Being a Disc Jockey (DJ) is a fun hobby that can be rewarding. If you are looking for ways to make money as a DJ, there are several ways you can do this. This article lists the top ways that you can start making serious cash as a DJ or maybe even start your own party planning business.
Anyone who has ever been to a nightclub or a party knows what a DJ does. The DJs play music and create the ambiance of the event with their songs. Some ways that DJs can make money include:
1. Make Money From Creating Mixtapes
A mixtape often called a mix CD or just mix, is a recording created by compiling and mixing songs to create a new song. These recordings connect the DJ to the music and culture of the community, and can also function as a marketing tool for artists and labels.
Making a mixtape is how many DJs get their start. It’s easy to create and can be helpful in building your name and clientele. You can promote your tracks and connect with promoters, producers, and labels through your mixtapes.
As a DJ you can charge for creating mixtapes. You can sell the mix to people at your gigs, post it on social media, or even share it with everyone you know. This is not only a great way of generating money, but it will also encourage you to keep practicing and developing your skills.
2. Sell Musical Equipment To Make Money
Musical equipment is an important part of being a DJ. Without the equipment, it will be almost impossible to make money as a DJ. Besides, those who want to shine like stars in the music scene always need the right equipment.
A new way to make money as a DJ is by selling your DJ equipment. A good amount of DJs want to save money on their gear purchase used, so if you own any of the following items you can sell them.
Musical equipment can be profitable if you know how to learn how to buy and sell at the right price. Knowing how to use the internet properly is an important tool you will need in your arsenal.
SEE: How to sell online
3. Make Money From Podcasts
If you’re a DJ, you can make money from your experience and expertise by starting a podcast. If you’re new to podcasting or would like to learn more about how to create a successful podcast show monetized with sponsorships, then see the post on how to monetize a podcast.
Podcasts are a great way to keep fans engaged with you. It’s a direct line of communication where you can talk about the top stories in the music industry, your favorite records, and more.
There are a growing number of podcasters who make a lot of money from their show. It’s a new form of content creation and marketing for DJs on the Internet. Make sure you pick a topic that you know a lot about and then talk about it for an hour or so every week on your podcast.
Your show may have some regular ‘guests’ like producers, mixers, or people in the industry. Record your conversations (maybe even with some mic mixing in) for your listeners to hear. You can make money with ads in between or during your show.
SEE: Best podcast hosting sites to join
4. Get Paid To Perform At Events and Clubs
You can get paid to play some of the coolest events in your city. Plus, you get a chance to network with a lot of people who have a lot of money to spend on entertainment. So, you can also get jobs during holiday parties, weddings, birthday parties, and other private events where the hosts have some cash to splurge on.
If you’re not yet an established DJ, you should attend party clubs and lounge scenes in the evening, look out for whenever they announce that they’re hiring DJs. When that happens, be sure to contact the venue’s owner or manager immediately.
Whether you do it for fun or as a profession, DJing is a great way to connect with people and make some cash at the same time. With proper training and practice, you will be able to perform at events and clubs and get paid for it.
5. Get Paid for Making Beats for Producers/Artists
Making beats is a great way to make money as a DJ. You can sell original beats or create remixes of songs you love. Depending on your setup, you can also get paid for the production work you do, which is a great way to start making money from home without a lot of initial investment.
Beats can be sold either via a beat marketplace or through a distributor. A distributor will manage the sales and collect a percentage from each sale. In a marketplace, consumers purchase directly from you at the price you set, rather than going through a third-party distributor, similar to selling on iTunes.
Making beats for yourself also helps you create mixes you can show agents, leading to gigs at clubs or even corporate events.
6. Rent Out Your Gear To Make Money
Being a DJ takes good gear. So good in fact, that today the market is flooded with top-of-the-line speakers and equipment usually too expensive for most hobby or amateur DJs. That’s why it makes sense to rent out your gear as a source of side income.
This may be the easiest way to make money as a DJ depending on your gear. You can also rent out your services for wedding receptions, parties, corporate events, etc. Furthermore, DJs don’t need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on overpriced equipment.
Beginners looking to DJ for the first time can often outfit their rig for less than $500. If you’re an experienced DJ, there is no reason you can’t rent your gear to new DJs on a budget and recoup some of that precious investment money.
