier & the people who are putting on the party usually appreciate it.Office Max sells some really nice light weight plastic top tables,much lighter than the standard particle board ones.Two four footers and a five or six footer should get you started.With a six footer you can set your speakers on the ends if you don't have speaker stands.This gets them up off the floor where you project your sound better and the guests are not tempted to use them as a bar or buffet table. Setup with your back to the wall with your primary power source at the right rear corner of your booth.Good luck & have fun.

Oh yes one more very important point.ALWAYS ask if there are stairs involved in load in or access to your work area.If there are ,the next question is,is there a cargo elevator.If not,find some one else because I don't do stairs.Do not let them fool you by saying there will be plenty of young strong boys to help you.9 times out of ten there are not & if there are you can rest assured they will not be there to help you whem it is time to load out.

I think Ma*rtin would know better then most of us cause he lives remotly close to you if I can remember correctly, on what you should charge. I could tell you what I charge here in Ohio, but you might not get that where you are from because of different regions.

What I always tell people is, How much would you pay an employee to DJ for you per hour? Add on to that price.. I would say at least double it.. next add on to that price your expenses then add enough for you to make a profit, for me, it comes to be (as of our newest prices which will go in affect next month) about $220 per hour.

As for lighting, no you really don't need it, and I started out with out it, but it is an added perk, and will really make you stand out! Go buy some par cans and they will be pleanty fo you.

If you do have money left over, I would suggest getting some nice business cards made, letter heads etc. That will be one of the best investments besides your equipment it's self!

Thanks for the info guys, what do those par cans do, i saw them on ADJ and they under 100$, sounds good to me. was looking at those fun multi color beat sensing lighting effects, but i guess i need a mount for those and they cost more. Well tommorow is the gig so hopefully everything goes well.

I'll 2nd on the Vertigo suggestion. Very versatile light. Also, if you are doing weddings, anniversaries and the like, I'd recommend getting a Starball. Good luck.

Each par can puts a wide wash of color over the area you have it aimed at (about 10 square feet).
Put different color gels in the gel frames,connect them to a chase box & yiu have an economical way to constantly change the color of the dance floor.I'm not saying that this is the
Pink Floyd laser light show,but it is an economical way to get started with lighting & you dont have to worry about leaving one on too long & burning it up.Also in most cases they dont draw an excessive amount of power which is an important consideration in many small venues ,especially older ones with barely adequate wiring.In most cases I can run all 8 cans off one plug if I have to.It really puts a damper on the party when you blow a fuse or circuit breaker and all the lights & sound go dead.Also you have to ask yourself how much stuff do you want to be tearsing down & rolling up at 2 AM when the people at that rented the building are standing there looking atvtheir watches & wanting you to hurry up & get packed up & get out.
You can expand your system with vertigos & the like later on after you have made enough money to justify them.Also what marty3dj says about the starball is right.If you want a mirror ball effect that is the way to go.You dont have to hang it or worry about it getting bumped & you dont have to mess with hanging pinspots and finding a power source for them.

See Jest, Just what we've been saying. This is a great place to get ideas. WE all have diff thoughts but we are all looking for the best way to please the client. I don't disagree w/ what the others have said but I know what has worked for me and there ideas have made me think about what else I can do to make my smaller shows better. If you would like I can tell you a quick way to hook up a system using pin lights, par cans & a vertigo and the whole thing will run off a 20 amp. breaker.

- ircoach

American DJ has a bunch of inexpensive great lighting effects under $200 each that are floor fillers. Their new "pod"collection is great, along with a Vertigo Millenium, or any of those derby style effects.

The mini greessor II and electra are very nice effects. I have one of each!

Jest, this is my opinion now on lighting. I would get a couple of flame bowls. You can leave these on all night if you like. Inexpensive and always a crowd pleaser, and they would compliment your black lights and fog maker very nicely. Party Gobo lamp also an inexpensive piece of lighting and again can be left on all night, and is a nice mood light. Roto Pods, or Color Pods are also very nice, and yes there is always your par cans. Don't get anything with a duty cycle, at least not until you have a nice base of other lighting, since you can only use it for 15 min. on and have to wait 10 or 15 minutes to use again. If your using duty cycles you will need to have at least 4 different lights just so as not to get too boring. Once you get into lighting products you'll find your always wanting more, at least I am. There are soooo many lights made by ADJ it's hard for me to pick which ones I want. I'd love to have em all!!!! Stick with ADJ products too as they are the best for the money, and quality. I've tried a couple other brands and was not satisfied with them.
Tha DOGG.

I don't have much room left in my car, so I can not get a tripod, or frame, and such. so I need some lights that just sit on the ground or my table.