By: Dave Ale Thursday May 17 2012
Map: Home | Disc Jockey - Date Submitted: 2010-11-27 19:58:25 - Views: 346
When you become a DJ contractor, you are a self employed person. This means that you pay your own taxes and that you will have to declare any income that you make. It also means that you can deduct your equipment as well as other expenses for your business. The smartest thing that you can do when you become a DJ is to incorporate your business. This releases you from any personal liability in case someone decides to take legal action against you for any reason whatsoever. A corporation is a separate entity. It can have a tax number, it can open up a bank account, it can be sued.
Keep your personal assets separate from your corporation to protect them in case of any legal litigation. Most of the time, a DJ does not have to worry about getting sued. But in the litigious world in which we live, it is best to protect yourself. You will also get a tax break if you decide to incorporate your business as opposed to operating as a sole proprietor. You can take off gas mileage and even a van for you to carry your equipment around in when you do your taxes. You should have a tax accountant prepare your taxes. If you plan on going into business for yourself, do it right.
You should also have insurance. You can get event insurance easily through your local insurance company. For example, if something falls on someone, you can be insured against the liability. You should always be prepared for anything when you work for yourself as a general contractor.
Get your money up front, or at least get a deposit before you book any engagement. This is the number one rule for anyone who is acting as a self employed DJ, especially for a party or a wedding. You should have all of your money up front before you even start to perform. You should ask for a deposit to hold the date and then ask for your money before you start to perform. One of the groups of people who get cheated the most often, unfortunately, are performers. The wedding is over, the bride and groom have left and the father of the bride is mad that you didn’t play a song that he wanted that he didn’t even tell you to play. And he’s had a few drinks. How do you get your money? Taking him to small claims court costs you time as well as money. You are better off to avoid this from occurring by getting paid up front. Many performers ask for a cashier’s check or cash before they will perform to stop this from occurring.
Have a contract available for anyone to sign if they engage you to perform. This is also necessary. In case of any legal litigation, you will not win if you do not have anything in writing. Spell out all of your duties beforehand and then have the person who is hiring you sign the contract. You sign a copy as well so that each of you have a copy of the contract. It should spell out the fee, the terms of payment and the duties that are to be performed. Make sure that you fulfill the obligations under the contract.
These are rules for anyone who wants to start their own business. Many people who start out as a DJ want to earn some cash on the side and will not take steps to protect themselves. You are better off to start out your DJ business as a legitimate business from the start. Not only will you be protecting yourself, but you will also appear to be more professional in the eyes of others.
If you work in a club, you will most likely be hired under contract or, in states that are hire at will, you will not have a contract but work from week to week. You should always push for a contract for a specific period of time. Smaller clubs may not offer this, but the larger clubs will usually offer contracts for their performers. A hire at will state is a state in which someone can be fired at will, without notice, and for any reason. Find out if you live in a hire at will state before you begin performing.
If you are unsure about a contract that you are signing, take it to an attorney who will be able to explain it for you. A contract is a legally binding agreement. If you sign a contract with a club owner, chances are that the contract will be drawn up in favor of the club owner. The more of a following you have with the club, the more negotiation powers you have when it comes to earning money.
You should also make sure that you are getting paid by the club on a regular basis. If you see that business is falling and you are not getting paid, it may be time to look for a new club. One of the unfortunate things about working in this industry is that new clubs open and close all of the time. Usually, those who are cheated are those who are owed money, such as the contractors. So be sure that you get paid when you are supposed to be paid.
Protect your interests when you are a self employed DJ or if you are in any other type of business. You may love music. You may love performing for other people. You may love the club atmosphere and the adoration of the club. But if at the end of the night you are not getting paid, you need to look for your money or find another club. A contract is the best way that you can protect yourself from getting stiffed when you are performing as a DJ. Unfortunately, if the club goes bankrupt, you will most likely not see your money. That is why you should make sure you are paid on a regular basis when you work for a nightclub owner.
One important thing to remember about music equipment is that you get what you pay for. If you hope to become successful as a DJ, you are going to want to continue to invest in better DJ equipment and music gear so that you can improve the quality of your sound. The better the gear, the better the sound. Viewed: 193 Times. Read More ...
You can put your own spin to some popular game when you act as a DJ. You can play your own type of spin for this song as well as others that are usually used for game purposes. It is good to break up the dancing with games for the crowd as it gets people to mingle with one another a bit more and makes them have a good time.
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Chances are that your first job as a DJ will be something small and maybe even family related. The best chance you have of getting a DJ job is through a family member or by hosting a wedding or some other party. While you wait to for your big chance to become a DJ at a club, you may have to make ends meet by doing DJ work at a variety of different functions. Viewed: 217 Times. Read More ...
In addition to becoming well versed in music and having a vast knowledge of sound, a DJ also has to become a performer. You can probably pick out some rock stars in your head who you have seen in concert. Some of them are born performers who excite the crowd. Others are not comfortable performing in front of others and would rather be recording and making music. Viewed: 220 Times. Read More ...
One important thing to remember about music equipment is that you get what you pay for. If you hope to become successful as a DJ, you are going to want to continue to invest in better DJ equipment and music gear so that you can improve the quality of your sound. The better the gear, the better the sound. Viewed: 193 Times. Read More ...
You can put your own spin to some popular game when you act as a DJ. You can play your own type of spin for this song as well as others that are usually used for game purposes. It is good to break up the dancing with games for the crowd as it gets people to mingle with one another a bit more and makes them have a good time.
Viewed: 214 Times. Read More ...
If you are wondering how to become a Disc Jockey or DJ in short, in this article we will give you an overview of what is a DJ and what are the most important attribute that makes DJ a good DJ. Viewed: 216 Times. Read More ...
Chances are that your first job as a DJ will be something small and maybe even family related. The best chance you have of getting a DJ job is through a family member or by hosting a wedding or some other party. While you wait to for your big chance to become a DJ at a club, you may have to make ends meet by doing DJ work at a variety of different functions. Viewed: 217 Times. Read More ...
In addition to becoming well versed in music and having a vast knowledge of sound, a DJ also has to become a performer. You can probably pick out some rock stars in your head who you have seen in concert. Some of them are born performers who excite the crowd. Others are not comfortable performing in front of others and would rather be recording and making music. Viewed: 220 Times. Read More ...
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