Starting A DJ Business? 2 Things You Should Think About Before Buying Equipment
If you have a deep-seated love for music and revere the nightlife, you might be thinking about becoming a disc jockey and starting your own business. However, before you spend your savings on speakers, turntables, and complex software, you should consider the realities of the job. Here are two things you should think about before buying equipment so that your business can hit the ground running:
1: Investment Vs. Income
After you make the decision to become a DJ, you might spend hours researching the best equipment and deciding how to invest. Unfortunately, if you get ahead of yourself, your business might be underwater before it takes off.
Although working as a disc jockey can be incredibly profitable, with the top 10% of earners making more than $72,500 each year, the reality is that you might not make that much when you get started. For example, wedding gigs typically pay between $800 and $2000 per gig, but your yearly income depends on how many weddings you can book. As a DJ you can also work in nightly clubs, but your ability to secure gigs relies heavily on your personal experience, style, and overall reputation.
Because you won't know how much you stand to make until you get started, try to be conservative when you purchase equipment. For example, instead of starting with those top-of-the-line speakers, consider looking for cheap DJ speakers for sale. Check out online auction sites or local classified ads to find great deals. Cheaper equipment will reduce your overhead expenses, so that you can tell if you like the career before you invest more money into the profession.
As your business grows, take the time to calculate your annual earnings in comparison to your equipment investment. In addition to setting aside money for income taxes, save a portion of your earnings to cover the costs of broken equipment or items that need to be replaced.
2: Portability
While you grow your business, you might have to be a little less picky about where you perform. Instead of working out of that awesome new club downtown, you might have to travel long distances to spin at birthday parties or small clubs in other cities. Unfortunately, if you invest in the wrong equipment, setting up might be difficult and time consuming. Portability is crucial when you are trying to make it as a DJ, which is why you should keep these things in mind:
- Speaker Size: If you will be bringing speakers with you on the road, make sure that they will fit into your car easily. Also, make sure that you can quickly load and unload them when you get to the club. It might be difficult to keep your equipment safe if you have to make multiple trips to and from your car.
- Music Library: Those old vinyl records might seem like a nostalgic investment, but think carefully about how easy it will be to haul them around and access your favorite songs. Instead, opt for a digital music library that you can keep on your phone, tablet, or computer. In addition to looking up music by using a simple search bar, you also might be able to download the latest hits or customer requests.
- Control Boards: Make sure that control boards are small enough to move around easily, but large enough to give you control over the music. That tiny board might be easy to move around, but if you can't mix music like you want to, you might be replacing it soon.
If you really want to make things easier for yourself, consider investing in two sets of equipment: your normal equipment and a highly portable, scaled-down version. Also, check with local venues to see what they have on-site. Some places have speakers and control boards for DJs to use, which might mean that you don't have to haul as much to your next gig.
By investing in the right DJ equipment, you might be able to keep your business exciting and dynamic—without breaking the bank. To find cheap DJ speakers for sale, check out a site like http://www.hollywooddj.com.