Good morning! Today Evan talks about how he made over $50,000 as a DJ in his spare time. Isn’t that a cool side hustle? Let me know if you would like to guest post on Make Money Your Way and talk about how YOU make money.
When not behind his desk at the bank, you can find Evan behind the decks as a local DJ. He also runs Financial Independence, a personal finance blog focused on eliminating debts and building sufficient investments to cover his living expenses. You can follow him on Twitter, Google+ or Bloglovin’.
In 2004 I borrowed a CD from a friend to listen to while working on a school project. Unlike any CD I had heard in the past, this one was a compilation of different songs, but a DJ had manipulated and mixed the different tracks together to make one continuous piece of art. I was hooked instantly. This was something I’d never heard before – little did I know that it would become a significant part of my life.
I scrimped together nearly $1,000 from my after-school job and bought a basic set of DJ equipment. Browsing turntables for sale, you can get some really quality equipment for decent prices nowadays! Countless hours were spent hunched over this gear in my bedroom, tweaking knobs, sliding faders and generally creating enough noise to annoy my parents. One day I decided it was time to start earning my investment back – I opened up the phonebook and started calling each of the mobile DJ companies to try and get a job. Each call I would explain that I had my own equipment and would love to opportunity to help out. I worked my way through the book alphabetically, and by the time I got to ‘C’ I’d picked myself up a new weekend job of being a mobile DJ.
Every weekend in the warmer months I would put on a suit, drive to a nearby winery or hotel and provide the music for weddings. In winter I would DJ for blue-light discos and occasionally at a local pub. When starting out, my boss would shadow my every move at each event – teaching me which songs go well together and which of the 60’s and 70’s tracks were bound to get Aunt Gladys onto the dance floor. At the end of each night I would get a cheque for around $150 – only a fraction of what the owner made, but a solid income for a teenager. Pretty soon I was trusted to run things on my own.
One eventful evening I got a last minute call asking if I could DJ a wedding at a large convention centre, so I quickly shaved, put on my suit and rushed to the venue. I was stopped at the entrance by security, there was no wedding. In my rush I had misheard ‘wrestling’ as ‘wedding’. The 3 hour mixed martial arts tournament which followed was an interesting change of pace – each fighter provided me with entrance music on CDs to play as they were introduced to the ring. One CD started skipping so I quickly swapped to the next song I could find….”Why Can’t We Be Friends” by WAR. Judging by the look on the fighters face I was lucky to not meet him on the way back to my car afterwards.
When I moved away from home to go to university, my DJ skills were what kept a roof over my head. Instead of playing weddings, I would DJ on the university lawns over lunch periods – once even getting offered a regular slot at a strip club (which I turned down). I would play at bars and nightclubs 4-5 nights per week and it wouldn’t be uncommon to make $500 a week after taxes (sometimes even over $1,000). It didn’t take long for me to realise that while I could play the most popular nightclubs in town and make $30/h, the quieter bars with few patrons were desperate to attract DJs and I could charge $50-75/h – even if it meant sometimes playing to an empty room. The other advantage of working in smaller venues is they will keep the same DJ playing all night as opposed to swapping every few hours.
I graduated from university in 2010, but I have still kept my side hustle. Every Friday I start work at my normal job at 8:30am and upon finishing drive straight to a local bar and play until 3am. It makes for a long day, but after a good sleep-in the next morning I’m always glad to have the extra few hundred dollars in my pocket.
When co-workers find out I DJ on the weekend, the most common question I get asked is if I want to eventually be a professional DJ. While I enjoy being able to focus my attention on something different for a few hours each week, I don’t see my side hustle being a sustainable full time career. Despite wearing custom-made earplugs, eventually I will damage my hearing if I am doing it full time. Different venues also attract different crowds – I already feel like a fish out of water when a bar has an 18th birthday, so I don’t want to ever become ‘that old guy’ who is past his career.
The second most common question I get asked is why I don’t quit – wouldn’t I prefer to have the weekend to myself? Because I have cut back my hours to one or two nights per week, I still enjoy what I do as a side hustle and haven’t burnt out. I’m quite happy to plug in my headphones and tune out from ’normal life’ for a few hours. Additionally, I always get free drinks at the bar and a decent wad of cash at the end of the night.
I’m definitely not a ‘superstar’ DJ, I don’t go out clubbing or to bars unless I am working and am quite fond of having a quiet night in front of the TV. Despite this, the income generated by my side hustle has allowed me to maintain a pretty decent standard of living while still being able to save a house deposit and purchase a near-new car. Some of my success has just been luck, but I’d encourage everyone to find a way to turn their hobbies into an income stream.
Nice post, I love hearing what different people do, especially in arts and entertainment. Thanks for this!
