how much do u guys charge for house parties?

[Omz Lay]

how much do u guys charge for house parties?

[pomrocks]

why are you thinking about this when you havent even got the gear yet?

[Matty_neal]

"If you're not in it for the love of the music, would you please fuck off"


Lyrics from 'All About House Music - Noir (Peter Gelderblom mix)' came to mind after reading your post :P

[Garthyboy]

If I'm playing what I want and getting booze - 50/hr
That's no set up or tear down.....simply play

If its my gear and set up - add an extra 150ish to total cost.


If its a mate.....free and your mates should do the righty and buy you some beers etc etc
Plus they can help you set up etc....setting up is a right pain in the ass

[Omz Lay]

yeah dont be so quick to judge! dont doubt what i love ok.. shit i ask a question and i get slaughtered. for fuk sake.... its not liek i think im gona start makin money straight away.. shit i know... IT DOESNT HURT TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE INDUSTRY

[Omz Lay]

If I'm playing what I want and getting booze - 50/hr
That's no set up or tear down.....simply play

If its my gear and set up - add an extra 150ish to total cost.


If its a mate.....free and your mates should do the righty and buy you some beers etc etc
Plus they can help you set up etc....setting up is a right pain in the ass


thanks dude....

[NORBY]

if your a noob i wouldnt think you would be able to ask for that kinda moolah!

im thinking of charging $200 a night when im good enough to start playing out, i think thats reasonable

[Omz Lay]

if your a noob i wouldnt think you would be able to ask for that kinda moolah!

im thinking of charging $200 a night when im good enough to start playing out, i think thats reasonable


how long have you been at it for?

[pomrocks]

yeah dont be so quick to judge! dont doubt what i love ok.. shit i ask a question and i get slaughtered. for fuk sake.... its not liek i think im gona start makin money straight away.. shit i know... IT DOESNT HURT TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE INDUSTRY


settle..........its just not a logical question to ask straight up

and if you think thats getting slaughtered...........

[Garthyboy]

4 years

My advice
Play for free if you are new....take every experience you can to play in front of people and practice, practice and more practice.

Listen to your own mixes over and over for your errors - emulate DJ's you see, attempt the same sort of track combos so you learn what they are doing as far as levels, eq, fx etc are concerned.

Then use those skills you are learning and do your own thing.

If you want to be serious, make mix tapes and give them to people....get people listening to your style and if they like you in time you will be asked to play places and sooner or later you may start getting paid.

But most of all, accept right now.....this is a game that is going to take a lot more of your $$$ than it gives back to you without exception
(okay there's about a 0.001% exception)

[Omz Lay]

yeah i c... teh thing that lured me towards this was just cos iv listened and love my electro music for a few years now, just thought i might take it someplace, create my own style, get heard.... but yeah getn paid wouldnt b a a bad thing... but like u said.. my first gigs will probably pay for beer haha

[Garthyboy]

Your first gigs will cost you in fact

Cost you a new pair of jocks cos you will be shitting yourself

[NORBY]

ha ha,

i have been doin various bits of dj'ing for about a year, mainly through computer programs and stuff

now im moving into the BCD2000

its a little bit of a jump but it means i can look a bit more pro at parties

i really never plan on doing clubs

but yeah its more of a hobby than a job

[Bracko]

fuckin' noob cunts.

house party = free beer

[NORBY]

fuckin' noob ****s.

house party = free beer
what if your like me and dont drink then what :P ha ha

[ChAbIb]

then you get nothing!

[NORBY]

except a good night out ;)

[Bracko]

what if your like me and dont drink then what :P ha ha

well if some cunt is like you and doesn't drink.


i'd call that cunt a fucking useless cunt.


any DJ that doesn't drink plays gurnstyle trance or is fucked in the head.

p.s. cunt

[gamblore]

accept right now.....this is a game that is going to take a lot more of your $$$ than it gives back to you

So true...

my first gigs will probably pay for beer haha

Your first gigs will probably be at your own house to get your mates involved in what you are doing, so not only will you have to buy your own beer, you will have to clean up in the morning.:|

[nick_t]

house party = free beer


fuck yeah... right on...

only time i charge money at house parties is for a pa or lighting if they want any, other than that bring on the beer!


oh and if you dont drink then... hahahahahaha... damn

[truba]

if your a noob i wouldnt think you would be able to ask for that kinda moolah!

