I often don't charge close friends and family. Maybe 50% at some cases, but I've learned over the years that dj'ing for friends is the most stressed out and the most pressure you're ever going to feel as a dj - especially if we're talking an important even like a wedding, so just be aware and ask yourself if you're willing to take on all that pressure for little to no money. In principle - I'm not sure it's worth it, but if I can save the people close to me a lot more money than I would have given them as a gift, I usually choose that option and pay the heavy mental/emotional price.
Wow I have a situation with especially family (wife’s side) they ask for a lot and expect me to DJ for like 8-9 hours and they don’t want to pay anything or pay very little. I did about 2-3 events and after that I told them what the price was and boy did they freak out 🤣, but I tell them 4hours is the most I could do for a certain price and still get the “why so much?!?!? etc” so I try to stay away from those events and just prefer to hangout and enjoy the festivities where I have nothing to do with it lol. So it’s pretty tricky and with friends some understand and some don’t, so it’s pretty hard on my end atleast. But this is a great video and very great topic. Thanks Daryl!
You made a great point in this video you should charge enough that if you could not do the event you could pass it on to another DJ and not lose any money, should you not be able to make it. Great vid and just like you I was like a guitar player in a wedding band that became a DJ because all my fellow members in the band got older and didn’t want to do it anymore.
Free, if I never get asked for that date. But as soon as a legit inquiry comes in, at least half or even full price. Otherwise you are essentially giving them a $1500-$3000 gift out of your pocket. Sister/brother...has to be free, but you'd think they'd throw you $1000 anyways.
great topic we need more of this topic. oddly enough a lot of friends and family request my services not realizing the details of my services... it is definitely a gray area alot of DJ's don't talk about...
It's a topic that I've been contemplating for a while, and while the performance of this video hasn't done well compared to the gear reviews, I'm glad that I could share my 2 cents
Either free or full price… if they deserve FREE, you find it in yourself to make it happen (or at the cost of hiring a helper). If you think you need to charge them “something”, charge them full price and take it seriously. They don’t slack on price so you don’t slack on performance.
I always give a good discount but I started asking myself would they come work a full Saturday for me for free or discounted prob not. Think of it this way if they make $30hr how would they feel if you asked them to come work for $10 hour they probably wouldn’t either but they don’t see it that way
Odd man out here. If you are asking questions of equity, fairness, to justify your decision to not DJ for free! Then don’t! Djaying for someone and not getting anything in return is called…. Giving. Giving should come from the heart. I think it is WONDERFUL to want to be there for family and friends if you can. Whether a huge discount or totally free is up to you. As I have gotten older, I provide mostly free shows. Non Profits/Charity Organizations and yes family and close friends. ( Usually not weddings though) lol I try and give back and help those I can. When I can.
I heard of a story of a DJ who gave a huge discount to a friend and then at the event said "you're so lucky to have me for my discounted rare, I could be making 3x tonight at another event!" I agree with you, if you decide to give, do it from the heart! Do your best
@@georgethedj4946 I did a job for a friend of mine. His daughter turned 16 and she had a sweet 16 birthday party normally for an event like that I would’ve charged about $1500. I did his event for $300 basically just money to cover my expenses and you know what at the end of the day he didn’t even appreciate it and didn’t offer up a tip. He just gave me an envelope with $300 in it and said thank you very much. I learned my lesson never doing that again. I will do a job for friends and family, but I will charge them a little more and save them money but not do it for just to cover my expenses.
Immediate family, absolutely not. Just something we don't do. Doesn't seem right as you see them all the time. They're family. So we don't charge them. Extended family that we see here and there or usually close enough with, usually i'll just have them cover my overheads for the gig and round it off to the closest hundred. You can always charge a little extra here and there to cover up the costs on other gigs.
Never for free, for me. If they really want to support what you do, they will pay you what you charge and give you the platform to show off your talent and experience. It may be that I'd choose to throw in something extra like moodlighting or even an extra 30 mins at the end, free of charge. But ultimately, this is my job and I can't afford to be gifting that amount to someone out of my pocket - given what I would earn taking on another enquiry/booking.
Would your family or friend take a week off of work for you? Unfortunately I’ve been the one to over discount and kicked myself later. I’m strongly considering just doing full price for everyone across the board. If I ever need a service from them I have no problem paying them full price. On another note, if they ask for a discount that’s an automatic no from me. I’m petty in that way 😂.
![NISAMANEE - TADA (ท้าดา) [ OFFICIAL MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hcQHEPMmJpU/mqdefault.jpg)
I often don't charge close friends and family. Maybe 50% at some cases, but I've learned over the years that dj'ing for friends is the most stressed out and the most pressure you're ever going to feel as a dj - especially if we're talking an important even like a wedding, so just be aware and ask yourself if you're willing to take on all that pressure for little to no money. In principle - I'm not sure it's worth it, but if I can save the people close to me a lot more money than I would have given them as a gift, I usually choose that option and pay the heavy mental/emotional price.
