Am I a DJ? If you're paying I am!

konodl18 · #1 11-18-2009, 03:47 PM

Silly thread title aside... I am pursuing side jobs as a DJ with my sound rig. I own the amps, subs, tops, x-overs, wedges, and lighting/fog gear that my band uses.

I consider my band a semi-successful local band as we each take home $100 to $200 a night. But a friend of mine from high school is getting married next summer and just booked a DJ for....

$1200!!!!

HOLY CRAP!!!

Its been fun playing bass, but I am officially renouncing my bass player status. I am now Derek, Wedding DJ extraordinaire.

See you in the Hamptons

iamlowsound · #2 11-18-2009, 08:09 PM

Do it, I have done a few weddings and it is a lot of fun. Really easy to do if you have the right gear and a laptop. Heck, if you have a wireless signal you never don't have a song either. Real easy to pull up on youtube and hit play. No one will be able to tell the difference in quality for a dance, trust me, I have done it. The only problem is that you end up listening to a lot of crappy music over and over again.

lowsound

konodl18 · #3 11-19-2009, 10:44 AM

I totally plan on doing a little word of mouth and a little advertising to get this going. My band plays 4-6 times a month but there are still alot of open fridays or saturdays.

Any advice or warnings?

fishsticks · #4 11-19-2009, 10:46 AM

get a signed agreement for every show and get half the money up front and half after its done.

singlemalt · #5 11-19-2009, 10:52 AM

WHAT HE SAID ^^^. You'll be reserving weekends six months out, half up front, NON REFUNDABLE, half on set up.

Hook up with pro wedding photographers, venue managers, and planners. You got a job.

Betting pool on how long the band puts up with your newfound gig?

Mr wiggl3s · #6 11-19-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konodl18

Wedding DJ extraordinaire.

See you in the Hamptons

Wedding DJ Extraordinarie? That's such a weak stage name. At least go with something like DJ Tiddlywink or something.

konodl18 · #7 11-19-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singlemalt

Betting pool on how long the band puts up with your newfound gig?

I know, Thats what I was thinking initially. But I do the Booking for the Band (3 Piece) so I should be able to keep my dates straight and avoid conflicts.

Thanks for the ideas about the stage name, I ll have to work on that. I'll probably offer myself as a wedding singer also, grow a mullet, sing Boy George and Cure songs...

**Thor** · #8 11-19-2009, 11:35 AM

I hear ya. I made more filling in as a sound guy on gigs than
playing out in the last few months.

A guy I know of does it with a laptop and a crappy PA. Has
wireless and can download any song on the spot if he doesn't
have it in his 40,000 song database. Makes great money at it.

iamlowsound · #9 11-19-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

I hear ya. I made more filling in as a sound guy on gigs than
playing out in the last few months.

A guy I know does it with a laptop and a crappy PA. Has
wireless and can download any song on the spot if he doesn't
have it in his 40,000 song database. Makes great money at it.

Yep, that is about all there is to it. Learn to spin some records and do some actual DJ stuff if you want to show off, but maybe one person in 200 will care. Make sure your PA has a sub.

lowsound

knumbskull · #10 11-19-2009, 02:14 PM

yeah, go for it! it's fun, it's easy and people pay through the nose for it...

there is something satisfying about coaxing a crowd into a big messy dancing frenzy, too.

DISCLAIMER of course playing bass is more rewarding....

ghiadub · #11 11-19-2009, 02:21 PM

Go for it. I have been a wedding/event DJ for about 5 years and have purchased pretty much all my bass equiptment with the profits as well as revamping my sound system.

I even make enough now to pay a guy to help move the gear and set it up.

konodl18 · #12 11-19-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghiadub

Go for it. I have been a wedding/event DJ for about 5 years and have purchased pretty much all my bass equiptment with the profits as well as revamping my sound system.

I even make enough now to pay a guy to help move the gear and set it up.

I'm all about the profits, people joke about working a 9-5 to support their music habit. I'm all about this as a way to support my band and myself.

I've got the gear, why let it sit in the garage on nights my band isn't playing?

Just gotta get a disco ball...

JTE · #13 11-19-2009, 03:39 PM

Nah, don't need the disco ball. You need the computer that has every song every recorded indexed. You need to be professional in all aspects of your business. You need to play at the volume the people in charge want. You need to play the stuff they want to hear, and be able to build sets that flow together smoothly. You need to be able to schmooze the people hiring you. You need to be able to adapt to widely differing tastes in music.

Ultimately it ain't no different than being in a band. But a GOOD DJ gets $1200 for a wedding gig because they understand the same things a band that's going to draw $1200 does- it's all about the entertainment. A DJ is just like a great front-person- they'll MC the affair, they'll draw people to the dance floor, and they'll have folks leave saying "I had a great time!". Thing is that a band could do that, but most musicians are egotistical flakes who won't lower themselves to be entertainers. That's OK, if that's where your head is.

Just don't whine about it evertime the folks spending the money vote with their check-books...

John

konodl18 · #14 11-19-2009, 03:51 PM

JTE, you are absolutely right in the PROFESSIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, PROFESSIONAL approach. I'm the band member that does the booking, pay, advertising, and everything else for my band.

I like to think I'm pretty good at rubbing elbows with people so I'm hoping this goes well. I sing and play bass in front of crowds so I think I should be able talk to a crowd and MC events with some prowess. Give the people what they want and they'll give you $ instead of complaints!

Thanks for the input everybody

Turock · #15 11-19-2009, 05:31 PM