im thinking of charging $200 a night when im good enough to start playing out, i think thats reasonable
is that 200 hundred for 1 hr or 2 or 3 or the whole night

[Matty_neal]

last party I played at, I paid for the laser, the smoke machine, the lighting, the sound system, borrowed a mates cdj's, my own bottle of canadian club (most of which was taken by randoms), no pay, and I did basically everything myself. I made people get up and dance, and enjoy themselves. was a killer party.

next time, hopefully wont be so costly to me :S

[Bracko]

let the clueless fuckwits wild :fag:

[crazy_tripper]

If I'm playing what I want and getting booze - 50/hr
That's no set up or tear down.....simply play

If its my gear and set up - add an extra 150ish to total cost.


If its a mate.....free and your mates should do the righty and buy you some beers etc etc
Plus they can help you set up etc....setting up is a right pain in the ass
lol, seriously? who on earth pays that much for a dj for a house party

[dopamine]

I'm with bracko. I've been playing for 13 or so years and NEVER charged anyone for a house party. Obviously beer etc is free at the party and should suffice as your 'payment'.

In my day we used to fight to play, even at house parties. I knew guys that probably would have paid to play hahaha

[blahblahblah]

I think it depends if you know the DJ or not.

Most people know a DJ .. or have a friend who knows someone ! usually there is a DJ in the 3rd degree of seperation.

If you however didn't know one .. and wanted an established one .. then yeah $$$ is ok.

But like Dopamine said .. if it's ya mate ! do for the beer !

[Omz Lay]

yeah i c now.. btw ny saying pay for beer i ment that it will be supplied... so yeah .. no need 2 go ape shit... lol in all the comments ive seen u post on this theyre basically all the same.. u r verrrryy angry...
anyways thanks everyone else, shown me the real picture, peace

[madrtr]

beer or women..... for house parties

if its for a birthday party like a 21st or 40th, i charge $350, if i dont know them or $250 if they are a mate, only because i have my own lighting and PA, smoke machine that i have to go and setup like an hour before then have to pack it up and drive home.

[Spectrum]

With the cost of tunes dropping from $20 to $2 (or ripped from 'net), shouldn't the $200 fee be realigned to $20-per-gig?

[richcur]

yeah i c now.. btw ny saying pay for beer i ment that it will be supplied... so yeah .. no need 2 go ape shit... lol in all the comments ive seen u post on this theyre basically all the same.. u r verrrryy angry...
anyways thanks everyone else, shown me the real picture, peace

It may be easier for you to type like you're on a mobile phone all the time, but it sucks royal for anyone not on a mobile phone to read - hence yes, I AM ANGRY

ps. I don't think anyone should charge to play at house parties until they are at least getting paid to play in nightclubs etc - it hardly seems justifiable if you have no real professional worth, or "cred" (shit I hate that word)

[gamblore]

So your only saying you play ten tunes a night?

[Amytron]

When I had a huge house party, I supplied all the gear, and had about 7 different dj's play throughout the night. I set up an esky underneath the decks, and made sure it was topped up regularly. Beer is usually sufficient payment for a house party :)

[Random_Kiwi]

I think it depends if you know the people having the party personally or not.
i.e a mate asks you to play for friend of a friend of a friend's b'day party. Charge something, but $50 an hour for playing in someones lounge is a bit steep
If it's your own good mates b'day, just man up and play, so long as the beer is flowing and the spliffs are smoking, you'll have just as much fun as everyone else.
Shit, I've played 6+ hours at mates places at no charge...even played 6.5 hours at my mum's 50th, didn't charge her for that either! hee hee

Come to think of it, I'm with Dopamine - I've never charged anyone for a house party!

I've been offered one once, said they'd give me $150 plus beers, but need all my equipment...as I didn't actually know said person (friend of a friend of a friend situ) and probably wouldn't know anyone else at the party, I couldn't be fucked with it and said no thanks! :lol:

[tecks]

house parties for me are usually just set up my own decks, anyone who has records is welcome to bring them and have a go throughout the night. but i enjoy the more laid-back type of party, save the rowdiness for the clubs when someone else has to clean up :P

[rancho]

beer plus coke off the token party sluts rack = sufficient.

[DJ Fusion]

You mean house parties as in small party at a house? Or as in a big event with a house music policy?

Coz if a mate wants you to mix at his place just grab your wax and do it for the fun, but if it's a proper gig you won't charge them, they'll tell you what you're being paid.

