I have been getting a lot of questions on the subject of the pay scale of Club DJ’s.
If you ask me, I am thankful that I didn’t become one of those Club DJ’s, and you will see why!
DJ’s pay scales are all over the place. This is due to a lot of DJ’s out there that decide to work for FREE . This is done just by some that just want to get their foot into the door, just to show some owners, what they can do.
Then on the other side of the scale, we have the so called “Professional” or “Superstar” DJ. These are the ones that will earn the big bucks of over $10,000 dollars per night.
Here in my area of Pennsylvania, most mobile dj’s charge between $300 to $1000 dollars per night. Now as for the nightclub dj’s, they earn considerably less money. This is why many mobile dj’s don’t want that type of action.
If you are one of the RAVE dj’s, you will earn more than the club jocks. Some of the better Rave jocks get on the average of $600 to $1200 dollars a night.
Now for the true breakdown of the pay scale. Ask yourself, do you spin for five hours and recieve $200. If you answered “YES”, you are basically making $40 per hour. So…… now comes the things for you to consider.
Clubs are staffed by a lot of workers, they are paid an hourly rate for their services. So as the “RESIDENT” dj, you are typically considered just one of the “WORKERS”.
So this is why most of the club managers often tend to view your pay in the same manner as the rest of the staff. (HOURLY) Most only compare your pay to the other on their payroll. You and I would consider this as a BIG mistake.
WHY….. you ask yourself? Well your duties go well beyond the five hours that you are expected to perform. You have to keep the clubs music current. So now you are asking yourself, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT! With what the club expects to pay you! Will the club pay you to listen and learn the new music, during your “FREE TIME”.
All the dj’s that I know, always invest a lot of money to keep their equipment and music current. So now ask yourself, how far is that $200 dollars is going to go for purchasing cartridges, new music, headphones, replacing worn out equiopment. Very few clubs will pay you to replace your music, or on the other hand, they will buy the music that you need and start to pay “YOU” less per night. Keep in mind that if you get promotional music, you are not permitted to resell it.
With all this going on, ask yourself……. How much free time do you spend : Reading charts and dj magazines, practicing some new mixes, downloading music (SOME FOR YOU), driving all around town to find that one special song that you have to get. (WITH GAS PRICES GOING UP.) Let alone the time you take to see what other clubs in your area are doing. Let alone some kind of Idea that will take your following away! Now the cost of keeping your personal appearance in line or great shape. then the time you spend talking to other DJ”s about what their crowd likes to hear, or any other so called related subjects. Then if that isn’t enough for you to consider, what about the maintinence of the clubs equipment or even the updating of the DJ booth. Then the time that you spend talking to the owners/managers to see if they can get you some “FREE” products for promo’s.
GUESS WHAT! I’m not done yet explaining what you do yet for your so called “PAY”.Traveling to and from the location, this is your own expense since nobody reimburses travel expenses.
Then there is the time that you take loading and unloading of your stuff at the end and then back home again.
As I have mentioned, the nightclub scene has a very bad negative side to it.
Then, now you have to ask yourself, How much of that $200 paycheck will go for your health/dental insurance. Or even the 401(k) plan, which nightclubs rarely offer you.
Now, since most nightclubs have a short life, how much of that $200 goes out for your job security?
Some nightclubs even forbid their dj’s from working for their compitition!
Next we have the important question of, “how much out of your pay” goes to pat State and federal income taxes, along with social security?
Now comes the big part, which I feel is the most important part. “HOW MUCH IS YOUR TALENT AND EXPERT ABILITY WORTH?” You are the artist, and you should be paid accordingly. How much is the nightclub making from the following of people you have? How much revenue is the club generating because customers know “THAT THEY PLAY GOOD MUSIC ON YOUR NIGHTS.” (Even when others may not know you as the DJ!)
When all is said and done, and all the free time, expenses, taxes, reputation, experience, reliability and some sacrifice is all factored in, do “YOU” think that a club DJ, Receiving $200 a night, for just five hours, REALLY MADE JUST FOURTY DOLLARS AN HOUR?
That’s my words on the subject, now let me hear “YOUR” comments!
Thank you and keep on reading.
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SomDJay Jung, who started off as a house DJ at the young age of 14, has been racking up club credentials throughout NYC and the nation for years. Now skilled in mixing music of all genres, Jay knows how to move the crowd and links past and present jams to create an incredible soundtrack for any night. When Jay isn’t in the booth at numerous clubs around New York City or spinning special events and private parties you can find him passing on his knowledge to students at Scratch.
