How long were you spinning before you got paid?

[Street Knowledge]

Less than a year. When a promoter is making money off your hard work and reputation, its time to ask for some money, even if its gas money.

[rt24]

About 2 years now and still nothing. I still feel like I need more time to prepare to be honest, I'm not in a rush at the moment...though I'm hoping this year I'll get one gig.

At the guy who said 10 years...that makes me feel better.

[guiltyblade]

I'd say about 2-3 months. I went out and played at a local bar and got paid 15% bar tab. Which was about 75-200 dollars depending on the night. Then continued other places and now resident at about 3 places, ranging for about 50-150 bucks a night. Around 50 or so dollars an hour.

[brian_johnstone]

3 weeks, i covered a night, and was given a residency once a month, then another night at the same club weekly, now playing 4 nights a week, the money isnt great but it is paying me and although i do have to play some top 40 it is only a bit thrown it with what i like playing.

[djfil007]

Don't really count the first 2-3 years that I was playing on Virtual Turntables (old school PC software) and with a keyboard. Cueing thanks to a audio splitter (left was my headphones, right was the output).

So that'd be.. about 3 years from when I first got my own equipment. Had CDJ's for the first 2 years, everyone considered it a joke back then... switched to vinyl, after 6-12 months I had a gig. Played progressive house (a la Sasha & Digweed) back then (in 2000-2001).

[ToOntown]

First gig.

I had two portable CD players and a 2-channel mixer from Radio Shack. My band was supposed to play a frat party and our lead singer/guitarist had to go home for a funeral. I told the frat I was a DJ so they kept me.

They paid me $300.

I didn't seriously get into DJ'ing until a year later but technically it was my first gig!

[djchriswoods.co.uk]

about 3 years, i was only 15 when i started so couldnt play in clubs legally...

[sss18734]

Not long enough... lol

[MuzicFreq]

About 2 years now and still nothing. I still feel like I need more time to prepare to be honest, I'm not in a rush at the moment...though I'm hoping this year I'll get one gig.

At the guy who said 10 years...that makes me feel better.

4-5 years for me and still nothing lol
then again I was only tinkering with it for like a couple years before I got more and more into it.

[DjZzeless]

Dj's get paid? Lol, probably since my second gig!