DJ biz needs a kick in the butt!
Posted by: admin on 10/31/2011
Am I the only one who’s starting to think the mobile DJ industry is getting stagnant? We keep hearing from the same industry “notables” (read: cronies) talk about the same old issues.
We are constantly hearing:
“How do we squeeze more money out of brides and make them realize that we are more important than the cheese platter.”
“Who’s got the better, more powerful, lighter weight most snappy looking sound system”
“What’s your favorite beat matched song set”
“Why doesn’t the DJ industry get any respect”
“WHAT! You don’t have up-lighting”
“How do we put an end to ‘bottom feeders?’”
PLEASE!
Chat forums, seminar speakers, trade articles, blogs. Same-O. Same-O.
Why aren’t we reaching out to experts outside our incestuous industry and learning new perspectives, new skills and creating new paradigms. Or even reaching out to a new set of solid pros within our industry who can shed new light and share new ideas. It seems like the same dozen guys names resurface at every turn.
How about a well spoken party planner or wedding consultant explaining why a cheese platter gets more attention than the DJ.
How about a “landing page” expert with the nuts and bolts on how to create a powerful sales page for the internet.
How about an outside business or marketing consultant with tips on running a small business.
An ad-agency guy with insight on creating a unique positioning statement
Lets hear from some new fresh faces that can provide new fresh insight and bring some new fresh growth ideas to an industry that is getting bogged down in “more of the same”.
There are some great young entrepreneurs out there that I am sure are willing to share their expertise. (David Siteman Garland, Derek Sivers, Shama Kabani, Michael Stelzner the list is endless.) That’s how we can breath some fresh air into this incredible industry we all love.
When my kids asked me to DJ the school dance I said yes! Your site and all the info on trends and what not to play saved me. The kids had fun, the adults had fun and so did I.
Thanks for reminding me why DJing is so much fun
Well said and let’s hear from others.
Guess I am bucking the trend with my new global trussing and DMX lighting with up-lighting, and my big JBL speakers. I will put this show anywhere and be confident in what I bring to the event. I like to deliver more than I committed to.
John
John Davies
Party Hits Music LLC
7539 Curvue Rd.
Eau Claire,Wisconsin 54703
http://www.partyhitsmusic.com
715-874-5244 H
952-334-7642 Cell
john@partyhitsmusic.com
Hey Rick glad I am not the only one reading and listening to the same old tired BS. I don’t feed off of them and try to keep myself positive with fresh ideas. I agree. Stay away from the negative chat and bull. A lot of these guys in my area are doing exactly what you posted and sit around and complain along with bringing all there cronies down with them. Feed on the positive. Mike Jeffrey (Tampa Bay)
I think a lot of folks are feeling like the industry needs some new inspiration and fresh ideas. Unfortunately most will just tune out of the industry banter. Stop going to conventions, stop checking in on chat boards, or reading industry blogs. They quietly tune out. I appreciate you guys stepping up with comments.
What has happened is……the climate has changed in the industry. In the this day of iPods with playlists and 99 cent music downloads, it’s not good enough anymore to just have a system and a bunch of songs. I continually succeed over “less expensive” competitors because we bring “the show”… the most important part of that show being the DJ. Work that microphone. Get out and connect with the crowd as well as the client. Find your game and WORK IT. Have some tricks up your sleeve to keep the group entertained (nostalgic songs, funny commercials, mash up mixes….WHATEVER) If you are just sitting behind the booth queuing songs, there is an expiration date on your gig. And remember… every show is unique. Treat it as such. Do your homework and be prepared to HAVE FUN! Remember, this beats the heck out of digging ditches. If you disagree, it’s time to post your rig on craigslist.
Jesse….great stuff. You are right on the money. This is the entertainment business. So…..entertain. Know that you need to be the sparkle that makes it great. The music is not enough.
Mike Genetti (DJ) had this comment on February 3, 2012 at 1:29 pm said:
Amen….great post! We went to the DJ Expo in AC this year with a full Expo pass and by the 2nd day I wanted to choke someone. It was all the same BS……how “we did this” and “we did that” and you can too just give us your $$$$ and you will be on your way…..what BS….reminded me of one of the late night Infomercials for colon cleansing…..Drink this and it will be all better. If we want to be recognized as an “official industry” ….STOP selling the snake oil! As a mobile DJ for 20 years we have seen ups and downs. These past 2 years it seemed as the economy got worse the more “experts” came out of the woodwork to sell how to be a better DJ. In my experience people that write books……are knowledgeable in one thing…..how to write books.
Want to be successful…..be honest…..know your limitations…..REALIZE no one will do a show exactly as you will do it…..and sell that. Don’t promise things you can’t do. Be yourself and have FUN.
Ok off my soapbox…..
Mike G
Occasions Entertainment
Mario Robles on February 10, 2012 at 6:52 am said:
When a musician needs help, they don’t ask a dentist. When a mechanic wants to improve his business, he doesn’t go to Culinary Convention.
The issue isn’t about hearing what “other” people think we should do. The issue is that most DJs are too stubborn to take constructive criticism from their peers. Just about every mobile DJ I’ve met thinks he knows better than everyone else in this industry. And whenever they’re given diverse ideas about how to reach the next level, they go “That’s stupid.” Why? Because its out of their comfort zone.
The saf truth is, most DJs have no formal entertainment training, no idea how to be themselves in front of a crowd (HI! THIS IS MY DJ VOICE. HERE’S A ONE-LINER!!), and don’t understand he importance and responsibility of their job.
As for the fellow that did 250 Mobile DJ events last year…I, personally, would rather do 50-60 events a year at around $2000 a pop. And that’s what a lot of us are doing. And it’s because we put in the time. We don’t need day jobs. We just need to be the best. But people are scared to step up their game, scared to try new things.
I used to brag about how many hundreds of rents I did a year, but then I realized…unless I’m making a decent wage per party, that number is meaningless. All it really exemplifies is how little time I get to spend with my family and friends, how much wear and tear I’m putting on my body (how many DJs do you know that have blown out their back, or now have bad knees?), and how little I value my personal life.
So the goal should be to work FEWER events, make each of them as great as they can be, and to earn a healthy fee for each.
And you don’t need to ask people from other industries about how to do that. There are plenty of folks in this business that are doing it this way, so check your ego and “comfort” at the door and just LISTEN.
Them’s MY two cents.
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