Time is Money: DJ Salaries

August 2001

This month's tip addresses a common misconception about DJ income.

The DJ pay scale is all over the place. On the one extreme, there are DJ's that work for free "just to get their foot in the door." The other end of the spectrum is comprised of "superstar" DJ's that earn over $10,000 per night. Here in Arizona, mobile DJ's charge between $400 and $1,000 per night. Nightclub DJ's earn considerably less (which is why many mobile DJ's don't bother with nightclubs). Rave DJ's usually earn more than club jocks (particularly the headliners). In London, resident DJ's average between $600 to $1,000 per night.

For illustrative purposes, If you spin for 5 hours and get paid $200, are you making $40 per hour? If you've answered yes, then there are a few things that you should consider.

Nightclubs are staffed by many workers that are paid on an hourly basis. As a "resident" DJ, you are typically considered one of the workers. Thus, even if you're paid "by the night," management often tends to view your pay in the same light as the rest of the staff (i.e., hourly). The mistake lies in the notion of comparing your pay to others on the payroll.

Why is this a mistake?

As a resident DJ, your duties extend beyond those 5 hours. In particular, you are expected to keep the club's music current. However, when are you suppose to do that? In other words, is the club paying you to listen and learn music (like intro and outro cues) during your free time?

DJ's also invest a lot of money in equipment and music. How much of that $200 is allotted to purchasing cartridges, headphones, new music (so that the club feels trendy and makes money) and/or replacing worn records/equipment? In some cases, the club will reimburse your music expenses -- but will often pay less per night (and retain the records). If you get promotional music (i.e., record pool), you are not legally permitted to resell that music. Thus, promotional records (and the expenses related to getting them) are not an asset.

In addition, how much free time do you spend: reading charts and DJ magazines; practicing new mixes; downloading music (for some of you); driving across town just to have that one record; promoting your night(s); scouting clubs for new ideas; on costs associated with appearance (i.e., cloths, dry-cleaning, hair, etc.); talking to other DJ's about DJ related issues; working on the club's system and/or DJ booth; meeting with the owners/managers about promotions; traveling to and from the location including unreimbursed travel expenses (for some of you); loading and un-loading records and/or equipment; training new DJ's (for some of you); bpm'ing and/or labeling records and archiving; etc.?

As mentioned in the About Nightclubs section, the nightclub environment has its negative side. How much of that $200 will pay for health/dental insurance and 401[k] (which nightclubs rarely offer)? Since the life of a nightclub is relatively short, how much job security does that $200 buy? The late hours should also be considered (which tends to disrupt traditional 9-to-5 life), as well as the number of nights the club provides (i.e., one or two nights per week). Some nightclubs forbid DJ's from working for competitors.

How much of that $200 will pay for state and federal income tax and social security?

Most importantly, how much is your talent worth? You are an artist and should be paid accordingly. How much money is the club making from your following? How much revenue is the club generating because customers know "they play good music on that night" (even though they may not know you're the DJ)?

When free time, expenses, taxes, reputation, experience, reliability, and sacrifice are factored in, do you still think that a resident DJ receiving $200 for 5 hours made $40 an hour?

DJ Education News

Prominent DJ Educator, Stephen Webber, author of Turntable Basics (Berklee Press, 2000) and Turntable Technique (Berklee Press, 2000), will be writing a guest Tip of the Month by the end of the year. Both Stephen Webber books will be available on Disc Jockey 101 soon. Stephen Webber is an Emmy-winning composer, record producer, and professor of music production and engineering at Berklee College of Music. He also received an Emmy nomination for his score in Zoetrobics, which was recorded at Lucasfilm's Skywalker Ranch.

For those of you in the Phoenix-metro area, Rob Wegner will be teaching a short DJ class at Scottsdale Community College during the Fall semester. Seating is limited to 30 students. The class also includes guest lectures by DJ Timothy Heit (Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences graduate, Sanctuary Nightclub), DJ Jeremy (MNR, KISS FM, The Bus), and writer Steven Ratz (DMA Magazine).

From a recent press release: "DJ Rap will be at the forefront of a new non-profit organization seeking to encourage the education and awareness of electronic music and DJ'ing in schools and colleges. The program will raise money for equipment and after-school programs. Funds and awareness will be raised through all ages tours, corporate sponsorship and artist endorsement."