DJs WAGES IN THE '70s

[QUINNY]

This could prove to be painful reading eventually, once a few of the veteran DJs who read these threads have contributed.
I'm sure everybody would love to know just how much we earned as DJs in the '70s. Heck, it's so long ago the tax man wouldn't nobble you now.

In 1970 I was working as a mobile DJ, together witha guy who was my best friend. We'd started out at college and kept it going for a few years after, until I decided to turn fully pro.
1970 - 72 we earned the princely a total sum of 10 - 24 dollars per gig.
1972-73 Club DJ Southampton, earning an average 6 dollars per night/ 100 dolars per month
1974 - 75 Club DJ - 110 dollars per month ( working 7 days per week, with 2 days off in 14 months) Marbella, Spain.
mid 1975 - late 75 Club DJ - 150 dollars per month + accommodation, Puerto Alcudia, Spain.
7 days per week for approx 4 1/2 months
1976 + 1977 ditto above except wages 190 dollars per month+accommodation. 7 days per week for approx 6 month season.
1978 -late 1979 Club DJ, Southampton earning average of 18 dollars per night/320 dollars per month.
As you can see I was not paid a huge amount of dosh and I had to buy 95% of my records.
Do you think I did it for the love of it or for the money?
I bet the American DJs earned a lot more?

[markydefad]

I have no first-hand knowledge--BUT I know in the book about the SF Club scene, Tribal Rites by David Diebold, there is some commentary about Bobby Viteritti being paid $1,000 an evening at Trocadero circa 1979-1980 or so. Of course, now that I'm looking for the exact quote, I can't find it.

[Giovanni]

1978-79: Delta disco club in Florence, about US $ 20 per night. 2 nights/week. The disco owned the records.
summer 1979 & 1980: A beach bar in the tuscan riviera, about US $ 50 per day (playing 6 pm to 9 pm and then 11 pm to 5 am)7 days /week . With my records and alternating with another guy.
1980-82: several clubs in Florence and nearby, about US $ 50 per night. With my records.
1982-86: a disco bar in Florence, US $ 100 per night, one night / week. with my records.
1986-up to now: my house. Just for fun. With my records

[DanceMan]

I know for a fact that the NY jocks made really good money, especially if you played at a well-known night club or discoteque, both gay and straight.....I don't want to devulge the few exact salaries that I know that certain DJs made, but $1,000.00 a night for a special "theme" party was not unusual, particularly if the jock had a great rep and drew big crowds.....now on the other hand, promo people got paid diddley.....I was supposed to be in it for the "Love" of the job and I was.....I worked from 11-6 and then went out Wed....Fri, Sat and sometimes Sunday nites and worked the clubs....and I still got the same crappy salary no matter how hard I worked.....but at least I got free entrance and sometimes drinks.....Would I do it over again.....in a heartbeat, if the music reverted back to the good ole type of days....not much interest in promoting what is out there now.....Sorry, youngins!

[NickNack]

My first gig: $10.00 for working 10PM to 4AM.

Peter Rabbit - 9 to 4 gig started out at $5.00/hr. Got a slight raise before I left.

The Anvil - Started at $50.00/night and left earning $100/night. Hours: Midnight until...

Guest spots paid better, especially when the owner/manager requested you, not the other way around.

[paul]

So I guess Nicky, you enjoyed the work and the perks. The money wasn't necessarily the draw?

[NickNack]

On 2002-08-16 14:30, paul wrote:
So I guess Nicky, you enjoyed the work and the perks. The money wasn't necessarily the draw?

It most surely was not about the money. I left a damn good-paying job at the US Post Office (which I HATED) to become a dj. It was my sanity. I would have gone 'postal' long before it became vogue, believe me. The music was everything --- I would have worked for free just to be behind those turntables.