Weekly salsa night at a local bar

Dancers and curious beginners pay at the door or buy tickets in advance. The host venue pays you or shares revenue if your night fills its bar.

Cover charge or ticket sales, often with a lesson add-on. Some hosts also negotiate a percentage of bar sales or a fee from the venue. DJs and instructors are usually paid per night.

• Knowing the local salsa scene
• Promoting events on social media and in dance groups
• Organizing DJs, instructors and volunteers
• Negotiating with venue owners

• Check who holds the liquor licence and the music licences (in Canada these are usually SOCAN and Re:Sound tariffs), and put it in writing
• Event or commercial general liability insurance, and whether the venue's policy covers your night
• Venue capacity limits, door staff and local noise rules
• Revenue depends on turnout, so a slow first few weeks is common and the venue may cancel a night that does not sell drinks

Startup costs are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on DJ or sound needs, promotion, insurance and any venue arrangements. These are estimates, so confirm your own costs with the venue first.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $800 to $4,000, depending on turnout, entry fees and any share of drinks sales agreed with the venue. It is revenue, not profit, so allow for DJ and promotion costs.

Check who holds the liquor licence and the music licences (usually SOCAN and Re:Sound tariffs), and put it in writing. Also check event or liability insurance, whether the venue's policy covers you, capacity limits, door staff and noise rules.