Todays DJ Prices?

[kingduppy]

completely understand that a whether or not a dj is good or worth a certain amount of money is entirely subjective.
-as it's subjective it's impossible to quantify how much a dj should get paid which is where my point stems from- most djs are over priced (many are under priced in my view) but 'dj prices today' are essentially hit and miss and MANY cost too much.
i think cos this is the home of online dubstep alot of the responses have been from really good djs who take their work seriously, Forsaken for defos, seen him play before and HE LOOKS LIKE HE CARES. but how many promoters have had djs turn up pissed and play crap for an already bloated price?

[blazey]

I play for Special Brew and PCP

[kingduppy]

I play for Special Brew and PCP

and new era hats?

[blazey]

I play for Special Brew and PCP

and new era hats?

If you can find my size, then so be it, my head is HUGE

[setspeed]

guys i worded my thing very badly too. i know i can cover my costs by doing this but my qualm is essentially that alot of these djs are chargin too much money! a midrange dj for 500+...c'mon who the f*ck midrange dubstep dj are u booking for over 500 quid!?

Speaking non-UK, all mid-range dj's without dropping names are over 500GBP + travel and accomodation, basically.

As for the rider thing: If you don't mind ending up in a venue that's more a squad then a venue with people smashing into your turntables, getting beer all over the place, get 3 drink tickets tops, get lodged into a matress on the upstairs floor of a venue + at the end of the night maybe have your gear confiscated by the police coz the promoters all did it illegally, well yeah...feel free to be booked without asking questions

truedat

the first few times you've rocked up to a gig after a day of flights and hassle, not been given any food, then slept on the floor in the promoter's studio while the afterparty rages on in the next room, you'll generally get your agent to start specifying shit in your rider

[reptilian]

what do you mean by midrange dj?

you mean middling in the ranks of djing success?

or midrange as in wobble/chainsaw or whatever you want to call it/ ?

[manray]

what do you mean by midrange dj?

you mean middling in the ranks of djing success?

or midrange as in wobble/chainsaw or whatever you want to call it/ ?

lol. definitely not the latter

[jemenfish]

but how many promoters have had djs turn up pissed and play crap for an already bloated price?

A lot. But that's the price you pay promoting a gig and working with dj's. you never know in which state they arrive or will get. Some of them are moderate, some of them are off the hook. As long as they're moderately discreet about it, I think most promoters can live with whatever they want to do, even if it's sniff glue. It starts to be an issue when they cut up stuff and sniff it on the DJ booth in front of 500 people, and end up trashing the hotel room IMHO...(talking personal experience...). Sadly enough, with some of the more well known acts, that 'risk' is even stipulated in some contracts...

However once you reach a certain level (this is more in d'n'b than in dubstep TBH) you're going to get booked by promoters hardly even knowing who you are but knowing they'll get a good crowd and pocket cash. A promoter over here booked Dom & Roland and when he saw one bloke getting off the plane asked 'so eh...where's Roland?' goes to show eh

[Ennayess]

A promoter over here booked Dom & Roland and when he saw one bloke getting off the plane asked 'so eh...where's Roland?' goes to show eh

I thought this once upon a time. ignorance is bliss.

Back to topic, some really interesting points being made here.

I play out maybe 1 - 2 times a month and I get 30 quid, its a small venue (bar) in a small town (Aberdeen) which pulls in 50 - 100 peeps max for the music and costs nothing to get in. I practice, dig for new music, make sure everything is tight before my set etc for at least 2-3 days before i am due to play. I competely agree with what people have said about its not just an hours set, there is alot of work that goes in behind the scenes that really justifies a decent pay at the end of the night (as long as you have done your job well).

Also the promotor doing all the p.r setting up etc takes nothing but a free bar unless he plays that night too (then he takes £30 like everyone else). This is his first attempt at promoting and think he's doing a sterling job. Things will hopefully get bigger soon so his work pays off, but untill then i reckon he'll just keep trying to bring some good noise to the few people who appreciate it.

[kingduppy]

but how many promoters have had djs turn up pissed and play crap for an already bloated price?

A lot. But that's the price you pay promoting a gig and working with dj's. you never know in which state they arrive or will get. Some of them are moderate, some of them are off the hook. As long as they're moderately discreet about it, I think most promoters can live with whatever they want to do, even if it's sniff glue. It starts to be an issue when they cut up stuff and sniff it on the DJ booth in front of 500 people, and end up trashing the hotel room IMHO...(talking personal experience...). Sadly enough, with some of the more well known acts, that 'risk' is even stipulated in some contracts...

NO NO and NO...lol erm as a promoter for me it becomes and issue when they are playing at midnight and have already drunk the 10 cans of red stripe before their set. after all the effort put in organising an event, flyering most nights in the cold, postering, requesting late liscenses, getting wristbands, organising mates to work on the door, waking up and dragging in a 10kw soundsystem up stairs so ur sound engineer can set things up for u etc etc to come out with 30 quid profit as a promoter and watch a dj that u paid 600 quid to watch get smashed then play a terrible set is a real two fingers up to alot of promoters.


