When it comes to DJing, the chances are you will be performing at private or corporate events (mobile DJing) or you will be playing out at bars and nightclubs. Even some of the biggest DJ’s around the world started performing at this level.

When you are starting out you may have your heart set on DJing in the clubs, or you may want to just focus on private bookings or maybe even both, but what are the key differences and what do you need to consider? Read on to find out more!

Startup Costs

Being a DJ can get expensive very quickly due to the cost of equipment, music and other items and depending on what type of DJ you want to be, startup costs can vary significantly. Generally speaking, if you want to work in a bar or club, your start up costs are going to be A LOT CHEAPER!

This is due to the fact that you are unlikely to need a lot of equipment. The speakers, lighting and sometimes even the full DJ set up (CDJ’s/ Mixer) are supplied to you. You simply turn up with your music, headphones, maybe a mic and off you go! Sometimes a venue will expect you to supply a controller but apart from this, the equipment you need is pretty minimal.

Compare this with the mobile set up where you need to supply everything. Key items to consider are listed below;

Speakers (big enough to fill the room with sound)
Lighting & Haze
Controller/ CDJ’s
DJ Booth
Stands for your speakers and lights
Cables
Music
Headphones
Mic
Van or large vehicle to transport equipment
Insurance (some venues will not let you perform without proof of public liability insurance here in the UK).

Quite a list! And so the barrier to entry when it comes to mobile/ corporate DJing can get pretty high especially if you are supplying premium equipment.

Employment

When it comes to employment, both types of DJ are pretty comparable as the chances are that you will be self employed (here in the UK anyways). This is one of the biggest advantages of being a DJ- you can work whenever you want and how much you work is down to you!

This does require self discipline and motivation as ultimately how much you earn is down to you! This is a huge benefit as you are your own boss however, understandably, it’s not for everyone if you like set tasks and structure.

Getting Paid

This is something that can vary massively depending on where you are based, the hours you work and the type of event you are playing at.

As a rule of thumb (here in the UK as that is where we are based) Mobile DJ work is generally more lucrative than what a DJ would get paid in a bar or nightclub (based on resident DJ wages, not artist/ headliner fees).

Wedding’s and large corporate events especially can be very well paid however for the highest wages you will be expected to provide a premium DJ set up that looks the part and also come with lots of experience. Professionalism is critical. You also need to consider the extra initial outlay as mentioned above.

Nightclub and bar work does tend to pay less however if you are a resident DJ, the work is regular and of course the investment upfront in equipment is way lower than that of a mobile DJ.

Working Hours

Like it or not, DJing comes with some pretty unsociable hours- most commonly evenings and weekends. When the people with normal jobs go out to play that is when you are most likely to be booked!

Mobile DJ’s - typically will have earlier finishes in comparison to nightclub DJ’s as these types of parties tend to wrap up earlier, typically the latest you are likely to go is 1:00am. However you need to consider that you will start earlier, and you need to factor in set up and pack down time of all that equipment not to mention if you have to unload it all at the other end. So does that finish time seem as early as it seems?

Nightclub/ Bar DJ’s - finishing in the early hours of the morning is very common. Here in the UK clubs and bars typically close anywhere between 2:00 - 5:00am in the morning. Can you handle that? On the plus side there is very rarely big set up or pack down times to factor in. You can turn up to gigs 30 mins before starting and be back in the car 15 mins after you finish.

Storage

Referring to the list of equipment above for mobile DJ’s….do you have enough space to store it? It’s not recommended to keep it in a car or van due to the value!

Music

Last but not least and saving the best until last, let’s talk about music. Do you want musical freedom or are you prepared to play exactly what your clients want?

Nightclubs/ Bars

Unless you are being booked as an artist for your sound, then the chances are, you will have to play to some sort of music policy.

For multi-room venues, this may be determined by the room you are playing in: Main Room, 2nd room, Party Room etc. Or it could be that the night you are playing on has a particular music theme for example Latin Tuesday’s.

Whilst this does sound restrictive, as long as you stick to the music policy, for the most part, managers and promoters will give you freedom to play the music you like so long as the party goers are on the dance floor!

Mobile DJ’s

This will vary from client to client however for the most part expect to be handed playlists, and sometimes some big do’s and don’ts when it comes to song selection. If you are playing a wedding, let’s face it, it’s the biggest day in a couples life and so they are going to want to hear their favourite tracks and not your ultimate Tech House playlist.

Some clients will give you musical freedom, however just be prepared to be a little more tied down when it comes to songs. Ultimately your client is paying you and either giving you a great review or not and so it's probably best to respect their wishes as you want to get paid!

Requests

These are EVERYWHERE and we could probably write a whole guide on these….and we probably will. For now….just use them as a guide and not gospel.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have found this useful!

Mobile vs Nightclub/ Bar DJing