Wow I have a situation with especially family (wife’s side) they ask for a lot and expect me to DJ for like 8-9 hours and they don’t want to pay anything or pay very little. I did about 2-3 events and after that I told them what the price was and boy did they freak out 🤣, but I tell them 4hours is the most I could do for a certain price and still get the “why so much?!?!? etc” so I try to stay away from those events and just prefer to hangout and enjoy the festivities where I have nothing to do with it lol. So it’s pretty tricky and with friends some understand and some don’t, so it’s pretty hard on my end atleast. But this is a great video and very great topic. Thanks Daryl!
We normally do a 50% discount for close friends and family. Immediate family ya we do it for free.
Thanks for sharing!
You made a great point in this video you should charge enough that if you could not do the event you could pass it on to another DJ and not lose any money, should you not be able to make it. Great vid and just like you I was like a guitar player in a wedding band that became a DJ because all my fellow members in the band got older and didn’t want to do it anymore.
Nice! Rock on man 🤘
Free, if I never get asked for that date. But as soon as a legit inquiry comes in, at least half or even full price. Otherwise you are essentially giving them a $1500-$3000 gift out of your pocket. Sister/brother...has to be free, but you'd think they'd throw you $1000 anyways.
Very true! Thanks for sharing
great topic we need more of this topic. oddly enough a lot of friends and family request my services not realizing the details of my services... it is definitely a gray area alot of DJ's don't talk about...
It's a topic that I've been contemplating for a while, and while the performance of this video hasn't done well compared to the gear reviews, I'm glad that I could share my 2 cents
Either free or full price… if they deserve FREE, you find it in yourself to make it happen (or at the cost of hiring a helper). If you think you need to charge them “something”, charge them full price and take it seriously. They don’t slack on price so you don’t slack on performance.
100%, friends and family that support you and your business don't ask for a discount.
I always give a good discount but I started asking myself would they come work a full Saturday for me for free or discounted prob not. Think of it this way if they make $30hr how would they feel if you asked them to come work for $10 hour they probably wouldn’t either but they don’t see it that way
It's tough to put a price on friendship, but that's a great way to put it!
Odd man out here. If you are asking questions of equity, fairness, to justify your decision to not DJ for free! Then don’t!
Djaying for someone and not getting anything in return is called…. Giving.
Giving should come from the heart. I think it is WONDERFUL to want to be there for family and friends if you can. Whether a huge discount or totally free is up to you. As I have gotten older, I provide mostly free shows. Non Profits/Charity Organizations and yes family and close friends. ( Usually not weddings though) lol
I try and give back and help those I can. When I can.
I heard of a story of a DJ who gave a huge discount to a friend and then at the event said "you're so lucky to have me for my discounted rare, I could be making 3x tonight at another event!"
I agree with you, if you decide to give, do it from the heart! Do your best
@@georgethedj4946 I did a job for a friend of mine. His daughter turned 16 and she had a sweet 16 birthday party normally for an event like that I would’ve charged about $1500. I did his event for $300 basically just money to cover my expenses and you know what at the end of the day he didn’t even appreciate it and didn’t offer up a tip. He just gave me an envelope with $300 in it and said thank you very much. I learned my lesson never doing that again. I will do a job for friends and family, but I will charge them a little more and save them money but not do it for just to cover my expenses.
Immediate family, absolutely not. Just something we don't do. Doesn't seem right as you see them all the time. They're family. So we don't charge them.
Extended family that we see here and there or usually close enough with, usually i'll just have them cover my overheads for the gig and round it off to the closest hundred. You can always charge a little extra here and there to cover up the costs on other gigs.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Never for free, for me. If they really want to support what you do, they will pay you what you charge and give you the platform to show off your talent and experience.
It may be that I'd choose to throw in something extra like moodlighting or even an extra 30 mins at the end, free of charge. But ultimately, this is my job and I can't afford to be gifting that amount to someone out of my pocket - given what I would earn taking on another enquiry/booking.
Thanks for sharing!
Would your family or friend take a week off of work for you? Unfortunately I’ve been the one to over discount and kicked myself later. I’m strongly considering just doing full price for everyone across the board. If I ever need a service from them I have no problem paying them full price.
On another note, if they ask for a discount that’s an automatic no from me. I’m petty in that way 😂.
You're a business first, and nobody is owed a discount. Mature balanced people will understand
Yes and great idea! And charge them full price lol. Ain't no homie hook up over here lol.
You’ve gotta make it worth your while.