DJ's, What do YOU consider to be fair compensation for your booking?

[| Bass Drop |]

Another 50+ page thread i'm sure....

When you are requested to play "Club ABC" by Promoter "1-2-3". What do you consider to be fair compensation for your time performing/traveling?

Multiple choice!

/curous

[Matt Sanborn]

depends....some clubs Ken and I play for drinks (especially during the week)

but on weekends if its a place like say FIVE or another big event we get paid well

[Rican]

Depends on the situation I guess each DJ is on their own level and can make demands based on where they are at... also depends on how big a draw the person is and how far they have to travel to get there... some DJs are just looking to get their name out there and will do it for free for the exposure while others have an established following and can demand a price. Although, I would say if you have to travel and the night isn't free you should get gas money at the very least no matter what your stature.

[| Bass Drop |]

Another question for discussion that I didnt list in the poll.

What do you do when Promoter ABC offers you a booking but cannot compensate in $$$, only comp's and drink tickets/open, semi-open bar. But when your bottle runs dry, getting a drink from them is like pulling teeth.

[The Logic Theorist]

Like Sanborn said, it's really pretty variable. Some parties, like Buzz, have a set dollar amount they pay locals. Most club residencies have compensation in mind when they hire you, but I have negotiated up when I'd played a few weeks and was obviously right for the club (packing the dancefloor, etc).

If it's a one off with no set compensation in mind, I usually try to base it off the door charge. If I have to bring out my own gear (mobile DJ type gig, which I do a few of a year) or travel then that factors into what I ask for.

Sidenote: I've dealt with all sorts of shady promoters, so if I have to go anywhere further than the metro I get everything in writing.

[LOGO]

A lot depends on one's DJ status.
Most local jocks end up playing local DJ events at smaller venues with no headliners, so pay, if anything, is going to be minimal.

When opening for headliners at bigger venues, there is typically monetary compensation, but it varies from club to club.

Since I'm nobody special, when a local promoter asks me to play an event, I feel that I don't have the right to demand a certain amount of pay, or for that matter, to even ask what the compensation will be.
Sometimes it's nothing more than some type of bar comp, other times it's between $20–100.

Now, if I were asked to travel to somewhere outside of the Bmore/DC/VA area, I would definitely want to discuss some form of payment upfront.

[djgrun]

I've played lots of paying gigs but have never asked for compensation other than comps. Out of state I think it's a nice gesture to get cash to compensate the very expensive cost of gas (and hotel), but if it's a party you'd probably be going to anyway then I don't think it's necessary

The REAL compensation is getting to play out to a good crowd!

[LOGO]

What do you do when Promoter ABC offers you a booking but cannot compensate in $$$, only comp's and drink tickets/open, semi-open bar. But when your bottle runs dry, getting a drink from them is like pulling teeth.

I haven't run into this problem.
Usually, in these types of situations, the promoter and I have discussed what the extent of the bar comp will be, so I know that going into it.
If I'm told I get a $35 bar tab and I go over $35, it's my fault.

Basically, if there are any terms of compensation that are discussed before the gig, it's the DJ's responsibility to make sure that he/she is clear about them.

If a promoter says something like, "We can't pay you, but we'll take care of you on drinks," the DJ should ask the promoter what exactly "being taken care of" means.
Ask for a dollar amount.

[The Logic Theorist]

The REAL compensation is getting to play out to a good crowd!

Some of us have played out to fantastic crowds many, many, many times. And while it's nice, you need to keep in mind that promoters/bar owners are making money off of your time, talent, effort, and ultimately records (cds, mp3s) and you deserve a cut of that money proportional to what the promoter/owner made.

[Matt Sanborn]

We get the most money from opening on a Fri or Sat for a big headliner.

like this past weekend we opened for Farina, we promoted it well, beat up the dancefloor crzy like, and got paid appropriately.

its not professional to go into exact numbers- but those types of gigs by far, pay exponentially better than any other local bookings....trust me, I have played them all.

[Maboroshi]

Ive been all over the place with this one. I've been paid, haven't been paid, I have paid (when i say this ive been on both sides of the tracks. playing at parties and throwing parties), I haven't paid, I've been given comps/drink tickets/and or a certain amount of free drinks. Now out of state i would say some cash for gas would be nice. Im not a big time dj and i do not require a contract so it doesn't really matter. Playing for a crowd was payment enough for me (and a couple shots of jager).

[nsI]

i have been paid allot more playing hip-hop gigs then edm parties.

/my2cents

[Quannum Logic]

It really depends....I like getting paid, but I also like playing.

[djgrun]

Some of us have played out to fantastic crowds many, many, many times. And while it's nice, you need to keep in mind that promoters/bar owners are making money off of your time, talent, effort, and ultimately records (cds, mp3s) and you deserve a cut of that money proportional to what the promoter/owner made.

Well, noone wants to be taken advantage of! I understand your position. If the promoter is clearly profiting heavily then you do deserve cash. But right now a majority of events in DC are small and don't seem terribly profitable in my opinion, five ibiza and buzz excluded (which you would obviously be paid for)


All this does depend on your attitude towards DJ'ing. Some people expect to break even for all their time and records, some want to profit, others expect to lose money. I DJ and also do live PA and it would be impossible for me to ever break even, so fair compensation in my eyes would be getting to party for free, maybe free food/drinks, and to perform at a good party. I have a day job and whether or not I get paid $50 for playing out is frankly a minor detail, I'm in it for the fun and the memories!

[MURAMASA]

Depends entirely on the situation, but I usually ask for what's fair. Usually the only free gigs I'll play are the ones where I know the promoter and I know they're not making much/any money from my performance; house parties, intimate events, etc... special events like birthdays and such, too. Gigs in DC I tend to be lax about because this is the area I'm from, and I really want area promoters to do well and help the area thrive.

Part of working it out fairly is looking at the whole formula -- how much are you spending to get there and perform? How much money are they potentially going to make from booking you? Is it a holiday event (more likely to do well)? Do you have any other paying offers for that date, or gigs you'll have to pass on due to lots of traveling? How did your last performance with this promoter go, and how was the feedback? What timeslot will you be playing? And so on, and so on.

When you're working as a local, you really have to keep in mind that it's completely unfair for a promoter to expect you to spend money on new music and spend money on gas without offering compensation for it. Comps and free drinks are usually fine as most of us drink quite a bit so it's essentially still a form of pay, but a big bar tab is useless if you have work early the next morning.