Bottom Feeder Cancer is on the rise...

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... Some are fancy and some are sandwiches on paper plates with a dude who brought his home stereo to DJ.
Wiz,

You must have been at one of my shows in the early years. :D

While I feel for the less fortunate, we have to put food on our tables too. We're all one incident away from the poorhouse. Wolfie's been there many a time. :)
 
Ring, ring, Hello, this is Joe's DJ service, Joe speaking.

Caller: Hi Joe the is Mary. We have a bit of a problem. My daughter is getting married in a week and our DJ called and he can't make it. We need another DJ in a hurry, can you help us?

Joe the DJ: Well Mary, that's kind of short notice. let me ask you a couple of questions, do you know anything about my company?

Caller: well, no, I saw your ad.

Joe the DJ:Well let me tell you a little about us...blah blah blah

caller: uh huh, mmm hmmm

Joe the DJ: Now Mary our entry level package starts at $1,000. It includes {xxxx}. (stop talking and listen for a response)

Caller: wow, really? We hired the other guy for $250.

Joe the DJ: Wow, I really wish I could help you but we don't have any packages in that price range. Would you be interested in finding out more about our $1,000 package?

Caller: No, we just can't afford that, thanks, buh bye.

How long would that conversation take? Less than 5 minutes I bet. You didn't have what she was looking for, no biggie. NEXT

No need to put down the bottom feeders, they're trying to make a living. Are they all slimeballs? I imagine some of them are. There are slimeballs in every business.

Some of these guys may just not know any better. Some may not be that good. Some people may not care if the DJ is good or not as long as he's cheap. There is a million different scenarios.

If you're good, you have great lighting, great sound, great mic and MC skills, and all of the other things that make a DJ a stand out, then you can ask for and get the big bucks. Why worry about the lower end of the market? Leave it to the bottomfeeders.
 
As far as the sandwiches on paper plates, I've been to several like that.

I was at one recently where the fried chicken came from the Publix supermarket and it was being served in disposable aluminum roasting pans.

I was at another one where they had a DJ and they had food that looked like it was prepared at someone's house and brought there. It was at a condominium clubhouse. There was probably only around 50 people. The ceremony seemed like it was around 5 minutes and it was outside the clubhouse in the grassy area.
 
As far as the sandwiches on paper plates, I've been to several like that.

I was at one recently where the fried chicken came from the Publix supermarket and it was being served in disposable aluminum roasting pans.

I was at another one where they had a DJ and they had food that looked like it was prepared at someone's house and brought there. It was at a condominium clubhouse. There was probably only around 50 people. The ceremony seemed like it was around 5 minutes and it was outside the clubhouse in the grassy area.

I sure remember that, lol. Those were the days. RS equipment and $50.00 per hour. :)

Gosh... I was setting up in back yards, beside pools. Didn't have CD subscriptions yet so I was spending my income on music just trying to keep updated.

Yep. Those were the days. :)
 
Am I the only one who fails to see this as problem with bottom-feeding DJs - but rather a case of mud-dwelling clients?
 
I wont anwser that one :)
 
This is what I said:

"Why worry about it? It's different markets. Someone who does a $50,000 or $100,000 wedding can't possibly expect to pay $250 or even $500 for entertainment.If they do then they will get what that amount of money buys. If they scrimp on the catering then the food may not be very good. If they scrimp on the venue, it may not be such a nice place to have a nice affair.

Lot's of people nowadays don't have a whole lot of money. They are trying to get married and have a decent party for as little as they can because they don't have a whole to spend. The can barely pay their bills, they're broke or nearly broke. This is a fairly large portion of the population. Does this mean that they shouldn't have ANY entertainment? NO, it means that they have to settle for what they can afford and for what they can get for the little money they have to spend.

If there are some DJs out there willing to do these small weddings of impoverished people, why are you looking down on them? They may be in the same impoverished class and not know any better or not have the knowledge, the sales abilities, the equipment and so on that y'all have.

Every market and industry is stratified. That's why you have Gemsound on one end and Electro-Voice on the other. That's why you have Cadillac and Mercedes and Yugos. You have different levels of quality in every product, service and industry.

There is a reason you see some people driving around in broken down junk cars. That's all they can afford. Same thing with weddings. Some are fancy and some are sandwiches on paper plates with a dude who brought his home stereo to DJ."
 
Yes I recently booked a wedding where I got paid $250 and then didn't show up!

Well actually the gig was for $1000, I got the non-refundable deposit of $250 and then didn't show up!

Was I a bad boy or just another bottom fedder DJ?
 
This is what I said:

"It's different markets. Someone who does a $50,000 or $100,000 wedding can't possibly expect to pay $250 or even $500 for entertainment.If they do then they will get what that amount of money buys.

Lot's of people nowadays don't have a whole lot of money. ...they have to settle for what they can afford and for what they can get for the little money they have to spend.

Every market and industry is stratified. You have different levels of quality in every product, service and industry.

There is a reason you see some people driving around in broken down junk cars. That's all they can afford. Same thing with weddings. Some are fancy and some are sandwiches on paper plates with a dude who brought his home stereo to DJ."

I couldn't agree more. The problem, for me, arises when these lower end DJs start selling themselves as being "the area's best" or "top" DJ. When they use all the same catch-phrases in their advertising and website as the rest of us do.

Everywhere you go, it's the same thing: huge music library, blah blah blah, professional grade equipment, blah, blah, blah, coordination with vendors, blah, blah, plan and organize, blah, blah, blah... How is the average consumer, who hires a DJ once every 15 years or so, supposed to digest all of that and figure out that price really DOES matter? Especially when we are now living in a Walmart world of "lower prices everyday?"

In many ways, yes, the quality of the clients has decreased, but many in the industry have helped to lower their expectations, and for that the consumers cannot be blamed...
 
I received a call from an agency I do a lot of work for they said that someone out of New York had contacted them and wanted a special arrangement with a DJ in the area. He hooked them up with me.

The Bride and Groom are from New York some big law firm, the wedding is taking place at the Hampstead in Hot Springs Virginia. They have hired a band for their entertainment which they are flying in from Texas.

So why do they need me? Because the Band won't be flying in until Saturday morning and all it is going to take is one delayed flight. They want me available for back up just in case.

Sound system provided by a sound company all I have to do is walk in with computer system and plug in and play.

The band showed on time my services weren't needed I pocketed $250 for staying Home.... I want a whole bunch more of these gigs!!!!!!