Do DJs make good money? This is a question that many people have asked themselves at some point in their lives. Many people might also ask whether or not being a DJ is worth it because they want to be successful and do something worthwhile with their life. It cannot be straightforward to answer this question definitively. Still, you will find that most DJs do make a decent living – as long as they know what they are doing and take the right approach!
What is a DJ, and what do they do for a living
A DJ is someone who plays and mixes songs to entertain a crowd of people. You can also think of them as the master of ceremonies for an event because they will usually introduce the action and keep things moving along in between different parts.
In most cases, DJs are paid by how many hours they work at a particular function or venue. They may have contracts that stipulate specific rates per hour worked- this is depending on their experience level, what kind of gigs they do (smaller parties vs. national shows), and where they live around the world. In general, though, you can expect to make anywhere from $40-$200 per hour with DJing – so it all depends on your skills!
If you have more experience and are looking for national gigs, you can make a six-figure salary. For example, Kid Rock makes $150,000 per show, and Jay-Z earns about the same amount when he hits the stage!
The top DJs may have an income of around $500K or more annually because they do high-profile events like weddings and celebrity parties – but if you’re just starting as a beginner DJ, then you won’t be making that kind of money at all. It’s not too hard to get started in this business with only minimal skills needed – so it may be worth checking into before turning your attention elsewhere (like event planning).
It is possible to work as a DJ without being signed by any agency. However, it’s essential to know that many DJs who are signed with agencies have a much higher earning potential than those who do not.
How much money can you make as a DJ?
As I mentioned above, the top DJs may have around $500K or more annually. For beginners, you won’t be making that kind of money. Still, it is possible to work as a DJ without being signed by any agency.
But what if you’re just an average local DJ? who doesn’t have a lot of experience? The answer is, as with any professional job – it depends.
It isn’t too hard to get started in this business without the skills needed for most positions (except event planning). So before making your decision, I would recommend doing some research into DJing just to see if it’s right for you and what kind of money you can expect to make. It may be worth checking out before turning your attention elsewhere!
That being said, from what I’ve seen, even average DJs can make an average of $20,000 per year. You’ll need to make sure you’re constantly booking gigs, though, as you won’t make nearly that much if no one hears your music.
Why should I become a DJ instead of something else?
Whether you become a DJ is up to you, but I can give you my opinion.
I became a DJ because I loved playing music, and it was something that I could do for the rest of my life. It’s also an exciting field to make money – you can earn money from gigs, sell your beats online, teach other DJs how to work better, or even just provide sound design services. There is no end to what you can do with this career if you’re willing to put hard work into it!
The downside? You have to be prepared for long hours (especially when starting), being on call 24/hrs a day during events, and plenty more people who will want free stuff off of you. For me, those were all things that didn’t bother me much. However, for some people, those things might be a deal-breaker.
Is it worth becoming a DJ if I don’t have any experience in the field yet?
My opinion is yes. Even if you don’t have any experience, I think it’s worth becoming a DJ (at least on the side – especially if you love it). You can start by teaching yourself or finding tutorials online and build up your skills from there.
I would recommend taking some time to plan out what kind of gigs you want before starting work in the field so that you’re not wasting valuable hours getting jobs if they’re not something you enjoy/would be proud of doing for money (e.g., weddings).
Ultimately, do whatever makes YOU happy! If being a DJ is one of those things that bring happiness into your life, then go ahead and give it a try… but only if you feel like it’s for YOU. There are plenty more opportunities out there waiting for someone who will take the initiative and do what it takes.
The pros and cons of being a DJ
As with any career, there are pros and cons to being a DJ. Let’s start with the pros.
Pros of being a DJ
- Being able to work a flexible schedule and do something you love for money. For many people, this is a dream come true.
- Working your way up the ranks from being an entry-level DJ who is just starting up to headlining at music festivals in front of thousands of people every night.
- Getting paid to do what you love enough that it brings happiness into your life.
Now let’s get down to some cons.
Cons of being a DJ
- The pay may not be as great as one would expect when they are first starting.
- There will always be DJs with more experience than them getting higher-paying gigs/gigs with bigger crowds even if they don’t have hundreds or thousands more followers on social media or anything else like that.
- They can’t do other work besides DJing because their schedule is always full and rarely home.
- Stress from not making enough money compared to what one would expect based on the number of hours put into it.
Here’s the good news: these cons start to go away when a DJ starts booking more gigs or even landing a prestigious gig that gets them noticed by promoters who have access to better-paying venues, whether it’s an event for corporate clients or something more extensive like making music at the Olympics.
When this kind of thing happens, all those drawbacks become worth it. DJs also don’t need another job if they are successful. Every night out with friends will lead to generous tips coming their way without going broke or trying so hard just to get customers.
My personal opinion on whether or not DJs make good money
In my subjective opinion, DJs do not make good money. I think it’s a tough gig, and the pay isn’t that great. It sounds like most DJs have to supplement their income with another job or by working long hours at an unrelated but lucrative profession to be successful as a DJ.
However, when you consider how many nights out on the town can lead to generous tips coming your way without going broke or trying so hard just to get customers. Some DJs can make decent money from what they do. The important thing is not whether they earn more than other jobs available (most don’t), but rather if there is enough of a demand for them such that gigs will come along regularly enough where they won’t be out of work for long.
Ultimately, whether or not DJs make good money is determined by the individual, though.
FAQ
Is being a DJ a promising career?
It depends. My answer for MOST people is no, being a DJ is not a promising “career.” Yes, there are many benefits to this job, and some can make great money. For most, though, it is more of a hobby or side-gig than anything else. It’s all about how you want to live your life, so if you’re looking for stability, you’re best at finding something more permanent and DJing on the side.
Is being a DJ stressful?
There is a lot of stress and pressure on DJs. There are often tight deadlines, last-minute changes to the setlist, constant new releases that need to be resampled so they can stay current with popular tastes. And don’t even get me started on what it’s like having an artist performing in front of you!
How much money does the average DJ make?
There is no such thing as an “average” DJ. Each of them has different levels of popularity, a particular sound or style that they specialize in, and sometimes even crowds with specific tastes. It’s challenging to give any definitive answer. Still, I would say that the median for DJs is around $20K per year.
How much do top DJs make?
If you’re a top DJ, you can expect to make around $90K per year. There are exceptions on both sides of the spectrum, but this is generally what one can hope for if they become a household name in their genre.
Summary
The decision to become a DJ should not be taken lightly. There are plenty of people out there who can do this job, so you have to make sure you know what you’re doing and take the right approach!
You will find that most DJs make decent money – as long as they know what they’re doing and take the right approach. If you need help thinking about how your side hustle could work for you, just reach out; we’ll give it some thought with our team of experts on hand! Just don’t quit your day job… 😉