7. Make Money By Organizing Your Own Parties
There are many ways to make money as a Dj. If you are thinking about becoming a DJ, there are many ways you can get started. One way is organizing your parties. This is probably the easiest route if you aren’t interested in formal schooling and you’re looking to build up your experience.
As the DJ, it will be up to you to decide which music goes when in each set. You can do this by paying attention to the reactions of the crowd when certain songs come on, or if there is a common theme in the requests that are being made by your audience.
You can charge up to $50 or more per person as tickets for entry to your party. The more popular the DJ, the higher the cover charge will be. You can also advertise for your party with banners or posters to gain more people coming.
SEE: How to Make Money as a Wedding Planner
8. Offer Lessons To Aspiring DJs
An experienced DJ is a skilled professional who can earn money teaching aspiring DJs how to be successful on the scene. If you’re good at what you do and enjoy helping others, then this could be the perfect way for you to make extra income.
Whether you have years of experience or are fresh out of the trenches, DJing is an art form. If you are still learning, give someone else a leg-up by offering lessons. Not only will it help you build your reputation as an expert in your field, but it can also be lucrative.
It is even easier these days to set up courses online with the help of various platforms. All you need to do is look for an online course platform that suits your needs.
SEE: How to create an online platform like a professional
9. Work In Media Or Marketing for a Well-Known Record Label
As a DJ, you may be able to work in media or marketing for a record label to make money. Most major record labels have departments in charge of radio promotions and other TV/radio/print media outlets.
If you have the skills to develop promotional materials, create an original track or remix for an artist, or have experience in radio promotion, promotion assistant, artist development, commercial writer, producer, etc. Look into working in a department within a record label if you want a career in this field.
Depending on the position, you could become the DJ for the label; work in media and marketing; or serve as a talent scout. This can be a great way to make money as a DJ because marketing will help sell-out shows and earn you more exposure in the process.
10. If You’re Good, Don’t Be Afraid To Charge More
Being a DJ (or any kind of artist/musician/performer, for that matter) isn’t just about playing music. It’s also about keeping the party going and keeping your guests happy. If you’re making your guests happy and keeping the dance floor rocking, then you should be paid extra for that.
Add to that the fact that there aren’t many DJs who can spin as well as you, and you have a great opportunity to increase your rates without fear of losing work. If you’re good, don’t be afraid to charge more money. I’m not saying go out there and jack up your prices by 50% but don’t let yourself get taken advantage of.
How Much Money Can You Make as a DJ?
DJs typically earn around $49 per hour. DJs earn between $21,100 and $221,000 annually. Also, there are superstar DJs, like Marshmello or Calvin Harris, who make up to $46 million every year.
Besides, there’s a big range of potential DJ salaries out there, from starving to wealthy. It all depends on your geographical area, your experience level, the services you’re providing, and the entertainment value you bring as a professional.
It goes without saying that if you are a talented musician capable of producing popular records, you will always have the potential for making money as a DJ.
FAQs
Are there any other jobs you could do alongside DJing?
Yes. You can create music, act, act as a film extra, sell DJ equipment, teach dance classes or even work in a record store. You could work freelance which would mean you could do whatever jobs you take on for how long you want to do them.
SEE: Best second job ideas to max your monthly income
Can you make money as a DJ from streaming?
Yes, you can make money as a DJ from streaming. The world is changing rapidly with the arrival of new technology, so there are many opportunities to monetize music.
A growing number of companies and services now offer pay-per-stream services. Most people are familiar with Spotify, but there are also Deezer and Apple pay-per-stream.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a DJ is an excellent way to earn some extra money on the side. If you are proficient in at least two different types of electronic music instruments, you can get paid for performances at weddings, parties, clubs, bars, cafes, concerts, and festivals.
Best of all, no previous experience is necessary and you can do it in your spare time outside your regular work schedule to earn some extra cash. As a DJ, you can also rely on passive income to make more money. See the article on best passive income ideas to consider your options.
You can also benefit from other business ideas to supplement your income as a DJ. You can check easy business ideas to make money from home for a start. If you feel you can try out more business ideas, then I recommend you explore the blog.
On Tosinajy, you will find several business ideas and guides to make money including software to make the entire money process easy for you.
Thank you for reading. All the best.
