The Art of the DJ
Geoff ShortIs DJing a performing art? 
If it were considered a performing art by our clients – that is, if DJs were considered artists – our profession could be elevated to a point where we could overcome stigmas of DJs being no more than glorified serving staff or musical bartenders (no disrespect to serving staff or, particularly, bartenders, without whom I’m sure I could not live). Then could corresponding prices be far behind?
When I think of “entertainment”, I think of performances in disciplines that would most likely be considered performing arts. Things like theatre, dance or music performance. I’m a singer in a band as well as a DJ. I consider a band performance a performing art. A band is actually “performing” music live with skills we have worked a lifetime to develop – our “art”. Artists who have practiced for hours each day and spent years perfecting musical talent and skill generally don’t think twice about what to charge a client for their time and talent. But DJs do.
At Jerry Bruno Productions, I work full time booking all of the bands and DJs we represent. This gives me a unique perspective from both the artist viewpoint and the agent’s. There seems to be an almost universal expectation among clients booking live bands to pay premium rates. This expectation goes beyond the simple math of “more musicians equals more money”. There seems to be an inherent respect for a musician’s skill that manifests itself in an expectation to pay more. That’s not to say that everyone who wants to book a band has a bottomless wallet. They don’t and band clients present many of the same budget-related challenges that we deal with with clients looking for DJs. But what’s not the same is the almost automatic price objection from DJ clients. I tend to spend a lot more time defending, explaining and justifying DJ prices than band prices. Clients consider musicians artists.
Price haggling is rare if it exists at all among patrons of the arts. Concert tickets are what they are. Theatre fans will pay $100 a ticket or more to see a Broadway show. What about DJs? Wouldn’t it be nice to demand the same respect – and proportional price. As a DJ, do you consider yourself an artist? If so, (and I believe you should), how can you translate that to your clients?
A brief Google search for the definition of “Performing Arts” yielded this definition:
“Forms of creative activity that are performed in front of an audience, such as drama, music, and dance.”
OK. “Creative activity”. Preparing, programming and presenting music is certainly creative activity. Add to that other creative DJ skills of acting, dancing, narrating and writing just to name a few and DJing fits that criteria. And all of those skills should definitely be rehearsed (if you have any level of professionalism) and are certainly “performed in front of an audience”. Many DJs have spent a lifetime immersed in popular music. Through study and practice, they have exceptional knowledge and skill that should be respected (and paid for) every bit as much as that of a ballerina or an orchestra conductor.
Skeptics might point out that a DJ is not actually creating something original. I would argue that neither is a revival of a stage musical created long ago by writers that often have nothing to do with the current production. The sculptor who creates a “work of art” out of mechanical parts or even garbage is using material she didn’t create. But she is interpreting that material in her own way to make something new. DJs can do the same thing.
There are even some DJs who seem to be held in higher regard as actual performers. High profile turntablists or controllerists, whose gear seems to be considered musical instruments are viewed as artists on a much different level than professional mobile DJs. If the glass is half full, these high profile, DJs/Producers will raise awareness of the profession in general as a true art.
All of us DJs know our profession has a sort of an identity crisis. Just spend a few minutes in any DJ forum and try to navigate through the sea of insecurity disguised as “my speakers are bigger than yours” or threads regarding bottom feeders. One cure for this crisis is to realize that we are artists. We have developed and honed skills that can enlighten, challenge and, of course, entertain an audience. DJs can elevate an audience experience to a level that can create memories for a lifetime.
What could be more artistic than that?
Written by Geoff Short · Filed Under Business College, DJ University, Exclusive Online News and Content, Performance College
Geoff,
You make a very valid point.The dis-credit we receieve of ‘anyone can do that’ mentality should get up on stage and give it a ‘spin’ (pun intended). Reading the crowd, making the mix work, working with the client, guests, (dealing with drunks), and the back breaking work that no one else sees before and after the gig, that is not an easy task.
Being creative with your talents by entertaining the crowd and mixing skills to move the dance floor is hard work. Those who actually care and can do more than just push play on a CD deck should be respected and compensated fairly without having to go beyond justification and fight to be paid what we are worth.
Others who just show up and push play, lack creativity, believe they are the focus of the event in most cases, and don’t understand that we are entertainers give the industry a bad name and support low wages, shame on those people. You don’t have to have the biggest and best sound system or flashiest lighting system, it doesn’t make you a better DJ, it’s the polished skills you bring to the event that make the crowd go WOW.
I work hard to make sure I bring what my clients want and ensure the spotlight is on them for weddings and private events. Corporate events are not much different, but unless otherwise requested I try to remain invisible.
I subscribe to Mobile Beat and use it as a tool to learn and keep up to date in addition to several other sources. Being in the mobile DJ business for over 20 years Independently, and for good reason, control of quality for the events I preform at. The market here is tough and you have to sell yourself well to be paid more than the average going rate. Then you have to back that up with what you provide or promise your clients.
Thanks Geoff for a great article,
Kirk W.
Minneapolis, MN
Totally agree. Many people do not respect the DJ and what has to be done. I constantly deal with people who think they do my job better, but its just part of it. For those who go and become creative, and actually mix, then they are performing. For those who show up and just press play, without any kind of mixing or creativity, well I don’t consider them DJs, I see them as an advanced ipod.
Most people don’t want to pay a lot of a DJ because they think our job isn’t hard. They don’t see the thousands of dollars worth of delicate equipment we have to bring in, they don’t see us break our backs setting it up, nor do they see us really observe how the crowd is behaving and so forth. People also don’t see the time put into preparing for the event before the actual day of the event, and of course, professionals also pay for music, and most people don’t think of that either.
I typically tell people who ask me why its so expensive this:
1. You are not hiring a music player, you are hiring an experienced DJ. There is a major difference.
2. I am providing professional audio equipment as well as professional lighting equipment. I not only have it, but I understand and know how it works, and in case of a malfunction, I also have a backup system. Anyone who does not think of having a backup system isn’t prepared for a failure, and someone who thinks their equipment will never fail is showing they are not professionals. ALL EQUIPMENT WILL FAIL AT SOME POINT!
3. You are spending a lot of money on everything else for your event, why go cheap on a very important part of your event? Going with someone who doesn’t know what they are doing might charge less, but they could ruin your event, and at the point, would it still be worth saving just that little bit more?
Remember, we are professionals who know how to manipulate the crowd in the way we have been asked to by using our creativity, knowledge, professionalism, and so forth. Just let them know what makes you worth the amount you are asking for.
Very good points! I definetly agree! There are alot of hours alone that we put into a single event that nobody sees.
I believe part of the reason why the dj gets less pay & respect
than other performers is the overall dumbing down of the dj industry
it is now very easy to buy & use a “dj program” that does most
of the work for you along with a laptop. So in the publics mind
the dj is just “pressing buttons” so i my mind that is where the
lower level of respect comes in. Now that is not to say that laptop dj’s
are any less of a performer / dj but Unfortunately i believe that the public
feels differently—-what do you think—?