Dear Debt recently posted…Perspective Shift (or the beauty of vacation)
There’s a lot of DJ’s that have made money by using Eversnap. http://www.scribd.com/doc/180055501/Eversnap-Unlimited-Private-Group-Photo-Video-Sharing-for-Events#logout
We built more and more features for them.
My favorite part of your story is you started by picking up the phone and making some calls. That’s not heard very often anymore. What a nice personal touch that led to a great side job and a pot of gold.
Taynia | The Fiscal Flamingo recently posted…Chiconomics 201: How To Be A Budgetnista When You’re Income Changes Every Month (Or How To Budget On A Variable Income)
Very impressive Evan. You don’t often hear of people who enjoy/excel at both art and finance, but it sounds like music is a great change of pace for you.
FI Pilgrim recently posted…Imagine The Freedom Of Owning A House With No Mortgage
That’s awesome you could charge so much more for a quieter bar. I have been to a few of those where it seems like the place is trying very hard to get people to stay longer and dance and whatnot, but usually the dance floor was empty.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted…The Truth About Being a One Income Family
It all comes down to supply and demand – other DJs want to play the ‘popular’ venues, whereas I’m happy to make the extra money in exchange for not inflating my ego. My theory is that people don’t come to my usual bars to dance – they come to socialise. If people decide to hop on the dance floor thats great, but I’d rather take it easy rather than scare people off by blasting loud music and trying to force people to dance.
An added bonus is that there is less pressure to play whats popular – in an average night the variety often includes James Brown, Kool and the Gang, Kanye West, Foster the People or whatever I’m enjoying at the time.
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
That’s great!
My husband DJ’d weddings back in his college days. There is definitely some money in it.
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted…Things I Hate About My House
Funny story about the MMA stuff. I was a disc jockey for 10 years and loved it. Ultimately, I couldn’t stay awake at my day job and realized that I was losing money not focusing on my true career. However, I think that depends on what your career might be….mine was a commission job, so I definitely made more if I was sharp!
Average Joe recently posted…Planning Retirement? Use This Simple Equation
I have considered the effect my side hustle has on my day job. This is part of the reason I don’t play on Sunday nights and usually try to avoid anything too late on a Saturday. At the end of the day I don’t want it to become my primary job, so keeping awake during the day is a priority.
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
Funny about the wrestling venue. 🙂 Seriously, though, what a great side hustle! Thanks for sharing, Evan!
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer recently posted…How to Make Rabbits Stop Eating Your Garden
I was quite an experience Laurie – I must have looked quite out of place in my suit, but it was definitely something I could have a good laugh about afterwards.
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
I have a friend who does some DJ’ing on the side and loves it. Sounds like a great part-time gig.
Matt Becker recently posted…Where Should Buying a House Fit in Your Financial Priorities?
Wow, what a cool side hustle! I love it. My friend is a DJ and he hasn’t really done anything to progress his career. He sits at home all day making mixes and stuff, but he doesn’t go out and try to apply what he’s learned.
Daisy @ Prairie Eco Thrifter recently posted…How to Take a Frugal (or Free) Vacation or Trip
I tend not to make mixes at home – the amount of people doing this makes it very hard to get noticed. He would be much better making friends with a promoter or bar owner and trying to get a spot playing (even if its just once off for free). He’ll learn a lot more with the added pressure of having an audience, and unlike making a mixtape he will get real time feedback. It’s important to learn the basics at home, but I honestly haven’t DJed at home in the last few years.
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
I always knew you could make decent money being a DJ, but nothing like this. I think it’s awesome how you were able to grow it to where it provided for you while in college and even still. It makes sense, on one level, why the quieter bars would pay more – they’re probably thinking it would help them keep customers there and possibly attract more.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted…Taking the Plunge: Is the Grass Always Greener?
That’s a nice story on how you were able to turn an interest/passion into some decent money. Have you thought of monetizing your experience in other ways such as writing a “how to” ebook or running a site on how to make money dj-ing?
Mr. Utopia @ Personal Finance Utopia recently posted…How to Become Rich
I have considered starting a website about DJing (moreso technical tutorials) – as the equipment is quite expensive (can buy a beginner setup for <$1000, but it's not uncommon for a home setup to be $4000-5000) it's probably a good affiliate model if you can attract people new to the hobby. As far as teaching people to monetize it – it's probably a lot of networking and luck which I would find it difficult to accurately teach. Definitely something worth thinking about for the future though…
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
Hey Evan, great post here! Thanks for sharing your side hustle! Obviously you’re following what you’re passionate about and, that’s an important part of life!
Joshua @ CNA Finance recently posted…How To Make A Budget Spreadsheet That Makes Budgeting Fun!
Interesting! I have some friends who DJ and I assume they make somewhat of a pretty penny.