[dbushby]

beer plus coke off the token party sluts rack = sufficient.

+1

[ChAbIb]

i charge for house parties. but it depends what u mean by that. if its my mates party i'll do it for free and he'll get me drunk but for a big gig at a hall or something for people i dont know i'll do it for a costly price

[Bekay]

for a friend - $0 - it's a party, as if you'd charge a mate
anyone else - lots of $$$

[archietech]

play for the experience and the good times :(

aloha i'm a superstar dj even though you're my best mate i'm gonna charge like a wounded bull ya'all

if someone you don't know wants you to play because he's ringing off his dial and loves you then i guess sort something out but sheesh listen to some salmonella dub and do it for the love of it (ahaha that was the worst)

[andreas]

Originally Posted by rancho
beer plus coke off the token party sluts rack = sufficient.

+2

[Random_Kiwi]

Man - I think I'm partying with the wrong friends! :lol:

[Portal]

$ and house party?

//syntax error

does not compute

[DJ D one]

I must be drunk...

Will play house party for free in the Hills area NSW....
So long you:
- pick me up and drop me off.
- have your own audio system (Will bring cd players, mixer, headphones and MUZ).
- you provide beer and security
- told all your direct neightbors your household will make noise until 11:59pm time at which I will stop
- like dance music (NO R&B - hip hop - rap)
- shut the fuck up and listen to what I have to play
- make sure all the girls attending are are 18+ -35

Offer is not valid for club and must be booked 2 weeks in advance....I reserve the right to decline...


Bout that!!!
Love white wine too.

D1

D1

[rancho]

- told all your direct neightbors your household will make noise until 11:59pm time at which I will stop

:lol:

at our parties the music usually stops closer to 11:59am :zabiela:

[DJ D one]

lol by this time I am either throwing up, or just bullshitting myself it will be the last time...but there is never a last time...well until I am 6ft under..won't be able to do much...then

D1

[crazy_tripper]

So your only saying you play ten tunes a night?
s'if play ten tunes, just rock doubles of put your hands up for detroit :rock:

[dj-s]

:lol:

at our parties the music usually stops closer to 11:59am :zabiela:


Then comes the dreaded loading of gear into cars and seedy drive home :thumb:

It wouldn't feel right charging anything but a few drinks for a house party.

[beattun]

I must be drunk...

Will play house party for free in the Hills area NSW....
So long you:
- pick me up and drop me off.
- have your own audio system (Will bring cd players, mixer, headphones and MUZ).
- you provide beer and security
- told all your direct neightbors your household will make noise until 11:59pm time at which I will stop
- like dance music (NO R&B - hip hop - rap)
- shut the fuck up and listen to what I have to play
- make sure all the girls attending are are 18+ -35

Offer is not valid for club and must be booked 2 weeks in advance....I reserve the right to decline...


Bout that!!!
Love white wine too.

D1

D1

this man has made the most sense so far in this thread

[Harmless]

House party can be anywhere from $450 to $800.

That's assuming it's 7pm-12am.

[Spectrum]

House party can be anywhere from $450 to $800.

That's assuming it's 7pm-12am.

What do people get in return for their $160/hr?

Do people seriously scrape up $800 to have a few tunes mixed-up in their loungeroom for the evening?

[DJ Fusion]

House party can be anywhere from $450 to $800.

That's assuming it's 7pm-12am.

Holy shit, what do you charge to headline a major even then?!?!

[Jude May]

beer plus coke off the token party sluts rack = sufficient.

provided they provide the beer, coke and boobies i totally agree:rock:

[DJ D one]

What do people get in return for their $160/hr?

Do people seriously scrape up $800 to have a few tunes mixed-up in their loungeroom for the evening?

That's seems to be the rate of mobile DJs, they come with everything, set up they equipment etc...,speakers, lights, amps... might have also pre-arranged with the client the style they will play etc...and most of the time it's not even beat mixed...
There are quite a few 35yo-55yo, that will organize party and then use a mobile DJ to play 70s disco, 80s etc...so yeah basically they get a deejay, the whole audio setup, the lights etc...and the music they like...yes people do seriously spend the money, usually they are career people, executive, so money is not a concern...

