What is a bottom feeder?

[Glenn Miller]

What is the difference between a dj that charges $150.00 per gig and a dj that charges $500.00 for a gig but rents $350.00 in equipment to make themselves look bigger then their competition?

If a dj pays taxes, pays for his music, buys advertising, but still charges $150.00 is he a bottom feeder?

Are part time djs bottom feeders?

Your thoughts....

[djdonny]

I don't believe in the term "bottom feeder." Everybody has a different lifestyle and while some would prefer to work 4 gigs a weekend at $400 each, others would prefer 1 gig a weekend at $1000. Whatever makes the individual DJ's profit margin gel with his lifestyle and needs is fine with me. There are even some who would prefer to work for the needy than the wealthy. Not every client can afford a $1000 DJ.

[Steve Miller]

Bottom Feeder: Anyone that someone else in the same field feels is doing something cheaper, different, with less style, or less overhead than themselves.

Even if the (accused) bottom feeders are better at whatever field being discussed by the person calling them a bottom feeder.

Term usually used to describe someone in the business who is taking in more business than the person using the term.

Term applied to someone who should not be in the business, because of the simple fact that they don't have a clue as to what it is about to begin with, a tarnish on the industry itself.
It doesn't matter how much money they have in their system, it doesn't matter that they have the latest and greatest toys, if they don't have what it takes (a natural ability) no amount of practice, no amount of money, no amount of self importance will ever make them a DJ..............

There are part time Bottom feeders and there are full time bottom feeders, there are $150 a night bottom feeders and there are $1200 a night bottom feeders in this industry. To me Bottom feeder is just another way of saying a lousy DJ.


Glen,

If a dj pays taxes, pays for his music, buys advertising, but still charges $150.00, he is broke.

[Cap]

Steve: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Term applied to someone who should not be in the business, because of the simple fact that they don't have a clue as to what it is about to begin with, a tarnish on the industry itself.[/b][/quote] Couldn't someone with 20 years experience rightfully say the same thing about someone with 10? 10 down to 5? Hey, everybody starts somewhere.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>It doesn't matter how much money they have in their system, it doesn't matter that they have the latest and greatest toys, if they don't have what it takes (a natural ability) no amount of practice, no amount of money, no amount of self importance will ever make them a DJ..............
[/b][/quote]Some one needs to send me The DJ Book of Law & Rules & Definitions. I want to see who wrote it so that their credentials can be challenged. What or who gives them (or anyone) the right to universally define any derogatory commentary about any other human being.

If there wasn't any disparity from one DJ to another, guess what? We really would be a commodity and then ONLY price matters. Give thanks that there are DJs who charge less or are less experienced or have no clues. They are more important to the profit margin than the ones who are better. Heck, if everyone was better, you'd be the one they'd be calling names. Heck, maybe they already are.

DJDonny: Total agreement for the most part, except for the monetary thing. If bottom-feeder is supposed to paint a picture of a garbage eating fish at the bottom of a body of water, or, the lowest animal on the food chain, or the lowest rung on the ladder where all the poop and pee accumulates, remember this.

Bottom feeders never go hungry because there is so much garbage.

Bottom feeders multiply ten fold and ten times faster in order for the species to survive.

Bottom feeders require only basic survival skills and none are on the endangered species list.

Bottom Feeders of America, stand up and say "Thank You"!

[mp3jrick]

Thank you

[djdonny]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Total agreement for the most part, except for the monetary thing.[/b][/quote]

What about "the monetary thing" don't you agree with?

[Cap]

DJDonny: There is a flat rate assumption with those figures that were mentioned.

As an example of a variable rate pricing plan, one could charge $1,200.00 for a prime Saturday in 2006 and pass price shopper calls until one caller sees the value of the particular service and books it. Then again, say, one has a Saturday night open in a month from now. The rate quoted might be significantly lower than the norm just to bolster cash-flow.

So if the price defined bottom-feeder is one who charges $400, that could be me at times depending on circumstances and finances. Then, when I have an $1,800 event, I'm called a "Worther". If I say I'm full-time and I approach every opportunity as survival instead of fun or hobby, I'm called an "Elitist.

What was endeavored to be explained is that no one here has a clue about anyone else, how they run their business, and what their goals are. Yet this same level of thread conversation continues to proliferate phrases which are demeaning, inflammatory, unjust, and exemplifies outright ignorance and total lack of tolerance.

What blows my mind is this continual industry name calling and in-fighting on these threads. What if one of these threads were hijacked, copied, and posted on the Knot, names and all? Maybe a journalist for a trade magazine wants a real bucket stirring article. Maybe a competitor is showing what you have to say to the same client's you're both vying for.

Folks simply are not using their heads or their hearts.

[Glenn Miller]

Yes lets be afraid to post and network, we run a perfect industry, we do no wrong, either do photographers, caterers, halls.

We need to dispell the myth of a word like bottom feeder, not discussing it, does not make it go away nor does it teach others that its nothing but a word.

Its your choice....

[Cap]

Glenn Miller: Nothing is perfect. Your forum. Do what you will.

[Steve Miller]

Cap,

As far as I know no one was doing any name calling here! Just discussing what we felt the term meant.

Glenn is 100% correct these things do need to be rationally discussed. If someone from the Knot or a Trade mag wanted to look/print/use any of this I for one certainly don't have a problem with it.

As for being called a bottom feeder! Why yes I have, by Peter Merry, by Randy Bartlet just to name a couple. Does it bother me NOT ONE BIT because as you yourself have said they haven't seen me work they don't know the area I work in. Why was I called a bottom feeder, because I personally don't have a problem saying what I charge without lying about it and it didn't jive with what they thought "real professional DJ's" should be charging.