How to handle cheap club owner?

[Jester]

If they get a few djs in to play its a good idea to find out what they get paid also. definitely don't sell yourself short but on the other hand don't charge too much if they will just get someone cheaper in ya know.

[JD76]

I've settled on a gig with a club owner and so far he managed to completely avoid the payment topic. DJing is a lot of fun for me and usually I don't NEED to be paid for it but firstly it'd be nice and secondly I'd have to travel a little to get there which would generate some cost for me.

Hopefully someone with a little more experience than me can give me some advice on how to ask to be paid (not a lot) in a professional manner.

"Hey.. we never went over budget.. what do you have in your budget for the dj?" << copy and paste into an email... done.

[janzak]

Before I setup I ask my clients if we can "handle the paperwork so we can get to the fun part". They almost always get the hint an either pay me right then or let me know when they will have my $ to me.

Genius.

[photojojo]

what do you have in your budget for the dj?"

That's what I do when I'm talking photo gigs. That way if their budget is higher that what you were thinking your good to go. Or if your price is way over their budget you can decide if you want to counter with what you think your worth. Of course if I always got paid what I thought I was worth I would be a rich man.

[liam.h]

This goes for all work in all businesses - you need to settle payment before you do your job and not afterwards. I would just call him up and give him a number that covers all your costs plus some decent wage, if he declines even though you're most likely reasonably priced he should fuck off

do this but don't call him, give it to him as an invoice as you turn up for your next gig, if he declines, then walk out - then you've screwed him

[djmoonie]

Dj'ing is like any job. You deserve to be paid for your effort, unless you have explicitly agreed to work for free.

The more people that think they can get a guy in for nothing, the harder it is for the others trying to make a living, to make ends meat.

Act professionally, talk to him upfront and get it sorted.

Don't do no shows or last minute cancels.. that is just not professional and gives our industry and even worse reputation.

[JesC]

This is a very touchy subject, if you ask for too much, you won't get gigs and if you play for free you get a lot of gigs in the beginning but if you suck balls, you won't be getting gigs after a few months.

Here in my dj circles, the promoter is usually a dj and he keeps the biggest chunk of the pot. Most of the djs only get paid $40 - $60 per set and they run up to 2hrs sometimes. The way the keep on getting the djs for dirt cheap is the give them free booze.

If your djing for 18 and over their is a ton of djs that will play for free cuz they want to make a name for themselves. For 21 and over it usually has established djs, but every now and then the club owner or promoter brings in a guest dj that plays for free. It's usually a friend of a family member that doesn't know dick about what to do in the booth.

If you want to get paid, do your homework, study the djs in the scene you want to be in. Be a clone of what the play, just in case the promoter or club owner wants to hear the same shit that the other djs play. I'm not saying to copy, but borrow the good and learn from their bad.

I would say to start off, asking for $100 per set if it's too high you'll most likely get a counteroffer. Ask for what you think your worth, but don't over do it.

Goodluck

[K.T.I.T.]

Thanks for your insight on this topic, guys.

This goes for all work in all businesses - you need to settle payment before you do your job and not afterwards. I would just call him up and give him a number that covers all your costs plus some decent wage, if he declines even though you're most likely reasonably priced he should fuck off

Yeah, I am going to do that and sure not discuss payment AFTER the gig.

unless you agreed to ever pay for free. Then the guy has you over a barrel.

We never talked about money, at all. This includes things like playing for free. So no, I did not agree on anything like that yet.

If you work for free it's the same thing as saying my work isn't worth any money. Figure your costs for the event at the very least. That way your not paying him so you could DJ at his club.

Exactly. Most of all I do not want to pay something to get a gig in the first place.

Why would you ever do a gig and not get paid for it?

Well, gigs are simply a lot of fun and as long as getting free booze it's alright I guess.

"Hey.. we never went over budget.. what do you have in your budget for the dj?" << copy and paste into an email... done.

Sounds reasonable. I am going to do something like that.

do this but don't call him, give it to him as an invoice as you turn up for your next gig, if he declines, then walk out - then you've screwed him

I don't really want to be an a-hole right away.

I would say to start off, asking for $100 per set if it's too high you'll most likely get a counteroffer. Ask for what you think your worth, but don't over do it.

Yep, $100 (bit more than 80€) sounds decent but I'm ok as long as my travel costs are covered + a little extra cash.