D1

[Bracko]

completely different situations.

i will say one thing though, i don't normally agree to using my own gear, it's a pain in the arse.

i still think house party = free beer. it's these kinds of gigs where you don't know who's brother's girlfriend who knows some chick that jsut broke up with someone and is seeing someone new that just happens to be part of a weekly club night team. who likes your stuff. it sounds weak, but there's no such thing as a dead end gig when you're starting to perform.

[DJ D one]

Well they are different situations, when it's a friend, or a friend of a friend, might be something that happen in the circle, and usually you do it for the pleasure of playing.

But some actually do house or private parties for a living, in this case its a job...nothing that compare doing favor for friends.

On the equipment side of things, when you start to bring $5000 worth of gear, you better know the people reasonably well, if shit happens to your gear, you'll pay the bill...so beware...if you are not insured...easy enough to go to the toilet and come back to see the headphones are gone...

D1

[djtoastytraxx]

$450 - $750 for a mates party, must have been talking about mobile djing..

I will agree with bracko with bringing your own gear but its not like all your friends are djs with the best gear. Hell yeah if they got it, then use theres!!

One main probelm which is half the time you cant rely on a decent area to dj, where you aint going to get a beer spilt down your mixer and some total retard standing there that you wanna punch in the head. We'll atleast bash the $1000 or whatever he owes you for a new mixer!!

Depends how packed the party is as well, when its over 50 people things are going to get loose and shits gonna get fuckd, i'll ask mates 4 bout 20-30 an hour, they know they're gonna get a good party with good tunes and know they're gonna have pissed people wrecking things.

Hey if they dont like it turn up and be one of the people pissed idiots wrecking things! :-D :zabiela:

[Bracko]

i wouldn't charge that purely on principle of being called a "mobile DJ" to earn that much.

[dj-s]

i wouldn't charge that purely on principle of being called a "mobile DJ" to earn that much.

:lol:

[teddyg]

house party 1.01
a bottle of gin
makes the turntables spin

[deltamax]

I charge for house parties, it cost money transporting/maintaining the equipment. Mates rates are $80 for the night and randoms $140+ for the night (depending on where and when the party is). For that they get a PA system and lighting.

Much more than $200 is a bit steep though for a house party i reckon...

[ChAbIb]

your mates rates are pretty high. i'll never charge a mate purely on the fact because it is fun and ur with ur mates.

[phunkdust]

house party = a slab and a bottle of jager

[Spectrum]

Hmmm....

The "DJ" of today has defintely reached a new height of overinflated self-importance if they consider up to $800 to be an acceptable fee to playback a few tunes made by OTHER PEOPLE in front of their own mates.

But hey, even God's a DJ these days.

[DjReal]

If its a mates party, there's no charge regardless of wether or not gear is provided, but if any gear is needed that i would have to hire in order to provide, i'll ask them to pay for that and nothing else.

If its a random's house party who i dont know, as long as everything is provided and i just have to rock up and play and get to play exactly what i want, booze is a sufficient payment, if equipment is needing to be provided then i'll usually just charge whatever it costs to hire the gear and then booze.

If they want me to sit there and take requests all night and play styles other than what i normally would then i'll tell them to go hire a mobile DJ instead.

[djsimonmann]

I response to the thread maker...


Are you serious, play for free you bastard! It's a house party... You think they're charging at the door or something?

[Omz Lay]

I response to the thread maker...


Are you serious, play for free you bastard! It's a house party... You think they're charging at the door or something?


i already knew that mate..
it was directed at people who actually charge cos theyre descent and making a living of it..
shhheeeshhh u bastard

[blakenelson]

I'm sorry but I don't see amand van helden browsing these forums. I doubt anyone on these forums makes a living off djing. They would all have other jobs. You seem to be in this for all the wrong reasons.

[nick_t]

^ well actually except for uni djing is 100% of my income at the moment, however, i still play for free at house parties ;D

[blakenelson]

I wasn't really considering getting by as making a living. I guess it could be though.

[Omz Lay]

I'm sorry but I don't see amand van helden browsing these forums. I doubt anyone on these forums makes a living off djing. They would all have other jobs. You seem to be in this for all the wrong reasons.


dont judge me ok........ it seems you can all carry on with the thread but as soon as i say something people accuse me of wanting to be a dj for the wrong reasons. i just defend myself and then i get offended again. you base all these assumptions just because i wanted to know something about playing out.... there are many people in here that actually took this thread abit seriously, you can see by reading it that it did spark conversation about playing out, but those who just posted about me being a bastard or in it for the wrong reasons or w/e really might aswell have not posted anything at all as it did not contribute at all.

so yeah its getting old when you pedal the same shit.. you know more than me, i get it.

