There are a great number of places you can play as a DJ. Some of them will make you lots of money, some of them will be a ton of fun, and some of them won’t be worth the hassle.
Here’s my ranking from least to most favorite in terms of profitability and overall enjoyment as a DJ. Note that I would take any of these jobs offered to me, it’s just that some are more fun or make more money than the others.
#6 – Bars
Now, don’t get me wrong. A bar event can be really fun. There usually pretty casual and pretty low stress. Show up on time, play some good tunes and keep the patrons happy. But, the majority aren’t going to pay very well compared to what you can make at a private event. Even worse is when the environment isn’t that fun. If there’s no dance floor, you’re basically there to be background music, and you’re not likely to get much feedback from the crowd. Woe is you if the crowd gets drunk and rowdy. You’ll spend your night getting yelled at if they don’t like you, or keeping them from spilling on your gear if they like you too much! In summary, it can go really well or really poorly, but either way you’re probably not getting paid much. Now, bars more way up the list if you have a shot to make it a weekly event. If you can repeat the event, not only is it guaranteed pay week after week, but you have an opportunity to increase prices slowly over time.
#5 – Clubs
Clubs get ranked just ahead of bars because you can get great enjoyment and fulfillment as a DJ here. This is what it’s all about for some DJs. A huge crowd movin’ and bumpin’ to your every DJ whim. Really, the only downside is the pay. You’re not likely to make even half of what you’d pull in for a private event unless you are the headliner. Working a club can be great fun, but you’re not gonna make a ton of money doing it. Again, just like with bars, if you have a shot at a weekly residency, it’s a whole different story!
#4 – Corporate Events
Company parties and conventions can be a great place to earn some real money. And, they are relatively low effort and low stress. Christmas parties, awards dinners, social hours or just pre-session music at a convention, I’ve done them all. I find that companies are willing to pay my full rate and typically want to give me full creative control. I’ve even had one event where I almost doubled my pay due to a logistical error. I came to a soundcheck the day before a convention and they weren’t ready for me. I ended up waiting around for about 4 hours and they still weren’t ready. These things happen of course, but the event planner felt bad and offered to pay me for the extra time. Lack of organization can be a challenge at corporate events. I’ve also had corporate events with completely empty dance floors, no matter what I tried. Sometimes this will happen, which is why I rank corporate events at #4. Good pay, but some challenges or awkwardness.
#3 – Weddings
Weddings are the bread and butter of the mobile DJ world. Music is expected, pay is great, life is good. You are probably going to make the majority of your company’s money at weddings. The downside is weddings are a lot of work. Lots of advance planning, and lots of potentials for stress during the event. You have to be on top of your game at all times at a wedding. You are the main entertainment, and there are no do-overs for someone’s special day.
#2 – Private Parties
Parties are pretty easy and great fun. Just show up on time, play the music they like, have a few laughs and get paid. Some examples are birthday parties, family reunions, pool parties, barbecues, and so on. These are harder to come by, and unlike corporate events or even bars and clubs, you are not likely to get a lot of repeat party business out of a single client. Clients also have vastly different ideas on how much they are willing to pay, so you have to seek out the business that pays well, or be willing to negotiate your prices.
#1 – School Dances
Schools are the best! Middle and high schools are each hosting at least 2 dances a year, every year. If you can get yourself on their approved vendor list, you will have a great shot at getting events year after year. And, they are soooo much fun. High school kids are into the latest, hottest music, so I love taking requests from them. One word of caution here: obviously the kids are changing every year, and typically there is a dance committee making decisions for the students. You will want to stay connected with the faculty advisors to make sure you continue to get selected each year. This is a client relationship that is well worth the effort in nurturing.
There you have it, my top 6 profitable DJ events, ranked by profit versus effort. Start thinking about how you can market to these types of clients, and look for opportunities to get booked over and over and over again.
