Comments on: $395 DJs don't belong in YOUR SCHOOL!

By: Arnoldo Offermann

Arnoldo Offermann — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:15:00 +0000

Brides give them rave reviews because, sadly, they don’t expect much of us. Here’s the math for weddings:
http://www.arnoldooffermann.com/thoughts/how-much-should-you-spend-on-a-wedding-dj-ive-got-the-mathematical-answer.html

By: Kim Chau

Kim Chau — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:55:25 +0000

Do you have a similar article for weddings? I’d love to hear your take on weddings. I’ve met so many bad DJs but the brides still give them rave reviews anyway, so I’m definitely curious about your profession.

By: Arnoldo Offermann

Arnoldo Offermann — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:34:39 +0000

Adrian, I’m going to call BS on 99% of that, I’m sorry.

We grew to where we were in less than 4 years… actually, we went from mediocre to market leader in less than 6 months. Many DJs whom I know personally took a HUGE plunge into the business and became successes overnight.

This isn’t true for everyone and that’s what you got correct, sir. While some DJs are part-time, they are NOT school dance specialists… you can’t be. I do this full time and I still don’t have enough time, ask ANY school DJ. Even if you’re part time, this should allow you to sell what you’re truly worth as you have a full income you can rely on.

I’m not saying a DJ who charges more is better, but I am saying that there is a point where the numbers say “YOU’RE A BAD BUSINESS PERSON” and are doing a disservice to yourself and your clients.

By: Adrian Bacon

Adrian Bacon — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:44:45 +0000

Hello Offman you should remember me. I’m MMM from DJCHAT. I hear what you have to say and i need to say this. First most djs usually take years to build a true professional sound system for djing. Some of it for me has been through making mistakes and learning from that.

Let’s take a look at how long has it taken for you to get the kind of setup you’re talking about that you use at school dances. I’ll bet you didn’t get that stuff in a month. What happened to the rule of you keeping the focus on you and what you can do to make a school dance a big success? You keep talking about some other cheap dj that doesn’t have what it takes to do a school dance right and is charging $395.00.

I don’t disagree with a lot you said. I just wish the focus was more about you and not some other dj that can’t do what your company does or have what your company has. You mentioned having a whole team of employees to setup the equipment for a school dance. Some will have just one or two people to setup the equipment for a school dance.

I’ve seen pictures over the years of the great setups you’ve had at school dances. Yes what you have shown is over the top. Please do remember that you’re doing this full time and not every dj out there is doing it as a full time job. So some can afford to do it a whole lot cheaper then you do because for some they don’t depend on djing to support their lively hood.

You have to do what you do or you won’t be able to eat. That’s one of the big reasons you and Bob Carpenter can’t charge $395.00 to dj an event. Remember these things the next time you want to post this type of stuff.

By: robert

robert — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:21:38 +0000

I here that

By: Arnoldo Offermann

Arnoldo Offermann — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:52:03 +0000

Sorry to hear you’re not able to get what you’re worth, John. Why do you charge below a rental rate?

By: john

john — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:35 +0000

i am a dj in canada and i am able to do school gigs for everything you bring and same thing for under 2k thats crazy prices you giving man

By: Sue The DJ

Sue The DJ — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:32:46 +0000

You were able to put in to words, what I’ve been trying to help schools understand! Thanks so much for the article. When something is written properly, it’s a great way to articulate it to your current and prospective customers.

By: kapokqueen

kapokqueen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:48 +0000

I know several schools last year were unhappy with the choices they made.
I believe that MUSIC IS what makes or breaks any party. The food can be just ok, the flowers can be to small, BUT the DJ MUST be the glue that not only holds the room together for the formal stuff but then can make the room EXPLODE when its time to cut loose. I am speaking of any and all events. Really, its all about the DJ or Band.
My favorite Djs are the ones that can see when the group needs to PARTYYYYY, and also when they are getting out of hand and need to simmer down with a few slow songs. Thank you guys for caring about what you do. Thank you guys for working together. Thank you guys for making my job easier so I can go home and not have to stay until midnight.

By: Robbie Green

Robbie Green — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:42:26 +0000

The logic is inescapable. I’d be curious to know if you’ve actually presented it to any schools and what their response was.

There are plenty of desperate DJs (particularly now) who would go lower than $395 around here. For low end DJs, the going rate seems to be about $200.

I suppose if you’re totally desperate, some money is better than no money, but how are the schools to know who’s desperate but properly equipped or who’s just a hack with practically no gear looking to make a buck.

They don’t…

By: Arnoldo Offermann

Arnoldo Offermann — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:03:47 +0000

I’d love to see it!!

By: Steve Croce

Steve Croce — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:25:34 +0000

I should send you some photos I shot with my spy camera… I once saw the most pathetic DJ equipment setup ever and HAD to capture it for posterity.

By: Jeffrey Evan Mufson

Jeffrey Evan Mufson — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:50:14 +0000

Now, talk about this in relation to our discussion at the Kapok Special Events Center last month…You hit on the nerve that I wanted to hit on, but was apparently too delicate to touch upon at the time.