Anyone ever made this request to you?

**silkjones** · 05-26-2013, 12:47 PM

Make a long story short...someone is having a bday get together and wants music...BUT, she asked me to make a mix for her. I'm thinking ok, I could record one of my practice sessions and just let her use it for her party. Easy enough, right? WRONG! She proceeds to say the 1st hour she wants a certain type, the 2nd and 3rd hour a certain type, and the 4th hour a certain type. I'm like what the....so not only do i have to record 4 hours of music, I have to do the whole audacity thing with splitting tracks, etc, etc....has anyone made a request like this to you? How much would you charge? I asked her for the time of her party and she sent a message back being clear that she just wanted the CDs. I'm sure she was getting the hint that I was going to tell her she would need to book me. It would be easier doing the gigs vs making the CDs!!

**Hausgeist** · 05-26-2013, 12:59 PM

Yeah. I did a private party at a winery one time. While I was playing, the owner asked me if I would make some cds for them. I told her, "Sorry, but that's not what I do."

**Zafire** · 05-26-2013, 01:04 PM

Would she not jus be better of asking you to go DJ at the party ?

**baller95** · 05-26-2013, 01:10 PM

Wow, 4 hours of a pre recorded mix?! F THAT!

**Windows 95** · 05-26-2013, 01:12 PM

Just tell her; That's called "pirating music", which is illegal. So no, I will not make CDs for you.

**silkjones** · 05-26-2013, 01:25 PM

Yeah I thought it was a bit over the top. I was thinking the same thing...just hire me! I would have more respect if she just came out and said she was on a budget and asked if I could do her a favor and give her a break. Sometimes I may want to just practice in front of a crowd(especially talking on the mic) and if i didn't have a gig I may have done it for her in hopes of gaining more business. But making the CDs is more time consuming than doing the show! But all of your responses are spot on!

**allensmusic** · 05-26-2013, 01:28 PM

it isnt the type of thing I do, but if I did, I would have name drops throughout the mix, and I would charge an hourly rate for the mixing. it would be cheaper for them to hire a DJ

**jay sauce** · 05-26-2013, 01:36 PM

Having your CDs only would backfire on her bday party i think. The dj is there to play to the crowd and learn from what requests he/she gets and what genre is working etc... Plus its a bit cheeky of her to ask you to do this and not hire you! I would decline but if you accept i agree with allensmusic, add in your dj name and website/facebook vocal drops throughout the cd and charge her maybe 75% of ur normal rate?

**silkjones** · 05-26-2013, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by jay sauce

Having your CDs only would backfire on her bday party i think. The dj is there to play to the crowd and learn from what requests he/she gets and what genre is working etc... Plus its a bit cheeky of her to ask you to do this and not hire you! I would decline but if you accept i agree with allensmusic, add in your dj name and website/facebook vocal drops throughout the cd and charge her maybe 75% of ur normal rate?

You definitely have a good idea about charging close to full price but I agree with your original assessment about asking and not hiring me! I don't want to get the trend started of making party CDs. I did a baby shower CD for one friend but she only wanted one hour of music...i just recorded one of my practice runs and gave it to her and they had a ball and she was very grateful. She was willing to pay but I told her to just post on my FB page instead. But again, one hour vs four...the more i think about it the more i'm starting to feel insulted.