How to set your fee as a DJ

Setting your fee is one of the hardest things for a DJ. Set it too low and you fill your calendar but barely break even. Set it too high and clients say no without telling you why. This guide helps you find a price you can stand behind, both for you and for the person booking.

What does the market pay?

A professional DJ usually costs SEK 6,000–15,000 per night in Sweden. That is the range clients compare against, and it is a good starting point. Where you sit in that range depends on experience, demand, the type of events you play and what you bring. A DJ with long experience of weddings and corporate events can charge more than one who mainly plays bars, because the job takes more planning and responsibility.

Count all your hours

A night behind the decks is rarely just the playing time. Count the time spent talking to the client, preparing music, travelling, setting up and packing down. A five-hour gig can easily become nine or ten hours of work. Add the cost of your equipment, music services and insurance, and remember that you cannot play every day. That gives you a floor: a price you should never go below.

Per night or per hour?

Most clients want to know what the night costs, so a price per night for a set playing time is often simplest. An hourly rate can suit short bookings or work as your overtime rate. A common format is a base price for a given playing time and a clear price per extra hour. That way the client knows what it costs if the party runs on.

Extras to show separately

List what costs extra, rather than building everything into one high total. It makes it easier for the client to compare and shows that your base price is reasonable.

• Sound and lighting, when the venue does not have its own.
• A microphone for speeches and ceremony music.
• Travel and overnight stays for longer distances.
• Overtime per hour or part of an hour.
• Special requests that need extra preparation.

How to present your price

How you present your price affects whether the client says yes. Reply quickly, ideally the same day, and send a quote that shows what is included before the client has to ask. Describe the night from the client's side: how you build the dance floor, how you handle speeches and requests and what you bring. Share one or two clips from similar events and a few reviews from past clients.

Avoid dropping your price as soon as a client says it is expensive. Ask instead what matters most to them, and offer to shorten the playing time or drop an extra, such as lighting, if the venue already has it. That way you keep your hourly rate and the client gets a quote that fits their budget.

When should you raise it?

Remember that your price also says something about you. A price that is too low can make a client planning a wedding wonder whether you are experienced enough, while a clear, well-reasoned price signals that you take the job seriously.

One clear sign that it is time to raise your price is that your calendar is full well in advance, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Another is that almost everyone says yes as soon as they see your price. Raise it for new clients first, and give your regular clients plenty of notice. Good reviews and clips from past gigs make a higher price easier to justify. If you want to understand how clients think, read what they are advised to consider when booking a DJ and how corporate events work.

On Jocky, creating an artist profile is free. You receive requests from venues, get your contracts and invoicing taken care of and get paid on time. Gigs you book outside Jocky can be logged in Gig Log. Read more on the page for artists, or see how clients think in our guide to DJ prices.

Frequently asked questions about DJ fees

What does a DJ charge for a night?

A professional DJ usually charges SEK 6,000–15,000 for a night in Sweden. Where in the range the price falls depends on experience, playing time, date, type of event and whether the DJ brings their own sound and lighting.

Should a DJ charge by the hour or a fixed price?

A fixed price for a set playing time is simplest for most clients. Add a clear price per extra hour, so the client knows what it costs if the night runs on.

When should a DJ raise their fee?

Raise your fee when your calendar is full well in advance or when almost everyone accepts your price straight away. Start with new clients and give regular clients plenty of notice.

Does it cost anything to be an artist on Jocky?

Creating an artist profile on Jocky is free. You receive requests, and contracts and invoicing are handled on the platform. Read more about the terms on the page for artists.