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so this was mentioned in the origional nye thread. "Charge more for NYE" so how much more?? when I worked with bands the "norm" had been triple for many years. lately DJs and Karaoke have chewed into that and getting double at someplace eazy and fun is good. a big advantage with DJ or karaoke is that we can got for 6 hours or more where a band MAY go 5 but its not likely normaly you can get an extra 20 min or so out of a band on  nye.

  so a new bar that I will be doing my first show at on thursday asked me about it. I explained the "rule of thumb is triple" and told them I would do it for a hundred less. or $500  they have not decided what they are doing yet, and Im sure a couple others will at least ask about it, this was the second who asked and the first wanted me to do it for $200. I told him I would leave my gear home for that on NYE. he is also not a regular venue for me. my thought is I am going to offer the first bar a larger break ($400) if they go for weekly weds or thur shows that they are already thinking about for 2 months (dec and jan) . im thinking the $400 would be easyer for them to swallow and I get them to commit to the weekday gig. win / win right?

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I don't charge anymore if it's on a night I am already scheduled to be at the bar.  I worked with a company that tried charging more for the NYE that fell on their regular night & they got paid, but they were also fired the next day.  Have heard a couple of those stories as well from others.

Now if it's a gig I am not booked for, yes the price goes to a minimum 3x my normal rate up to 5x depending on the size, location, if it's formal dress, etc...

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I agree with Lonman on this - if it's your regular night, sorry, you lose....unless they owners are really nice people and they want to give you a BIG tip. I wouldn't even ask for a pay hike for a regular night. Of course, in the past I have worked with bartenders/servers/owners and come up with special 'stuff' so the bar makes A TON more money than usual, and then I usually suggest that they share some of it with me for coming up with the idea(s).  Totally depends on what kind of owners you're working with. .

well with NYE being on a monday, a night that I normaly would be working, but took vacation it is not a "normal " night. and it is also not a club that I have done much buisness with. BUT I do want to do a weekly show there, so thats why I was willing to offer a larger break. Im going to wing it and see how they react after the show on thursday. if they dont bring it up , or bring up more shows .they have talked about several different days of the week but if they dont set anything after seeing and hearing the show I may bait em with the price break for nye. It is a really big bar and im sure it would be a fun night. there are other places I do shows that I have not talked to about nye, but I kinda see it a "a bird in the hand"

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I have to disagree - even if its your REGULAR  day It is a HOLIDAY -

New Years Eve whether you realize it or not will be "more work" than your regular gig.   The bar WILL make more money more money more money. SOME might even charge a cover and serve some food.

At the very least ..... 1-1/2 to 2 time your regular FEE --- AT LEAST !!!!!!

A few months ago we were verbally hired to the first of the year with specific mention for NYE. If we have a wild night I might ask for a bonus but we will honor the verbal contract..

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I'm going with about double...which is still cheaper than most.  Then I find out, owner only wants Sat & Mon, no Friday...errrrrrrrrrrrr, I would've jacked up the price if I would've known that.  I mean, I've turned down several other offers for NYE (of course for more $), because I was already booked here!  After the weekend fiasco I just had, it's looking like time for a new gig.  No worries though, I can use a weekend or two off....MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

My NYE packages start at $800 for 4 hours I do not offer Karaoke on NYE.

This year I will be doing the Sheraton hotel. 400 people $120 a person they can afford to pay for good entertainment.

I think it depends on what you think you can get and is that worth it for you. I've never charged my regular gig more than I would normally get for a weekend, but I've been there for 4 yrs. Things are tough for the bars around here now and are only going to get worse when the Illinois smoking law goes into effect.

I'll be making more money just for the fact I normally don't work that night, so I'm happy and I'm keeping my relations with my current gig strong.

It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want already. If you don't get your price and stay home you sound find with that. So I say go for it. Your not burning bridges with a regular gig and it sounds like you have made a very smart decision to negotiate a lower price for New Yeras if you get a regular gig out of it.

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"My NYE packages start at $800 for 4 hours I do not offer Karaoke on NYE.

This year I will be doing the Sheraton hotel. 400 people $120 a person they can afford to pay for good entertainment. "

Congrats..that is great for you (Heck I couldn't get that for a 7 night gig here)......bigger than I want to chew though!  Best of luck to ya.

Well I just got off the phone with owner and added the Friday before NYE gig as well.....was a lot of work though, I'll be up there already (the gig is 110 miles from my house), so it's stupid not to work it....for no matter what I can get!  Now, I just have to work on proving him wrong and having a descent night.  Oh well, all shakes out in the end (I'm just tired of being under the pile of crap)...

MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

I agree that NYE is a BIG NIGHT for "mobile entertainers"
Whether your a DJ/BAND/KJ/Duo you should and will get more money

My little local bar  will pay me a little more than double..which isn't a lot .

The "other" guy who also dJ's at the bar will make 6x what I will at the other bar he works at. ....

well the bar owner at the bar I was looking at and I talked tonight. He is hiring me at the best pay Ive ever gotten on a weeknight for every thursday (except thanksgiving) the rest of the year, and probably a friday in dec also. he is only willing to give me double my thursday pay for NYE. BUT he also has an agreement that he will pay an extra hundred for every thousand in the till. that is for NYE or any other night.  its a good size bar, about 35 x 80 with 40' of bar, and everything is all freshly remodeled.tonight was the opening night for the basement bar that I do my shows in.I would believe that if i even do a halfway decent job keeping people in the bar they will have no problem making enough to get me to what I was hoping to make that night. Im pretty tempted to take it being that I need to get my ad for the local bar paper in by the end of next week. tonight was my first show there and its a brand new bar so to me I think its great customer relations with somebody who will be paying me over $1000 cash in the next month and a half.  does this make good buisness sence to anyone else?

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Definately it's 'good' business sence.  :)

I wish you the best of luck.  Well my gig last night was horrible.  Descent amount of people, but 'all' hunters and noone even had pulse I don't think.  I was very disappointed.  Looking much more fwd to tonight and tomorrow.  I hope they're much much better....MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

drunken hunters can Be A BORE! but the right tunes will get them in the mood. My second show ever was on opening night of deer season last year. it went well but was well advertised in a very hick bar. I loved it

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Hmmm... tough call and luckily not mine. We have the contract with our bar for 7 nights a week. I'm not aware we get a bonus for NYE but personally of course I think we should. But I will not be working it. NYE is my birthday sooooo.. I won't be in a condition to run the computer and sound board. But i'll be there anyway.... lord knows though I'll miss the tips. Should be nuts... monday or not.

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KJ for Elite Entertainment at Charlie Horse Saloon in Ocala Florida.

if I had a contract like that I wouldnt mind not making a killing on nye. (make it on volume)  but I believe if I ever wrote a contract for 7 days a week there would be exceptions or bonuses for holidays.
  Have fun on that birthday!! I took off for mine this year also

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Heh..... damn shame I didn't write the contract cause it'd been NFL quality with bonuses and (@$%&#!) and some holiday extras.

And I intend to have a blast this year for my b-day... only one year left till I'm 30... better enjoy it while I can.

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KJ for Elite Entertainment at Charlie Horse Saloon in Ocala Florida.