Santana should be an inspiration to all DJs everywhere!
Not Carlos Santana, I’m talking about Baseball Pitcher Johan Santana.
Recently Johan Santana the former pitcher for the Minnesota Twins was traded to the New York Mets.
His starting salary with the Mets, $19 million per year along with a stadium box for home games, executive hotel suites for away games plus many other significant rate increases and perks over his pay scale with the MN Twins.
His salary over the next six years will increase from $19 million to over $25 million per year. He doesn’t play in every game, he gets paid even if he has a bad game and loses and he gets paid even if he gets hurt and sits on the bench for the next six years.
Is he really worth it? Some would say yes (The NY Mets Owners) some would say not (The MN, Twins Owners)
So how does Johan Santana big trade relate to the Disc Jockey industry?
Value vs. Worth.
Much like a DJ, Santana is a free business man who is able to ask for what ever salary he wants, expects and believes he deserves. Does he really deserve $19 million a year? Just from his performance and the great distance he has come over the last few years proves to the Mets that Santana is worth the money and they value his talents.
But unlike Santana Disc Jockeys are afraid to ask for the rate that they are truly worth and deserve. I’m not talking $$$ Millions but I am talking of hundreds of dollars more that they seem to be afraid to ask for.
It is a tough economy right now but that didn’t stop the Mets because they know with Santana as their pitcher the fans will still pay the admission and fill the seats. They know that he can offer them a better chance of winning games and the best possibility of winning the World Series.
With DJs even in the tough economy clients who are looking for a quality entertainer will still pay the higher rate knowing the value and worth of their entertainer.
The Mets could have picked up any pitcher with less experience and talent at a much cheaper cost but to them Santana was the choice they wanted no matter the costs.
Who are the real losers of this deal? The Minnesota Twins and their fans! The team wanted to save a few bucks, take a chance on some lesser talented, experienced and skilled players and hope that in the future they may turn out to be another Johan Santana.
Does this sound like the clients who call you on the phone and only ask “How much do you cost?” Then they hire the cheapest DJ that they can find taking a chance on some lesser talented, experienced and skilled DJ Entertainer and hope that their important day won’t be ruined by this “Button Pushing” non professional.
With DJs there are so many willing to work for little or nothing and for some that could be all that they are worth: Little or Nothing!
Unfortunately there are many DJs who are very talented, dedicated and skillful who are still charging so much less then their true worth and value.
Why do some DJs earn $1000, $1500, $2000 or more for an event????
Because they have a proven quality track record, talented, skilled and professional but most of all…..BECAUSE THEY ASK FOR IT!
To steal a baseball movie phase: If you build it, they will come…..For a Disc Jockey: If you ask for it, they will pay it…..
If every DJ raised their rates today $100 per event, that then will become standard, expected and reasonable rate to pay for entertainment that clients will expect and will pay for a DJ service.
Clients will need and expect to have entertainment for their events; they will adjust their budgets to allow for this higher rate.
Now if every DJ six months from now raised their rates another $100, when calling around clients will find that this will become the standard, expected and reasonable rate to pay for entertainment.
In one year if all DJs raised their rates another $100, when calling around clients will find that this will become the standard, expected and reasonable rate to pay for entertainment.
Clients will need and expect to have entertainment for their events; they will adjust their budgets to allow for this higher rate.
Sure there will always be those who try to undercut, those just starting out and those who are not talented enough to charge a respectable rate, but now even those DJs will be charging a higher rate then they did yesterday and you will be making $300 more per event then you are today.
It’s much like when you buy a compact disc. The general price of a disc is basically the same no matter where you buy it. There are a few places that charge slightly more, there are a few places that charge slightly less. But this price has become the standard, expected and reasonable rate to pay for a compact disc.
I know that at one location I purchase CDs the prices, even the sale prices may be slightly higher then the discount store down the street, but I don’t care for the lack of service, the untrained employees or the lack of variety in their music selections. For me I would rather pay a little more and be a happier customer then to save a few bucks and be miserable.
So take some inspiration from Johan Santana and ASK for the rate that you are worth and for the value of what you do!
Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions