[kilith]

Originally Posted by bryant

Okay, here in Central Maine, from what I've seen as in most of all Maine, DJ's, KJ's, VJ's that do bars seem to get somewhere between 100 and 200 dollars, even on weekend nights. This does not include the pay for those occasional "special" event things like birthday parties, weddings, functions, etc., just repeat weekly bar work.

I like to think that my minimun wage is 150 dollars, weekday or not. I started at 100 on a Sunday night a year ago at this place to get him started (new bar in town, where there is already too many) when I told him my goal was to work towards my minimum of 150.
Three months later we spoke and he wanted to be incremental about it and gave me 125. Then the summer came and I told him I couldnt work weekday nights anymore when the next school season begins, as I am a teacher, and he said I could pack up at 12:30, leave my stuff on stage and worry about it the next day. I live less than a mile away. All I have to do the next day is tear down and put stuff offstage as my equip. stays in the building. Then I asked if I was worth the 150 I originally spoke about. He said yes. So I figured that was a decent gig and could still get up in the morning and go to school to teach w/o killin' myself.

Now the question?
He recently offered me Monday and Tuesday too. He said that Monday would only be a DJ night for a few hours while a small crowd is there. How busy can a Monday night get in Maine, right. He also said, while you're here feel free to help your self to a few drinks or eats (also a restaurant).

How much do you think I should accept (total amount)for that guaranteed three night gig (max = 4 hrs a night and 2 on Monday), get home at 12:30 leave my stuff on stage all nights and simply move off stage to side on Wed. afternoon?

I'll tell you the last conversation we had after I hear from some of you. Please advise, however.

I guess if you want to quote him on a price it would depend on how busy the bar is during the days you are working there. If you are brining in a very nice croud then really you should get a decent profit. If it is only 10 people in the bar then yeah 100 to 150 a night is a good price. However if it is 30+ people in the bar on them nights take 30 people * $2.00 a beer (it is like 3 to 4 here so I am giving a very decent low price on beer) and that is $60. If you then play 4 hours that is $240.00 but we all know people drink more then 1 beer an hour. So throw in 2 beers an hour and that is $480.00 and yes that is a very big profit for a small bar.

So if you get $150 a night and he wants to add 2 more nights I would maybe go with $375? That would be like 125 a night and you also have your foot in the door pretty well it seems and you are giving him a small deal for having you there more then 1 night a week. I used to do a 3 night a week Thursday, Friday, Saturday and charged $200, $250 and $250 but cut $100.00 off because of being there 3 nights so i was making $600 for a Thursday, Friday, Saturday night. If you want to stick to your 150 a night which is $450.00 and take off $75 I think he should take it. If you make it sound like they are getting a deal and $75.00 is a lot of money to a bar they are more likely to say oh I am saving money so why not. Even if it is $325 - $350.00 for all three nights I think you would still make out pretty decent and it is a for sure job.

I do mine by hour. I charge $70.00/hr and if they go 5 hours I drop off $50 and charge $300.00 if they do 2 nights I drop off another $100.00 and charge $500.00. I then also get free drinks on top of that. Even though I mainly drink Mountain Dew lol. A beer here or there but not often.