Yikes! But yeah. Sometimes, being a DJ can be like dodging the dodgy dealers. Event organizers are under huge pressure and take huge financial risks. Sometimes, the events are disastrous. Then, they try to save money by squeezing their way out of all the handshake deals they’ve made. In this post, we’ll check out three things to watch out for when signing up to DJ.
Being asked to play for free
The topic of playing for free is a tricky one. It’s easy to say “no, you should never play for free”. But there are circumstances in which you actually should DJ without payment. But you should never play for nothing. Always get something out of the deal, even if asking for it means you risk losing the gig. And besides that, you only learn when you DJ in front of actual crowds. A good deal can sometimes be a good deal, even if there’s no payment involved. Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
Being asked to pay to play
This, on the other hand, is utter rubbish. Avoid any kind of pay-to-play deals. They resemble multi-level-marketing (pyramid) schemes, where money comes from inside the event company rather than outside. Never, ever pay to DJ. And make sure you report or spread the word about those who offer you “an exciting opportunity for exposure.” That’s not the path towards being a respected professional DJ (but this is).
The deal changes after the gig
You’ve made an arrangement with an event organizer. You show up and play the gig. Suddenly afterwards, you’re not getting paid the full amount. Or you owe something for a technical issue that wasn’t your fault. The promoter says you didn’t bring in the crowds. These types of post-gig disagreements are very common. The best thing you can do is prepare for the disputes beforehand. Always find out something about the reputation of the person hiring you. And if they’re legit, they won’t mind signing a written document, will they?
Most of the stuff we put out on DJ Courses Online is meant to build you up and encourage you to be the best DJ you can. We want you to win! So don’t be too alarmed by this post. It’s not meant to scare you off. It’s meant to warn you about the occasional nasty realities of the industry. But you got this. Get stuff in writing if you’re not sure. Always stay positive and focus on the fans.