Michelle recently posted…$9,554 in August Extra Income – Looking for Affiliate Income
Hey Evan and thanks for a fun and informative post on being a DJ! I like the fact that you can keep both worlds from colliding and that your priorities are deep 🙂
I am a guitar teacher and performer who originally did both as a side hustle but then took the plunge and went “all in”. I am very pleased with the way things have turned out and while I realize that the unsteadiness of things might turn some folks off, it has worked out for me 🙂
When you were a kid did you have aspirations of being DJ professionally, or did you always feel that it would always just be your side hustle?
Thanks again and oh…Aunt Gladys sends her best 🙂
Take care
Lyle
lyle @ the Joy of Simple recently posted…10 Ways to Make Your 9 to 5 Work Day A Little Better Until You Find Your Way
When I first started I thought it would be good to become a professional nightclub DJ, but I was also too young to get into a nightclub. By the time I was old enough to actually get into these venues I realised pretty quickly that it wasn’t something I’d want to be doing multiple times a week. For a short stint I used to play 4:30am-7am at a nightclub, most of the other DJs who play this timeslot will stay up all night partying and then play before going home to bed. I preferred to go to bed around 10pm, wake up early and drive into town to play. It was always a bit surreal seeing people so intoxicated when you’re fresh out of bed!
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
What a great way to get through college. I certainly wish I’d been more creative in trying to earn some money instead of relying on loans. I bet you’ve dealt with some crazy bridezillas and seem all kinds of stuff at weddings. Some wedding receptions should be kind of like “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted…How to Attract and Retain Advertisers for Your Blog
What a cool side job! I think the hours would absolutely kill me now, but if I was in my 20’s…
Budget and the Beach recently posted…It Started With Lip Gloss
Interesting post! That’s great that you were earning so much as a DJ when you were going through college and even more impressive that you still do this on a Friday night. An extra few hundred dollars from working on a Friday night would certainly come in handy!
debtfreeoneday recently posted…How to stop wanting stuff that you can’t afford
Seems like a lot of good lessons and experience. I like the part of cold calling turning into a gig. Having guts pays off!
Digital Personal Finance recently posted…What to Do With Side Income
That’s awesome mate. Nothing better than having a good time and getting paid for it. Our friend has been dj’ing weddings for 20 years now and he is booked solid every year. He’s a great DJ and he makes a good sum of extra cash on the side because of it.
Canadian Budget Binder recently posted…August 2013 net worth update: (+1.90%) The calm before the storm
Any side hustle that makes you $50,000 is a hell of a hustle. Congrats.
charles@gettingarichlife recently posted…Debt Management And Preserving Wealth Leads To Wealth Creation – Some Effective Tips
To clarify as it wasn’t actually stated in the article – the $50,000 is an estimate of my best year to date while I was playing many nights each week. I’d expect to make about $15-20,000 this year due to focusing on my day job.
Financial Independence recently posted…YNAB: You Need a Budget
Great story – monetizing a hobby and something you genuinely enjoy is a brilliant way of generating additional income!
moneystepper recently posted…Car loans – Should I finance my new car?
Brilliant!
I didn’t make $50K by any means with my own creative side hustles, but when I was a kid, I played online games and sold millions in online gold for thousands on eBay which I of course, spent on candy and crap… but that’s beside the point.
Great post! Am linking to this in September Roundup.
mochimac @ save. spend. splurge. recently posted…Status spending: Why the ones who look the richest may actually be the poorest
Thank you! I had to fish you back from spam because of the link 🙂
That’s a cool side hustle. I have a couple of friends who are DJ’s as side hustle and they really enjoy it . It feels so good to make some income from something you love.
Demaish @ Borrowed Cents recently posted…Debt and goals update
That’s one awesome side hustle you got! I see more and more people putting their talents to good use. And you’ve got two right there — writing and DJing! Great job!
Marissa@Thirtysixmonths recently posted…How to Sell Things Online
What a cool side gig, Evan! Thanks for sharing your story. I think it’s great you are able to do something that is so in-demand.
Alexandra @ Real Simple Finances recently posted…Job Hunting With An Impossible Schedule
Making money online is easy if you have the right knowledge and drive! So thanks for posting this!
Good post and interesting read. I myself have always enjoyed DJ’ing from the comfort of my own home as a hobby but have recently started hiring kit and doing a couple of weddings and parties through friends and am now getting a fair few requests, so much so that I am about to purchase a full mobile kit to save me hiring equipment every time, so heres hoping to that second income stream at last 😉
This is an awsome post. My story parallels your somewhat as I work in finance also. I have always dreamt of being a dj but was unable to get proper funding until I established my career. I hope to make a good income and some great memories from my newly developed craft.
Awesome Evans! That’s one sure way to make so much money out of your hobbies! I just imagine how good it feels. 🙂
This was a great read! I feel like i was reading my life haha and now im currently at the club djing stage. The only different i had was i did take the dj job at the strip club (wage +tips)
Thanks for sharing!