[Funkedub]

Clearly what's happening on this thread is the highlighting of 2 very distinct lines of thought on this matter.


Notion 1 I play at house parties for friends and mates and as a result have no concept of charging an hourly rate but expect to be able to get my hands on as much beer (or other choices of tipple) as i can humanly consumer and we bang out tunes until the last person is standing/sitting/gurning

Notion 2 I'm a DJ available for house parties. I charge these hourly rates.



guess which one is more fun :-D


i'm still amazed some of you hit your mates up for $$$$ for doing their house parties ... stingy pricks the lot of ya!! :P

[blakenelson]

dont judge me ok........ it seems you can all carry on with the thread but as soon as i say something people accuse me of wanting to be a dj for the wrong reasons. i just defend myself and then i get offended again. you base all these assumptions just because i wanted to know something about playing out.... there are many people in here that actually took this thread abit seriously, you can see by reading it that it did spark conversation about playing out, but those who just posted about me being a bastard or in it for the wrong reasons or w/e really might aswell have not posted anything at all as it did not contribute at all.

so yeah its getting old when you pedal the same shit.. you know more than me, i get it.

Sure it sparked a conversation but if you read most of it it's just people saying the exact same thing.

The fact that you're actually thinking of playing at parties when you don't even have the gear let alone the skills. People should get into djing because they like the music and enjoy djing. Not because they have this plan to get gigs.

[Funkedub]

If its a mates party, there's no charge regardless of wether or not gear is provided, but if any gear is needed that i would have to hire in order to provide, i'll ask them to pay for that and nothing else.

If its a random's house party who i dont know, as long as everything is provided and i just have to rock up and play and get to play exactly what i want, booze is a sufficient payment, if equipment is needing to be provided then i'll usually just charge whatever it costs to hire the gear and then booze.

If they want me to sit there and take requests all night and play styles other than what i normally would then i'll tell them to go hire a mobile DJ instead.


That rather much sums up my approach spot on :thumb:

[nick_t]

^ +1

[djsimonmann]

i already knew that mate..
it was directed at people who actually charge cos theyre descent and making a living of it..
shhheeeshhh u bastard

decent or not, it's a house party..

The reason they pay djs for club gigs is cause the crowds suck... it's tolerance money!

[Omz Lay]

i wasnt asking as if i am going to charge people as soon as i get decks... i was just interested in rates... thats what forums are for..

i love the music.. tahts why i want 2 become a dj.. leave it at that

[Funkedub]

^^^^

if you love music ... make it ;)

[dopamine]

or become a professional dancer so you can really 'feel' the music and then show it though expressive interpretation.

[ChemicalJames]

Hmmm....

The "DJ" of today has defintely reached a new height of overinflated self-importance if they consider up to $800 to be an acceptable fee to playback a few tunes made by OTHER PEOPLE in front of their own mates.

But hey, even God's a DJ these days.

Disagree if your doing it for someone you don't know very well and your bringing your own shit.


I remember a few years back when i first started i would bring:

2 x cdj's
1 x mixer
2 (sometimes 4) x PA speakers
1 x strobe (it was quite an expensive big fuck off one too)
2 x other lighst
1 x fog machine
cords (LOTS of cords)
would bring a laptop at times too if i thought i was gonna get asked for heaps of shitty songs i didn't have on cd.


not sure exactly how much all that shit was worth as it took me a while to hord it all, but when you consider the risk you take in putting all that in front 50-300 disrespectful drunks, as well as the 8 hours work you do (including the time it takes to get all that shit in and out of your car), heavy lifting ect. i dont think $800 is that unreasonable (tho i never got paid that much).

1 spilt drink could mean you lose $400 if it lands on your $1200 mixer.


In the end i was getting paid about $400-500 for 4 or maybe 5 hours, and i decided it wasn't worth it.

The cunt of packing up your shit and the risk you take with your gear isn't worth it imo.

Have since only done shit in clubs, and even then only clubs where i can play music i like.

If i were to do a house party now it would definatly only be for a mate who has similar taste in music to myself. I would do it for free, and i would make him move all my shit to his house.

[Funkedub]

fog machines and lights ?

dude ... all you need is

1 x Mirrorball w/ Motor
1 x Spotlight

PARTY !!