Multiple jobholding deejays

The main challenge of this thesis is to find out why professional Dutch deejays hold multiple jobs. Besides, there is also attention for the kind of (arts, arts related and nonarts) work that deejays have next to their work as a performing deejay, for their profession in general and the characteristics of the supply-side of their market. The research provides information about the profession of the deejay, tests the classical explanation for multiple jobholding and compares it to alternative explaining theories. The phenomenon multiple jobholding is one of the characteristics of the labour market for artists. The other characteristics are: relatively low incomes, a skewed distribution of income, many short-term contracts, oversupply and a high rate of self-employment. Because of these characteristics, the artistic labour market is a popular subject in cultural economics. In this thesis is attention for a special approach of the ‘deviating’ labour market for artists. To answer the main question in this research, six possible explaining theories for multiple jobholding among artists are presented and tested among a selected group of Dutch deejays. The hypothesis are based on the theories of risk diversification, the standard-model of labour supply, the work preference of arts work, the work preference of arts and arts related work, role versatility (that leads to more control over the work) and social capital (that leads to contacts and indirect to more work and status). The results of the qualitative research show that the main part of the Dutch deejays is male. Furthermore, the greater part of the respondents sees deejaying as their main occupation and is active as a dance deejay (mainly in the style house). Deejays share some of the characteristics of the general artist as most of them are self-employers, they cannot work as much as they want (oversupply), many of the respondents work in short-term contracts and the supply side of the market has superstars and deejays that are more ‘hobbyists’. Almost 85% of the deejays is a multiple jobholder and programming and organizing parties is the most found arts-related job in the research. The results do not point at one reason for holding multiple jobs among deejays. It can be concluded that the motives can mainly be found in three of the explaining theories. Firstly, the results point at the need to reach a sufficient level of income. Until that level is reached with arts and arts related work, non arts work is done. Secondly, role versatility explains multiple jobholding. By having a second job/role, control over the arts work is created. Finally, social capital is of importance. Especially arts related jobs lead to contacts that are beneficial for the deejay career.