Normal people that would work 12 hours a day for less than 600 quid would be professionable about it, just because djs are in a club environment doesnt meen they can take liberties.

i think hardluck on the promoter not on the dj...(in this example ^^)

[kingduppy]

^^ just because there is a drug culture in our club culture doesnt mean djs are allowed to get intoxicated to a level where they cannot perform to a good ability.

[blazey]

In my early years I loved getting smashed before a set lol

[schema]

^^ just because there is a drug culture in our club culture doesnt mean djs are allowed to get intoxicated to a level where they cannot perform to a good ability.

If your paying for a service and that service is not delieverd as you agreed then you need to take it up with them or their agency..

[kingduppy]

In my early years I loved getting smashed before a set lol

lol gwarn! blazey you're exempt from this becos u offer a certain flava that u cant find anywhere else

when i caught u at rubberdub u were definately sober. 10/10 blazey

[the requital]

So many depressive promoters tryin to book big a name DJ for a crate of Stella.

And people moaning about drunk DJ's, do you think the ravers are still sober at this point?

[djshi]

pete bubonic

Gotta say this guy seems to have the most valid points in this argument. And i think everyone would take the max amount someone is willing to pay them if they had the opportunity... its common sense!

[m2j]

Some people are going a bit far with there fees, but someone will always pay them so hats of for asking for it

[Mad_EP]

lol bring ur own towels!

I don't have towels in my rider.. but anyone who has seen me perform, knows how hard I work and how fucking sweaty I get.

I think I am gonna start asking for a towel as an add on....heheh.



As far as the performer getting too smashed and biffing it on stage... I agree that is unacceptable. While one course of action is to take it up with the agency, it might be a lost cause.

On the other hand, if you have a bad experience with an artist - talk to other promoters. I am not saying to publicly smear someone on a messageboard or some shit, but after all, us performers talk about which promoters treat us right and are professional, etc etc amongst ourselves... I only expect promoters do the same.

While I do think that high fees should be considered within the context of an artist's overall workload (not just the 1 or 2 hours they are on stage), I think it is equally fair for the artist to look at the performance in the context of work. There aren't many office jobs where you can down a single beer at one's desk, let alone 5 or 6... so instead of making it a liability, the artist should see it as a liberty afforded them and make sure their performance is at a standard high enough to justify it.

[jemenfish]

As far as the performer getting too smashed and biffing it on stage... I agree that is unacceptable. While one course of action is to take it up with the agency, it might be a lost cause.

Usually, it is. If it's an artist where there is demand for, the agency will always ask for it's own fee to cover itself, then let the gig roll it's way. I got enough smashed artists last year but I have had so many non-shows in the past 12 months, and when you take it up with the agencies it's usually 'Yeah I'll talk to him about it' then keep the 15 percent or so fee you gave for the agency, and 3 months later you still see them on the roster and pop up on a gig in your country, so...

On the other hand, if you have a bad experience with an artist - talk to other promoters. I am not saying to publicly smear someone on a messageboard or some shit, but after all, us performers talk about which promoters treat us right and are professional, etc etc amongst ourselves... I only expect promoters do the same

That's assuming all promoters merrily communicate. As someone pointed out above, some clubs try to have exclusivity on some artists etc.; And some promoters just don't care how knackered the artist gets, as long as the cash flows in. Sad but true, especially for the larger venues.

There aren't many office jobs where you can down a single beer at one's desk, let alone 5 or 6... so instead of making it a liability, the artist should see it as a liberty afforded them and make sure their performance is at a standard high enough to justify it.

See, that's also my main argument that I always try to have with artists I book. The moment I hear someone say 'yeah it's my job' and I see he's not having one hundred percent of fun in the backstage and not looking forward to his turn at the decks, then I start to cringe. If you gain 500+, that's what some of us get in a week. If you gain 1.5 or 2 times that much at a gig, that's almost the price you can do a full pressing of a 12'' release for. For that kind of fee I want to see some motivation.

On another note, you'd be amazed at some of the things that artists put into their rider, too. I think so far, for a one person gig, I have had to have 120 bottles/cans of drinks, including stronger stuff, the more exotic beers, etc., then you need to sign a contract that they can show up with 5 to ten guests in the backstage. Now considering most backstages at venues, if you add 10 people, that's sometimes already mightily full. And you got people that both got in for free, and are all getting knockered off their socks on your costs.

don't have towels in my rider.. but anyone who has seen me perform, knows how hard I work and how fucking sweaty I get.

I think I am gonna start asking for a towel as an add on....heheh.

Towerls are usually a base commodity, but you really need to ask them in advance, a lot of promoters just forget. Then hand you paper handkerchiefs at the end

[Mad_EP]

The moment I hear someone say 'yeah it's my job' and I see he's not having one hundred percent of fun in the backstage and not looking forward to his turn at the decks, then I start to cringe. If you gain 500+, that's what some of us get in a week. If you gain 1.5 or 2 times that much at a gig, that's almost the price you can do a full pressing of a 12'' release for. For that kind of fee I want to see some motivation.

Understandable..

I mean, of course, everyone is allowed to have a bad day. There are times when you got other shit in your life weighing you down and you might not be looking forward to your turn on the decks - no matter how much you are getting paid. And that is fair. But again, it is that point where the artist needs to look at it compared to any other job. If I am having a bad day and I show up to an office job, drunk off my ass and tell everyone to fuck off, I would expect to be fired.