What would you do to bring your performance up a notch.

I will keep practicing untill i can beatmix with the best of them.

I like a big production, I kinda bring the club to a bar near you.....

So...I need a truckload of stuff to really pull it off.

Hire exotic dancers...

Great Thread man, I gots to think on this a bit!!!

In the beginning someone was kind enough to point out that though I sang well, I "couldn't talk for s**t". This happened to be very true. I started taking speech and public speaking classes, which worked well. However, I still think improvement can be made, and I keep trying.

Although I'm the world's greatest Karaoke Host , I think my straight DJing abilities could be ramped up with better beatmixing skills, and possibly doing more research on certain types of playlists. I just love doing karaoke so much that I don't spend enough time concentrating on straight DJing....

I know I need to improve my beatmatching skillz.

I constantly try to improve my vocal skills - clarity, inflection, believeability, etc - by watching a DVD of a reception I've done. If the videographer is someone I know, I'll give him $20.00 and ask for a copy of the raw reception footage.

You'd be surprised how you sound! There's always room to improve there.

I'm one of those people who believes that there's always room for improvement somewhere (although I won't always admit it outright ). Lately, I've been working on my MC skills and when I get my new media controller, I'll be working more on beatmatching and weaning myself off out having 2-3 CDs prepped for play at any given time. I'll be jotting ideas on paper at events anymore, I guess.

Not shy at all but my vocal delivery could use some tweaking. Will be visiting my local Toastmasters soon though.

I've done the public speaking thing (spent 8 years on the radio doing everything from live remote setups to afternoon drive). I've also done the beatmixing thing (in clubs and on a Saturday-night radio mixshow). Not to say that I'm truly outstanding, but I know I've got the skills. I started beatmixing records in my bedroom in 1986.

At this point what I'd really love to be able to do is control my console from someplace other than behind it. It would be a huge benefit for me to be able to fire off a few songs by remote while I'm warming up a crowd or hosting a presentation.

I know I could hire an assistant to run the board for me, but that's just not cool enough and I'd probably be a jerk to work for. I'd need someone with absolutely impeccable timing.

Travis B said:

I do say I myself have flaws in my performances.

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Everyone does. Even if you are "totally awesome" today, you will still be more experienced and more practiced in a year.

Travis B said:

What would you do to improve your performance, anything you've picked up from others that you know would challenge you and cause you to raise the bar?

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Honestly, the physical DJ skills are the least important, and the easiest to master. Beatmixing is a bit like riding a bike...it's tricky at first to coordinate everything...but once you "get it" the skill is relatively easy to maintain with some practice.

For anyone who is on a mic, toastmasters is a huge opportunity for improvement.

Video tape (or at least record) everything you say or do at an event. Then go watch or listen. And critique. Every event I do is recorded.

To work on holding an audiences attention, take a stand up comedy class at a community college...preferably one that ends with you on stage for 3 minutes. No music. No lights. No beatmixing. No DJ shtick. Just you, and a mic. (Not that you want to be telling jokes at an event.) This is probably the best investment in my MC skills I have ever made.

Pick an event with an "professional" MC (the Oscars come to mind), and watch it with a note pad in hand. Take notes. Look for delivery, timing, adaptation to the unscripted moments, etc, etc, etc. What was good, what was bad, what impressed you? Years ago I read that Billy Crystal rehearsed over 2000 jokes for the last Oscars he MC'd. That is 5-ish jokes for each nominee in each category that would be presented during the show. That re-defined the "professional standard" for being an MC.

Pick a subject that is related to DJing: sound reinforcement, electronics, recording, gear repair - and learn more about it - get a book, find a class, experiment. The Vast Majority(tm) of DJs I know "learned" a hodge podge of superstition, old wives tales, and myths in the place of solid technical knowledge about the hardware and physics of their craft. Start with this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Reinforcement-Handbook-Gary-Davis/dp/0881889008

Take a music appreciation class. I have taken classes on classical music, music theory, jazz, and blues. I am currently planning to sign up for a "history of rock and roll" class in the spring. Even if you can't find a class on the music you like or spin take something (classical music would be a "traditional" choice)...you will learn a ton of stuff about how to listen to music.

If you do weddings, take a wedding coordinator class. Not only will you get to network with all the new wedding coordinators who will need to find good DJs, but you will learn a little more about the 'other side' of the planning that goes on for a wedding. (This is still on my 'to do' list.)

I would like to obtain more music knowledge. I find myself getting into playing the same stuff sometimes and I know there are other songs that I could use. I look at the variety of some of the playlists posted here and amazed at some of the music that is played with success.

I can't think of anything to improve my performances......at my current price point.

At the $995 (average package price), I'm already responsible for the Ceremony PA & lapel microphone, coordinating the reception & dancing, emceeing the event.

Now, if I was charging what the High Priced shops were getting ($1500 to $2000)--- then I'd need to make significant improvements to my show.

But since my customer service scores continue to say I'm great (as evidenced by my Yelp reviews) --- its time to say "IF IT AIN'T BROKE -- DON'T FIX IT!"

DJMC said:

I can't think of anything to improve my performances......at my current price point.

At the $995 (average package price), I'm already responsible for the Ceremony PA & lapel microphone, coordinating the reception & dancing, emceeing the event.

Now, if I was charging what the High Priced shops were getting ($1500 to $2000)--- then I'd need to make significant improvements to my show.

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Just so we can better imagine, what specific improvements would you make to move from $995 to $1500 and from $1500 to $2000?

The follow up question: why are you not making those investments?

Musical issues for me, too. I have an extensive background in theater from a very young age, and have a very professional delivery. It is the compliment I hear the most, along with preparation/customer service.

I still get very nervous about the music.

We ask this question at every monthly staff meeting:
How can we improve.
I have been dj'ng since 1991 and to stay away from the cookie cutter shows I am always trying new stuff. I find things that work and things that are so so and work on things constantly.
I have had one complaint in the last five years and that was because I could not for some dumb reason quit mixing up the B&G and bridal party songs...
I don't think there is any area from setup to teardown that I couldn't improve on. Maybe thats just me always trying to be a perfectionist.

I believe that everyone can improve somewhere, that nobody is perfect.